SOME IMPLICATIONS OF SIMPLE GEOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MARINE CABLE FEATHERING IN SEISMIC EXPLORATION *

Cable feathering is defined as the angle between a line connecting the cable end points and the line of the seismic profile. It is shown that an average reflection point map is more accurate than a shot point location map for geologic interpretation. Geologic resolution is degraded by feathering and this degradation is a function of the number of channels recorded. Feathering in areas of dipping reflectors produces non‐standard normal move‐out because the depth points are not common, and the perpendicular distances to the reflecting surfaces vary among traces in the c.d.p. gather. An example of a profile shot across a large river is discussed.