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SEG Standards for marine seismic hydrophones and streamer cables

1

D. H. Reed
2
, R. L. Selsam
3
, and W. A. Knox
4



1
1987 Society of Exploration Geophysicist. All rights reserved.
2
Chairman, Technical standards subcommittee for marine source and detector standards, ARCO Oil & Gas
(retired), 10415 Coleridge, Dallas, TX 75218.
3
Subcommittee member, Hydroacoustics, Inc., P.O. Box 23447, Rochester, NY 14692.
4
Subcommittee member, Western Geophysical (retired), 8310 Ashcroft Dr., Houston, TX 77096.
These standards were approved for publication
by the SEG Executive Committee on March
17, 1986. We appreciate the encouragement
given by three former Chairmen of the
Technical Standards Committee: L. L. Lenz, D.
A. Cavers, and J. G. Morgan. The authors who
did the writing, are grateful to all the other
subcommittee members who reviewed the
various drafts and made valuable comments.
We would like to especially recognize Joe Blue
of Naval Research Laboratory, Underwater
Sound Reference Detachment, Orlando,
Florida who hosted several subcommittee
meetings and provided information on existing
standards. In addition to those listed under
"Acknowledgments,'' industry representatives
who reviewed drafts and all the companies
who contributed time and resources are
gratefully recognized.
We anticipate that revisions and additions will
be necessary from time to time. Please
address all such suggestions to the current
Chairman of the SEG Technical Standards
Committee, Ben B. Thigpen.

Part I. Standards for specifying hydrophone parameters

Purpose and scope
Purpose. This standard provides minimum
recommended descriptive terms for
specifying hydrophone parameters such that
personnel involved in exploration geophysics
can more easily compare and select
hydrophones appropriate for their intended
application. Other parameters may be
provided if the manufacturer so desires.
Scope. This standard covers three types of
hydrophones commonly used in geophysical
exploration: piezoelectric elements, elements
with integral preamplifiers and elements with
coupling transformers. The first type consists of
one or more piezoelectric elements. They may
be bare or encapsulated. The second type
consists of one or more piezoelectric elements
with an integral preamplifier. The integral
amplifier is generally included to provide a larger
This document has been converted from the original publication:
Reed, D. H., Selsam, R. L. and Knox, A. E., 1987, Special report on SEG standards for marine
seismic hydrophones and streamer cables *: Geophysics, 52, no. 02, 242-248. (* Errata in GEO-
52-5-0720)
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signal and/or lower output impedance than
the direct coupled piezoelectric units. The
integral preamplifier requires power from
either an external power source or an internal
battery. The preamplifier may be of the
voltage, charge, or current mode type. The
third type of hydrophone includes a
transformer with one or more piezoelectric
elements. Transformer-coupled hydrophones
provide lower output impedance than direct
coupled piezoelectric units. The coupling
transformer is generally wound so as to
provide a low nominal output impedance
across the operating frequency band.
A form for data presentation is specified so
that hydrophones may be readily compared
and data sheets easily understood.
Parameters are to be specified in Systeme
International (SI) metric units but other
commonly used units may follow in
parentheses.
This standard describes below the
parameters common to all types of
hydrophones, while subsequent sections
describe those additional parameters
necessary to characterize integral
preamplifier and transformer-coupled
hydrophones, respectively.
Definitions
Letter symbols. Letter symbols used in this
standard comply with those given in
American National Standards Letter Symbols
for Acoustics, Y 10.11-1953 (R1959),
American National Standard Acoustic
Terminology, S 1.1-1960 (R1976), American
National Standard Preferred Reference
Quantities for Acoustical Level, S 1.8-1969
(R1974), and American Society for Testing
and Materials Standard Metric Practice
Guide, ASTM Designation E 380-79 (also
ANSI Z210.1-1976).
Terminology. Terminology used in this
standard is based on definitions given in
American National Standards S 1.1-1960
(R1976) and American National Standard
Procedures for Calibration of Underwater
Electroacoustic Transducers, S 1.20-1972.
