Integrated Geophysical Exploration Models and Techniques: A Process-oriented Approach to Resource, Engineering and Environmental Evaluations
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More About This Title Integrated Geophysical Exploration Models and Techniques: A Process-oriented Approach to Resource, Engineering and Environmental Evaluations

English

This book offers a process-centered guide to natural resource, geotechnical, agrophysical and environmental investigations. There is a good blend of geophysical principles and modern industrial practice. It is intended as a self-contained textbook for students and professionals engaged in the evaluation, financing and development of natural resources, natural and built environment, and natural hazard investigations.

Traditional geophysical texts focus on the technical fundamentals with little attention to the geological basis of exploration and relationship to actual business needs in society and industry. The vast majority of explorers and financial investors that need to understand and use geophysical exploration methods in resource or environmental evaluations come from a less mathematical background and consequently find it difficult to understand classical treatments of geophysical principles. Geophysics thus remains unpopular with many geoscientists and environmentalists whose viewpoints are not well represented by these traditional texts which fail to exploit the link between geophysical principles and the traditional geological-driven resource and environmental exploration and development strategies. It is also known that those for whom these books were originally intended, quite often fail to make the connection between the genesis and exploration of the vast majority of natural resources since oil and gas prospecting typically dominate traditional treatments. The proposed book will address these issues. It will focus on how geophysics meets the needs of society and industry in a format that can be understood by various stakeholders in resource appraisal and development.

English

INTRODUCTION

Chap.1    Basic geophysical tools for subsurface evaluation

1.1 Basis of geophysical exploration:

         geophysical processes, rock physical properties, required physical

         property contrasts,classification of geophysical methods.

1.2 Common tools of geophysical exploration

1.2.1     Electrical and Electromagnetic methods

1.2.2      Magnetic method

1.2.3      Nuclear magnetic resonance method

1.2.4      Gravity method

1.2.5      Seismic refraction and reflection methods

1.2.6      Ground probing radar method

1.2.7      Radiometric method

1.2.8      Borehole methods

1.2.9      Airborne methods

1.3  Financial aspects of geophysical surveys

1.3.1         Estimated relative exploration costs

1.3.2         Project management and execution

 

 

PART 1: GEOFLUIDS AND GEOENERGY

 

Chap. 2.    Groundwater  resource evaluation

            2.1   Habitat of groundwater:

                        sand aquifers,  clay aquitards, fracture zones in hard rocks.

            2.2  Geological models of groundwater systems

            2.3  Geophysical characterisation of groundwater systems

            2.4  Geophysical prospecting for groundwater

            2.4.1  Mapping of sand and gravel aquifers

            2.4.2  Mapping of carbonate aquifers

            2.4.3  Mapping of saline intrusion in coastal freshwater aquifers

            2.4.4  Mapping of aquifers in crystalline basement terrains

            2.5   Problems and limitation of geoelectrical surveying for groundwater

            2.6   Predictive modelling in groundwater survey design

            2.7   Estimating aquifer characteristics from geophysical data

            2.8   Selected case histories of exploration

            2.8.1  Combined application of seismic reflection, VES and TEM  methods in

                       aquifer mapping in the Netherlands

            2.8.2  Integrated mapping of aquifer systems and complex bedrock in New

                      Jersey, U.S.A.

            2.8.3  Regional aquifer mapping using combined VES, TEM, AMT methods in

                      Parnaiba basin, Brazil

            2.8.4  Mapping of Sherwood Sandstone aquifer in England

            2.8.5  Groundwater exploration in crystalline basement terrains in Africa

            2.8.6  Groundwater exploration in crystalline basement terrains in Brazil

            2.9   Exploration exercises

            2.10  Selected references

 

    Chap. 3.  Geothermal energy resources

            3.1  Occurrence of geothermal resources

            3.2  Geological models of geothermal systems

            3.3  Geophysical characterisation of geothermal systems

            3.4   Exploration for concealed geothermal resources

            3.5    Predictive modelling and implicationd for prospecting

            3.6    Case histories of exploration

            3.61  The Cove Fort-Sulphurdale Geothermal System, Utah,USA

            3.6.2  Rehai Field of Tengchong area, China

            3.6.3  Chyulu Hills volcanic area, Kenya

            3.6.4   Milos geothermal field, Greece

          

