Patent ID: 8559270

Claim:
A method of seismic exploration above a region of the subsurface containing structural or stratigraphic features conductive to the presence, migration, or accumulation of hydrocarbons, wherein is provided a blended source seismic survey containing at least two interfering seismic source excitations therein, comprising the steps of: (a) within a computer, accessing at least a portion of said blended source seismic survey; (b) selecting one of said at least two interfering seismic source excitations; (c) obtaining at least a time of activation and location coordinates for said selected one of said at least two interfering seismic source excitations; (d) using at least said time of activation and said location coordinates for said selected one of said at least two interfering seismic source excitations, separating said selected source excitation from said at least two interfering seismic source excitations using sparse inversion, thereby producing at least one single source gather; and (e) using said at least one single source gather to explore for hydrocarbons within said region of the subsurface.