Source element of a source subarray can be individually actuated according to an actuation sequence. The actuation sequence can be at least partially based on a relative position of each of the source elements within a particular geometry of the source subarray with respect to a previously actuated source element and a towing velocity of the source subarray.

A method and apparatus for hydrocarbon management including generating an image of a subsurface formation by: obtaining simultaneous-source survey data, an earth model, and a first and a second velocity model of the subsurface formation; generating synthetic survey data with at least one of the earth model, the first velocity model, and the second velocity model. The method and apparatus may include directly migrating the simultaneous-source survey data; migrating the synthetic survey data; and subtracting the migrated synthetic survey data from the migrated simultaneous-source survey data. The method and apparatus may include subtracting the synthetic survey data from the simultaneous-source survey data; and directly migrating the result of the subtraction. The method and apparatus may include generating an artifact-reduced image.

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.

A method for actuating plural sets of vibratory seismic sources. The method includes calculating, at a controller, a continuous signal C.sub.n that is made as a periodic repetition of a template p.sub.n, wherein the template p.sub.n includes a swept-frequency signal; receiving a subset duration time L.sub.sub; receiving a tapering function W having a time length of L.sub.sub; receiving a calendar time t.sub.sweep; computing, at the controller, a product S.sub.n of a subset of the continuous signal C.sub.n and the tapering function W, wherein the subset of the continuous signal C.sub.n starts at the calendar time t.sub.sweep and lasts for the duration time L.sub.sub; and actuating a set n of the plural sets of vibratory sources at the calendar time t.sub.sweep, wherein each vibratory source of the set n of vibratory sources is actuated based on the product S.sub.n.

One embodiment includes receiving seismic data from a plurality of seismic sensors located proximate to a build section of a wellbore that is drilled into a subsurface. The seismic data is recorded for a plurality of seismic waves, at different angles, sent from a plurality of seismic sources towards the plurality of seismic sensors. Locations of the plurality of seismic sources relative to locations of the plurality of seismic sensors are such that the plurality of seismic waves are essentially planar at the plurality of seismic sensors. The subsurface is essentially homogenous proximate to the build section. For at least a portion of the plurality of seismic waves, the embodiment includes determining a slowness vector for each seismic wave, and determining a phase velocity and a phase angle. The embodiment includes determining at least one anisotropic parameter value for the build section, determining a vertical velocity value, and using these.

A device, medium and method for deblending seismic data associated with a subsurface of the earth. The method includes a step of receiving seismic data S recorded with one or more seismic receivers, wherein the seismic data S includes shot recordings generated by first and second source arrays that are simultaneously actuated; a step of detecting incoherent energy of the seismic data S using a median filter; a step of replacing incoherent parts of the seismic data with a projection filter to obtain deblended data for one of the two or more source arrays; and a step of generating in a computing device an image of the subsurface based on the deblended data.

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.

Computing device and methods process seismic data sets associated with the same surveyed subsurface but recorded with different spatial sampling and temporal bandwidths. The first seismic data is used to guide processing of the second seismic data. An image of the subsurface is generated based on processed second seismic data.

Techniques are disclosed relating to acquisition and imaging for marine surveys. In some embodiments, a transition survey that uses both one or more sources of a first type (e.g., impulsive sources) and one or more sources of a second type (e.g., vibratory sources) may facilitate calibration of prior surveys that use the first type of sources with subsequent surveys that use the second type of source. In some embodiments, the different types of sources may be operated simultaneously at approximately the same location. In some embodiments, signals generated by the sources are separated, e.g., using deconvolution. The signals may then be compared to generate difference information, which in turn may be used to adjust sensor measurements from a previous or subsequent survey. In various embodiments, the disclosed techniques may improve accuracy in images of geological formations and may facilitate transitions to new types of seismic sources while maintaining continuity in 4D surveys.

There is provided herein a system and method of seismic data collection for land and marine data that utilizes narrowband to monochromatic low-frequency non-impulsive sources designed to optimize the ability of migration/inversion algorithms to image the subsurface of the Earth, in particular, full-waveform inversion.