R&D and Software Development
GETECH carries out proprietary and group R&D studies to develop industry-leading technical methodologies and products. These draw on the strong academic links that we have with the University of Leeds, led by Dr J Derek Fairhead - Professor of Applied Geophysics, and four other PhD level geoscientists.
Satellite gravity – supported by 10 oil and gas companies
In 2002 we completed an industry-sponsored research programme to investigate new methods and technologies to improve the resolution of satellite gravity derived from radar altimeter data (sea surface height measurements), collected by the GEOSAT and ERS-1 satellites.
The new methodologies were applied to the altimeter data covering all the continental margins of the world to derive a new free air gravity solution with a wavelength resolution of less than 15km. This generated a unique product for evaluating the structure and evolution of the hydrocarbon basins of the continental margins.
The new dataset, which we refer to as ‘Ultimate’ satellite gravity, is now routinely incorporated in all our non-exclusive and proprietary exploration studies.
Key methodologies:
- The 'first breaks' of the returning radar waveforms from the ERS-1 satellite were re-picked using a superior synthetic waveform inversion technique
- The altimeter profiles from both the GEOSAT and ERS-1 satellites along every track were reprocessed to minimise orbital height errors and iteratively edited to remove spikes and noise arising from storms and near shore radar returns
- The final altimeter profiles were levelled using proprietary cross-over and micro-levelling techniques to calculate a geoid grid. Free air gravity was derived using Fourier domain operations (essentially vertical derivative)
For further details please refer to:
Fairhead, J.D., Green, C.M., Odegard, M.E. (2001), Satellite-derived gravity having an impact on marine exploration, SEG, The Leading Edge, (4), pp. 873-876Satellite-derived gravity having an impact on marine exploration
Fairhead, J. D., Green, C. M. and Fletcher K.M.U. 2004 Hydrocarbon screening of the deep continental margins using non-seismic methods First Break 22, Nov. 59-63Hydrocarbon screening of the deep continental margins using non-seismic methods
Software Development
Our software team supports the many internal research initiatives and service work carried out for our clients. These range from Data Management (GETdbase) and Plate Reconstruction (GETplate), to the visualisation and grid manipulation package GETgrid; all used every day by our geophysicists. New research ideas and algorithms are generally tested and prototyped using MATLAB of stand-alone programs. Many new ideas have been implemented as GEOSOFT GXs.
Refining Magnetic Depth Estimation Techniques
We have had an ongoing research initiative running for many years investigating semi-automated methods to estimate depths to basement using high resolution aeromagnetic data. One of the recent outcomes of the study was the development of various algorithms related to the application of the Tilt Angle derivative, (see publications below). The Tilt-Depth method has been further improved by introducing a new colour mapping technique (below) that will be the topic of scientific papers at EAGE and SEG in 2008.
For further details please refer to:
Ahmed Salem, Richard Smith, Simon Williams, Dhananjay Ravat and J Derek Fairhead (2007) Generalized magnetic tilt-Euler deconvolution SEG San Antonio, 4 pages Extended Abstract Generalized magnetic tilt-Euler deconvolution
Ahmed Salem, Simon Williams J. Derek Fairhead. Dhananjay Ravat and Richard Smith (2007) Tilt-depth method: a simple depth estimation method using first-order magnetic derivatives The Leading Edge December, Meter Reader: 1502-5 Tilt-depth method: a simple depth estimation method using first-order magnetic derivatives
Ahmed Salem, Simon Williams, Derek Fairhead, Richard Smith, and Dhananjay Ravat (2008) Interpretation of magnetic data using tilt-angle derivatives GEOPHYSICS, 73, NO. 1 January-February 2008; P. L1–L10, 7 FIGS. Interpretation of magnetic data using tilt-angle derivatives
Curie Point Study - supported by Shell
This ongoing study is investigating various methods of mapping the Curie Isotherm from terrestrial and satellite based geological and geophysical data. The Curie Isotherm is the temperature or depth beyond which rocks become non-magnetic. GETECH is engaged in a two-year study to develop and evaluate methods and techniques that can help map the spatial variation of the Curie point to understand and reduce its uncertainties. The research involves analysis of terrestrial and satellite magnetic and gravity data, as well as modelling the thermal properties of the crust involving heat flow, radiogenic, thermal conductivity and seismic data and tomography and mineralogical models.
