APPLICATION OF GEOPHYSICAL TECHNOLOGY TO ASSESSMENT OF DEEP GEOTECHNICAL CONDITIONS

THE DEEP BASING PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT GEOTECHNICAL INFORMATION BE OBTAINED FROM THOUSANDS OF FEET BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE. CONVENTIONAL DRILLING, SAMPLING AND LABORATORY TESTING TO DERIVE GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES CAN BE OVERLY EXPENSIVE. THE APPLICATION OF GEOPHYSICAL TECHNOLOGY TO THE EXPLORATION PROGRAM OFFERS THE POTENTIAL FOR OBTAINING THE NECESSARY INFORMATION AT REDUCED COSTS. IN AREAS OF SEDIMENTARY ROCK, THE SEISMIC REFLECTION TECHNIQUE USING BOTH P AND S WAVE REFLECTIONS OFFERS GOOD POTENTIAL. TECHNIQUES INCLUDING AEROMAGNETICS, GRAVITY, RESISTIVITY AND ELECTROMAGNETIC CAN BE USED FOR CHARACTERIZING GEOTECHNICAL CONDITIONS IN CRYSTALLINE AND METAMORPHIC ROCK. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL QUANTIFY THE POTENTIAL TECHNICAL BENEFITS OF THE DIFFERENT GEOTECHNICAL TECHNIQUES AND ALSO PROVIDE A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO COMPARE GEOPHYSICS WITH DRILLING.