Investigating the Propagation Mechanisms and Visualization of Airwaves in Marine CSEM Using the Fictitious Wave Domain Method

The marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) method serves as an effective tool for detecting hydrocarbon reservoirs. However, it faces a key challenge in shallow water: the airwave, an EM signal lacking subsurface information, often obscures reservoir responses. Conventional CSEM analysis, conducted in the diffusive frequency domain (DFD), only captures the steady-state behavior of the airwave, limiting physical insight into its propagation. In this study, we introduce the fictitious wave domain (FWD) method to reinterpret and visualize the airwaves' trajectory and attenuation, individually. By transforming diffusive EM fields into fictitious lossless propagating waves, the FWD enables the use of kinematic wave concepts such as reflection, refraction, and travel time. The airwave is clearly identified as a refracted wave generated when a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode wave impinges perpendicularly on the air-seawater interface. Its path and arrival time become directly observable, allowing clear separation from other wave types. This approach visualizes and extracts the airwave even in complex inhomogeneous seawater, enabling its accurate transformation back to the DFD. The FWD thus provides a powerful tool for enhancing interpretation in marine EM exploration and offers a theoretical foundation for the development of tailored marine electromagnetic sensors.