Lecture Notes
Gravity Method
Yunus Daud
(Dr. Eng., M.Sc., Dipl.Geotherm.Tech., Drs.)
Selasa: 13.00 – 14.50
Room: B-304
Geophysics Program
Department of Physics, The University of Indonesia
Kampus Depok
2002
SCORING:
Assignment 15%
Presentation 20%
Mid Test 25%
Final Exam 40%
REFERENCES:
1. Geophysical Prospecting (Milton B. Dobrin
and Carl H. Savit)
2. Exploration Geophysics of the Shallow
Subsurface (H. Robert Burger)
3. Applied Geophysics (Telford)
Lecture Notes
Gravity Method
OUTLINE:
1. The place of gravity in oil, mineral and geothermal exploration
2. Basic principles and instrumentations
3. Gravity field measurements and reductions
4. The Interpretation of Gravity Data
a. Design of Surveys
b. Regional-Residual Separation
c. Determination of Density for Gravity Interpretation
d. Quantitative Interpretation
5. Applications of the Gravity Method
Chapter 1
THE PLACE OF GRAVITY IN GEOPHYSICAL
EXPLORATION
OIL EXPLORATION:
• Initially for locating “salt domes” in the Gulf Coast, USA
• Later for finding anticlinal structures in the midcontinent area
• Specific structures (e.g. block faulting) in which hydrocarbons are
entrapped
• Mostly used for reconnaissance of large, previously unexplored
areas
• Big question: Is a sedimentary basin large enough and thick enough
to justify further investigation?
MINERAL EXPLORATION
• More limited applicability in mineral prospecting
• Some ores (e.g. chromites) have high density >> can be located
by gravity survey
• Buried channels (might contain gold or uranium) >> the channel
fill is less dense
GEOTHERMAL EXPLORATION
• Geothermal systems are usually located in calderas, structure-like
basins and faults
• The structures can be reconstructed by gravity surveys
• Rock intrusions acting as a heat source can also be detected by
gravity investigation
• Densification developed in fracture zones within reservoir can
also be detected by gravity survey (e.g. Broadlands-Ohaaki
geothermal field, NZ and Sibayak field, Indonesia)
GEOTHERMAL MONITORING
• Mass changes in reservoir zone due to production or re-injection
can be monitored by micro-gravity survey
• Examples:
• Wairakei geothermal field
• Hachobaru geothermal field
• Kamojang geothermal field
REGIONAL GRAVITY SURVEY
• Great fault system (e.g. Sumatra Fault Zone)
• Great caldera (e.g. Lake Toba)
SHALLOW GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
• Bedrock depth >> for engineering construction
• Subsurface Voids
• Landfill Geometry
96o 100o 104oE
SIBAYAK
Return
GEOTHERMAL
FIELD
4o N
Su
ma
tra
Fa
o
0
ult
Zo
ne
Ja
va
Tr
en
ch
o
4
degassing volcano
active volcano (historic)
caldera volcano (Toba)
QUATERNARY PYROCLASTICS AND LAVA
mainly rhyolite
mainly andesite
0 500 km
Figure 2.3 Location of active volcanoes on Sumatra
(modified from Hochstein and Sudarman, 1993)
442000 443000 444000 445000 446000 447000 448000 449000 450000
362000
362000
mgal
A -6
-8
361000
361000
-10
-12
-14
-16
Return
360000
360000
Northing (meter)
- -18
-20
-22
359000
359000
Mt. Pintau -24
F6
-26
Mt. Sibayak -28
F5
-30
358000
358000
Mt. Simpulanangin
O -32
5
3 8 6 7
-
Mt. Pratektekan
-34
-36
357000
357000
4 -38
10
Mt Uncim 9 -40
F3 -42
F2 F4
356000
356000
-44
2 F1 Sby-10 Well -46
Fumarole
Hotspring -48
Topographic
1600 -50
B Mt. Singkut
355000
355000
Contour
442000 443000 444000 445000 446000 447000 448000 449000 450000
Easting (meter)
Figure 4.16 Bouguer gravity anomaly over the Sibayak geothermal field.
Contour interval is 1 mgal. AOB is a profile line for 2-D modeling.
442000 443000 444000 445000 446000 447000 448000 449000 450000
362000
362000
mgal
A 14
12
361000
361000
10
8
6
360000
360000
- 4
2
Northing (meter)
0
359000
359000
Mt. Pintau
-2
Mt. Sibayak -4
358000
358000
Mt. Simpulanangin -6
O
5
3 8 6 7
-
Mt. Pratektekan -8
-10
357000
357000
-12
10 4
Mt Uncim 9 -14
-16
356000
356000
2 Sby-10 Well
-18
Fumarole
-20
Hotspring
1600 Topographic -22
B Mt. Singkut
355000
355000
Contour
442000 443000 444000 445000 446000 447000 448000 449000 450000
Easting (meter)
Figure 4.17 Residual gravity anomaly over the Sibayak geothermal field.
Contour interval is 1 mgal. AOB is a profile line for 2-D modeling
Return
(a) A O B
10
Computed Anomaly
5
Residual Gravity (mgal)
0
-5
-10 Residual Anomaly
-15
-20
-25
(b)
3000 Mt Sibayak Caldera Margin
Caldera Margin
2000
2.45
2.10
Elevation (meter)
2.76 2.30
1000
2.75
2.50
0
meter
-1000
0 1000
2.60
-2000
Figure 4.18 Residual and computed gravity anomaly along profile AOB,
(b). 2-D gravity model along profile AOB. Density is indicated in g/cm3.