Metrication. In addition to the terminology and
letter symbols listed in the references above,
SEG has published a tentative metric standard.
This publication, SI Metric System of Units and
SEG Tentative Metric Standard, SEG
Metrication Subcommittee, 1981, should be
consulted.
Hydrophone sensor parameter standards
Physical. Hydrophone sensors may consist of
more than one sensitive element. They may be
bare or encapsulated. The physical standards
are common to all three hydrophone types.
(1) Dimensions. A drawing of the sensor
configuration should be provided with
dimensions given in centimeters (inches).
(2) Materials. Materials should be specified by
the manufacturer to allow judgments as to
chemical compatibility with fluids that the
hydrophone assembly may contact (e.g., ballast
fluids in seismic streamers). A statement
assuring materials compatibility may be
substituted for the materials specification.
(3) Weight. Weight should be given in grams
(ounces).
(4) Displacement. Displacement should be
given in cubic centimeters (cubic inches).
(5) Temperature. The operating and storage
temperature ranges should be given in degrees
Celsius (degrees Fahrenheit).
Electrical
(1) Leads. The type and length of electrical
leads should be stated.
(2) Polarity. The color code or other marking to
indicate positive polarity voltage or charge for a
positive (increase in) acoustic pressure should
be designated. Red is the preferred color for the
positive terminal.
(3) Capacitance
5
. Capacitance across the
hydrophone output terminals should be given in
microfarads with tolerance expressed as X%.

5
Applicable to hydrophones without integral
amplifier or transformers.
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(4) Resistance
6
. The dc resistance across
hydrophone output terminals should be given
and expressed as greater than X megohms at
stated conditions of temperature and
humidity.
Performance
(1) Free-field voltage sensitivity. Free-field
voltage sensitivity should be given in decibels
referenced to 1 volt per micropascal with
accuracy expressed as X decibels. The
frequency at which the sensitivity is
determined should be stated (e.g., Free-Field
Voltage Sensitivity - XXX dB re 1 V per Pa
XX dB @ XX Hz).
Hydrophone calibration method
The hydrophone calibration method
should conform to methods described
in ANSI SI.20-1972, Procedures for
Calibration of Underwater
Electroacoustic Transducers,
American National Standards Institute,
1430 Broadway, New York, NY,
10018.
If a secondary calibration method is
employed, the "calibration-standard-
hydrophone" source or method of
calibration should be given.
(2) Mechanical resonance. The lowest
major mechanical resonant frequency for
free-field conditions should be stated.
(3) Sensitivity versus frequency. A curve or
statement should be furnished showing open-
circuit free-field voltage sensitivity versus
frequency.
(4) Sensitivity versus depth. A curve or
statement should be furnished showing open-
circuit free-field voltage sensitivity versus
depth.
(5) Sensitivity versus temperature.
Maximum change in sensitivity over the
operating temperature range should be

6
Applicable to hydrophones without integral
amplifier or transformers.
stated.
(6) Acceleration sensitivity. A statement
should be given as to acceleration sensitivity
along each of the three major orthogonal axes.
The measurement method should be given.
(7) Depth capability. Depth excursion in meters
(feet) to which the hydrophone can be subjected
without destruction or significant permanent
change in sensitivity (< 1 dB) should be stated.
(8) High dynamic pressure capability. The
maximum acoustic pressure that the hydrophone
can withstand a specified number of cycles
without permanent change in characteristics
greater than 1 dB should be stated if intended
for such usage.
(9) Free-field charge sensitivity. Free-field
charge sensitivity can be computed from the
capacitance and free-field voltage sensitivity of
the sensors. Free-field charge sensitivity should
be stated in decibels referenced to 1
nanocoulomb per micropascal (nC/Pa) with
accuracy of X dB. Statement of this parameter
is optional.
Additional parameters for integral
preamplifier hydrophone
These parameters apply to hydrophones with
integral preamplifiers only.
