Importance

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Abstract

A marine seismic surveying system and method are disclosed. A plurality of receiver arrays, each arranged as groups of receivers (hydrophones or geophones) mounted along a cable, extend from a central location thereamong, and are connected to a platform near the central location. Systems with single and multiple platforms and their associated arrays are disclosed. The arrays each extend from the central location in different directions, preferably in a symmetrical fashion, and have their terminal ends fixed in position by way of an anchor or dynamic positioning means. Position and depth indicating instruments are also preferably mounted in each array, and at other locations in the area so that the receivers may be accurately located. The survey is accomplished by a seismic source traveling along a path which intersects the lines defined by one or more of the seismic arrays at an angle, for example a 45.degree. angle for perpendicularly deployed arrays. As a result, seismic data is acquired which is uniform in fold, and which has distributed offset distances and azimuths for each bin, so that full 3-D surveys and VSP can be readily performed with high accuracy and efficiency.

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First Claim