Presented are methods and a system for efficiently acquiring seismic data based on a virtual seismic spread. A streamer vessel and a source vessel are used in combination and in a specific spatial arrangement collect seismic data. The source arrays can be fired simultaneously, creating blended seismic data that is separated with a deblending algorithm or sequentially to collect seismic data directly. The virtual seismic spread can be configured to reduce survey time or decrease capital costs and health safety and environment exposure based on the size of the streamer array towed by the streamer vessel.