(1) Impedance. The nominal output impedance
of the device should be specified in ohms. Plots
of output impedance magnitude and phase
versus frequency should be provided. The
minimum load impedance and maximum load
capacitance for the preamplifier should also be
specified.
(2) Frequency response. The free-field voltage
sensitivity as a function of frequency should be
plotted for the open circuit condition. Both
amplitude and phase plots should be provided.
(3) Power. The voltage and current
requirements of the preamplifiers should be
given. If battery powered, the battery type and
expected operating and storage life should be
given.
(4) Clipping pressure. The peak pressure level
at which preamplifier saturation occurs should
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be stated in dB re 1 micropascal.
(5) Harmonic distortion. The total harmonic
distortion should be given for a specified
frequency when the input acoustic signal is at
a specified percentage of the clipping
pressure.
(6) Noise. A plot of the preamplifier noise
output spectral density with the sensitive
element isolated from noise sources should
be provided. The ordinate of the plot should
be expressed in terms of the equivalent
sound pressure level input; i.e., dB re 1
Pa/Hz.
Additional parameters for transformer
coupled hydrophone
(1) Impedance. The nominal output
impedance of the device should be given in
ohms. Plots of impedance magnitude and
phase versus frequency should be provided.
(2) Dc resistance. Resistance should be given
in ohms with tolerance expressed as X
percent.
(3) Natural frequency. The frequency at which
the hydrophone circuit sensitivity is greatest
should be specified as XX Hz X percent.
(4) Frequency response. The free-field voltage
sensitivity as a function of frequency should be
plotted for the open circuit condition and at least
one other value of shunt resistance. Both
amplitude and phase response should be
provided.
(5) Harmonic distortion. The maximum
acoustic pressure at which total harmonic
distortion exceeds a stated percentage at a
stated frequency should be given.
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Part II. Standards for specifying hydrophone streamer-cable characteristics
Purpose and scope
Purpose. In Part I of this document, the
specification standards for single sensors were
defined. As those who are skilled in the art
know, a single sensor or hydrophone is rarely
used for commercial operations. Accordingly, it
is the set of specifications for the components
of the entire streamer cable, as actually used
in the field, that is of practical importance. It is
the purpose of this section to recommend a
uniform set of specifications that will provide
essential data to the user.
Scope. The standard specification set to follow
will include hydrophone array parameters,
physical characteristics of the streamer cable
sections, the lead-in cable, isolator sections,
deck cable, and optional ancillary equipment.
Specifications for acceptable ballast fluids are
included.
Units of measurement
Reference standard. Units of measurement
shall conform to the recommendations of the
SEG Metrication Subcommittee as published in
SI Metric System of Units and SEG Tentative
Metric Standard. The preferred SI unit symbols
used here are approved "abbreviations."
Alternate units of measurement follow in
parentheses. There are two exceptions to the
above rule:
Wavelength is expressed by the Greek symbol
, and array length is expressed symbolically
as L.
Tolerance. All measurements should be
expressed as typical unless a tolerance (xxx)
is specified.

FIG. 1. Array frequency response.
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Hydrophone arrays
Physical characteristics.
(1) Hydrophones. Number and type of
hydrophones per array.
(2) Arrays. Number of arrays per section.
(3) Array dimensions. Length of active arrays,
m (ft).
(4) Array spacing. Array spacing, center-to-
center, m (ft).
(5) Hydrophone spacing. Hydrophone
spacing within array, m (ft).
(6) Drawings. Dimensional diagram if
hydrophone spacing is not equal, m (ft).
(7) Operating depth. Recommended
maximum operating depth, m (ft).
(8) Maximum depth. Specify depth in m (ft) to
which the hydrophone array may be subjected
without destruction or significant permanent
change in sensitivity exceeding 1 dB.
(9) Programmability. If programmable, state
configuration options.
(10) Specification sheet. Provide specification
sheet for typical hydrophone per Part I of
"Standards for Specifying Hydrophone
Parameters."
Response characteristics.
