The use of multi‐azimuth streamer acquisition for attenuation of diffracted multiples

This paper discusses the nature and severity of multiple diffraction energy that is commonly seen on deep-water marine seismic data. Analysis and modeling show the nature of the problem and illustrate why this type of noise is difficult to remove using today’s standard acquisition and processing techniques. An alternative high -fold and multiazimuth streamer acquisition technique is proposed and field-tested in the Norwegian Sea. The basic idea is simple; that improved sampling of azimuth and offset allows the CMP stacking process to better attenuate noise. Constructive stacking of primary signal is improved through higher CMP fold. The concept, the acquisition configuration and processing results from a 2001 acquisition test will be presented.