Premium
INTERACTION EFFECTS IN MARINE SEISMIC SOURCE ARRAYS *
Author(s) -
SINCLAIR J.E.,
BHATTACHARYA G.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
geophysical prospecting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.735
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2478
pISSN - 0016-8025
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2478.1980.tb01229.x
Subject(s) - superposition principle , range (aeronautics) , wavelength , acoustics , physics , computational physics , optics , mathematics , materials science , mathematical analysis , composite material
A bstract Past design of marine source arrays has been based on one or more of the following principles:(i) simultaneous operation of multiple identical sources to increase radiated signal strength by simple addition; (ii) superposition of wavelets of different fundamental frequency to achieve a total pulse of desired, front‐loaded form (e.g. mixed volume air‐gun arrays); (iii) horizontal spacing of units or groups to achieve spatial filtering effects.The phenomenon of interaction between sources, affecting the loading experienced by each, has usually been ignored, or else avoided by wide spacing of units. However, interactions can significantly affect the efficiency and frequency response, in a way that can be favourable. Calculations are presented for sources emitting continuous or long duration signals, showing the energy efficiency as a function of frequency for arrays in a variety of configurations. Interaction effects are significant for inter‐source spacings smaller than or comparable with the wavelength—not, as is often stated, up to a distance related to the radii of the sources. The results show that potential exists for tailoring the frequency response of a source system, according to the application, by simple spatial rearrangement of units. Similar effects occur with interacting impulsive sources, but it is shown that different criteria apply for the optimum arrangements of units.