The deep transient electromagnetic sounding technique: First field test in Australia

Abstract

A test survey was carried out in the Sydney Basin using a wire source, loop receiver, deep transient electromagnetic sounding system. A field system was designed and built, the data acquisition system automated to simplify field operation, and current US processing software adapted to the hardware. A test survey was conducted in the Sydney Basin over horizontally layered strata with resistivity contrasts. Three hundred transients were recorded at eight stations within two days. After processing and interpretation, the geoelectric models obtained from the inversions qualitatively correlate with the basin geology, to a depth of 2 km. These measurements suggest that the deep transient electromagnetic sounding method could be successfully used for deep mineral and oil and gas exploration problems in Australia.