To specify intelligently a nondynamite source in a marine seismic data‐collection system, it is important to use all known parameters of the system—source, receiver, and recording‐system characteristics. A technique has been developed to design the far‐field pressure pulse of an air‐gun array by taking these parameters into account. Important source variables to consider are interaction among guns in the array and the depth of the array. Near‐field pressure signatures of individual guns, which are relatively unaffected by boundaries, have been used to‘construct’the far‐field pressure pulse of the array by considering these variables. Comparison between constructed pulses and measured far‐field pulses shows substantial agreement. Streamer depth and recording‐system bandpass should also be considered when designing an air‐gun array. Comparison of far‐field pressure pulses for several bandpasses clearly shows the importance of considering this variable; e.g., the initial pulse is severely attenuated when a high‐cut filter is used. Likewise, an additional filtering effect due to the streamer's proximity to the surface should be taken into account. Design of an air‐gun array using the principles just outlined are illustrated by an example.

A new data‐processing technique is presented which utilizes optimum multichannel digital filtering in conjunction with common subsurface horizontal stacking for the efficient rejection of multiple reflections. The method exploits the differential normal moveout between primary and multiple reflections that results from an increase in average velocity with depth. Triple subsurface coverage is obtained in the field; the common subsurface traces are individually prefiltered with different filters and stacked. The digital filters are designed on the least‐mean‐square‐error criteria to preserve primaries (signal) in the presence of multiples (noise) of predictable normal moveout, and random noise. The method achieves wide‐band separation of primary and multiple energy with only a three‐point stack; it can work effectively with small normal moveout differences eliminating the need for long offsets and the attendant signal degradation due to wide‐angle reflections; it does not require equal multiple moveout on the triplet of traces stacked; and finally the method is not sensitive to small errors in statics or predicted normal moveout. The technique is illustrated in terms of synthetic examples selected to encompass realistic field situations, and the parameter specification necessary for the multichannel filter design.

In recent years considerable work has been done to devise a satisfactory non‐dynamite seismic system that would replace dynamite in offshore areas. Prior to the advent of digital recording and processing, the non‐dynamite sources have generally not provided the depth of penetration or the resolution required for satisfactory seismic interpretation. More recent developments in non‐dynamite offshore marine sources include adaptation of the Vibroseis from a land unit to a marine unit, and adaptation of the Dinoseis unit from a land to a marine unit. The SUE (Seismic Underwater Explorer) system is a thermodynamic non‐dynamite source utilizing a mixture of propane and oxygen detonated in a special chamber approximately 15 feet below the water surface. This source gives penetration to more than 4 sec in areas typified by Gulf of Mexico type geology and shows deeper penetration than had previously been obtained by dynamite along the western United States in areas with 20 lb charge limitations. A pneumatic source, the airgun, has been in production use in the United States since June 1966. This non‐dynamite source provides an intriguing amount of versatility and can be expanded to provide additional energy as necessary to obtain the penetration desired. Tests using systems comprised of from eight to twenty‐three airguns show penetration in excess of 5 seconds in many areas. Power spectra comparisons both in amplitude and frequency content demonstrate that this is a controlled source generating a controlled seismic wavelet and a controlled frequency spectrum that can be tailored to fit requirements of particular areas. Sample sections obtained in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean offshore California show adequate penetration to 5.0 seconds reflection time. Quantitative measurements with the airguns demonstrate the effect of: Variation of the number of guns in the system; Shaping the frequency spectrum by using different sizes of airguns in the system; Effects on signal‐to‐noise ratios as a result of stacking several small energy sources together; Reproducibility of the initial pulse wavelet from shot to shot. The improvement in record quality as a result of advanced digital processing with non‐dynamite sources is comparable to that obtained with dynamite sources. Non‐dynamite sources make additional improvements possible where high source multiplicity is advantageous. Excellent dynamic correlations yield accurate velocity control as well as definitions of apparent velocities attributable to multiples and primary‐to‐multiple amplitude relationships. Non‐dynamite sources are being used more and more extensively in offshore exploration. The advent of digital recording and processing provides a means for improving depth of penetration and resolution of many non‐dynamite sources.

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Three‐dimensional data provide the interpreter with a new dimension for interpretation: horizontal cross‐sections. This article suggests formats for the display of the data and techniques for deriving contour maps of horizons, strike directions, dip angles, thicknesses of formations, and fault blocks.