A controlled-source survey recording reflected elastic waves to infer subsurface interfaces and their properties. Travel times constrain geometry through a velocity model; amplitudes also depend on source, propagation and impedance contrasts.
The number of source–receiver traces contributing to a midpoint bin or image location under a stated acquisition and processing scheme. Greater useful fold can improve the signal-to-noise ratio, but does not compensate for missing spatial bandwidth or an incorrect velocity model.
Processing that moves recorded reflection energy to its inferred subsurface positions using a velocity model. It corrects apparent positions of dipping reflectors and collapses suitable diffraction events; insufficient spatial sampling and incorrect velocities impair the result.
The ability to distinguish vertically adjacent reflectors. A quarter-wavelength thickness is a useful wavelet-tuning scale, rather than a universal exact limit; bandwidth, seismic wavelet shape and noise also matter.
Adjustment for the change in reflected travel time with source–receiver separation. A horizontal-reflector approximation gives under appropriate assumptions; a velocity model is required.
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