Real-time simulation of the far-field signature of a seismic sound source array

A method for real-time simulation of the far field signature of an array of a plurality of seismic sound sources, comprising:

• individually firing each of the respective seismic sound sources of the array;
• separately measuring the near field signature of each said seismic sound source;
• scaling the respective measured signatures with respect to a reference to compensate for variations in the power output levels of the sources;
• correcting the measured, scaled signatures for fire time delays;
• deghosting the measured, scaled, corrected signatures;
• separately storing in a matrx, as a function of the respective source locations in the array, each of the measured, scaled, corrected and deghosted signatures to form a library of elemental near field seismic source signatures;
• occupying sequentially, a plurality of seismic stations in an assigned area of survey;
• at each said station, firing the array of seismic sound sources, taken as a whole and recording a seismogram;
• for each source location in the array, measuring the instantaneous local firing and environmental parameters at the time of firing;
• extacting from said library the elemental signatures coresponding to each said source location;
• creating a simulated far field signature that is characteristic of the station occupied, by processing each of the extracted elemental signatures to compensate for variations in the instantaneous local firing and environmental parameters as measured at the respective corresponding source locations in the array;
• and
• compositing said processed signatures.