A seismic node deployment system comprises a cable supply with one or more seismic nodes configured for coupling to the cable at one or more attachment locations for deployment to a water column. A node attachment system is configured to drive a portion of the cable into periodic or reciprocal motion so that the attachment speed is substantially reduced relative to the speed at which the cable is deployed.

A seismic exploration method includes performing a true amplitude PSDM based on an initial velocity model of a subsurface formation to obtain a reflectivity model, and then a Born modeling using the reflectivity model to generate synthetic data. An image-based reflection full waveform inversion is applied to a cost function of differences between seismic data acquired over the subsurface formation and the synthetic data to update the initial velocity model. The updated velocity model enables exploring the presence of and/or assisting in the extraction of natural resources from the subsurface formation.

Methods of analyzing and optimizing a seismic survey design are described. Specifically, the sampling quality is analyzed as opposed to the overall quality of the whole survey. This allows for analysis of the impact of the offsets, obstacles, and other aspects of the survey on the sampling quality, which will improve the ability to compress the resulting data and minimize acquisition footprints.

A method and apparatus for operating a single source vessel along a survey path, the source vessel towing a source and a first plurality of streamers; operating a streamer vessel along the survey path, the streamer vessel towing a second plurality of streamers; actuating the source; acquiring near-offset data with a first plurality of receivers; and acquiring long-offset data with a second plurality of receivers. A system includes a source vessel coupled to: a source; and a near-offset survey spread; a streamer vessel coupled to a long-offset survey spread, wherein a streamer spacing density of the long-offset survey spread is no greater than a streamer spacing density of the near-offset survey spread; and a survey plan including navigation information for the source vessel and the streamer vessel, wherein the navigation information directs the source vessel and the streamer vessel along a common survey path while the source is actuated.

A method includes receiving, via a processor, a first seismic dataset generated using a first type of survey system. The method further includes receiving, via the processor, a second seismic dataset generated using a second type of survey system. The method additionally includes determining a frequency band in which to combine the first seismic dataset with the second seismic dataset to generate a combined dataset and generating a seismic image based upon the combined dataset, wherein the seismic image represents hydrocarbons in a subsurface region of the Earth or subsurface drilling hazards.

A seismic survey system is provided. The system can include a source array including a first sub-source array and a second sub-source array. The system can include a streamer coupled with the first sub-source array and a streamer coupled with the second sub-source array. The system can include a receiver array including a plurality of receivers. The system can include a lateral cable coupled with at least one of a first diverter or a second diverter and at least one of the first sub-source array or the second sub-source array. The system can include a positioning cable coupled with the first diverter and a positioning cable coupled with the second diverter. The system can include a power cable. The system can include a seismic data acquisition unit array including a plurality of seismic data acquisition units disposed on a seabed.

Various implementations directed to quality control and preconditioning of seismic data are provided. In one implementation, a method may include receiving particle motion data from particle motion sensors disposed on seismic streamers. The method may also include performing quality control (QC) processing on the particle motion data. The method may further include performing preconditioning processing on the QC-processed particle motion data. The method may additionally include attenuating noise in the preconditioning-processed particle motion data.

A seismic survey system for prospecting for sub-sea minerals including a first vessel towing a first seismic source and a seismic detector and a second vessel towing a second seismic source. The seismic detector is arranged to receive acoustic signals resulting from the reflection and/or refraction by the sea bed of acoustic signals emitted from both the first and second seismic sources.

Marine surveys carried out with multiple source arrays comprising three or more sources are discussed. Each source of a multiple source array is an array of source elements, such as air guns. The sources of a multiple source array may be arranged in particular type of configuration that is effectively maintained while the survey vessel travels a sail line. The sources of the multiple source array are activated to acoustically illuminate a subterranean formation with acoustic signals. Two or more sources of a multiple source array may be activated to create blended seismic data. Methods to deblend, source deghost, and attenuate noise in the blended seismic data obtained by using a multiple source array are also discussed.

Systems and methods relate to generating a self-consistent sediment model. Initially, void ratio extrema are determined for each sediment layer in a sediment column based on historical data or a direct measurement of the sediment column. Initial stress is determined for each sediment layer based on the void ratio extrema. A porosity model is generated for each sediment layer based on the void ratio extrema and the initial stress. At this stage, measured data is obtained for each sediment layer from a data collection device positioned at or near a geographic location of the sediment column. The porosity model of each of the sediment layer is combined with the measured data of the sediment layer to generate the self-consistent sediment model for each sediment layer. The porosity model and the self-consistent sediment model of each sediment layer is updated based on updated measured data obtained from the data collection device.