    Chap. 4.  Hydrocarbon (fossil & unconventional) energy resources

          4.1   Development of exploration models for petroleum systems

          4.4.1  Plate tectonics and distribution of major oil and gas accumulations

          4.1.2  Basin development, structural styles and depositionals systems

          4.1.3  Formation, migration and accumulation of hydrocarbons

          4.1.4  Mode of occurrence of oil ad gas: character and associated features

          4.1.4.1   Favourable environments and clusterinng in petroleum provinces

          4.1.4.2   Oil and gas seeps

          4.1.4.3   Geochemical alterations over oil and gas fields

          4.1.5    Effects of deep weathering and erosion

          4.1.6   Petrophysical properties of productive reservoir systems

          4.1.7   Generalised exploration models for oil and gas

          4.2   Coal Deposits

          4.2.1  Geophysical characterisation of coal deposits:

                     the nature of peat and coal seams, seismic reflectivity of coal seams, high

                     resolution seismic profiling for coal, ground radar profiling for coal, gravity

                     anomalies over coalfields, location of dykes in coalfield exploration,

                     detection of cavities and mining subsidence, downhole logging applications.

           4.2.2  Estimation of total anomalous mass from gravity data

          4.3    Systematic structural prospecting for oil and gas

          4.3.1   Remote sensing in hydrocarbon exploration

          4.3.2   Magnetics and gravity in oil exploration

          4.3.3   Seismic exploration for oil and gas

          4.3.4   Electrical and electromagnetic exploration

          4.3.4.1    Marine CSEM/MT acquisition, processing and interpretation

          4.3.4.2    Induced Polarisation/Transient EM acquisition and analysis

          4.4    Non-structural prospecting for oil and gas

          4.4.1     Exploring for stratigraphic traps

          4.4.2     Carbonate exploration

          4.4.3     Mapping of alteration patterns in prospective regions

          4.5   Predictive exploration modelling in survey design

          4.6   Case histories of conventional petroleum exploration and development

          4.6.1  Fossil fuel exploration in carbonate terrains (Cuba, Arab fields)

          4.6.2  Fossil fuel exploration in volcanic-margins and volcanic-covered terrains

                   (North sea and Barrents Sea superprovince , Deccan Trap, Parana

                    basin, Columbia basalt)

          4.6.3  Fossil fuel exploration in salt-tectonic or gravity-driven  fold and thrust belts

          4.6.3.1 Northwest Borneo thrust belts

          4.6.3.2 West African transform margin (Niger Delta superprovince of Nigeria,

                     Sierra Leone-Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana sectors)

          4.6.3.3 Southwest African transform margin  (post- and pre-salt exploration in

                   Angola-Congo-Gabon sectors)

          4.6.3.4 Brazilian passive margin (sub-salt exploration in Santos, Campos & Espiro

                   santos basins)

          4.6.3.5 Gulf of Mexico (sub-salt exploration in USA & Mexico sectors – the

                   Wilcox trend)         

          4.6.4 Exploration in intracontinental basins (Sao Francisco basin, Brazil)

          4.6.5  Time-lapse monitoring for enhanced oil recovery and alteration mapping    

          4.6.5.1  Monitoring changes in conductivity with temperature during combustion

                    enhanced oil recovery.

          4.6.5.2  Monitoring changes in seismic velocity and electrical conductivity with

                   alternating water and gas injection during enhanced oil recovery.

          4.6.5.3 Mapping of low resistivity-contrast and saline-water saturated reservoirs.

          4.6.5.4 Hydrocarbon reserve estimation using integrated geophysical methods.

           4.7  Evaluation of unconventional resources

           4.7.1 Models of tight sandstones and carbonate reservoirs

           4.7.1.1 Depositional systems, diagenesis, stratigraphy, correlation, reservoir quality

           4.7.1.2 Discrete versus basin-centered accumulations

           4.7.1.3 Resolving geo-bodies, fractures, poroperms with 3D seismic, VSP and

                       CSEM/CSAMT

           4.7.1.4 Petrophysics: routne and special core analyses, log analyses

           4.7.1.5 Identifying sweetspots: key data to acquire and analyse, success criteria

                       and exit ramps

           4.7.2 Models of shale gas reservoirs

           4.7.2.1 Depositional systems, diagenesis, stratigraphy, correlation, fractures,

                       reservoir quality, laboratory/log analyses

           4.7.2.2 Identifying sweetspots: key data to acquire and analyse, appraisal and

                       development strategies, economics

           4.7.3 Models of coal seam gas reservoirs

           4.7.3.1 Depositional systems, coalification, fractures, hydrology, reservoir quality,

                       laboratory log analyses

           4.7.3.2 Identifying sweetspots: key data to acquire and analyse, appraisal and

                       development strategies, economics

            4.7.4 Tight sandstones and carbonate case histories

                   USA: Medina-Clinton (Appalachian basin), Spraberry (Permian Basin), 

                             Bakken (Williston Basin), Jean Marie (British Columbia);

                   Indonesia: Baturaja.

