Scientist looking at a rock core sample in a computed tomography scanner.

CSIRO has an extensive geophysics capability.

Geophysics: aiding mineral and petroleum exploration research

CSIRO's geophysics capability contributes to a range of research applications from mineral exploration and mine safety to monitoring carbon dioxide storage.

  • 13 August 2010 | Updated 21 September 2012
  1. Overview
  2. Seismic surveys - Part 1
  3. Seismic surveys - Part 2
  4. Electromagnetic surveys
  5. Experimental rock physics
  6. Magnetic and gravity studies
  7. Superconducting quantum interference devices
  8. Rock mechanics and petrophysics laboratories
  9. Centre of Excellence for 3D Mineral Mapping
  10. Drilling processes and the Deep Exploration Technologies CRC
  11. References

Overview

Page 1 of 11

Just a small proportion of Australia's rich endowment of ore minerals, petroleum and geothermal resources has been produced.

A large amount of mineral and energy wealth remains to be found, characterised, quantified and exploited in a way that is sensitive to Australia's natural environment.

CSIRO's geophysics capabilities perform a number activities to aid in:

  • mineral exploration
  • increasing recovery rates of oil and gas reservoirs
  • monitoring and verification of carbon dioxide storage
  • geological modelling of sedimentary sequences for exploration.

These capabilities and activities include:

  • seismic and microseimic surveys
  • electromagnetic surveys
  • magnetic and gravity studies 
  • experimental rock physics
  • superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) 
  • testing rock properties via the Rock Mechanics and Petrophysics laboratories
  • contributing to research for the Centre of Excellence for 3D Mineral Mapping and Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre
  • developing new models to quantify and predict rock behaviour.

Read more about CSIRO's capability into Petroleum geoscience: meeting energy exploration and production challenges.

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