POTENTIAL FIELD METHODS - Homepage Usask

GEOL 481.3
POTENTIAL FIELD METHODS
OUTLINE
POTENTIAL FIELD METHODS
GEOL 481.3
“Many of us secretly dream of six months without gravity”
Allan Fotheringham
COURSE DESCRIPTION
email: jim.merriam@usask.ca
This course will examine the processing and interpretation of potential field data.
Labs will focus on the processing of gridded potential field data, that is, interpolation to a
grid, regional residual separation, continuation, vertical and horizontal derivatives, Werner
and Euler deconvolution and depth estimates. Forward Modeling of selected profiles will
be performed with GMSYS.
The text is:
MARKING SCHEME
Mid Term Exam 25%
Labs 25%
Final Exam 50%
Potential Theory in Gravity and Magnetics Applications by Richard Blakeley.
Also useful are:
An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics by John Reynolds;
Interpretation of Gravity and Magnetic Anomalies for Non Specialists, these are notes
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for a short course given by the Canadian Geophysical Union.
Interpretation Theory in Applied Geophysics by Grant and West;
Gravity and Magnetics in Oil Prospecting by Nettleton;
Time Sequence Analysis in Geophysics by Kanasewich.
Other literature (eg SEG extended abstracts and SAGEEP papers) will be referred to
as needed.
Labs and handouts are available in pdf format on PAWS
SUMMARY
WEEK 1 Uses of potential fields (gravity and magnetics) in geophysics. Definition of a Potential
Field. The fundamental ambiguity of potential fields -its origin, and the limitations it
puts on interpretation. A review of the drift correction, latitude, free air, and Bouguer
corrections and how they relate to survey design. Leveling in aeromag.
WEEK 2 Simple concepts of survey design, station spacing vs. target depth. Flight line and tie
line spacing in aeromag. The terrain density, and the terrain correction. Methods of
determining the terrain density: Nettleton, co-variance, scatterplot and others.
WEEK 3 Introduction to processing. Gravity vs. magnetics in terms of targets, processing,
interpretation. 1-D Fourier transforms and convolutions
WEEK 4 2-D Fourier Transforms and convolutions. The use of 2-D transforms in potential
fields.
WEEK 5 Regional-residual separation, and anomaly separation. Graphical, spectral factorization,
polynomial fitting and other techniques are discussed.
WEEK 6 Gauss’ Theorem and the derivation of the excess mass calculation. Limitations on the
excess mass, corrections for under-sampled flanks.
WEEK 7 Magnetic potentials. The fundamental differences between gravity and magnetics as
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potential fields.
WEEK 8 Downward continuation in integral form and in FFT form. Upward continuation.
Limitations on the depths or heights to which data can be continued.
WEEK 9 The equivalent stratum and its use. The region of validity of equivalent strata.
WEEK 10 Survey parameters and survey design.
WEEK 11 Second vertical derivative, uses, examples, problems. Source depth estimates for gravity
and mag. Locating the center of mass in gravity.
WEEK 12 First vertical derivative and horizontal derivatives, strike filters, trend filters. Reduction
to pole.
WEEK 13 New methods in potential field processing and interpretation: Werner deconvolution,
Euler deconvolution, fractals and potential fields. Trends in exploration, high resolution
magnetics and vector magnetics, the analytic signal.
LABS
All Labs must be completed within one week.
LAB 1 Drift corrections on mag and gravity data. Examination of repeats. All gravity (with
elevations) and mag data should be on disk in a suitable format before the first LAB.
LAB 2 Latitude, free air and Bouguer corrections. Profiles of all three should be presented
at the end of the labs.
LAB 3 Gridding and Contouring.
LAB 4 Exercise on Fourier transforms I and II
LAB 5 Terrain Density determination with Nettleton, scatterplots, covariance etc.
LAB 6 Terrain corrections for gravity profiles.
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LAB 7 Regional residual separation.
LAB 8 Depth estimates.
LAB 9 Gravity and Mag modeling with GM-SYS.
LAB 10 DIPOLE and DIPOLE2 on MATLAB. Their use in simple modeling.
LAB 11 Leveling in aeromag surveys.
REFERENCES
Bell, Robin, 1998. Gravity Gradiometry. Scientific American. June 98, p74.
