Methods for acquiring and processing seismic data from quasi-simultaneously activated translating energy sources

A method for obtaining seismic data comprising the steps of:

• translating a constellation of seismic energy sources along a survey path, the seismic energy sources including a reference energy source and at least one satellite energy source;
• translating along the survey path a streamer of spaced apart receivers, wherein the receivers are disposed generally in a linear alignment along a predetermined length of the streamer;
• positioning the at least one satellite energy source in a perpendicular displacement to the direction of the streamer of receivers to provide a plurality of azimuthal coverage, wherein the at least one satellite energy source is located laterally outboard from the streamer at a distance of at least one-tenth of the length of the streamer;
• and
• activating the reference energy source and the at least one satellite energy source at a time delay relative to the activation of the reference energy source once each at spaced part activation locations along the survey path to generate a series of superposed wavefields which propagate through a subsurface and are reflected from and refracted through material heterogeneities in the subsurface, the time delay being varied between the spaced apart activation locations;
• and
• recording seismic data including seismic traces generated by the series of superposed wavefields utilizing the spaced apart receivers.