A SQUID-BASED MAGNETIC GRADIOMETER SYSTEM

FEW NEW WILDCAT WELLS ARE IN FRONTIER LOCATIONS; IT IS MOSTLY FRONTIER EXPLORATION THAT WILL PRODUCE THE SIGNIFICANT NEW FINDS IN THE OFFSHORE, UNEXPLORED SEDIMENTARY BASINS. RAPID, LOW-COST, SENSITIVE AIRBORNE EXPLORATION TECHNIQUES ARE REQUIRED TO PINPOINT THE AREAS THAT JUSTIFY SLOWER, HIGH-COST SEISMIC SURVEYS. AIRBORNE MAGNETIC GRADIOMETRY HAS RECENTLY PROVED TO BE A USEFUL TOOL IN GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS. EXISTING SYSTEMS ARE LONG BASELINE SYSTEMS UTILIZING EITHER PROTON PRECESSION OR ALKALI VAPOR MAGNETOMETERS. DUE TO RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE SENSORS AND A LACK OF SENSITIVITY, THESE MAGNETIC GRADIOMETERS DO NOT REALIZE THE FULL BENEFITS OF A DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM. WE PROPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNING A SQUID BASED AIRBORNE GRADIOMETER SYSTEM FOR GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION. SIMULATED GEOPHYSICAL EXORATION. SIMULATED GEOPHYSICAL ANOMALIES AND NOISE WILL BE USED TO SET SYSTEM AND NOISE SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENTS. A25-35 DB INCREASE IN SENSITIVITY IS ANTICIPATED OVER EXISTING SYSTEMS. DATA ADAPTIVE NOISE CANCELLING TECHNIQUESALONG WITH NOISE SENSORS WILL BE UTILIZED TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUMSENSITIVITY. BASED UPON A PRELIMINARY DESIGN, THE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE WILL BE ASSESSED.