Distance separated simultaneous sweeping, for fast, clean, vibroseis acquisition

• Published in: Geophysical Prospecting 2010-01, Vol.58 (1), p.123-153
• Main Author: Bouska, Jack
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Internal geophysics
• ISSN: 0016-8025; 1365-2478
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2478.2009.00843.x

ABSTRACT Distance separated simultaneous sweeping DS3 is a new vibroseis technique that produces independent records, uncontaminated by simultaneous source interference, for a range of offsets and depths that span all target zones of interest. Use of DS3 on a recent seismic survey in Oman, resulted in a peak acquisition rate of 1024 records per hour. This survey employed 15 vibrators, with a distance separation of 12 km between simultaneous active sources, recorded by 8000 active channels across 22 live lines in an 18.5 km × 11 km receiver patch. Broad distribution of simultaneous sources, across an adequately sized recording patch, effectively partitions the sensors so that each trace records only one of the simultaneous sources. With proper source separation, on a scale similar to twice the maximum usable source receiver offset, wavefield overlap occurs below the zone of interest. This yields records that are indistinguishable from non‐simultaneous source data, within temporal and spatial limits. This DS3 technique may be implemented using a wide variety of acquisition geometries, optimally with spatially large recording patches that enable appropriate source separation distances. DS3 improves acquisition efficiency without data quality degradation, eliminating the requirement for special data processing or noise attenuation.