High-frequency content boost for vibratory seismic source and method

1. A method for generating with a computing device a desired pilot signal for driving a vibratory source to generate seismic waves, the method comprising:

selecting a pilot target amplitude spectrum for the vibratory source;

determining an initial pilot signal that matches the pilot target amplitude spectrum;

associating the initial pilot signal with first and second frequency bands, the second frequency band including a high-frequency end of a range of the vibratory source;

selecting a first band-pass configuration for the first frequency band and a second band-pass configuration for the second frequency band;

band-passing a first part of the initial pilot signal associated with the first frequency band with the first band-pass configuration;

band-passing a second part of the initial pilot signal associated with the second frequency band with the second band-pass configuration;

level compressing the first and second parts of the initial pilot signal;

recombining the first and second parts of the initial pilot signal to form a recombined pilot signal; and

processing the recombined pilot signal to obtain the desired pilot signal,

wherein the desired pilot signal boosts the high-frequency end of the range of the vibratory source comparative to the initial pilot signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second band-pass configuration is complimentary to a response of a hydraulic system which is part of the vibratory source.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a de-emphasis spectral correction on the modified pilot signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

filtering out unwanted frequencies of the recombined pilot signal to obtain a filtered pilot signal.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

level compressing the filtered pilot signal to obtain the desired pilot signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

applying a low-pass filter to the desired pilot signal.

7. A controller configured to generate a desired pilot signal for driving a vibratory source to generate seismic waves, the controller comprising:

an interface configured to receive a pilot target amplitude spectrum for the vibratory source; and

a processor connected to the interface and configured to,

determine an initial pilot signal that matches the pilot target amplitude spectrum,

associate the initial pilot signal with at first and second frequency bands, the second frequency band including a high-frequency end of a range of the vibratory source,

select a first band-pass configuration for the first frequency band and a second band-pass configuration for the second frequency band,

band-pass a first part of the initial pilot signal associated with the first frequency band with the first band-pass configuration,

band-pass a second part of the initial pilot signal associated with the second frequency band with the second band-pass configuration,

level compress the first and second parts of the initial pilot signal,

recombine the first and second parts of the initial pilot signal to form a recombined pilot signal, and

process the recombined pilot signal to obtain the desired pilot signal,

wherein the desired pilot signal boosts the high-frequency end of the range of the vibratory source comparative to the initial pilot signal.

8. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the second band-pass configuration is complimentary to a response of a hydraulic system which is part of the vibratory source.

9. The controller of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a de-emphasis spectral correction on the modified pilot signal.

10. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

filter out unwanted frequencies of the recombined pilot signal to obtain a filtered pilot signal.

11. The controller of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

level compress the filtered pilot signal to obtain the desired pilot signal.

12. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a low-pass filter to the desired pilot signal.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, implement instructions for

generating a desired pilot signal for driving a vibratory source to generate seismic waves, the instructions comprising:

selecting a pilot target amplitude spectrum for the vibratory source;

determining an initial pilot signal that matches the pilot target amplitude spectrum;

associating the initial pilot signal with at first and second frequency bands, the second frequency band including a high-frequency end of a range of the vibratory source;

selecting a first band-pass configuration for the first frequency band and a second band-pass configuration for the second frequency band;

band-passing a first part of the initial pilot signal associated with the first frequency band with the first band-pass configuration;

band-passing a second part of the initial pilot signal associated with the second frequency band with the second band-pass configuration;

level compressing the first and second parts of the initial pilot signal;

recombining the first and second parts of the initial pilot signal to form a recombined pilot signal; and

processing the recombined pilot signal to obtain the desired pilot signal, wherein the desired pilot signal boosts the high-frequency end of the range of the vibratory source comparative to the initial pilot signal.

14. The medium of claim 13 , wherein the second band-pass configuration is complimentary to a response of a hydraulic system which is part of the vibratory source.

15. The medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

applying a de-emphasis spectral correction on the modified pilot signal.

16. The medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

filtering out unwanted frequencies of the recombined pilot signal to obtain a filtered pilot signal.

17. The medium of claim 16 , further comprising:

level compressing the filtered pilot signal to obtain the desired pilot signal.

18. The medium of claim 17 , further comprising:

applying a low-pass filter to the desired pilot signal.