Seismic exploration method and apparatus for cancelling non-uniformly distributed noise

An apparatus for seismic exploration in the vicinity of one or more sources of non-uniform mechanical noise, comprising:

• means for generating seismic waves at a selected location on the earth's surface;
• a plurality of seismic detectors disposed on the surface of the earth at a plurality of locations spaced from said selected location for receiving said seismic waves;
• at least one mechanical noise detector disposed in proximity to each of said sources of non-uniform mechanical noise for detecting noise signals;
• and
• adaptive filter means coupled to the output of each of said plurality of seismic detectors in the vicinity of a source of non-uniform mechanical noise and the output of said at least one mechanical noise detector for producing an output signal representative of seismic waves reflecting from formations in the earth wherein noise signals are removed from said seismic waves.

An apparatus for seismic exploration comprising:

• means for generating seismic waves at a selected location on the earth's surface;
• a plurality of seismic detectors disposed on the surface of the earth at a plurality of locations spaced from said selected location for receiving said seismic waves;
• at least one air noise detector at each of said plurality of locations for detecting nonuniformly distributed air noise signals;
• and
• adaptive filter means coupled to the output of each of said plurality of seismic detectors and the output of said at least one wind noise detector at each of said plurality of locations for producing an output signal representative of seismic waves reflecting from formations in the earth wherein said nonuniformly distributed air noise signals are removed from said seismic waves.