Seismic exploration methods applied to potash mining: Risk analysis and mine planning

Abstract

Since the early 1980’s, two-dimensional (2D) seismic data have been acquired to assess the regional potash potential in Saskatchewan. These surveys have provided information on the structural attitudes of the producing zone, post-depositional activity that may result in halite replacement of potash, and collapse features. Since the late 1980’s 3D surveys have been acquired to investigate site-specific, mine planning issues. In recent years, the surface seismic method has gained widespread recognition in the potash industry, both as a valuable mine planning tool and as an analytical tool for anomalous underground features at the mining horizon. Today, problems such as analysis of site-specific solution collapse anomalies, void space mapping, and brine inflow site identification are being solved by the use of surface seismic. Seismic data provide an effective remote sensing tool for risk assessment and mine planning in the context of both short and long term mine planning.