Wavefield decomposition using spectral matrix techniques

Abstract

A spectral matrix technique described by Mari and Gavin has been developed and extended for analysing interfering seismic events. It may be used with both single and multi-component data. Spectral matrix filtering removes random noise and may be used to enhance picked coherent events. This leads to a possible wave-field decomposition procedure for use in separating interfering coherent events. Conventional event-separation procedures require large geophone arrays to avoid spatial aliasing. Spectral matrix filtering does not require such dense coverage and so may be used in areas where conventional surveys may not be possible. The technique is illustrated using synthetic and physical scale-model data.