AAPG YP Kuala Lumpur Chapter organised the sixth round of joint-venture technical talks with the Indonesian Association of Geologists KL Chapter (IAGI) in October. We were very pleased to welcome Colm A. Murphy as our speaker. Murphy is currently a senior geoscientist responsible for the management of all aspects for geosciences with Bell Geospace. He addressed us on the subject of Full Tensor Gravity Method: “What it is and how it is being used to advance exploration programs.”

About 60 participants from universities, oil companies – both operators and service providers – attended the talk, which took place at Hotel Maya. Throughout the 90-minute talk, we were entertained by his presentation on the technology being used
in FTG, how it works, what it detects and how it is being deployed. We also were exposed to FTG’s technology as a key to risk reduction tool, which has been an instrument in many exploration programs.

With introductions by Avalon Chin and welcoming remarks by Herman Darman, past president of AAPG Asia Pacific, Murphy commenced his talk by introducing the Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry (FTG) and the history of the
tool being used in oil and gas industry. There are two types: Marine-FTG and Air-FTG. For Air-FTG, the measurement of 3D gravity field is done by using gravity gradient instruments, which enables subsurface geological mapping. The processing of FTG data and interpretation workflow with data enhancement features optimized survey planning, target prospecting, as well as reducing risks for various exploration activities.

FTG has a number of significant advantages over other conventional survey methods such as seismic surveys in which a stable platform enables greater production rate with longer endurance. In combination with state of the art technology, the data acquired is low of noise with high resolution. Several successful exploration projects particularly in oil and gas industry include locating structural closures in Perth basin and East African Rift, carbonate reefs prospecting in the Philippines, and subsalt imaging in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea. Prospect of FTG in mining may be further developed as demonstrated by several successful projects such as prospecting diamonds and other metal deposits.

The talk ended with questions and answers by the participants, followed by the presentation of a token of appreciation to speaker Murphy by Darman. We appreciate Murphy sharing his time and expertise, and hope to welcome him back soon.