Seismic

Seismic

The performance specifications for airgun umbilicals and lead-in cables used for offshore data acquisition are becoming increasingly challenging as the amounts of data increase and new technologies like Life of Field, EM and Nodal have emerged.

Fibron is constantly evolving their products to meet the demands of these new technologies to ensure maximum reliability, operational efficiency, and safety. Our experienced team of design engineers and technicians have the knowledge and expertise to design and manufacture umbilicals and cables for these offshore applications.

Key Supplier

As a key supplier to the seismic industry since the early 2000’s, Fibron has developed a unique and extensive portfolio of industry specific products including:

Armoured Lead-in/Tow Cables

Fibron was approached by a major seismic contractor to develop the next generation of armoured lead-in cable with the aim of reducing the diameter significantly whilst maintaining the required tensile strength and electrical/optical fatigue performance. Using thin wall insulation technology for the electrical cores, steel tube fibre optics, and a high tensile steel armour package, we reduced the diameter by 27%.

This improvement had a real impact on the performance of the vessel by reducing the overall drag characteristics, resulting in lower fuel consumption. It also allowed operation in shallower waters, as the cable catenary is considerably less.

To maximise efficiency, seismic vessels need to tow many streamers with wide tow angles and higher towing forces. This puts additional strain on the lead-in cable. With hundreds of kilometres of this cable deployed, Fibron’s armoured lead-in cable product sets the global standard for lead-in cables.

tow cables
airgun umbilicals

Airgun Umbilicals

Fibron goes to great lengths to review and improve its airgun umbilical designs. A recent study reviewed the choice of extrusion materials, component lay angles, and other proprietary detailed design and manufacturing solutions that improve product performance in harsh environments.

The resulting improvements have increased product performance and can include a wide range of standard 7/8”, 1” and 1-1/4” aramid reinforced hoses or a selection of multiple high collapse-resistant hose variants.

Electro-Magnetic Source Umbilicals

Fibron has been at the forefront of developing electro-magnetic source umbilical technology.

Working with several customers, we have successfully designed and manufactured a number of umbilicals for use in both deep and shallow water applications. The emphasis has been to provide an umbilical that is capable of supplying high electrical current, whilst achieving a very light-weight design.

Electro-Magnetic Source Umbilicals

Seismic & Geophysical Survey FAQs

Answers to common questions about seismic tow and lead-in cables, airgun and electromagnetic-source umbilicals, hydrodynamic performance, cable fairings and refurbishment.

An armoured lead-in cable forms the mechanical, electrical and optical connection between the survey vessel and the deployed seismic spread. It must transmit power and data while carrying towing loads and withstanding bending, hydrodynamic forces and repeated deployment.

The reinforcement, conductor arrangement, fibre protection, diameter and termination design are engineered around the towing configuration.

A smaller cable can reduce in-water drag, cable catenary and the load placed on the vessel and towing equipment. This can support wider tow spreads, shallower-water operation and improved vessel efficiency.

Diameter reduction must not compromise tensile strength, fibre performance, electrical performance, fatigue resistance or termination reliability.

An airgun umbilical connects the vessel’s source-control system to an offshore seismic airgun array. It transfers compressed-air energy and electrical or optical signals while withstanding towing, deployment and recovery loads.

Hose size, collapse resistance, extrusion materials, component lay and outer protection are selected around the source arrangement and operating conditions.

An electromagnetic-source umbilical supplies the electrical current, control and supporting services needed by a marine electromagnetic survey source. These products may need to carry high electrical current while remaining as lightweight and hydrodynamically efficient as possible for towing and deployment.

Fairings modify the flow of water around a cable to reduce vibration, strumming and associated drag. They can improve towing behaviour and help protect the cable and connected equipment from fatigue caused by flow-induced motion.

The appropriate fairing design depends on cable diameter, tow speed, water conditions, installation method and maintenance requirements.

Potentially. Fibron can inspect and test the product before preparing a repair or refurbishment proposal. The scope may include cable repair, termination recovery, re-termination, fairing replacement and further electrical, optical or mechanical testing.

The extent of refurbishment depends on the remaining integrity of the construction and whether the repaired product can meet the required operational acceptance criteria.

Here to help

If you need an umbilical or cable and can’t immediately see what you’re looking for, please do get in touch. Most of our work is bespoke to the needs of a particular project, so we can’t show all of our capabilities on our website. As experts in our field, if you need a cable or umbilical, particularly for use in a challenging environment like offshore, there’s a good chance that we’ll be able to help.