Alternative processing techniques and data improvement provided by single‐sweep recording

Abstract

The conventional procedure used to acquire Vibroseis® seismic reflection data is to sum in the field the contributions from several vibrator sources distributed over the source array. An alternative method of recording the data which provides more flexibility in the processing is to record the output from each pad position in the source array rather than summing in the field. Prewhitening these data before summing can improve the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratio. If cancellation of surface waves by a source array is not a requirement, then processing each sweep as a separate source point can result in increased lateral resolution. These procedures were applied to seismic data over a buried rift basin in the southeastern United States. The results demonstrate improvement in the S/N ratio and spatial resolution that enable better interpretation of the complex, internal geometry of the basin.