Technology
Since 1986, Quantec Geoscience has placed a high priority on technical innovation as a means of providing its clients with competitive advantage through our proprietary service offerings and survey methods, and also as a means of assisting in exploration discovery. Quantec is committed to leveraging technical innovation for our clients through its Research and Development (R&D), Titan 24 Deep Earth Imaging, Quantec Ground Geophysics, and Spartan MT Deep Earth Resistivity technologies.
Titan 24 Deep Earth Imaging
Quantec's proprietary Titan 24 Deep Earth Imaging System is the most advanced electrical earth imaging technology to date. This Distributed Acquisition System (DAS) combines two surveys in a 24 hour period -- measuring to depths of 700 metres with Induced Polarization / Resistivity, and to a cut-off depth of 1500 metres with Magnetotellurics. This depth of investigation makes it ideal for deep penetrating mineral exploration surveys, shallow geothermal surveys, and shallow oil and gas exploration surveys, for monitoring, oil sands exploration or other applications.
The standard field layout is 2.4 kilometers long. Continuous down-line (perpendicular to electrical strike) voltages are measured with 100m dipoles. Orthogonal dipoles are setup to record the voltage drop parallel to electric strike. The result is continuous 100 meter tensor data that can be rotated to changing geo-electrical strike with Eigenvector processing. Both high frequency and low frequency magnetometers are buried along the line, not as frequently as each dipole as the magnetic fields vary slower than the E fields. The system can measure and process vertical field magnetic data.
A full remote site is established in a quiet electrical area to provide remote reference data to enhance data quality when working in noisy electrical environments (near mines, power lines etc). The remote is also used to provide Telluric Cancellation data should extremely low frequency IP data (1/100 Hz) be required due to extreme coupling or Cole-Cole interpretation.The system can recover signals as small as 25 digitizer counts in over 2,000,000 digitizer counts of noise.
The idea is that the system moves approximately once a day depending on ground conditions and topography. It takes a 8 man field crew about 4 hours to move the system and a line preparation crew works both in front and behind the recording system to optimize productivity. After the system is set-up, the crew acquires the D.C. Resistivity/IP data during day light, then changes to AMT/MT at sunset to acquire data at night which is optimal as MT data are quieter and hence, higher-quality when acquired at night. Quantec Geoscience is unique in this procedure and ability to survey.
The Induced Polarization (IP) chargeability and DC Resistivity data can be acquired in any geometry depending on survey design requirements. Quantec commonly uses pole-dipole / dipole-pole for deep applications up to 700 m. However if safety requires that the pole be within sight we can use a centre pole array (Qara) which still provides excellent IP data to approximately 500 m. The Resistivity is generally very good to 800 meters. The station locations do need to be surveyed to cm accuracy as the system does account for geometric variance in the station locations and topography.
Deep chargeability data collected with n= 1 to 24 and an “a” spacing of 50, 100, 150 or 200 metres provides greater data density and deeper penetration for accurate IP chargeability and DC resistivity inversions to depths of 700 metres. Recognition of subtle signals from depth is possible due to advanced, high-sensitivity electronics, acquisition of full waveform data which can be processed to enhance relevant features in the data, and proprietary inversion and interpretation methods.
Magnetotelluric resistivity data collected over a long recording period and large frequency range at 24 stations simultaneously with 100 metre station separation provides greater lateral resolution and accurate imaging of resistivity to depths of 1 to 2 kilometres, and greater. Proprietary inversion software, developed by Phil Wannamaker, yields more accurate resistivity imaging capabilities.
The Titan 24 approach provides a cost effective means to thoroughly image and explore regions of key prospective ground. By imaging to depth first, a focused and more effective drilling campaign can provide key results faster.
Quantec’s proven technology can highlight subtle features in areas affected by culture or through thick overburden, making it an important investigation tool where the effectiveness of traditional methods has been limited. The system provides a strategic advantage for grassroots exploration, and allows for the reassessment of areas covered previously by less sophisticated exploration methods in and around established mining grounds (brownfield exploration).
The system is also applicable for other investigations (other than mineral exploration). For more information on mineral exploration or other applications, please contact us.
