Chapter 1 - Introduction

Abstract

This chapter represents a brief introduction to seismic data processing and provides a conventional processing flow for marine seismic data. It explains the basic principles and definitions of the most common terms in underwater acoustics. It also includes the principles of fundamental marine acoustic methods such as single- and multibeam bathymetric systems, side-scan sonar as well as subbottom profiler systems. Differences between single- and multichannel seismics, and advantages and shortcomings of 2D and 3D exploration are included. Fundamentals of wave propagation and particle movements of different seismic waves involved in seismic exploration, production of a reflection at an interface, characteristics of shot gathers and reflection hyperbolas both from land and marine seismics are also defined.