(1) Electrical diagram. Provide schematic
electrical diagram of cable section including
hydrophone connections, coupling network.
(2) Capacitance. Total capacitance of each
hydrophone array F x percent.
(3) Output impedance. Complex output
impedance of hydrophone array in graphical
form.
(4) Sensitivity. Acoustic sensitivity, V/Pa x
dB (V/bar).
(5) Sensitivity versus depth. Change in
sensitivity with depth, dB/m (dB/f).
(6) Weighting, electrical. Electrical weighting
of individual units of array if any.
(7) Amplitude response. Amplitude response
in graphical form in units of frequency in Hz
versus dB referred to 1V/Pa. See Figure 1.
(8) Phase response. Phase response of array
in graphical form expressed as rad/Hz. See
Figure 1.
(9) Spatial response Spatial response in
graphical form in Hz as a function of the ratio
of array length to wave-length, L/. See Figure
2.
Streamer cable section.
Physical characteristics
(1) Length, m (ft).
(2) Outside diameter, cm (in).
(3) Jacket. Type of jacket, thickness, cm (in).
(4) Stress members. Stress members,
material, type, size, number.
(5) Breaking strength. Minimum breaking
strength, newtons (lb-force).
(6) Weight dry. Carcass weight per section in
air dry, kg (lb).
(7) Weight wet. Weight per section in air, filled
with specified quantity of fluid, kg (lb).
(8) Weight submerged. Section weight in
water, kg (lb). Calculate or, preferably,
measure the section displacement in fresh
water at a standard temperature of 20C and a
standard pressure of 101325 Pa (1 atm). Users

FIG. 2. In-line response of array.
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can then more easily extrapolate to actual field
conditions.
(9) Ballast fluid. Quantity of ballast fluid
required, m
3
(litres, gallons).
(10) Temperature, operating. Operating
temperature range, C (F).
(11) Temperature, storage. Storage
temperature range, C (F).
(12) Connectors. Type of cable-section
connectors.
(13) Materials. Materials should be specified
by the manufacturer to allow judgments as to
chemical compatibility with fluids that the
hydrophone assembly may contact (e.g.,
ballast fluids in seismic streamers). A
statement assuring materials compatibility may
be substituted for the materials specification.
(14) Connector specifications. Outside
diameter, weight in fresh water, and length of
cable connectors including active
instrumentation modules.
(15) Depth limits. The depth, m (ft) to which
the streamer cable section may be subjected
without destruction or significant physical or
electrical change.
(16) Bend radius. Specify the minimum bend
radius, m (ft) to which the cable section and
connectors may be subjected.
Electrical characteristics, analog
Electrical parameters. Conductor round-trip
Dc resistance and capacitance in situ, /m,
F/m.
(2) Channels, active. Number of active
channels and spares.
(3) Channels, auxiliary. Number of auxiliary
channels and spares.
(4) Test pairs. Number of test pairs for quality
control testing of active or passive electronic
modules.
(5) Conductors. Type of conductors, twisted
pairs, coaxial optical-fiber, etc., specify
functional use.
(6) Leakage. Nominal interchannel leakage,
M measured in situ.
Electrical characteristics, digital
(1) Digital specifications. The specifications
here listed apply only to the cable sections
themselves. Specifications for digital data
acquisition modules should conform to the
standards set forth in the SEG Standards
Document entitled: "Digital Seismic Recorder
Specification Standards" which is incorporated
herein by reference.
(2) Channels per module. Number of seismic
and active auxiliary channels per module.
(3) Data transmission link. Type and
bandwidth of data transmission link (e.g.,
coaxial cable, optical fiber, bandwidth in MHz).
(4) Module separation. Maximum data
transmission distance between modules and/or
repeaters, m (ft).
(5) Power. Power requirements, kW @ xV.
(6) Cable length. Maximum total cable length
with respect to power requirements, m (ft).
(7) Auxiliary conductors. Number, functional
use of, type and specifications of nonseismic-
data-transmission conductors.
