TU Geosciences Seminar Presents:

Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry – Updated Technology with New Applications

George Buzan

Business Development Mgr., The Americas – Bell Geospace Inc.

gbuzan@bellgeo.com

Wednesday FEB 7, 2024 @ 12pm KEP 3005

Gravity Gradiometry has a long history in natural resource exploration; dating back to the early 1900’s. Early gradiometers measured only horizontal components of the gravity vector. Instruments to measure all the gravity gradient components began development in the 1980’s. NASA and the Defense Department funded to a large extent the development, motivated to develop a better representation of the gravity geoid, for satellite navigation, and for augmenting the stealth characteristics of nuclear submarines. Bell Geospace took the instrument that was developed and mounted it in a modified DC-3 and began flying gradiometry surveys in 1996. Initially, surveys acquired data for traditional gravity objectives; i.e reconnaissance for planning seismic acquisition, sedimentary basin definition, salt thickness definition, etc. On the mineral exploration side, the technique has been used to delineate kimberlite deposits, copper porphyry and iron ore deposits. Recently, the search for renewable energy sources and carbon capture and sequestration creates demand for surveys for geothermal resources and gas storage areas. Gases to be stored include CO2, methane and hydrogen. Salient aspects of full tensor gradiometry will be presented as well as examples showing its use, both past and present.

Brief Bio:

At Princeton, I acquired, processed and interpreted gravity data in northern Venezuela to complete my BSE in Geological Engineering. After two years of graduate study in geophysics at Texas A&M and the University of Houston, I started work in industry as a seismic data processor. Following two years of processing data, I began a long career as an acquisition geophysicist/geoscientist. Besides land and marine seismic data, i have acquired land, marine and airborne magnetics and gravity. Along with the geophysical acquisition, I have supervised the acquisition of geochemical, micropaleontological, archeological and baseline environmental data sometimes required as an adjunct to surveys.