            4.7.6 Shale gas case histories

            4.7.6 Coals seam gas case histories

                   USA: Drunkard’s Wash, South Shale Ridge projects, 

                    Australia: Surat Basin

4.8 Case histories of the use of geophysical methods in the coal industry.

4.8.1 Development of coalfields for extraction: geophysical constraints.

 

PART 2: METALLICS

    Chap. 5.  Volcanic-associated polymetallic massive sulphide deposits

            5.1  Development of exploration models

            5.1.1 Geological setting: features, concepts and models of VMS deposits

            5.1.1.1  Age distribution and general features

            5.1.1.2  Mechanism of formation

            5.1.2  Mode of occurrence: character and associations

            5.1.2.1  Mineral and hydrothermal alteration zoning

            5.1.2.2  Clustering in favourable terrains

            5.1.2.3  Textural and regional metamorphic features

            5.1.2.4   Ore weathering and palaeodrainage features

            5.1.3  Physical properties of massive sulphide ores and host rocks

            5.1.4  Generalised exploration approach

            5.2  Predictive modelling for exploration design

            5.3  Geophysical prospecting for massive sulphides

            5.3.1  Systematic or sequential exploration approach

            5.3.1.1    Regional geophysical exploration

            5.3.1.2    Local geophysical exploration

            5.3.2   Prospecting in deeply-weathered terrains

            5.3.3   Prospecting in glacial terrains

            5.4  Approximate ore tonnage estimation using geophysical data

            5.5  Case studies of exploration in different terrains

            5.5.1    Deeply-weathered terrain: Elura orebody, Cobar, Australia

            5.5.2    Glaciated terrain: Kerry Road deposit, Gairloch, Scotland

            5.5.3    Unconsolidated volcanics: Klirou orebody,Troodos Ophiolite

                        Complex, Cyprus

            5.5.4  Deep palaeoerosional surface: Lagoa Salgada deposit, Portugal

            5.6   Modelling and exploration exercises

            5.7   Selected references

 

Chap. 6.  Vein and disseminated metallic sulphide (porphyry copper) deposits

            6.1  Porphyry copper deposits

            6.2  Model development for porphyry copper systems

            6.2.1   Regional geological setting

            6.2.2   Mode of occurrence

            6.2.3   Geophysical characterisation of porphyry copper systems

            6.3  Predictive modelling

            6.4  Geophysical exploration

            6.4.1   Regional reconnaissance surveys

            6.4.2  Detailed follow-up investigation

            6.5  Case histories of exploration

            6.5.1  IP in Troodos Ophiolite Complex of Cyprus

            6.5.2  IP in Philipines

            6.5.3  Island Copper

            6.6  Exploration design exercises

            6.7  Selected references

 

    Chap. 7.  Vein and disseminated Gold deposits

            7.1   Classification of deposit types, rock and magnetite associations and

                      structural controls,

            7.2   Geophysical models of epithermal gold systems,

            7.3  Prospecting in Archaen greenstone belts. The use of ground and

                       airborne magnetic and  electromagnetic surveys.

            7.4  Exploration case histories.  

 

PART 3: NON-METALLICS AND PLACERS

Chap. 8.  Diamondiferous Kimberlites

            8.1   Occurrence of diamond

            8.2   Developing a model for kimberlite pipes

            8.2.1   Geological constraints

            8.2.2   Weathering characteristics  

            8.2.3   Geophysical characterisation

            8.3   Predictive modelling of exploration targets

            8.4   Exploration for kimberlite pipes

            8.4.1   Regional prospect selection

            8.4.2   Ground exploration strategy

            8.5   Case histories of exploration

 

Chap. 9.   Weathering, Residual and Unconformity-related Deposits

            9.1  Model development

            9.1.1  Weathering profiles

            9.1.2  Weathering products

            9.1.2.1  Bauxites

            9.1.2.2  Lateritic nickel

            9.1.2.3  Unconformity-related uranium deposits

            9.1.2.4   Iron formations (BIF)

            9.2 Exploration for bauxites

            9.3  Prospecting for iron formations

            9.4  Prospecting for unconformity-related uranium deposits

            9.5   Case histories of exploration

            9.5.1 Exploration and evaluation of the Cigar Lake Uranium deposit.

 

