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Single-hole imaging using borehole gravity gradiometry

Hyoungrea Rim and Yaoguo Li
Single-hole imaging using borehole gravity gradiometry
Geophysics (September 2012) 77 (5): G67-G76

Abstract

We study the feasibility of imaging density variations away from boreholes using gravity gradient measurements in a single borehole. The objective is to develop numerical interpretation tools and to understand the utility and limitations of borehole gravity gradiometry in anticipation of the development of such instruments for the exploration and production of minerals, oil, and gas. We develop an analytic solution for directly locating discrete off-hole mass anomalies and apply a generalized inverse approach to image anomalous density distribution. In the analytic approach, we solve for the distance and direction angles to a point source using the multiple components of the gravity gradient tensor from a set of observations in a single borehole; and then apply this approach to the scenarios of prismatic sources. In the generalized inverse approach, we invert multiple gradient tensor components to construct 3D density contrast distributions around the borehole. As few as two independent gravity gradient components in a single borehole can be used to locate and image isolated anomalous density bodies.


ISSN: 0016-8033
EISSN: 1942-2156
Coden: GPYSA7
Serial Title: Geophysics
Serial Volume: 77
Serial Issue: 5
Title: Single-hole imaging using borehole gravity gradiometry
Affiliation: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon, South Korea
Pages: G67-G76
Published: 20120901
Text Language: English
Publisher: Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Tulsa, OK, United States
References: 15
Accession Number: 2013-007239
Categories: Applied geophysics
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Annotation: Includes appendices
Illustration Description: illus.
Secondary Affiliation: Colorado School of Mines, USA, United States
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2017, American Geosciences Institute. Reference includes data from GeoScienceWorld, Alexandria, VA, United States. Reference includes data supplied by Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Tulsa, OK, United States
Update Code: 201305
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