A least‐squares minimization approach to depth determination from numerical horizontal gravity gradients

Geophysics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1259-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
El‐Sayed Mohamed Abdelrahman ◽  
Sharafeldin Mahmoud Sharafeldin
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Depth Estimation ◽  
Horizontal Cylinder ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Gravity Gradient ◽  
Quantitative Interpretation ◽  
Gravity Gradients

The sphere and the horizontal cylinder models can be very useful in quantitative interpretation of gravity data measured in a small area over buried structures. Several graphical and numerical methods have been developed by many workers for interpreting the residual gravity anomalies caused by these models to find the depth of most geologic structures. Excellent reviews are given in Saxov and Nygaard (1953) and Bowin et al. (1986). The numerical approaches (Odegard and Berg, 1965; Gupta, 1983; Sharma and Geldart, 1968; Lines and Treitel, 1984; and Shaw and Agarwal, 1990) may have advantages in theory and practice over graphical depth estimation techniques (Pick et al., 1973: Nettleton, 1976; Telford et al., 1976). However, effective quantitative interpretation procedures using the least‐squares method based on the analytical expression of simple numerical horizontal gravity gradient anomalies are yet to be developed.

Shape and depth solutions from gravity data using correlation factors between successive least‐squares residuals

Geophysics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 1785-1791 ◽  
Author(s):  
El‐Sayed M. Abdelrahman ◽  
Hesham M. El‐Araby
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Shape Factor ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Bouguer Anomaly ◽  
Vertical Cylinder ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Horizontal Cylinder ◽  
Amplitude Coefficient ◽  
Regional Component ◽  
Correlation Factors

The gravity anomaly expression produced by most geologic structures can be represented by a continuous function in both shape (shape factor) and depth variables with an amplitude coefficient related to the mass. Correlation factors between successive least‐squares residual gravity anomalies from a buried vertical cylinder, horizontal cylinder, and sphere are used to determine the shape and depth of the buried geologic structure. For each shape factor value, the depth is determined automatically from the correlation value. The computed depths are plotted against the shape factor representing a continuous correlation curve. The solution for the shape and depth of the buried structure is read at the common intersection of correlation curves. This method can be applied to a Bouguer anomaly profile consisting of a residual component caused by local structure and a regional component. This is a powerful technique for automatically separating the Bouguer data into residual and regional polynomial components. This method is tested on theoretical examples and a field example. In both cases, the results obtained are in good agreement with drilling results.

A least‐squares derivatives analysis of gravity anomalies due to faulted thin slabs

Geophysics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
El‐Sayed M. Abdelrahman ◽  
Hesham M. El‐Araby ◽  
Tarek M. El‐Araby ◽  
Eid Ragab Abo‐Ezz
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Bouguer Anomaly ◽  
Theoretical Data ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Random Errors ◽  
Fault Structure ◽  
Amplitude Coefficient ◽  
Buried Fault

This paper presents two different least‐squares approaches for determining the depth and amplitude coefficient (related to the density contrast and the thickness of a buried faulted thin slab from numerical first‐, second‐, third‐, and fourth‐horizontal derivative anomalies obtained from 2D gravity data using filters of successive graticule spacings. The problem of depth determination has been transformed into the problem of finding a solution to a nonlinear equation of the form f(z) = 0. Knowing the depth and applying the least‐squares method, the amplitude coefficient is determined using a simple linear equation. In this way, the depth and amplitude coefficient are determined individually from all observed gravity data. The depths and the amplitude coefficients obtained from the first‐, second‐, third‐, and fourth‐ derivative anomaly values can be used to determine simultaneously the actual depth and amplitude coefficient of the buried fault structure and the optimum order of the regional gravity field along the profile. The method can be applied not only to residuals but also to the Bouguer anomaly profile consisting of the combined effect of a residual component due to a purely local fault structure (shallow or deep) and a regional component represented by a polynomial of any order. The method is applied to theoretical data with and without random errors and is tested on a field example from Egypt.

On: “A least‐squares approach to depth determination from gravity data” by G. P. Gupta,(GEOPHYSICS, 48, 357‐360, March 1983).

