SBP29

The primary application of the SBP 29 is to do sub-bottom imaging of sediment layers and buried objects, The data can be stored as raw or in SEG-Y format. A high source level improves the signal to noise ratio, which is further augmented by system properties that affect image quality such as narrow beam width, range resolution limited by the signal bandwidth, and a high source level.

The SBP 29 beams are electronically stabilized for roll and pitch, and the data are heave compensated. It can operate with wider beams, thereby trading slope robustness for signal quality. The array geometry is akin to that used by EM multibeam echo sounders, employing the wideband receive antenna of the EM system. Much narrower beam widths than conventional sub-bottom profilers are utilized, delivering superior specular return to backscatter ratio for improved penetration and less cluttered imaging.

The SBP 29 has two innovative transmit modes as tools when sloping sediments is a problem: one allows cyclic variation of the beam widths, while the other offers volume scanning with narrow beams. A swath of beams per ping provides across-track slope robustness. These swath beams are also beneficial for the detection of buried objects and backscatter studies.