Active seismic acquisition is one of the first key steps in the exploration for new oil and gas reserves and is also fundamental in the effort to optimize the development and production of existing oil fields. It uses seismic waves emitted by sources at discrete locations, and some of that energy is reflected back from layers in the subsurface to tens of thousands of recording sensors. The data are then processed to give an image of the subsurface, which is later analyzed by geologists to identify commercial deposits of hydrocarbons. A typical marine seismic acquisition is conducted using airgun source arrays towed behind a vessel. Such a source typically comprises about 30 single airguns of different volumes, all firing at the same time to produce a sharp acoustic peak. The principle technology of airguns has not evolved much since the 1970s when it replaced the use of dynamite, and airguns stayed inherently inflexible by nature.

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