Improved methods of
processing seismic data which comprise amplitude data assembled in the offset-
time domain in which primary reflection signals and
noise overlap are provided for. The methods include the step of enhancing the separation between primary reflection signals and coherent
noise by transforming the assembled data from the offset-
time domain to the time-slowness domain. More specifically, the assembled amplitude data are transformed from the offset-
time domain to the time-slowness domain using a
Radon transformation according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable Δp; wherein j=pmax-pmin+1 μ sec / mΔ p,Δp is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 μsec / m, pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness, and pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness. Alternately, an offset weighting factor xn is applied to the assembled amplitude data, wherein 0<n<1, and the amplitude data are transformed with a
Radon transformation. The assembled amplitude data also may be transformed with a
Radon transformation applied within defined slowness limits pmin and pmax, where pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness and pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness, with a hyperbolic Radon transformation, or, as applied to data which have been uncorrected for
normal moveout, with a hyperbolic or parabolic Radon transformation. Thus, the primary reflection signals and coherent
noise transform into different regions of the time-slowness domain to enhance the separation therebetween.