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Introduction to Gravity and Magnetics
in Exploration

This course is designed for geologists and others in the hydrocarbon exploration industry with little or no experience with gravity and magnetics. The course focuses on geological interpretation of the data, and includes very little theory. Background of data acquisition and processing is covered so that participants can appreciate the procedures that go into map-making, and to enhance their ability to request products from specialists, either in-house or outside contractors.

Hands-on workshops include the following:

Magnetic depth estimation
Graphical gravity residual mapping
Computer modeling
Regional Lithologic and Structural Interpretation
Quickie Integrated Interpretation Example

The course includes a 200-page course manual by Richard I. Gibson, Nettleton's Gravity and Magnetics for Geologists and Seismologists, USGS Bulletin 1924 (Geologic Applications of Modern Aeromagnetic Surveys), and Breiner's Application Manual for Portable Magnetometers.



Generalized Outline

Earth's Fields and their Variations
Acquisition & Processing
Accuracy & Costs
Interpretation Methods
(Depth Estimation Workshop)
Anomaly Resolution
(Residual Mapping Workshop)
Expressions of Lithologies and Structures
Short Interpretation Case Histories
Continent-Scale Data Sets and Interpretations
(Regional Lithologic-Structural Project)
Computer Modeling Examples and Workshop
Case Histories
Pitfalls & Producing Field Examples


Costs

The course is commonly tailored to the needs of specific clients. A typical presentation would last three to four days, and could be extended to include optional consulting time for class participants to discuss specific problems, or optional presentations on various world-wide data sets (e.g., Gravity Maps of Africa and South America, and Magnetic Map of the Former Soviet Union) to non-participants from within the company. Course locations and clients.

Grav-Mag training via Internet

Recently Dick Gibson gave a version of the course in six 2-hour sessions to a group of 12 graduate students at Indiana University. Variations for such audiences are also possible. FREE 1-day version at GSA/Denver, October 1996.

All program costs are negotiable. The following tuition list may be used as a guide and starting point, and is based on 3½ days of instruction and ½ day of consulting. These costs are for in-house courses, with the client providing the training room. Travel expenses are in addition to these fees. If you are not with a large company and are interested, let us know and we will attempt to put together a public course.

10 or fewer participants...............$5,500 flat fee
11 to 15 participants.................$475 per person
16 to 20 participants.................$450 per person


Some comments by previous attendees:

This is the best "hands on", practically oriented grav-mag course that I have attended. (10-year geophysicist)
Good, quick intro to gravity & mag. (13-year geologist)
Addressed very well some misconceptions or misuses of gravity and magnetics in evaluation of geology. (10-year geophysicist)
Much more interesting and relevant than I had anticipated. (7-year explorationist)
It was very good in that it is heavily geological and petroleum exploration oriented.
More "in-house" courses by extremely competent instructors with broad scope exploration viewpoints as Mr. Gibson would materially enhance our staff's expertise.
Pragmatic instructor with excellent experience. U.S. examples are appropriate to geoscientists performing international exploration. (8-year geologist)


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