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5 - Full Tensor Gradiometry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2021

By
Matt Luheshi
Edited by
Hamish Wilson ,
Keith Nunn  and
Matt Luheshi
Hamish Wilson
Affiliation:
BluEnergy Ltd
Keith Nunn
Affiliation:
Nunngeo Consulting Ltd
Matt Luheshi
Affiliation:
Leptis E&P Ltd
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Summary

The application of gravity gradient measurements to exploration has been growing over the past 20 years. The ability of tensor gradiometry instruments to greatly improve signal/noise when deployed on mobile platforms has transformed the usefulness of this technology. Airborne and marine Full Tensor Gradiometry (FTG) surveys have become an increasingly common part of the exploration and production toolkit. The ability of the modern instruments to provide high-resolution, spatial accuracy and very good signal/noise data has made this technology a more common part of integrated exploration and production management. The technology has a distinct cost advantage over seismic data acquisition and as such can deliver a competitive solution for imaging problems in some circumstances. There are now numerous published examples of effective use of FTG in the oil industry. The development of better instruments such as integration of direct contemporaneous measurement of conventional gravity is encouraging more interest in the technology. The potential for extending the use of FTG to reservoir monitoring and carbon dioxide sequestration assurance is likely to increase the popularity of the technology in future.

Keywords

airbornegradiometrygravityresolutionsignal/noisetensor
Type
Chapter
Information
Integration of Geophysical Technologies in the Petroleum Industry , pp. 124 - 168
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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