For seismic profiling in very shallow water, a novel receiver

Abstract

There is an increasing interest in the geology of the nearshore and coastal zone. Working in the coastal zone, groups involved in civil engineering projects, pipeline and cable installations, marine transportation and navigation, recreational and harbor developments, and coastal defenses and environmental bodies demand better and more informative data. Although detailed site-specific information from borehole drilling, sample testing, or in-situ geotechnical measurements may be required, it is common practice and invariably cost effective to undertake a reconnaissance geophysical survey program first -- identifying borehole locations, providing geological and bathymetric information, and providing information on sediment distribution and the dynamics of the depositional regime. Used extensively by the offshore industry for many years, seismic reflection profiling is the preferred geophysical technique for high resolution structural-stratigraphic investigation of the seafloor. However, seismic data collection in very shallow water has posed many problems technically, operationally, and logistically. Recently, there have been significant developments in marine geophysical survey procedures -- a novel technique for seismic profiling in shallow water that can extend to depths of 2 meters or less has been developed.