Synthetic acoustic array acquisition and processing

The present invention provides a method of determining a property of an earth formation using an acoustic logging tool on a bottomhole assembly (BHA) in a borehole in the earth formation. At least one transmitter is used in the acoustic logging tool for generating acoustic signals into the formation at a first depth of the BHA. A plurality of receivers is used on the logging tool for receiving signals indicative of a parameter of interest. The plurality of receivers are spaced apart axially from the at least one transmitter. The measurements are repeated at least one additional depth of the BHA. The signals at the first depth and subsequent additional depths are sorted into at least one of (i) a common receiver gather, (ii) a common offset gather, and, (iii) a common-midpoint gather, giving re-sorted signals. The re-sorted signals are processed to obtain the parameter of interest.