Exploration Geophysics Group ~ Projects
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Completed
During 2003 three groundwater, two gravity, and two geotechnical
surveys were performed by the
Exploration Geophysics Branch.
Groundwater investigations:
These were requested by the PNG Waterboard, and were done at Maprik, ESP,
Bialla, WNBP, and Mt. Hagen, WHP. Of the three two technical reports have been completed. These are TN 12/2003
and TN 14/2003 for Maprik and Bialla respectively.The technical report for the Mt. Hagen investigation is yet
to be completed.
Geotechnical Surveys:
The first geotechnical survey was requested PNG Telikom to determine subsurface
conditions at the Mt. Dufaure repeater station, Kimbe, WNBP. This investigation was done together with the
Geotechnical Branch of the Geological Survey. The other was requested by SMEC (PNG) for the
construction of a bridge across the Worei River, Manus Province. Seismic refraction surveys were conducted
at both locations, utilising the 24 channel Terraloc Seismic System. Technical reports for both surveys have
been completed. These are TN 00/2003 and TN 13/2003 for Mt. Dufaure and Worei repectively.
Gravity Surveys:
The gravity surveys were done both as training exercises. The first one was done around the Witori
Caldera system, mainly concentrating around the Mt. Pago volcano. The survey was supervised by Chris
McKee, Assistant Directer, Geophysical Surveys Branch, and Mr. Adrian Walker, BGS Consulting Geophysicist.
Preliminary processing shows the following
Bouguer anomaly image. The other gravity
survey was done both within the Ramu-Markham valley and the Bulolo area. That survey was supervised by
reknowned gravity expert, and lecturer at the Imperial College London, Dr. John Milsom. Data for that
survey is still being processed.
Current Projects
There are several outstanding reports to be completed. Notable is the
Mt. Hagen groundwater investigation report.
Also outstanding are the gravity reports for both the Ramu-Markham-Bulolo areas and the Mt. Pago area.
Special projects that are also outstanding are the geothermal database compilation,
under the CCOP DCGM-IV Project.
The section is compiling several items related to geothermal resources,
as the country's contribution to the DCGM-IV
project.
The section also prepared a submition to the National Planning Office,
through the office of the Sectretary,
to help arrange for external funding for the development of a
National Geothermal Database. It is still waiting
for a response from that office.
Ongoing Projects
The World-Bank funded project to develop a digital compilation of the
available geophysical datasets of the country
was initiated around July 2002. Over that period the section, with the help of British Geological Survey counterparts
have created an up-to-date compilation of the gravity datasets, airbore geophysical surveys datasets, and to a lesser
extent, detail geophysical surveys.
The current state of this compilation is shown on the
Geophysics Data Holdings page.
The Exploration Geophysics Section has now begun the process of identifying missing survey datasets, and,
if possible, try to retrieve them from wherever they are.
Upcoming Projects
The Section is hoping to approach CCOP to help conduct a heatflow study
of the country. The last independent
heat flow study was done by Yokokura and Mizutani in the 1980s.
An updated compilation, comprising bottom-hole temperature measurements
from oil and gas, and mining exploration companies, and also offshore research vessels,
will do much to better understand
the heat flow movement within our tectonic plates.
It will also help better understand the tectonics
of the region.This gridded image shows the current coverage of
heat flow data.