Time cross-sections generated from shallow seismic refraction data: preliminary results

Shallow refraction seismic survey is a very common and useful subsurface investigation method. However, traditional shallow seismic refraction processing methods show long-standing limitations due to the almost complete reliance on the first arrival signal. On the other hand, full wave form processing of data can by-pass inherent limitations and improve the imaging of the subsurface. In this sense, better results can be achieved through digital processing that has been successfully developed in reflection seismology. In particular, a time cross-section, similar to the well known reflection cross-section, can be generated through tools like CMP stacking that improves the signal-to-noise ratio. Other tools imply deconvolution and migration for improvement of, respectively, vertical and lateral resolution. Muting and dip filtering for deletion of coherent noise. This note presents a discussion on the feasibility of this kind of approach. Time cross-sections obtained with these methods are shown and compared with a HR reflection section.