Automated inversion of broadband multiple transmitter-receiver airborne EM data for the parameters of a small, confined conductor

Abstract

A concentric, multiple transmitter-receiver EM system has many advantages for the detection and characterisation of small, confined conductors. The abundant geometrical information provided by such a configuration can greatly facilitate the estimation of the shape and location of a discrete conductor. This configuration also provides extra information, which can assist in stripping out one-dimensional overburden effects and thereby simplify the interpretation of the response of a discrete conductor beneath such overburden. The combination of multiple transmitter and receiver orientations with high-moment time-domain transmitters yields a new 'Tensor TEM' type of dataset which is unique among current airborne electromagnetic survey technologies. Substantial research is still required to develop practical methodologies for processing and interpretation of such datasets.