Modelling and inversion of novel active source electromagnetic acquisitiongeometries for improved resolution and sensitivity

The primary aim of this project is to identify the optimum acquisition geometry for detecting
resistivity anomalies in the subsurface as a function of depth through three dimensional
electromagnetic (EM) modelling and inversion. The forward modelling code will be provided to the
project and the inversion code will be developed within the project.
Controlled source EM (CSEM) for hydrocarbon exploration has become an accepted technology
only within the last few years. Present techniques employ a horizontal electric dipole for both
source and receiver and require the source-receiver separation to be 2-4 times the depth of the
target (Constable & Srnka, 2007). This configuration provides excellent sensitivity for thin resistive
layers typical of hydrocarbon deposits when the dimensions of the target layer are comparable with
the source-receiver separation. However, when the target is laterally small compared with the
depth of burial the sensitivity of this dipole-dipole configuration is greatly reduced and use of CSEM
is restricted to targets shallower than about 2.5km. The vast majority of hydrocarbon reserves are
located at more than 2.5km below the sea floor. This project will investigate the sensitivity of
alternative configurations for detecting deeper targets, for example the short offset transient EM
system (SOTEM) (Ziolkowski, 2010).

For more information please go to the link: https://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/PhD/dataentry/getDocument?SerialNo=646