Seismic Wavelet Spectral Enhancement – Quantity or Quality?

From the digital communication theory, we present some considerations to quantify signal characteristics and the relation with the theoretical resolution. However, this theory was basically developed on narrow bandwidth signals and transposed to broadband seismic signal. This has some implication and also gives the carrier frequency to be considered as a characteristic parameter. ‘Detection’ is also included in the discussion as the ability to identify and hopefully characterize thinner geological bodies. One can also consider tuning effect to identify the key parameters. We show that these two approaches give the equivalent conclusion about the main role played by the bandwidth and the carrier frequency to be considered together. If a larger bandwidth could be the processing challenge to drive the seismic imaging to higher resolution and/or better detection, it is necessary to spend time on controlling what kind of bandwidth broadening is sought after and how it is obtained. It is useless to reach broader spectrum while amplifying noise. Implicit techniques must involve checking the level of noise to ensure reliability. But when enlarging the bandwidth cannot be the solution, other way can be used to make signal in proper condition to deliver relevant layer properties.