A New Stress-Reinforced Streamer Hydrophone Array

This paper examines and discusses the design of a 2 inch diameter geophysical multi-channel streamer hydrophone array. This design uses a centrally positioned stress member and electrical cable. Advantages of a streamer array with a centrally located stress member over an array with two or more stress members not centrally located are discussed. Included is an analysis of where the stresses occur when a section of array is deployed or retrieved. The discussed array design examines methods of suppressing bulge wave and acceleration induced signals by means of internal bulkheads as well as by favorable positioning of the hydrophone cartridges. A new assembly of hydrophones at each station is also examined, and the advantage of the use of cylindrical hydrophone elements is discussed. The ruggedness and dependability of cylindrical hydrophones used in this array construction is analyzed and demonstrated. A new concept in integrated electronics able to be incorporated directly in the cylindrical hydrophone cartridge is proposed.