Field testing of explosive surface seismic sources in the Canadian thrust belt

Abstract

Field tests of explosive surface seismic sources conducted in the foothills of Alberta illustrate that data quality obtained from surface shooting can be improved significantly by source‐array design and the placement of detonation points within the array. A source‐array design which maximizes the data quality in the Alberta foothills is a simple, 50 kg, cross‐configuration of linear surface explosives with detonation from all ends. No significant difference occurs between shooting at the ground surface versus elevating and detonating the cross‐configuration a few meters off the ground. Ove‐rshooting can occur by improper design of weighted cross‐configuration arrays. Multifold profiling with the cross‐configuration illustrates that quality seismic data can be derived in the Alberta thrust belt through the use of surface seismic sources.