Chapin, David. 1996. The theory of the Bouguer gravity anomaly. The Leading Edge,
May 1996 361-363.
Chapin, David, 1998. Gravity instruments: past, present and future. The Leading
Edge, 17, 100-112.
* Cordell, L., and V.J.S. Grauch, 1982. Reconciliation of the discrete and integral
Fourier transforms. Geophys. 47, No2 237-243.
Debeglia, N. and J. Corpel 1998 Automatic 3-D interpretation of potential field data
using analytic signal derivatives. Geophys. 62 No 1 87-96.
* Ebner E. Developments in potential field methods and their application to petroleum
exploration in western Canada. A four part series in the Recorder, Jan, March, June,
and Sept. 1995.
Fairhead, J.D., M Green, Denizar Blitzkow, 2003, The use of GPS in gravity surveys.
The Leading Edge, 22, No 10, p945-959
Grauch, V.J.S., and Campbell, 1984. Does draping aeromagnetic data reduce terrain
induced effects? Geophysics 49, 75-80.
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LaCoste, L. 1991. A new calibration method for gravity meters, Geophys. 56, #5
701-704.
LaCoste, L. 1991. Gravity meter calibration at LaCoste and Romberg, Geophysics,
56, # 5 705-711.
* LeFehr, T.R., Standardization in gravity reduction, Geophysics, 56, 1170-1178.
LeFehr, T.R., 1991. An exact solution for the gravity curvature, Geophysics, 56, #8
1179-1184.
Fedi, M. T. Quarta, and A. DeSantis, Inherent power law behaviour of magnetic field
power spectra from a Spector and Grant ensemble, Geophys, 63 No 4 1143-1150.
Ferris, C., 1987. Gravity anomaly resolution at the Garber field. Geophys 52, No 11
1570 1579.
Grant, F.S., 1972. Review of data processing and interpretation methods in gravity
and magnetics Geophysics, 37, 647-661.
Grauch V.J.S., 1993. Limitations on digital filtering of the DNAG magnetic data set
for the conterminous US. Geophys. 58, # 9 1281-1296.
Gupta, V.K. and Ramain N. 1980. Some aspects of regional residual separation of
gravity anomalies in a precambrian terrain. Geophysics, 45 1412-1426.
Hammer, S., 1982. Critique of terrain corrections for gravity stations. Geophys. 47,
839-840.
Hammer, S., 1939. Terrain corrections for gravimeter stations. Geophys. 4, 184-194.
Hinze, W.J., 2003. Bouguer Reduction Density, why 2.67? Geophysics 56,No 5 1559-
1560.
Jackson, B.H., 1987. A case for upward continuation as a standard separation filter
for potential field maps, Geophysics, 52, No 8 1138-1148.
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Negi J.G., 1967. Convergence and divergence in downward continuation. Geophysics,
32, 867-871.
Nettleton, L.L., 1954. Regionals, residuals and structures Geophys 19, 1-22.
Nowell, D.A.G., 1999. Gravity Terrain Corrections - An Overview, J. Appl. Geophys.
42, 117-134.
Pilkington, M., and W.R. Roest, 1992. Draping aeromagnetic data in areas of rugged
topography. J. Appl. Geophys. 29, 135-142.
Pilkington, M. and W. Roest, 1998. Removing varying directional trends from aeromagnetic
data. Geophys. 63 No 2 446-453.
Ander, M.E. 1999. LaCoste&Romberg gravity meter: System Analysis and Instrumental
Errors, Geophys, 64, N0 6 1708-1719.
Rauth,M., and T. Strohmer, 1998. Smooth approximation of potential fields from
noisy scattered data. Geophys. 63. No 1 85-94.
* Rymer, H. 1989. A contribution to precision microgravity data analysis using Lacoste
Romberg gravity meters. Geophys. Jour. 89,311-322.
Xia, J., D.R. Sprowl, and D. Adkins-Heljeson, 1993. Correction of topographic distortions
in potential-field data: A fast and accurate approach, Geophysics, 58, #4
515-523.
Also, the Geological Survey of Canada, publishes summaries of papers by its staff on
the WWW. The Regional Geophysics Section
http://www.gdcinfo.agg.nrcan.gc.ca
has a list of several topical summaries.
* THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND YOU SHOULD READ THEM.
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