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.