(8) Leakage. Nominal leakage as applicable,
M measured in situ.
Ancillary equipment
Types of equipment
(1) Water break. Water break detectors, type,
number, distribution.
(2) Cable depth. Cable depth detectors, type,
number, permissible distribution.
(3) Compasses. Azimuth indicators
(compasses), permissible locations.
(4) Cable saver. Cable recovery system, type,
description.
(5) Depth controllers. Cable depth controllers,
auto-matte, manual preset or programmable.
Permissible distribution if applicable.
Operating-depth range.
(6) Swivel. Tail swivel, type, capability.
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(7) Tail buoy. Tail buoy, active such as
transponder, DF radio, GPS or passive such
as marker buoy, radar target.
(8) Cable positioning. Acoustical positioning
devices, locations, types, range, configuration
shipboard and in cable. Method of data
transmission.
Output signals
(1) Specification of signal outputs. For each
specialized type of ancillary equipment, where
appropriate, specify the type of signal output
(digital or analog), the units of measurement,
e.g., V/m for a cable-depth detector, resolution,
accuracy, power requirements at specified
voltage. Specify their physical characteristics,
particularly if such devices are external to the
cable or if they would affect cable noise or
towing configuration.
(2) Source of specifications. Many ancillary
devices are commercially available off the
shelf. To avoid an inordinately long standard
specification list, the cable manufacturer may
prefer to incorporate by reference the
published ancillary-device specifications.
Lead-in cable
Physical description
(1) Length, m (ft).
(2) Outside diameter, cm (in).
(3) Jacket. Type and thickness of jacket, cm
(in).
(4) Conductors. Number, type, and AWG of
conductors and bundle shielding.
(5) Armoring. Type of armoring, stress
member specifications.
(6) Strength. Minimum breaking strength,
newtons (lb-force).
(7) Weight dry. Weight in air, kg (lb).
(8) Weight submerged. Weight in fresh water
at standard temperature and pressure, kg (lb).
(9) Temperature, operating. Operating
temperature range, C (F).
(10) Temperature, storage. Storage
temperature range, C (F).
(11) Fairing. Type of fairing, if any.
(12) Electrical characteristics. Round trip dc
resistance, capacitance, and leakage
measured in situ, , F, M.
(13) Connectors. Type of connectors.
(14) Flotation. Type of flotation if any.
Buoyancy, kg (lb).
(15) Bend radius. Minimum bend radius, m
(ft).
Deck cable
Physical description
(1) Length, m (ft).
(2) Outside diameter, cm (in).
(3) Jacket. Type of jacket.
(4) Conductors. Number, type, and AWG of
conductors.
(5) Armoring. Type of armoring, shielding,
stress member.
(6) Strength. Breaking strength, if applicable,
newtons (lb-force).
(7) Weight dry. Weight in air, kg (lb).
(8) Temperature, operating. Operating
temperature range C (F).
(9) Temperature, storage. Storage
temperature range C (F).
(10) Connectors. Type of connectors, plug-in,
swivels, slip ring, etc.
(11) Bend radius. Minimum bend radius, m
(ft).
(12) Electrical characteristics. Dc resistance,
capacitance, nominal leakage, , F, M
measured in situ.
Ballast fluid specifications
(1) Length, m (ft).
(2) Outside diameter, cm (in).
(3) Jacket. Type and thickness of jacket, cm
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(in).
(4) Conductors. Number, type, and AWG of
conductors.
(5) Stress members. Type and number of
elastic stress members.
(6) Strength. Minimum breaking strength,
newtons (lb-force).
(7) Stretchability. Elongation, meters per
newton loading (ft/lb-force). Set of section
should not exceed X percent after Y hours of
tension at Z newtons loading. Preferably
provide a suitable graph.
(8) Weight dry. Carcass weight in air dry, kg
(lb).
(9) Weight wet. Weight in air when filled with
specified quantity of ballast fluid.
(10) Weight submerged. Weight in fresh
water filled with specified quantity of ballast
fluid, kg (lb), standard temperature, and
pressure.
