IMPROVED MARINE SEISMIC SURVEY FLEXIBILITY AND REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT USING COMPACT SOURCES

We examine compact air gun source concepts as a practical solution to mitigate the environmental impact of received sound levels during marine seismic surveys. The relative sound pressure level (SPL) and sound exposure level (SEL) are quantified for 1. Large arrays of air guns activated simultaneously with no significant recorded overlap in emitted acoustic pressure, 2. Small arrays of air guns activated simultaneously or in rapid succession, with recorded overlap in emitted acoustic pressure, 3. Individual air guns activated continuously with significant recorded overlap in emitted acoustic pressure—otherwise known as continuous wavefield acquisition, and 4. Marine vibrators that may sweep continuously and interfere with each other.