Geophysics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
El‐Sayed M. Abdelrahman ◽  
Abdel‐Rhim I. Bayoumi ◽  
Yehia A. Amin
Keyword(s):  
Nonlinear Equation ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Depth Estimation ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Buried Structures ◽  
Depth Determination ◽  
Least Squares Approach

In his paper, Gupta was able to transform the problem of depth estimation of buried structures into a problem of finding a solution of a nonlinear equation in the form of [Formula: see text]. Gupta also indicated that such a numerical approach is found to be capable of determining optimum depths particularly from residual anomaly profiles even if small segments of the gravity profiles are observed. No doubt this numerical approach has its point of view both in theory and practice over any other depth estimation techniques such as those defined by the [Formula: see text] rule (Nettleton, 1940, 1942; Telford et al., 1976). However, Gupta’s technique would be much more effective if applied not to residuals but to derivative anomalies, particularly when the regional field has few extrema in it; this is obviously due to the following.

Three least‐squares minimization approaches to depth, shape, and amplitude coefficient determination from gravity data

Geophysics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1105-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Abdelrahman ◽  
H. M. El‐Araby ◽  
T. M. El‐Araby ◽  
E. R. Abo‐Ezz
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Shape Factor ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Maximum Error ◽  
The United States ◽  
Random Errors ◽  
Amplitude Coefficient

Three different least‐squares approaches are developed to determine, successively, the depth, shape (shape factor), and amplitude coefficient related to the radius and density contrast of a buried structure from the residual gravity anomaly. By defining the anomaly value g(max) at the origin on the profile, the problem of depth determination is transformed into the problem of solving a nonlinear equation, [Formula: see text]. Formulas are derived for spheres and cylinders. Knowing the depth and applying the least‐squares method, the shape factor and the amplitude coefficient are determined using two simple linear equations. In this way, the depth, shape, and amplitude coefficient are determined individually from all observed gravity data. A procedure is developed for automated interpretation of gravity anomalies attributable to simple geometrical causative sources. The method is applied to synthetic data with and without random errors. In all the cases examined, the maximum error in depth, shape, and amplitude coefficient is 3%, 1.5%, and 7%, respectively. Finally, the method is tested on a field example from the United States, and the depth and shape obtained by the present method are compared with those obtained from drilling and seismic information and with those published in the literature.

Reduction to the pole of the North American magnetic anomalies

Geophysics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Arkani‐Hamed ◽  
W. E. S. Urquhart
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Magnetic Anomalies ◽  
Gravity Gradient ◽  
Plate Boundaries ◽  
Gravity Gradients ◽  
The North ◽  
Vertical Gravity Gradient ◽  
Regional Tectonic ◽  
Vertical Gravity

Magnetic anomalies of North America are reduced to the pole using a generalized technique which takes into account the variations in the directions of the core field and the magnetization of the crust over North America. The reduced‐to‐the‐pole magnetic anomalies show good correlations with a number of regional tectonic features, such as the Mid‐Continental rift and the collision zones along plate boundaries, which are also apparent in the vertical gravity gradient map of North America. The magnetic anomalies do not, however, show consistent correlation with the vertical gravity gradients, suggesting that magnetic and gravity anomalies do not necessarily arise from common sources.

BOUGUER GRAVITY CORRECTIONS USING A VARIABLE DENSITY

Geophysics ◽  
1962 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 616-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Grant ◽  
A. F. Elsaharty
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Variable Density ◽  
Bouguer Gravity ◽  
Method Of Least Squares ◽  
Surface Conditions ◽  
Worked Example ◽  
Local Gravity

The principle of density profiling as a means of determining Bouguer densities is studied with a view to extending it to include all of the data in a survey. It is regarded as an endeavor to minimize the correlation between local gravity anomalies and topography, and as such it can be handled mathematically by the method of least squares. In the general case this leads to a variable Bouguer density which can be mapped and contoured. In a worked example, the correspondence between this function and the known geology appears to be good, and indicates that Bouguer density variations due to changing surface conditions can be used routinely in the reduction of gravity data.

