Device and method for continuous data acquisition

1. A method for generating an excitation signal for a first vibratory seismic source so that the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, the method comprising:

determining a first target spectrum for the first vibratory seismic source;

setting a first group of constraints for the first vibratory seismic source;

generating a first excitation signal for the first vibratory seismic source based on the first group of constraints and the first target spectrum,

wherein the first excitation signal is a first pseudorandom excitation signal obtained by convolving a first pseudorandom sequence and one or more constraint reciprocal filter corresponding to a constraint that is a member of the first group of constraint; and

driving the first vibratory seismic source with the first excitation signal,

wherein first seismic traces recorded with plural receivers can be identified when the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, based on the first pseudorandom excitation signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first vibratory seismic source is a marine vibratory source.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating comprises:

generating the first pseudorandom sequence in the time-frequency domain;

applying a fast Fourier transform to the first pseudorandom sequence to obtain a first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence;

convolving the first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence with the one or more constraint reciprocal filters to obtain corresponding constraint signals (LD, LC, LV);

rescaling the first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence based on the constraint signals; and

applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to the rescaled first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence to create the first pseudorandom excitation signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the constraint is a displacement, velocity, acceleration, current or voltage associated with the first vibratory seismic source.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

applying a compand function (f) to the first pseudorandom sequence.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the compand function f is given by f(x)=sin {2 x/π}, for |x|<1, and =x/|x| elsewhere.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a second target spectrum for a second vibratory seismic source, wherein the second target spectrum partially overlaps with the first target spectrum;

setting a second group of constraints for the second vibratory seismic source; and

generating a second pseudorandom excitation signal for the second vibratory seismic source based on the second group of constraints and the second target spectrum,

wherein first and second seismic traces recorded with the plural receivers can be separated when the first and second vibratory seismic sources are driven with no listening time, and simultaneously based on the first and second pseudorandom excitation signals, and

wherein the first seismic traces are generated by the first seismic source and the second seismic traces are generated by the second seismic source.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first vibratory seismic source emits in a frequency range different from a frequency range of the second vibratory seismic source.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first vibratory seismic source is provided at a first depth underwater and the second vibratory seismic source is provided at a second depth underwater.

10. A computing device for generating an excitation signal for a first vibratory seismic source so that the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, the computing device comprising:

an interface configured to,

receive a first target spectrum for the first vibratory seismic source, and

receive a first group of constraints for the first vibratory seismic source; and

a processor connected to the interface and configured to,

generate a first excitation signal for the first vibratory seismic source based on the first group of constraints and the first target spectrum,

wherein the first excitation signal is a first pseudorandom excitation signal obtained by convolving a first pseudorandom sequence and one or more constraint reciprocal filter corresponding to a constraint that is a member of the first group of constraints, and

drive the first vibratory seismic source with the first excitation signal,

wherein first seismic traces recorded with plural receivers can be identified when the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, based on the first pseudorandom excitation signal.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the first vibratory seismic source is a marine vibratory source.

12. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate the first pseudorandom sequence in the time-frequency domain;

apply a fast Fourier transform to the first pseudorandom sequence to obtain a first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence;

convolve the first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence with the one or more constraint reciprocal filters to obtain corresponding constraint signals (LD, LC, LV);

rescale the first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence based on the constraint signals; and

apply an inverse fast Fourier transform to the rescaled first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence to create the first pseudorandom excitation signal.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the constraint is a displacement, velocity, acceleration, current or voltage associated with the first vibratory seismic source.

14. The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a compand function (f) to the first pseudorandom sequence.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the compand function f is given by f(x)=sin {2 x/π}, for |x|<1, and =x/|x| elsewhere.

16. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a second target spectrum for a second vibratory seismic source, wherein the second target spectrum partially overlaps with the first target spectrum;

set a second group of constraints for the second vibratory seismic source; and

generate a second pseudorandom excitation signal for the second vibratory seismic source based on the second group of constraints and the second target spectrum,

wherein first and second seismic traces recorded with the plural receivers can be separated when the first and second vibratory seismic sources are driven with no listening time, and simultaneously based on the first and second pseudorandom excitation signals, and

wherein the first seismic traces are generated by the first seismic source and the second seismic traces are generated by the second seismic source.

17. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the first vibratory seismic source emits in a frequency range different from a frequency range of the second vibratory seismic source.

18. The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the first vibratory seismic source is provided at a first depth underwater and the second vibratory seismic source is provided at a second depth underwater.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, implement a method for generating an excitation signal for a first vibratory seismic source so that the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, the method comprising:

determining a first target spectrum for the first vibratory seismic source;

setting a first group of constraints for the first vibratory seismic source;

generating a first excitation signal for the first vibratory seismic source based on the first group of constraints and the first target spectrum,

wherein the first excitation signal is a first pseudorandom excitation signal obtained by convolving a first pseudorandom sequence and one or more constraint reciprocal filter corresponding to a constraint that is a member of the first group of constraint; and

driving the first vibratory seismic source with the first excitation signal,

wherein first seismic traces recorded with plural receivers can be identified when the first vibratory seismic source is driven with no listening time, based on the first pseudorandom excitation signal.

20. The medium of claim 19 , wherein the step of generating comprises:

generating the first pseudorandom sequence in the time-frequency domain;

applying a fast Fourier transform to the first pseudorandom sequence to obtain a first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence;

convolving the first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence with the one or more constraint reciprocal filters to obtain corresponding constraint signals (LD, LC, LV);

rescaling the first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence based on the constraint signals; and

applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to the rescaled first Fourier transform pseudorandom sequence to create the first pseudorandom excitation signal.