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Geometrics GeoEel Multi-Channel Streamer

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By Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center April 15, 2021

The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed like a long snake in the water from a vessel, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source.

A coil of green hose on the deck of a ship at sea.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
PCMSC's Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer sits on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon

The Geometrics GeoEel is a solid, multichannel digital streamer system.  The system consists of a streamer power supply unit, analog to digital converters (one for each section of hydrophones), and streamer hydrophone sections.  These sections can be connected together to increase the length of the streamer and the number of channels.  Using the multichannel streamer to record reflections allows for one to identify subsurface structures meters to thousands of meters below the seafloor, depending on the sound source used.

Specifications

  • Manufacturer: Geometrics

  • Model: GeoEel Solid

    • 150 m @ 3.125 m hydrophone group spacing (6 solid 25 m sections)

      • 2 sections with bird coils

    • 50 m @ 1.56 m hydrophone group spacing (4 solid 12.5 m sections)

    • Tow cables, isolation & stretch sections

    • (12) Digitizers

  • Weight: 156 kg/100 m

  • Dimensions: 44 mm diameter

  • Power Requirements: ~120 VAC

A large wheel, bigger than a person, holds a long green hose wrapped around its drum.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed in the water from a vessel like a long snake, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source. Here, it is shown stored on its winch in the wareyard of MarFac, the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's marine facility.

Operational Characteristics

  • Minimum Operational Depth: 10 m

  • Maximum Operational Depth: Streamer has a maximum tow depth of 35 m, but it can be used to record data in any depth of water.  Results will be dependent on the choice of sound source.

  • Sediment Type: Any

  • Limitations:  Length of the multi-channel streamer can vary from 50 m to many kilometers, and may be determined by how much the vessel can accommodate

  • Power Outputs / Freq. Ranges: 500 to 8000 Hz Bandwidth

  • Ship’s Requirements

    • Can be stored and deployed using a large streamer winch- footprint 8 ft by 8 ft

    • When stored without a winch, it requires 7 ft by 5 ft deck space

Additional Equipment Required

The multi-channel streamer requires a topside PC running the Geometrics Controller software to collect, display and record data.

The GeoEel hydrophone streamer is the “listening”/recording device for a seismic sound source.  The sound source is chosen based on the goal of the survey as well as the environmental conditions.

 

Photo of equipment sitting on the deck of a boat which is docked, and it's sleeting or snowing.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
University of Washington's research vessel R/V Barnes is loaded with the USGS multichannel seismic system components GeoEel, Chirp, and boom plates. During the fieldwork, we collected multichannel sparker and towed chirp sub-bottom data in Puget Sound and multichannel boomer and towed chirp sub-bottom data in Lake Washington, in hopes of characterizing recent deformation and estimating earthquake recurrence on the Seattle Fault zone.

  

See the multichannel seismic system for a comprehensive description. Also, check out the PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac) web site for more information about field gear.

link
Photo of equipment sitting on the deck of a boat which is docked, and it's sleeting or snowing.

High-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System

Description of the high-resolution multichannel seismic system at the Marine Facility (MarFac) of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, for seafloor mapping
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

High-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System

Description of the high-resolution multichannel seismic system at the Marine Facility (MarFac) of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, for seafloor mapping
Learn More
link
Photo looking up at a man wearing safety gear and cold weather clothing holding a big drill with puffy white clouds in the sky.

PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
Learn More
link
A large truck is parked near the wall of a building with a boat on the attached boat trailer.

PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac
Learn More

The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed like a long snake in the water from a vessel, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source.

A coil of green hose on the deck of a ship at sea.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
PCMSC's Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer sits on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon

The Geometrics GeoEel is a solid, multichannel digital streamer system.  The system consists of a streamer power supply unit, analog to digital converters (one for each section of hydrophones), and streamer hydrophone sections.  These sections can be connected together to increase the length of the streamer and the number of channels.  Using the multichannel streamer to record reflections allows for one to identify subsurface structures meters to thousands of meters below the seafloor, depending on the sound source used.

Specifications

  • Manufacturer: Geometrics

  • Model: GeoEel Solid

    • 150 m @ 3.125 m hydrophone group spacing (6 solid 25 m sections)

      • 2 sections with bird coils

    • 50 m @ 1.56 m hydrophone group spacing (4 solid 12.5 m sections)

    • Tow cables, isolation & stretch sections

    • (12) Digitizers

  • Weight: 156 kg/100 m

  • Dimensions: 44 mm diameter

  • Power Requirements: ~120 VAC

A large wheel, bigger than a person, holds a long green hose wrapped around its drum.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed in the water from a vessel like a long snake, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source. Here, it is shown stored on its winch in the wareyard of MarFac, the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's marine facility.

Operational Characteristics

  • Minimum Operational Depth: 10 m

  • Maximum Operational Depth: Streamer has a maximum tow depth of 35 m, but it can be used to record data in any depth of water.  Results will be dependent on the choice of sound source.

  • Sediment Type: Any

  • Limitations:  Length of the multi-channel streamer can vary from 50 m to many kilometers, and may be determined by how much the vessel can accommodate

  • Power Outputs / Freq. Ranges: 500 to 8000 Hz Bandwidth

  • Ship’s Requirements

    • Can be stored and deployed using a large streamer winch- footprint 8 ft by 8 ft

    • When stored without a winch, it requires 7 ft by 5 ft deck space

Additional Equipment Required

The multi-channel streamer requires a topside PC running the Geometrics Controller software to collect, display and record data.

The GeoEel hydrophone streamer is the “listening”/recording device for a seismic sound source.  The sound source is chosen based on the goal of the survey as well as the environmental conditions.

 

Photo of equipment sitting on the deck of a boat which is docked, and it's sleeting or snowing.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
University of Washington's research vessel R/V Barnes is loaded with the USGS multichannel seismic system components GeoEel, Chirp, and boom plates. During the fieldwork, we collected multichannel sparker and towed chirp sub-bottom data in Puget Sound and multichannel boomer and towed chirp sub-bottom data in Lake Washington, in hopes of characterizing recent deformation and estimating earthquake recurrence on the Seattle Fault zone.

  

See the multichannel seismic system for a comprehensive description. Also, check out the PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac) web site for more information about field gear.

link
Photo of equipment sitting on the deck of a boat which is docked, and it's sleeting or snowing.

High-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System

Description of the high-resolution multichannel seismic system at the Marine Facility (MarFac) of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, for seafloor mapping
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

High-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System

Description of the high-resolution multichannel seismic system at the Marine Facility (MarFac) of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, for seafloor mapping
Learn More
link
Photo looking up at a man wearing safety gear and cold weather clothing holding a big drill with puffy white clouds in the sky.

PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.
Learn More
link
A large truck is parked near the wall of a building with a boat on the attached boat trailer.

PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)

Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFac
Learn More
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