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18-Geol-A7 Applied Geophysics: December 2019

Nivaar worked solution (AI-drafted; not reviewed by a licensed engineer)

  1. Question 1 Physical Properties Sensed by Geophysical Methods — Range and Implications
  2. Question 2 Designing a Gravity Survey — Target, Setting, Contrast, Signal/Noise and Acquisition
  3. Question 3 Converting Geophysical Data into an Image — Gridding, Colour/Shading, and Interpretation
  4. Question 4 Passive and Active Electrical Methods — Field Generation, Measurement and Application
  5. Question 5 Strengths and Weaknesses of Gamma-Ray Spectrometry
  6. Question 6 Three Electromagnetic System Configurations — Components, Geometry and Application
  7. Question 7 Three Downhole Geophysical Tools — Principles and Interpretive Use
  8. Question 8 Refraction Seismic — Acquisition, Processing, Interpretation and a Case Example
  9. Question 9 Reflection Seismic Source/Sensor Combinations — Engineering, Petroleum and Marine, and Reaching the Moho
  10. Question 10 The Magnetotelluric Method — Principles, Equipment and Interpretation

Start with Question 1 →

National Exams — December 2019 — 18-Geol-A7 Applied Geophysics. Three-hour, closed-book exam; approved Casio or Sharp calculator permitted. The paper offers a choice of six of the following ten questions, each worth 16.66% of the total mark, and every question requires an essay-format answer — this is a genuinely all-essay sitting with no numeric data, formula sheet, or figure supplied in the source. All ten questions are answered below so the set stands as a complete study resource for choose-N-of-M exams.

Reference texts: Telford, Geldart & Sheriff, Applied Geophysics (2nd ed.) — the primary reference for every method touched in this paper (physical properties, gravity, magnetics, electrical/EM methods, seismic refraction/reflection, radiometrics, well logging, magnetotellurics); Kearey, Brooks & Hill, An Introduction to Geophysical Exploration (3rd ed.) — survey design, array geometry, data acquisition, processing and display; Blakely, Potential Theory in Gravity and Magnetic Applications — potential-field survey design and reduction (Q2); Selley & Sonnenberg, Elements of Petroleum Geology — well-logging tool context (Q7).