Integrated marine seismic source and method

The present invention relates to the field of geophysical seismic operations for evaluating subsurface geologic formations. More particularly, the invention relates to an integrated marine acoustic energy source and method for discharging source energy into subsurface geologic formations. A system and method for generating acoustic source energy in marine seismic operations. A plurality of acoustic energy sources are integrated within seismic streamers to facilitate deployment, power distribution and signal communication. The acoustic energy sources can comprise slotted cylinders activatable with piezoelectric elements. By providing an array of lightweight, energy efficient acoustic energy sources throughout a seismic receiver array, both zero-offset and far-offset reflection data can be recorded. The acoustic energy discharge can be swept over a time interval, or steered in a selected pattern throughout the array, to significantly reduce the impulse energy released into the water. The reflected signals can be compressed back into an impulse for subsequent data processing. Bi-static reflections can be generated simultaneously with the zero-offset source-receiver locations to improve the vertical and horizontal resolution of data.