New technologies in marine seismic surveying: Overview and physical modelling experiments

Eric V. Gallant, Robert R. Stewart, Donald C. Lawton, Malcolm B. Bertram, Carlos Rodriguez

New marine seismic technologies include ocean bottom cables, dual sensor(hydrophone and geophone) cables, sub-sea seismic, three component geophones and vertical hydrophone cables. All of these recording systems promise specific improvements in seismic imaging. We have conducted physical model seismic surveys to simulate these new marine methods. The surveys were made using ultrasonic transducers over a sand channel model. Two-component sensors were in contact with the solid model at the bottom of a water layer. Pressure sensors were used just above the sea floor, and just below the water surface, to simulate hydrophone cables. A set of vertical measurements in the water completed the surveys.