Quantec Ground Geophysics
For applications that require specific conventional methods, Quantec Ground Geophysics delivers safe and high-quality data acquisition, processing, inversion, interpretation and consulting services on a custom basis to meet the needs of clients’ specific projects. Highly qualified field and geophysical experts are available to perform Time Domain Electromagnetics (TEM); Borehole Time Domain Electromagnetics (BTEM);, IP and Resistivity, Magnetics and VLF, Gravity, Magnetotellurics (MT), Controlled Source Magnetotellurics (CSAMT); and more.
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Controlled Controlled Source Audiomagnegtotellurics (CSAMT) is a low cost geophysical technique that provides deep geologic information based on lateral and vertical resistivity contrasts. Applicable for grassroots mineral exploration and geothermal exploration. |
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Time Domain Electromagnetics (TEM) is a powerful technique deployed from either surface or boreholes. It is applicable for mineral exploration, geothermal exploration, and oil and gas exploration. Quantec also provides Frequency Domain EM (FEM). |
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Radiometrics is a technique that measures gamma radiation eminating from the decay of potassium, uranium and thorium radioelements. It is applied typically in mineral exploration for surface geologic mapping. |
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Very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF) is a low cost, rapid method of identifying near surface conductors related to alteration zones and conductive mineralization. It is applied primarily in mineral exploration. |
Spartan MT Deep Resistivity
The full tensor Spartan Magnetotelluric (MT) system provides a unique way to obtain deep resistivity over a variety of terrains for mineral exploration, geothermal exploration, oil and gas exploration, and other deep applications. The magnetotelluric method is used to map the spatial variation of the earth's resistivity by measuring naturally occurring electric and magnetic fields at the earth's surface. These natural electromagnetic (EM) fields are generated in the atmosphere mainly by solar wind and distant lightning strikes.
The system is typically deployed to collect deep resistivity in semi-regional to regional applications, from 300 metre to 2000 metre site separation. With high portability and flexibility of distribution, Spartan MT is environmentally-friendly and unobtrusive -- with depth of investigation from 400 metres to 10,000 metres, and more. Spartan MT can also be used to help target Titan 24 distributed surveys to collect more precise and deep subsurface information.
In mineral exploration, Spartan MT is used in a reconnaissance mode typically on 500 m to 1000 m centres. Related information is obtained pertaining to deep conductors, alteration, structure and geology. This information is valuable in terms of developing geologic models for ore deposition as well as identifying extensions of mineralization at depth.
Electrical resistivity can be strongly affected by geothermal processes. Historically, subsurface resistivity images are lacking in resolution due to limited data type, poor data sampling and inadequate inversion approaches. MT signals are small in amplitude and require careful processing to achieve accurate response functions. The Spartan MT system uses proprietary inversion software developed by Phil Wannamaker, providing better tools, methods and data. Below, initial results of a Spartan MT survey at the Dixie Valley geothermal field in NW Nevada, within the fields of late Cenozoic volcanism. MT resistivity image corresponds well with geologic model.
In oil and gas exploration, MT technology has been used to provide a means of determining the thickness of overlying volcanic or crystalline rock, which hinders the ability of seismic to map the subsurface. Deep resistivity can provide a means of discriminating between various seismic traps, for example water filled versus gas filled, since the water represents a much greater conductivity. This discrimination provides cost savings for deep drilling programs.
Some of the specific technical benefits of Spartan MT include:
- Improved accuracy of MT data due to high resolution signal processing, simultaneous field measurements, continuous profiling, and a broad band MT at a frequency range of 400 Hz to 0.001Hz
- Sophisticated digital signal processing
- High volume full, multi-fold wave-form data sets drive accuracy into the inversion process improving resolution and interpretability
Quantec Research and Development
Quantec’s R&D group is active in industry advancing the capabilities of Quantec’s core technologies while continuing to address the challenges in mineral exploration, geothermal exploration, and oil and gas exploration.
Major initiatives are underway in the areas of distributed acquisition technology (DAS) on which Titan 24 is based as well as enhancement to field systems and capabilities for acquisition of high-quality data to depth with Titan 24. A 3-D version of Titan 24 was developed and tested at Round Mountain, Nevada, and the system will be available for commercial production.
For more information on Spartan MT, please contact us or see other related pages on this web site.