Toward subsurface illumination-based seismic survey design

The usual approach to the acquisition of 2-D and 3-D seismic surveys is to use a recording template designed from the maximum target dips and depths. This template is used through out the survey area irrespective of changes in the dips, depths or propagation velocities of the targets. I propose to base the survey design on an initial structural and velocity model of the subsurface. The initial structural and velocity model is used to trace rays to the surface at uniform illumination angles from all reflecting points of interest. The emergence ray points are recorded as tentative source and receiver positions and a constrained inversion is used to optimize them given logistic and economic restrictions. I apply this strategy to a very simple 2-D synthetic model and show that in order to image steep dips larger offsets are required than would be anticipated from the traditional approach. This in turn implies the need for different source and receiver positions.