Geophysical Techniques

EART36101 Geophysical Techniques 10 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 6 Mads Huuse Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0 <div> The unit will introduce the main surface and airborne geophysical techniques used in applied subsurface description, i.e. reflection and refraction seismology, gravity and magnetics, resistivity- and electro-magnetic survey methods, and borehole geophysics.Seismic methods give insights into the Earth’s structure and stratigraphy on km- to basin scales and provides subsurface velocities used to infer rock properties. These are supported by gravimetric and magnetic surveys that help elucidate density and magnetic property variations in the crust at various levels depending on the application (target). Resistivity and electro-magnetic methods are particularly useful in mapping geobodies and resistive subsurface fluids such as fresh water, oil and gas.The key concepts will be introduced in lectures which will be followed by practicals exploring the application of the different techniques to specific subsurface problems ranging from geological structure and stratigraphy, salt domes, igneous centres, fresh water and oil/gas deposits, pipelines, etc. Whilst the course is meant as an introduction and thus will not be overly theoretical or complex, students should have a basic knowledge of geology, maths and physics.</div>  <div> The unit will introduce the main surface and airborne geophysical techniques used in applied subsurface description, i.e. reflection and refraction seismology, gravity and magnetics, resistivity- and electro-magnetic survey methods, and borehole geophysics.Seismic methods give insights into the Earth’s structure and stratigraphy on km- to basin scales and provides subsurface velocities used to infer rock properties. These are supported by gravimetric and magnetic surveys that help elucidate density and magnetic property variations in the crust at various levels depending on the application (target). Resistivity and electro-magnetic methods are particularly useful in mapping geobodies and resistive subsurface fluids such as fresh water, oil and gas.The key concepts will be introduced in lectures which will be followed by practicals exploring the application of the different techniques to specific subsurface problems ranging from geological structure and stratigraphy, salt domes, igneous centres, fresh water and oil/gas deposits, pipelines, etc. Whilst the course is meant as an introduction and thus will not be overly theoretical or complex, students should have a basic knowledge of geology, maths and physics.</div>  <div> The aim is to familiarise students with the main geophysical techniques used in the geosciences to investigate and characterise subsurface geology (stratigraphy, mineralogy, structure) and fluids (fresh- and salt water, petroleum, CO2, etc) and archaeology.</div>  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="width:496px;"> On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to: </td> <td style="width:72px;"> Developed</td> <td style="width:66px;"> Assessed</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:59px;"> ILO 1</td> <td style="width:432px;height:59px;"> design geophysical surveys for specific subsurface objectives</td> <td style="width:72px;height:59px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:59px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:67px;"> ILO 2</td> <td style="width:432px;height:67px;"> acquire geophysical data and build a database for a given project</td> <td style="width:72px;height:67px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:67px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:76px;"> ILO 3</td> <td style="width:432px;height:76px;"> understand how geophysical data are interpreted in terms of subsurface geology, fluids and other (e.g., man-made) structures</td> <td style="width:72px;height:76px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:76px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> ILO 4</td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> understand the basic principles of geophysical measurements and how properties of the subsurface can be interpreted and limitations of available methods</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> ILO 5</td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> undertake calculations and interpretations to analyse geophysical datasets and visualize the results</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> x</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:64px;height:66px;"> ILO 6</td> <td style="width:432px;height:66px;"> report survey parameters, results and their interpretation in technical reports</td> <td style="width:72px;height:66px;"> x</td> <td style="width:66px;height:66px;"> x</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  Lecture 1, Practical 1: Introduction to Geophysical techniquesLecture 2, Practical 2: Reflection seismology 1Lecture 3, Practical 3: Reflection seismology 2Lecture 4, Practical 4: Refraction seismology Lecture 5, Practical 5: Gravity methods and applicationsLecture 6, Practical 6: Magnetic surveyingLecture 7, Practical 7: Resistivity methodsLecture 8, Practical 8: Electromagnetic surveyingLecture 9, Practical 9: Borehole geophysics 1Lecture 10, Practical 10: Borehole geophysics 2Lecture 11, Practical 11: Geophysical survey designLecture 12, Practical 12: Revision (optional) <div> The lectures are posted as slides and pod casts on Blackboard. These are augmented with extra notes (comments/further reading), together with some supplementary documents and links to articles and online textbooks of relevance to the material covered. Students are expected to learn the lecture material primarily by reading this material on Blackboard and to view attendance at the lectures themselves as an initial once-through the material that makes the subsequent independent study more efficient.The practical material is delivered through a number of carefully selected, paper- and computer-based exercises. Helpful hints on solution strategy or practical demonstrations are given. Staff and postgraduate demonstrators are on hand in the classes to guide students through the exercises as they work on them. It is through these exchanges that most formative feedback is delivered. During the practicals interim solutions are posted on the board in timely fashion. At the end of the class all exercises and solutions are posted on Blackboard.A revision session is provided to prepare students for the exam in terms of material covered and type of exam. I future years, past papers will be available.E-learning will utilise online databases and modelling and interpretation tools in the practical course elements.