Patent US 4,223,399

A seismic exploration method in which a coded energy signal is generated and transmitted into the earth, the seismic energy reflected from within the earth is sensed and sampled to form a raw trace, the raw trace is crosscorrelated with a record of the coded energy signal, and a predictive operator derived from the autocorrelation function of the coded energy signal is subtractively applied to the crosscorrelated trace to remove correlation residuals, and thereby produce a high quality processed trace. Geophysical principles are used to interpret the processed trace and identify subterranean mineral deposits of interest. Based on this interpretation at least one well is drilled to further explore and/or develop the mineral deposits of interest.