Staggered source array configuration system and method

1. A marine seismic acquisition system comprising:

a first vessel that follows an inline direction (X);

a first source array (S 1 ) configured to generate first seismic waves; and

a second source array (S 2 ) configured to generate second seismic waves,

wherein

the first and second source arrays are towed by the first vessel parallel to and on either side of the inline direction (X),

a first inline distance (d) between (i) a first center of source (CS 1 ) of the first source array (S 1 ) and (ii) a second center of source (CS 2 ) of the second source array (S 2 ) is different from zero, and

a cross-line distance (L) between the first center of source and the second center of source, along a cross-line direction (Y) perpendicular to the inline direction, is different from zero.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first inline distance (d) is larger than a length (I) of the first source array.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first inline distance (d) is calculated to be a multiple of a shot point interval used to fire the first and second source arrays.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first inline distance (d) is calculated to be an odd multiple of a shot point interval used to fire the first and second source arrays.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first inline distance (d) is at least 12. 5 m.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first center of source (CS 1 ) of the first source array (S 1 ) is a geometric center of a footprint of the first source array.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first source array includes plural source elements, each configured to generate a corresponding seismic wave.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the plural source elements extend along three parallel lines, each parallel with the inline direction.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first inline distance (d) is different from the cross-line distance (L).

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second source arrays are shot simultaneously.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third source array (S 3 ) towed by the first vessel,

wherein there is a second inline distance (d 2 ) between the third source array and the second source array along the inline direction, that is not zero.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second inline distance (d 2 ) is different from the first inline distance (d).

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second vessel moving in parallel with the first vessel and towing third and fourth source arrays that are offset along the inline direction relative to the second vessel.

14. A method for calculating characteristics of a marine seismic survey, the method comprising:

calculating a pre-plot direction to be followed by a vessel during the seismic survey for surveying an undersurface;

calculating a first inline distance between a first source array (S 1 ) that generates first seismic waves and the vessel; and

calculating a second inline distance between a second source array (S 2 ) that generates second seismic waves and the vessel,

wherein the first and second source arrays are towed by the vessel parallel to and on different sides of the pre-plot direction with a cross-line distance (L) there-between, and a difference between the first inline distance and the second inline distance is equal to an inline distance (d) that is different from zero.

15. The method of claim 14 ,

wherein the first inline distance is considered to extend between a first center of source (CS 1 ) of the first source array (S 1 ) and a reference point on the vessel, and

wherein the second inline distance is considered to extend between a second center of source (CS 2 ) of the second source array (S 2 ) and the reference point on the vessel.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the inline distance (d) is larger than a length of the first source array.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the inline distance (d) is calculated to be a multiple of a shot point interval used to fire the first and second source arrays.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the inline distance (d) is calculated to be an odd multiple of a shot point interval used to fire the first and second source arrays.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

shooting simultaneously the first and second source arrays while being towed by the vessel with the first and second distances.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, implement instructions for calculating characteristics of a marine seismic survey, the instructions comprising:

calculating a pre-plot direction to be followed by a vessel during the seismic survey for surveying an undersurface;

calculating a first inline distance between a first source array (S 1 ) that generates first seismic waves and the vessel; and

calculating a second inline distance between a second source array (S 2 ) that generates second seismic waves and the vessel,

wherein the first and second source arrays are towed by the vessel parallel to and on different sides of the pre-plot direction with a cross-line distance (L) there-between, and a difference between the first inline distance and the second inline distance is equal to an inline distance (d) that is different from zero.