</div>  1 Written exam 70% 3 Report 30% <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:68px;"> Assessment type</td> <td style="width:85px;height:68px;"> % Weighting within unit</td> <td style="width:66px;height:68px;"> Hand out and hand in dates</td> <td style="width:94px;height:68px;"> Length </td> <td style="width:170px;height:68px;"> How, when and what feedback is provided</td> <td style="width:123px;height:68px;"> ILO tested</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;"> Practical report</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;"> 30</td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;"> Week 5Week 9</td> <td style="width:94px;height:101px;"> 10 figures, 400 words max</td> <td style="width:170px;height:101px;"> Technical feedback provided by week 11</td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;"> 1-6</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:102px;height:101px;"> Exam</td> <td style="width:85px;height:101px;"> 70</td> <td style="width:66px;height:101px;">  </td> <td style="width:94px;height:101px;"> 2 hours</td> <td style="width:170px;height:101px;"> General feedback and comments on exam scripts</td> <td style="width:123px;height:101px;"> 1, 3, 4, 5</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Pre-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> 1st year Earth & Planetary Science</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:204px;"> Co-requisite units</td> <td style="width:437px;"> None</td> </tr> </tbody></table>  BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Geology) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Planet Sci) Third Year Optional BSc (Hons) Earth and Plan Scie BSc (Hons) Earth (Resources) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Geolo) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Plane) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Ea and Pl Sci MEarthSci (Hons) Earth (Resou) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Industr MEarthSci EPS Yr Industry (ER) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (PS) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) Earth Abroad MEarthSci EPS Abroad (ER) Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEarthSci (H) EPS (ER) with Re Third Year Optional MEarthSci (Hons) EPS with Res MEaSc (H) EPS (Plan Sci) w Res Third Year Optional Ashcroft, W. A.  (2011). A Petroleum Geologist’s Guide to Seismic Reflection. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN: 978-1-444-33262-9. Kearey, P., M. Brooks, and I. Hall (2002). An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration, 3rd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford. Rider, M.H. & Kennedy, M. (2011). The Geological Interpretation of Well Logs. Rider-French Consulting Limited. Reynolds, J. M. (2011). An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics, 2nd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell.  0 0 0 <figure class="table"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="0"><tbody><tr><td style="height:68px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:68px;width:85px;">Type</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:169.5pt;" width="226">Example student activity</td><td style="height:68px;width:75px;">Total Hours</td><td style="height:68px;width:160px;">New material</td><td style="height:68px;width:104px;">Consolidation and Practice</td></tr><tr><td style="height:39px;width:139px;">Contact time (students are in front of staff)</td><td style="height:39px;width:85px;">Lecture (new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">Mostly listening & taking notes (mostly new material)</td><td style="height:39px;width:75px;">11</td><td style="height:39px;width:160px;">11</td><td style="height:39px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Lecture (revision/examples)</td><td>Mostly listening & taking notes (no new material- revision of course)</td><td>3</td><td> </td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Practical (new material and practice. Typically 25-50% of practical time is spent on new material)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive individual or group work (problem solving, experiments, watching demonstrations, describing and interpreting samples, paper-based exercises, computer-based exercises)</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">22</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">11</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;">11</td></tr><tr><td style="height:101px;width:139px;"> </td><td style="height:101px;width:85px;">Tutorial</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">Interactive small group work</td><td style="height:101px;width:75px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:160px;">0</td><td style="height:101px;width:104px;"> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Seminar/examples class</td><td>Working on and discussing questions </td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Independent study time</td><td style="height:9.75pt;padding:0cm;width:131.5pt;" width="175">Pre/post lecture work</td><td>Reading own notes, re-solving examples, prep work, revisit podcast</td><td>11</td><td> </td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Pre/post practical work/write up</td><td>Complete practical work, prep work, reading feedback</td><td>11</td><td> </td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td>Studio/workshop time</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>