A new direct non-invasive groundwater detection technology for Australia

Abstract

Recently, novel geophysical technology has been developed which is capable of determining groundwater content at various depths without drilling wells. The instrument is the Hydroscope and relies on the principles of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) tomography. Using the Hydroscope, it is now possible to undertake a regional hydrogeological survey to map the distribution of groundwater reserves both in plan and in depth with high efficiency, thus ensuring a reliable choice of the most productive areas for water supply bores. Some results of Hydroscope tests on sedimentary, water-containing rocks in South-Eastern Australia, undertaken during February and March 1990, together with several theoretical and experimental results obtained previously by the developers of the NMR water prospecting technology, are presented.