Dedicated diffraction imaging for sub-seafloor object detection

Objects in the sub-seafloor sediments (boulders or UxO) pose a risk for offshore infrastructure. Diffraction imaging is a promising method for the detection of objects within marine sediments. A non-aliasing record of the wave field allows a separation of reflected and diffracted energy and a subsequent localization of the origin of diffracted energy. Detectable object sizes and maximum sediment penetration depend on the source frequency used and may be adjusted to expected object sizes and the geological setting. Such a new survey method holds considerable benefits for e.g. wind park construction, cable route characterization and some specialized UxO detection applications.