A least‐squares minimization approach to depth determination from moving average residual gravity anomalies

Geophysics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 1779-1784 ◽  
Author(s):  
El‐Sayed M. Abdelrahman ◽  
Tarek M. El‐Araby
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Random Errors ◽  
Minimization Method ◽  
Residual Gravity ◽  
Average Residual ◽  
Least Squares Minimization

We have developed a least‐squares minimization method to estimate the depth of a buried structure from moving average residual gravity anomalies. The method involves fitting simple models convolved with the same moving average filter as applied to the observed gravity data. As a result, our method can be applied not only to residuals but also to the Bouguer gravity data of a short profile length. The method is applied to synthetic data with and without random errors. The validity of the method is tested in detail on two field examples from the United States and Senegal.

A priori noise and regularization in least squares collocation of gravity anomalies

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojciech Jarmołowski
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Geopotential Model ◽  
Large Set ◽  
Least Squares Collocation ◽  
Gravity Field Model ◽  
Two Parameters

Abstract The paper describes the estimation of covariance parameters in least squares collocation (LSC) by the cross-validation (CV) technique called leave-one-out (LOO). Two parameters of Gauss-Markov third order model (GM3) are estimated together with a priori noise standard deviation, which contributes significantly to the covariance matrix composed of the signal and noise. Numerical tests are performed using large set of Bouguer gravity anomalies located in the central part of the U.S. Around 103 000 gravity stations are available in the selected area. This dataset, together with regular grids generated from EGM2008 geopotential model, give an opportunity to work with various spatial resolutions of the data and heterogeneous variances of the signal and noise. This plays a crucial role in the numerical investigations, because the spatial resolution of the gravity data determines the number of gravity details that we may observe and model. This establishes a relation between the spatial resolution of the data and the resolution of the gravity field model. This relation is inspected in the article and compared to the regularization problem occurring frequently in data modeling.

The application of Walsh transforms to interpret gravity anomalies due to some simple geometrically shaped causative sources: A feasibility study

Geophysics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 843-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Shaw ◽  
B. N. P. Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Linear Time ◽  
Gravity Data ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Horizontal Cylinder ◽  
Walsh Transform ◽  
Walsh Functions ◽  
The Fourier Transform ◽  
Depth Extent ◽  
Good Agreement

Walsh functions are a set of complete and orthonormal functions of nonsinusoidal waveform. In contrast to sinusoidal waveforms whose amplitudes may assume any value between −1 to +1, Walsh functions assume only discrete amplitudes of ±1 which form the kernel function of the Walsh transform. Because of this special nature of the kernel, computation of the Walsh transform of a given signal is simpler and faster than that of the Fourier transform. The properties of the Fourier transform in linear time are similar to those of the Walsh transform in dyadic time. The Fourier transform has been widely used in interpretation of geophysical problems. Considering various aspects of the Walsh transform, an attempt has been made to apply it to some gravity data. A procedure has been developed for automated interpretation of gravity anomalies due to simple geometrical causative sources, viz., a sphere, a horizontal cylinder, and a 2-D vertical prism of large depth extent. The technique has been applied to data from the published literature to evaluate its applicability, and the results are in good agreement with the more conventional ones.

scholarly journals Depth and shape solutions from residual gravity anomalies due to simple geometric structures using a statistical approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
El-Sayed Abdelrahman ◽  
Mohamed Gobashy
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Data ◽  
Random Noise ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Vertical Cylinder ◽  
Gravity Anomalies ◽  
Horizontal Cylinder ◽  
Random Errors ◽  
Residual Gravity ◽  
Characteristic Points ◽  
The Usa

AbstractWe have developed a simple and fast quantitative method for depth and shape determination from residual gravity anomalies due to simple geometrical bodies (semi-infinite vertical cylinder, horizontal cylinder, and sphere). The method is based on defining the anomaly value at two characteristic points and their corresponding distances on the anomaly profile. Using all possible combinations of the two characteristic points and their corresponding distances, a statistical procedure is developed for automated determination of the best shape and depth parameters of the buried structure from gravity data. A least-squares procedure is also formulated to estimate the amplitude coefficient which is related to the radius and density contrast of the buried structure. The method is applied to synthetic data with and without random errors and tested on two field examples from the USA and Germany. In all cases examined, the estimated depths and shapes are found to be in good agreement with actual values. The present method has the capability of minimizing the effect of random noise in data points to enhance the interpretation of results.

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