|
Integration of data over large geographic areas is quite difficult but the results can be used to provide great insight into a variety of geological problems. Our interpretations over large areas begin with the integration of a wide variety of data. The "glue" that we use to merge diverse data type is gravity, magnetic and DEM data. To gain the highest resolution results as much original survey data is used. For a recent project over the north and central Atlantic we began with over 3 million line kilometers of bathymetric data. The gravity data were over 5 million, and the Magnetic data were over 2 million line kilometers respectively. Merging this much data along with national and other public domain gridded data requires a significant amount of technique development, which will be described.
Using the final integrated data, basin geometry and structure can be derived from the inversion of gravity and magnetic data. Using some newly developed techniques these inversions can also discriminate between different lithologies. Magnetic data can be inverted for magnetic basement and for intermediate layers of volcanic material. Gravity data can be inverted for structures which produce density contrasts in basins. Combining these results, basin structure can be explored to determine depth to basement, to high density structures such as carbonates, and to high susceptibility structures such as volcanics.
The newly integrated data allow us to extend our interpretation to all offshore basins and some onshore as well. We use the structural interpretations described above along with enhancements of gravity, magnetic and digital elevation model data. Combining these interpretations and enhancements with published data in a GIS environment allows us to constrain additional interpretations of tectonic development, sedimentary facies and structures in basins. These interpretations are particularly useful in petroleum exploration. Examples are shown for basins around the South China Sea, and our new work over the east coast of North and Latin America
|
