Abstract:During the process of data acquisition and processing, the 3-D seismic exploration can produce footprint phenomenon that seriously affects the data volume, among which the acquisition footprint is more serious.Because any inappropriate design of surface geometry can produce footprint in 3-D data volume during seismic data acquisition, which makes the amplitude and phase on time and depth slice take place change.This means, the acquisition footprint can produce false appearance of regular change in stratigraphic structure in seismic imaging.The factors the footprint produced can be summarized as two types: geometry-based and non-geometry-based factors.The study showed in the paper that the footprint should be minimised in acquisition stage based on the reasons producing the acquisition footprint; the selection of optimum geometry should be finished according to the reflection of model-simulated footprint in different geometry; wider template should be selected as far as possible; increasing folds and reducing shifts of shot and receiver points in the field, which diminished the footprint from the starting.In processing,it should make the least possible use of the measures suppressing acquisition footprint because of inconsistent with the "three high" (hi-fi, high precision and high resolution) demand.