Mineral exploration
Early in the exploration cycle, the regional geology of large areas needs to be understood in order to effectively direct more expensive techniques. Active (reflection) seismic surveys yield high resolution images but are expensive, environmentally disruptive and impractical to use over wide areas. Passive seismic imaging using easy-to-deploy sensors is inexpensive and has minimal environmental footprint.
Oil & Gas
Improves active-source seismic reflection imaging and extracts more and better subsurface information than is possible with only seismic reflection. Ambient noise surface wave tomography allows cost effective imaging over large lease blocks, difficult terrain and environmentally sensitive areas. A valuable complement to active surveys.
Monitoring
Ambient noise methods are used to continuously monitor mechanical properties of structures such as dams, mine workings and oil reservoirs. Data are obtained using cable-less nodes or optical fibres.
Geotechnical engineering
The noise-based seismic technique helps in detecting and monitoring weak, unstable subsurface zones. It is also useful for seismic risk assessment by identifying regions with low seismic velocities.
Geothermal resources & CO2 storage
Imaging geological features; monitoring geothermal resources and sites of CO2 sequestration.
Tailings storage facilities monitoring
Sisprobe, in collaboration with Silixa and HydroResearch offers the capability of monitoring tailings dams and other facilities in real time and in 3D. Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and optical fibres, we can image the entire dam and its foundations and provide immediate warning of internal degradation that may lead to dam failure.
Cover mapping
Passive seismic is the premium method for penetrating the cover that obscures numerous mineral exploration sites. The method uses autonomous geophones at the surface which record ambient seismic noise. No costly and environmentally hazardous active sources are needed. The method can determine cover thickness over large areas – 100 km2 – and determine cover thicknesses to depths from tens of metres to several kilometres. The cost – about USD50 per km2 – is highly competitive with other technique.