Calgary-Lethbridge Corridor Geophysical Survey: Interpretation of AeroTEM Airborne Data

This publication contains a preliminary interpretation of a 2011 airborne time domain electromagnetic (AeroTEM) survey of the Calgary-Lethbridge corridor area of southern Alberta. The 1D stacked inversion interpreted data accompany this report.

In February and March 2011, Aeroquest Airborne Surveys collected 27 000 km of AeroTEM data in southern Alberta. The data were collected for Alberta Environment (AENV) as part of Alberta’s Provincial Groundwater Inventory Program. The purpose of the survey was to map aquifers with electromagnetic imaging techniques.

The data were processed by Aeroquest using a conductivity depth imaging (CDI) method called differential resistivity. The traverse and tie line Hz data were inverted by Petros Eikon Incorporated using a 1D stacked inversion method, and depth slices and sections were produced from these inversions and delivered to AENV.

This report was prepared by Laura Davis and Ross Groom, both of Petros Eikon, except for parts of the Introduction, and the complete Section 2, which were prepared by Aeroquest. Section 2 relates to the conductivity depth sections computed with the differential resistivity algorithm.

For the purposes of this report, the survey data were divided into four (4) areas labeled Area 1 (NW), Area 2 (NE), Area 3 (SE) and Area 4 (SW).