    Chap. 10.   Industrial Minerals and Bulk Materials

            10.1 Model development

            10.1.1 Igneous rocks

            10.1.2  Sand and gravel deposits

            10.1.2.1 Geomorphological constraints on distribution of deposits

            10.1.2.2  Exploration model for sand and gravel

            10.1.3   Barite and fluorite deposits

            10.1.3.1   Physical characteristics of barite

            10.1.3.2   Development of exploration models

            10.2   Prospecting for sand and gravel deposits

            10.3   The use of gravity and resistivity surveys in barite exploration

            10.4   Prospecting for fluorite deposits

            10.5   Predictive modelling in bulk material exploration

            10.6   Case studies

 

Chap. 11.  Placers

            11.1  Model development

            11.1.1   Geomorphological controls on the distribution of placers

            11.1.2   Geophysical constraints

            11.2  Exploration model for alluvial placers

            11.3  Exploration model for marine placers

            11.4  Predictive modelling of ideal targets

            11.4.1  Detectability of magnetite concentrations

            11.5  Exploration for alluvial placers

            11.5.1    Magnetic method

            11.5.2    Electrical and electromagnetic methods

            11.5.3    Ground probing radar methods

            11.5.4    Shallow seismic exploration methods            

            11.6  Predictive modelling

 

PART 4.   NATURAL AND BUILT NEAR-SURFACE ENVIRONMENT

    Chap. 12.    Contaminated land and groundwater

             12.1   Bye-products of natural resources exploitation: Hazardous Wastes and

                      other contaminants.

-          Industrial, agricultural and domestic practices. High

                      level nuclear wastes, spent unreprocessed fuels, toxic chemical wastes,

                      saline groundwater, mine tailings.         

-          Waste disposal sites (landfills, tailings ponds, leaching operations),

                       suitability of earth materials, geological controls.

-          Groundwater contamination: groundwater motion, dissolution and migration of hazardous wastes, sea-water intrusions, migration of brines from evaporation pits and ponds, the form of groundwater contamination plumes and implications for geophysical detection.

            12.2     Hazardous waste minimization and remediation:

                           geophysical location of safe repositories, selection of optimum

                           survey methods, quality assurance and quality control.

                           systematic assessment of hazardous waste sites, detection of buried

                           metal pipes, drums and storage tanks; mapping of fluid migration

                           pathways and underground cavities; mapping of leachate plumes and

                          groundwater contamination. monitoring of waste sites and nuclear tests.

            12.3     Natural hazards:  earthquakes and volcanoes, mass movement of slopes,

                            environmental impact, geophysical detection and monitoring.

             12.4   Landfill site investigation: Models and Case histories

             12.4.1 Characteristics of landfill sites and anthropogenic deposits

             12.4.2 Leachate formation and dispersal:Mechanical decomposition, physico-

                        chemical and microbial weathering.

             12.4.3 Conceptual resistivity model: relationship between geoelectrically

                         important hydrochemical parameters. Age of saturated fill versus

                         hydrochemistry.

             12.4.4 Development of a consistent investigative approach.

             12.4.5 Case histories of landfill site investigation.

             12.5   Case histories of geophysical mapping sea-water intrusion into fresh-water

                        aquifers.

             12.6   Case histories of geophysical investigations of active fault systems and

                       volcanoes.

 

  Chap. 13.   Engineered and archaeological structures

             13.1 Aspects of engineering geology

             13.1.1  Major engineering structures:  tunnelling and excavations, foundations,

                          dams, roads and HVDC grounding of power-stations.

             13.1.2   Geological constraints on engineering design:

                          structural features, ground stability and strength of earth materials,

                          earthquakes and other geological hazards.

             13.1.3   Geotechnical considerations in safe engineering design:

                            the need for reliable subsurface data.

             13.2    Archaeological targets: size, shape and nature of targets.

             13.3    Geophysical imaging of the near-surface:

                        scaling considerations for measurement systems. High resolution

                        shallow seismic reflection profiling, ground penetrating radar surveys,

                       dc resistivity and shallow electromagnetic surveys, high sensitivity

                       magnetometry and microgravimetry, cross-hole seismic tomographic

                       measurements of dynamic modulus.

             13.4     Understanding the engineering geophysical data:

             13.4.1  Velocity as a guide to rock strength

             13.4.2  Indicators of structural discontinuities

             13.4.3  Bedrock topography and overburden thickness determinations

             13.4.4  Limitations of geophysical measurements.

             13.5    Exploration case histories:

                        dam site investigations, mapping granite bodies at quarry sites
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