(11) Temperature, operating. Operating
temperature range, C (F).
(12) Temperature, storage. Storage
temperature range, C (F).
(13) Electrical characteristics. Round trip dc
resistance, nominal leakage and capacitance
per unit length, /m, M, F/m, measured in
situ.
(14) Connectors. Type of connectors.
(15) Ballast fluid. Quantity of ballast fluid, m
3
(gal).
(16) Hydrophones. If active, specify the
number and type of sensors. Where
applicable, list the electrical analog or digital
characteristics as for seismic cable sections.
Ballast fluid specifications
Introduction. Ballast fluids or simply cable oils
are odorless kerosenes that have a negligible
content of sulfur, aromatics, and olefins.
Suitable cable oils are selected from the
generic hydrocarbon group of the aliphatics
such as normal paraffin, isoparaffin, and
naphthene. The properties of hydrocarbon
solvents are defined in part by certain arbitrary
quantities which will be defined in the following
paragraphs. Cable oils that fall outside the
below-listed specifications may be hazardous
to the well being of the cable structure.
Cable oil properties
(1) Specific gravity: 0.750 0.040.
(2) Flash point. The flash point is the lowest
temperature at which vapors will ignite
momentarily when exposed to a flame.
Preferably greater than 58C (136F).
(3) Aromatics. Aromatic content: 10 cm
3
/litre
(1 percent).
(4) Plastic compatibility. The kauri butanol
number is a measure of the ability of the oil to
attack resinous plastics. The K/B number
should be less than 30, and preferably 25.
(5) Deodorization. The doctor test is the
measure of the degree of deodorization of the
solvent with particular reference to sulfur and
mercaptans. The doctor test must be negative,
particularly since the cable oil must be used
within the close confines of a ship.
(6) Corrosiveness. The copper-strip corrosive
test is a measure of the sulfur content and
corrosiveness of the oil. The index should be
no greater than 1 or 1a.
(7) Sulfur. Sulfur content: 1 mg/kg (1 ppm).
(8) Paraffin. The paraffin content should be 99
percent or greater of either normal or
isoparaffin.
(9) Olefin. The olefin content: 10 cm
3
/litre
(1 percent).
Conclusions
Special cable configurations
(1) Specialized cables. The foregoing
specifications are designed to provide a
detailed description of streamer cables
presently in common use. Exotic cables such
as bottom-drag cables, optical-fiber cables, yo-
yo cables and the like can be adequately
specified by the above guidelines, although the
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specification format would require suitable
modification.
(2) Equipment. Cable handling equipment
such as cable reels, special hydraulic
accumulators to reduce cable motion, and yo-
yo type devices were not considered in this
document. Those items are usually specific to
a particular operator. The operator will usually
provide suitable technical manuals covering
the maintenance and operation of such
devices.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Members of the Technical Standards
Subcommittee for Marine Source and Detector
Standards for 1981-1986 are D. H. Reed,
Chairman, Arco Oil & Gas (retired); C. O.
Berglund, Teledyne Exp. Co.; J. Blue, Naval
Research Lab., Underwater Sound Reference
Detach.; J. F. Desler, GECO Geophysical Co.;
R. C. Johnston, ARCO Oil & Gas (retired); R.
A. Kirby, Exxon Prod. Res. (retired); W. A.
Knox, Western Geophysical Co. (retired); W.
H. Luehrmann, Rogers Geophysical Co.
(retired); B. H. Nelson, P. T. Digicon Mega
Pratama; R. L. Selsam, Hydro-acoustics, Inc.;
E. L. Tree, Amoco Research; J. C. Woodall,
Mark Products; and R. G. Zachariadis, Mobil
Research.
The Technical Standards Committee Chairmen
for 1981 to 1986 are L. L. Lenz, Exxon Co.
USA (retired); D. A. Cavers, Gulf Exploration &
Producing Co. (Chevron, retired); and J. G.
Morgan, Chevron Geosciences Co.