A seismic data acquisition system is configured to collect seismic data. The system includes a marine source array configured to be attached to a fixed structure floating at the water surface and including vibratory source elements; and a controller configured to control the vibratory source elements so that a beam formed by the source array is steerable.

Systems and methods of near surface imaging and hazard detection with increased receiver spacing are provided. The system includes: a first string of one or more acoustic sources, a second string of one or more acoustic sources opposite the first string, a first one or more hydrophones mounted within a predetermined distance of the first string, and a second one or more hydrophones mounted within the predetermined distance of the second string. The first one or more hydrophones records an acoustic shot generated from the first string. The second one or more hydrophones records the acoustic shot and acoustic reflections corresponding to the acoustic shot. The system generates an image from the recorded acoustic shot and the acoustic reflections.

An adaptable seismic source system that includes a first seismic source having at least one moving plate and a second seismic source also having at least one moving plate. Each of the moving plates of the first and second seismic sources creating a pressure wave. Each seismic source is comprised of a fixed center plate having opposed sides and a pair of movable plates that are arranged at respective opposed sides of the center plate; a coupling member that is disposed between the first and second seismic sources for enabling a sliding action between the first and second seismic sources and a controller coupled with the first and second seismic sources for exciting the seismic sources to provide a combined output with a lower frequency spectrum.

A vessel system includes a hull configured to provide buoyancy, one or more seismic sources configured to generate seismic energy, and a deployment apparatus configured to deploy the seismic sources from the hull to a water body or water column. A control system can be configured to operate the deployment apparatus, in order to deploy the seismic sources.

Techniques are described for utilizing far offset impulsive source activations in various contexts, including when performing marine seismic surveys, when manufacturing a geophysical data product in conjunction with such surveys, or when generating an image of geological features of a subsurface. According to some embodiments, near offset impulsive source activations are caused in a body of water at each of a plurality of near offset shot points, and composite far offset impulsive source activations are caused in the body of water at each of a plurality of far offset shot points. Each of the composite far offset impulsive source activations comprises a succession of component impulsive source activations occurring over a far offset shot length. The far offset shot length is short enough to satisfy a stationary source assumption for frequencies at or below a maximum frequency of interest for the far offset shot points.

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.

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.

Geophysical survey methods. At least some of the example embodiments are methods of performing a marine geophysical survey including: towing a plurality of sensor streamers behind a tow vessel, each sensor streamer coupled to the tow vessel by a respective lead-in cable; towing, by the tow vessel, a plurality of lead vessels with each lead vessel pulling a respective seismic source, each lead vessel pulled by a respective tow cable and at least one intermediate cable; actuating the respective seismic sources pulled by the plurality of lead vessels; and gathering seismic data by each of the sensor streamers.

Survey design for data acquisition using marine non-impulsive sources can include operating a first marine non-impulsive source at over a first frequency range for a first sweep length and operating a second marine non-impulsive source over a second frequency range for a second sweep length. The first sweep length can be based on available geological information of a subsurface location that is a target of a marine seismic survey, an intended speed of a marine survey vessel, and the first frequency range. The second sweep length can be based on the available geological information, the intended speed, and the second frequency range.

Techniques are disclosed relating to performing marine surveys according to dither values generated based on one or more dithering constraints. This may include for example, determining a set of nominal shot points for a marine seismic energy source and determining dither values for ones of the nominal shot points. In some embodiments, the dither values are randomly generated, subject to a duplication constraint such that at most a threshold number of dither differences between consecutive shot points that fall within discrete ranges. In some embodiments, actual shot points are determined for the planned sail line based on application of the determined dither values to the nominal shot points. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may facilitate a separate de-blending procedure to separate signals from the marine seismic energy source and signals from one or more other seismic energy sources to be used for the seismic survey.