f ANALYSIS OF THE IVI MINIVIBI PERFORMANCE FOR HIGH FREQUENCY REFLECTION DATA

Understanding the vibrator-earth response is a pivotal part in addressing problems that decrease the fidelity of vibroseis data. If the vibrator output (ground force) is known, raw vibroseis data can be optimized for resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of the seismic waveform. The source signature, however, is non-unique and varies from shotpoint to shotpoint and from sweep to sweep. Nonlinear complexities within the vibrator’s hydraulic system, tower structure, baseplate flexure, and the ground response to force exerted by the vibrator baseplate increase irregularities in the vibroseis signal. Measuring and analyzing the response of the vibrator baseplate to a specific drive signal can help determine optimal recording positions on the baseplate to recover the ground force signal. When used to correlate or deconvolve raw data, an accurate approximation of the vibrator output will increase data resolution.