Magnetic Survey PDF

Beirut Arab University Spring 2015
Faculty of Engineering
Petroleum department
Ch. 7
Magnetic survey
Dr. Rami HARKOUSS

Petroleum & Petrochemical Eng.
Drilling and Production Petroleum Eng.
Introduction
The aim of a magnetic survey is to investigate

subsurface geology on the basis of anomalies
in the Earths magnetic field resulting from the
magnetic properties of the underlying rocks.
Although most rock-forming minerals are

effectively non-magnetic, certain rock types
contain sufficient magnetic minerals to
produce significant magnetic anomalies.
Magnetic surveys can be performed on
land, at sea and in the air.
Consequently, the technique is widely

employed, and the speed of operation of
airborne surveys makes the method very
attractive in the search for types of ore
deposit that contain magnetic minerals.
Basic concepts
Within the vicinity of a bar magnet, a magnetic flux is
developed which flows from one end of the magnet to
the other.
A freely-suspended bar magnet
similarly aligns in the flux of the
Earths magnetic field.
The Magnetic force F between two magnetic poles of
strengths m1 and m2 separated by a distance r is given
by:
where 0 and R are constants corresponding to

the magnetic permeability of vacuum and the
relative magnetic permeability of the medium
separating the poles. The force is attractive if the
poles are of different sign and repulsive if they
are of like sign.
The magnetic field B due to a pole of strength m at a
distance r from the pole is defined as the force exerted on
a unit positive pole at that point:
Magnetic fields can be defined in terms of magnetic

potentials. For a single pole of strength m, the magnetic
potential V at a distance r from the pole is given by:
The c.g.s. unit of magnetic field strength is the gauss (G),

numerically equivalent to 10-4 T.
Example
80000 kg
5000 kg
30 km
2 1
1) Determine the magnetic force applied by object 1 on object 2.
2) What is the magnetic potential applied by 2 on 1
Take 0/4R equal 1.5.

Rock magnetism
Most common rock-forming minerals exhibit a very low
magnetic susceptibility and rocks owe their magnetic
character to the generally small proportion of magnetic
minerals that they contain.
Basic igneous rocks are usually highly magnetic due to

their relatively high magnetite content.
Metamorphic rocks are variable in their magnetic character.

If the partial pressure of oxygen is relatively low, magnetite
becomes resorbed and the iron and oxygen are
incorporated into other mineral phases as the grade of
metamorphism increases.
Histogram showing mean values and ranges in susceptibility
of common rock types
Sedimentary rocks are effectively non-magnetic
unless they contain a significant amount of
magnetite in the heavy mineral fraction.
Where magnetic anomalies are observed over

sediment-covered areas, the anomalies are
generally caused by an underlying igneous or
metamorphic basement, or by intrusions into
the sediments (dykes, faulted, folded or
truncated sills and lava flows, massive basic
intrusions, metamorphic basement rocks and
magnetite ore bodies).
Magnetic anomalies range in amplitude from a few
tens of nT over deep metamorphic basement to several
hundred nT over basic intrusions and may reach an
amplitude of several thousand nT over magnetite ores.
Magnetic anomalies
around the Juan de
Fuca and Gorda
Ridges, off the west
coast of North
America.
Some of magnetic surveying instruments
Most modern survey instruments are designed to measure
B only (the precision normally required is )
1. Fluxgate magnetometer
2. Proton magnetometer
Aeromagnetic surveys
The vast majority of magnetic surveys are carried out in the
air, with the sensor towed in a housing known as a bird to
remove the instrument from the magnetic effects of the
aircraft.
Aeromagnetic surveying is rapid and cost-effective,

typically costing some 40% less per line kilometre than a
ground survey.
Vast areas can be surveyed rapidly without the cost of

sending a field party into the survey area and data can be
obtained from areas inaccessible to ground survey.
Marine surveys
Marine magnetic surveying techniques are

similar to those of airborne surveying. The sensor
is towed in a fish at least two ships lengths
behind the vessel to remove its magnetic effects.
Marine surveying is obviously slower than

aeromagnetic surveying, but is frequently carried
out in conjunction with several other geophysical
methods, such as gravity surveying and
continuous seismic profiling, which cannot be
employed in the air.

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What are magnetic surveys used for?

What are magnetic surveys used for?

What factors affect a rock's magnetic properties?

What factors affect a rock's magnetic properties?

Beirut Arab University Spring 2015

Dr. Rami HARKOUSS

The aim of a magnetic survey is to investigate

Although most rock-forming minerals are

Consequently, the technique is widely

where 0 and R are constants corresponding to

Magnetic fields can be defined in terms of magnetic

The c.g.s. unit of magnetic field strength is the gauss (G),

1) Determine the magnetic force applied by object 1 on object 2.

2) What is the magnetic potential applied by 2 on 1

Take 0/4R equal 1.5.

Basic igneous rocks are usually highly magnetic due to

Metamorphic rocks are variable in their magnetic character.

Where magnetic anomalies are observed over

Aeromagnetic surveying is rapid and cost-effective,

Vast areas can be surveyed rapidly without the cost of

Marine magnetic surveying techniques are

Marine surveying is obviously slower than

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