Gravity and Magnetic Interpretation

Interpretations of gravity and magnetic data are non-unique, meaning that sometimes a number of different
geological models can fit the observed data. With constraints from geological and other geophysical data types (e.g.
seismic and well data), the interpretations can provide critical insights into the geometry of the subsurface (e.g.
depth-to-basement).
Magnetic anomalies are mainly generated by variations in the crystalline basement and igneous material. Most
sediments can be thought of as being magnetically transparent, i.e. insignificant susceptibility. Thus, magnetic data
interpretation can be a useful way to investigate the deepest and often the most fundamental structure of a basin.
Gravity anomalies originate from any subsurface density contrast, .e.g. intrusions, faults, basin boundaries, salt
diapirs, etc.
Expertise
We have over 15 years of expertise in undertaking interpretations of gravity and magnetic data, and, more recently, FTG
(or gravity gradiometer) surveys over the following regions:
Kwanza Basin, Angola
Coastal Benin
Papua basin, Papua New Guinea
Offshore Tanzania/Kenya
Red Sea Margin, Saudi Arabia
Offshore Liberia
Makassar Straits, Indonesia
Offshore South Africa
Ogaden Basin, Ethiopia
Sub-Andean basins of South America
Mongolia
Offshore Faeroes/Shetland
Offshore Brazil
Nevada, USA
Cenozoic rifts, Tanzania
Muglad Basin, Sudan
Offshore Vietnam
Syria
Lower 48, USA

Methodologies
Qualitative Analysis

Derivatives and transforms of gravity and magnetic data (e.g. filtering, reduction to the pole of magnetic data and tilt
derivative), all based upon mathematically-defined algorithms, help highlight significant and sometimes subtle features
within the datasets. A suite of carefully chosen derivatives can shed light upon the following:
Structural trends
Fault kinematics
Crustal architecture
Regional tectonics
Sedimentary lithology
Igneous bodies

Quantitative Analysis
2D and 3D profile modelling, magnetic depth estimation and 3D inversions, help revise the qualitative interpretation,
test plate tectonics models and define basement depths and other significant subsurface horizons.

Depth-to-basement studies
One of the most frequently requested pieces of work we are asked to do is to generate a depth-to-basement map of a
basin or sub-basin. These are important for the New Ventures explorationist, since they help to identify the extents of
potentially productive sedimentary basins. They will provide a vital constraint for source rock maturity modelling and for
understanding the local thermal regime in both conventional and unconventional exploration settings. Our staff have

been at the forefront of developing new techniques, with numerous publications and conference presentations on the
subject.

At a global scale, we have embarked on the Global Depth-to-Basement Study, utilising our global gravity and magnetic
datasets and supporting geological, well and seismic control.
At a basin scale, the workflow for any specific study will be modified depending on the quality and extent of the
datasets available and the nature of the problem to be solved.
A typical interpretation will involve the following:
Specialist processing of the gravity and magnetic data, such as tilt derivative, pseudo-depth slicing, reduction to pole of
magnetic data, and lineament enhancements.
Review of the geological basin setting
Qualitative interpretation
Estimations of depth to magnetic basement, such as spectral analysis, tilt-depth, 3D Euler Deconvolution and local
wavenumber.
2D profile modelling
3D inversion of gravity and/or pseudo-gravity data
Basement depth map