Other Research Topics
Sea-bed Electromagnets
The use of electromagnets in mine site delineation has been
a standard feature of mineral geophysics in the past but the
application to sensing changes in oil field fluids is a
relatively new application. Most of the activity in this area
has been by groups historically involved in Magneto-telluric
methods.
Curtin’s long involvement in developing state-of-the-art instrumentation, signal processing analysis and interpretation of Transient Electromagnetics (TEM) for mineral exploration in geologically complex environments provides a different perspective upon the possible acquisition configurations and interpretation methodology for sub-sea EM for oil/gas.
Research Leaders: Dr Anton Kepic (A.Kepic@curtin.edu.au) and Dr Brett Harris (B.Harris@curtin.edu.au).
Ore-Body Delineation
As mines become deeper and most undiscovered mineral
deposits lie beneath a complex surface geology a need to see
deeper with more clarity arises. So the state-funded Centre for
High Definition Geophysics (CHDG) extends current seismic
technologies to provide 2D and 3D images of ore deposits with
greater detail and contrast than ever before – and we’ve only
just started! Areas of current and future research are: novel
acquisition and signal processing techniques yielding a higher
signal-to-noise ratio and an increased frequency content; robust
and accurate static corrections in difficult conditions such as
highly variable regolith and velocity inversion; modified swath
and 2.5 dimensional crooked-line acquisition and processing;
borehole seismic techniques for hard rock exploration such as 2D
and 3D vertical seismic profiling (VSP; inversion for rock
properties and interpretation; multi-component seismic data for
geotechnical information. Collaboration on theoretical aspects
of these problems exists with researchers from the University of
Toronto (Canada) and University of Uppsala (Sweden).
Research Leaders: Dr. Anton Kepic (A.Kepic@curtin.edu.au) and Dr. Milovan Urosevic (M.Urosevic@curtin.edu.au)
Seismoelectric Methods
Seismoelectric methods may provide the ability to directly
infer the permeability of porous media, and can complement other
geophysical data. Although the effect has been studied for
decades seismoelectric effects are difficult to measure,
requiring great care and skill in collecting and analysing
electrical data. Curtin is at the forefront in trialling this
method for application to water resource definition and
management. This work is in close collaboration with researchers
from the University of New Brunswick. In addition, further work
is required to develop a reliable means to perform laboratory
measurements in small-scale physical modelling and sample
measurements.
Research Leader: Dr Anton Kepic (A.Kepic@curtin.edu.au).
Future Water Storage Options
Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and aquifer storage and
recovery (ASR) have become important tools for modern
groundwater management. They offer the possibility of storing
and retrieving large volumes of highly treated waste water that
might otherwise be discharged to the Ocean. However these
relatively new water management tools require a much higher
standard of investigation and monitoring, especially in the near
well environment. Curtin University Department of Exploration
Geophysics is developing a set of very high resolution
geophysical methods that may be used to help assess, design and
monitor MAR and ASR projects. These include 3D seismic
reflection, time lapse vertical seismic profiling, radar and
time lapse geophysical logging.
Research Leader: Dr Brett Harris (B.Harris@curtin.edu.au).
Geophysical Instrumentation
Curtin currently supplies very low noise magnetic coil
sensors and high-to-medium powered transmitters to several
Australian explorers using the Transient Electromagnetic (TEM)
method. Considerable in-house expertise on optimising electronic
design for magnetic sensors exists. Curtin has strong ties with
industry and a reputation for providing solutions that meet and
anticipate industry needs. Current and future projects include
improving and evaluating seismic sources for hard-rock seismic
exploration, hybrid coil/fluxgate magnetometers, and sensors for
seismic land-streamers.
Research Leader: Dr Anton Kepic (A.Kepic@curtin.edu.au).