Reverse Semi-Airborne Electromagnetic Prospecting for Shallow Hydrocarbon Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airborne electromagnetic prospecting techniques are inadequate for detecting shallow hydrocarbons due to weak signal-to-noise ratios and limited frequency ranges, which hinder the accurate mapping of resistive reservoir layers, especially in resistive backgrounds like those found in Alberta, Canada.
Innovation Solution
The method involves deploying multiple electromagnetic receivers on the Earth's surface and an airborne magnetic dipole transmitter, allowing for the collection of data at various source-receiver offsets, thereby enhancing signal detectability and reducing noise levels by keeping receivers stationary on the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If receivers are kept stationary on the ground, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but data collection speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the receiver array into multiple independent receivers distributed across the survey area. Each receiver independently records data, allowing parallel data collection that maintains high signal-to-noise ratio while improving overall data collection throughput through spatial distribution of measurement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single moving receiver to multiple stationary receivers distributed in space. This spatial dimensionality change allows simultaneous data collection at multiple locations, maintaining measurement precision while increasing productivity through parallel operations across the survey area.
2Device complexity
If a single source-receiver offset is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system design allows the same simple transmitter-receiver configuration to serve multiple functions by distributing receivers across the survey area. The universal applicability of each receiver unit enables collection of diverse offset data without increasing individual component complexity, achieving enhanced imaging accuracy through systematic arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic flexibility in the receiver distribution pattern, allowing adaptive selection of receiver activation and positioning based on survey requirements. This enables the system to optimize between simplicity and precision by dynamically adjusting the active receiver subset while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio, enabling the detection of resistive hydrocarbon targets by providing richer, more constrained data sets that facilitate accurate subsurface resistivity mapping and hydrocarbon exploration.
Implementation Method 1
The transmitter broadcasts a specific magnetic signal and the magnetic receiver records the magnetic fields resulting from the source signal interacting with the materials of the earth. The transient electric current in the coil generates a primary magnetic field that penetrates the ground and generates electric currents in the conductive sediments. As a result, a secondary magnetic field is generated
Implementation Method 2
the magnetic receiver records the magnetic fields resulting from the source signal interacting with the materials of the earth
Data Source
AI summary
Method for semi-airborne electromagnetic prospecting for hydrocarbons or other fluids or minerals. In the method, electromagnetic receivers are deployed on the Earth's surface over a subsurface region (71). An airborne electromagnetic transmitter is flown over the receivers (72) and the receivers record at least one component of electromagnetic field data excited by the transmitter (73). The recorded electromagnetic data are analyzed for subsurface resistivity (74), and the resistivity is interpreted for evidence of hydrocarbons or other fluids or minerals (75). Compared to traditional fully airborne surveys, the advantages of the method include better signal-to-noise, and data for multiple source-receiver offsets.