Streamer Positioning System – SIPS 2

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SIPS on streamer 2

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What you need to know

Know where your towed streamers are at all times
Uses ‘clip on’ acoustic transceivers
Collects hundreds of positions in a single shot
Multiple signal modes to suit operating conditions

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Deep marine seismic operations involve vessels towing multiple long, hydrophone arrays in a wide spread. The challenge this presents is to maintain positioning accuracy in the acoustically hostile conditions created by the ship’s wake and vast array of air bubbles from the seismic airguns and for the acoustic equipment to survive in the high shock environments. Sonardyne’s second generation Seismic Integrated Positioning System (SIPS 2) meets these challenges through a combination of digital and tone acoustic ranging techniques to provide full streamer positioning.

SIPS 2 is Sonardyne’s market-leading seismic source and streamer positioning system designed to meet the operational requirements of deep marine survey vessels towing long, dense arrays.

A typical SIPS 2 system comprises of acoustic positioning transceivers attached to each streamer, source and tailbuoy, through-hull transducer, an onboard transceiver controller rack and a dedicated navigation computer running the SIPS 2 software.

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SIPS System Overview & Datasheets

Full Streamer Acoustics

Acoustic transceivers attached to each streamer, air gun and tailbuoy/ navbuoy measure ranges between each other and the survey vessel. This enables both the shape of the towed streamers to be known and the position of the sources, relative to the a GPS location to be precisely determined.

SIPS 2 is capable of handling small or large towed arrays with a high immunity to noise and bottom bounce. The Digital Signal Processing architecture used by the system offers precise range measurement resolution and allows hundreds of acoustic ranges to be collected and processed in a single shot point.

Vessels operating with SIPS 2 have demonstrated their ability to maintain performance when weather conditions become marginal due to the robustness of the digital acoustic technology. An additional analogue ‘tone-burst’ modulation mode ensures reliable operation in the harshest of acoustic environments, as created by ship’s wakes and gun arrays.

XSRS Transceivers

XSRS’ are streamer-mounted transceivers that measure acoustic ranges to adjacent XSRS’. The units are battery powered and are constructed using a carbon composite housing. This offers superior corrosion resistance, even in extreme conditions, and a low in water weight, reducing the need for floatation near the device.

XSRS units are attached to the streamer using industry standard collars and typically spaced at 100 metre intervals within the front, middle and tail sections of the streamer. A typical 6 x 8 kilometre long streamer spread, for example, will require 42 XSRS units to derive a position solution with range redundancy. When full acoustic bracing of the network is required, transceivers can be placed down the entire length of the streamer.

Each XSRS has 4 receive channels and 1 transmit channel allowing simultaneous ranging between transceivers and the capability to receive 4 of 60 unique digital signals each ranging cycle. Range data is transmitted to the vessel via the inductive coils contained within each streamer. XSRS’ use standard ‘D’ size alkaline or long life lithium cells depending on the duration of the deployment required.

Sound Velocity Option

XSRS transceivers can be supplied with a direct reading sound speed sensor. This ‘time of flight’ sensor provides superior accuracy and ease of use compared to traditional CTD methods, particularly in areas affected by fresh water and salt water mixing.

Head and Gun Positioning System

The Head and Gun Positioning System (HGPS) comprises of shock-mounted acoustic transceivers designed to position the seismic sources and tailbuoys. The units are able to withstand the hostile environment around airguns and can be supplied with different transducer arrangements to accommodate an operator’s preferred deployment method.

RTS

Where it is not possible to run a communications and power cable between an HGPS and its vessel-based controller, a Radio Telemetry System (RTS) is available. This utilises a ruggedised marine radio in a splashproof enclosure to telemeter range data to the survey vessel.

Hardware and Software

Controller Rack

The Controller Rack is a 19” rack mounted unit that provides the interface between the in-water acoustic devices and the user’s PC. As the slots of the rack are not designated for a particular board type, it can accommodate a total of 6 Controller Cards of any combination (XSRS or HGPS).

Each XSRS Controller Card can support up to 4 streamers with a maximum of 30 XSRS transceivers per streamer. Each HGPS/RTS Controller Card can communicate and provide power to 8 transceivers.

Navigation Computer and Software

The Navigation Computer is a purpose-built PC that is interfaced to the SIPS Controller Rack via a serial communications link. It is responsible for processing the raw range data collected by the Controller Rack and passing it to a client’s main navigation computer so that an absolute network solution may be obtained. The unit has been specifically designed to run Sonardyne’s family of software applications and features front-mounted USB ports for when access to the rear of the unit is restricted by rack mounting. A rack-mountable monitor and USB keyboard with integral touchpad is supplied as standard.

Standard software features include XSRS transceiver and HGPS communication tools and acoustic signal diagnostics. These help minimise job setup time and enable rapid
QC checks to be made. It also means the acoustic positioning system can be optimised to the survey vessel and its particular operating environment whether in deep water or shallow.

SIPS Streamer Positioning System Specifications

Positioning Capacity20+ Streamers

SIPS
Acoustic Coverage	Partial or Full Streamer
Operating Frequency	Sonardyne EHF (55-110kHz)
Acoustic Range Resolution	5 mm @ 1500 m/s Vp
System Sync Resolution	75 mm @ 1500 m/s Vp
Typical Cycle Time	600 ranges in 7 seconds
Immunity to Multipath	System can resolve bottom/ surface bounce greater than 300 mm
Data Output Format	Raw range data (Various industry standard formats)

Support

System Software
SIPS2	V2.22.01
HydroPos	V1.0.22
RFID	V1.00.00.25
Instrument Firmware
XSRS Transceiver	V3.04
XSRS 750 Transceiver	V3.04
XSRS Transceiver with ASV Sensor	V3.04
Splashproof Transceiver	V3.04
HGPS Remote Transducer	V3.04
HGPS Right Angle Transducer	V3.04
Tailbuoy Transceiver	V3.04
XSRS Controller	V3.04
HGPS/RTS Controller	V3.04

Title	Description
CBoard Change Notice For SIPS2 Transceivers – No 06-006	Technical bulletin detailing the corrective actions required for some SIPS2 Transceiver Transit Boards exhibiting earlier than expected failure.

Manuals

To request a manual simply tick the box next to the manual you require and then press the Request Form button. You will then be able to request addition manuals for other products and your request will be emailed to our Customer Support Team who will reply to your enquiry. Alternatively please contact your local office who will be more than happy to help.

User Manual - SIPS 2 System
SM-7881

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