SHIP‐TOWED MAGNETICS IN PETROLEUM EXPLORATION*

Abstract

AbstractIn one geophysical survey over a salt dome in the Gulf of Mexico, data taken from a single magnetic and seismic shipborne traverse demonstrated significantly the importance of magnetic measurements. The reduced magnetic and seismic profiles were integrated with gravity measurements from an earlier survey demonstrating the value of obtaining simultaneous geophysical data. The traverse was approximately 25 miles in length, 135 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas. The observed gradient averaged approximately 2 gammas per 1000 feet and crosses the southwest corner of a large shallow salt dome called the Way Dome. The recorded magnetic profile over the salt dome shows a negative magnetic anomaly extending for approximately 12 miles with a maximum amplitude of approximately 20 gammas. This negatively anomaly is due to the negative susceptibility contrast between the salt and cap rock that truncates the surrounding parent sediments. The shape of the negative anomaly correlates well with the continous seismic record and clearly delineates the topographical and structural features of the salt dome. The recorded analog magnetic profile was replotted, with both the regional gradient and time variations removed, which makes the observed anomaly much sharper than is noticeable on the original recorded strip chart record. A theoretical magnetic anomaly was calculated using a computer program for comparison to the observed anomaly. The results showed good correlation.