The conventional method of seismic data acquisition geometry design is based on the assumption of horizontal subsurface reflectors, which often is not suitable for complex structure. We start from a controlled illumination analysis and put forward a method of seismic survey geometry design for target-oriented imaging. The method needs a velocity model obtained by a preliminary seismic interpretation. The one-way Fourier finite-difference wave propagator is used to extrapolate plane wave sources on the target layer to the surface. By analyzing the wave energy distribution at the surface extrapolated from the target layer, the shot or receiver locations needed for target layer imaging can be determined. Numerical tests using the SEG-EAGE salt model suggest that this method is useful for confirming the special seismic acquisition geometry layout for target-oriented imaging.
