CASE STUDY: Oil Sands Exploration, Alberta

Airborne Oil Sands Exploration

Zhdanov, M.S., L. Cox, L., and J. Rudd, J., 2013, Paradigm change in 3D inversion of airborne EM surveys: case study for oil sands exploration near Fort McMurray, Alberta: First Break, 31, No. 4, 45-49. 366

Motivation for Airborne Oil Sands Exploration

  • Relatively shallow geology (~500 m)

  • Pattern drilling is extremely expensive

  • Land seismic is also expensive

  • Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) methods are ideal:

    • Sensitive to resistivity contrasts of the main geological formations and hazards

    • Minimal environmental invasion

    • Large areas can be acquired rapidly for low cost (relative to seismic or drilling)

AeroTEM survey was carried out in the Fort McMurray region of Alberta, Canada

3D Inversion/Imaging of AEM Data: Glass Earth® (Resistivity) Model

Vertical Cross Sections of Glass Earth® Model

Perspective View of Glass Earth® Subsurface Model

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