Predictive deconvolution of seismic array data for inversion

Predictive deconvolution is used to remove the ringing source signature wavelet from seismic array data to enhance interpretation or to permit direct earth parameter estimation (inversion). For the latter it is important to know whether the procedure is removing information other than the source wavelet. Sets of synthetic marine data are generated for two plane layer solid earth models, including a minimum delay wavelet and with and without the ocean surface. Predictive deconvolution is applied with autocorrelation averaging across sensors to enhance the random earth assumption. The wavelet estimated during predictive deconvolution is close to the original wavelet except when surface ghosts are included. In this case it is close to the combined wavelet and ghosts.