Magnetotelluric geophysical survey system using an airborne survey bird
US6765383B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V3/16
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A magnetotelluric geophysical survey system used with an airborne survey bird for natural resource exploration of oil and gas, mineral deposits and aquifers. The survey system uses natural electromagnetic EM fields as an energy source. The magnetotelluric airborne survey system includes an aerodynamic airborne survey bird adapted for being towed behind a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft. The survey system can also be incorporated into a fixed wind aircraft. The survey system includes a non-conductive nose boom on the survey bird with orthogonal electric dipoles for measuring electric fields from 0.01 Hz up to 480 Hz. An angular motion detector is mounted inside the bird and used for compensating for errors caused by angular motion of the bird when in the presence of strong electric field gradients. The survey bird can use a single magnetometer or pairs of magnetometers for measuring electromagnetic gradients. The magnetometers are attached to angular motion detectors for compensating for errors caused by angular motion of a line between the magnetometers, when in the presence of strong magnetic gradients. The bird can also includes the orthogonal axis coils for measuring natural m…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.