Drone-Based Magnetic Surveying in Eastern Nebraska

Authors

Sulaiman AlBadi, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

First Advisor

Irina Filina, Ph.D, Geophysics

Date of this Version

Spring 6-4-2021

Document Type

Article

Comments

An Undergraduate Senior Thesis, Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty Mentor: Irina Filina, Ph.D, Geophysics

Copyright © 2021 Sulaiman AlBadi

Abstract

A magnetic survey is one of the methods used by scientists to detect subsurface features. Magnetic surveys can be carried out by walking on the surface of the earth with a magnetic field reading device called a magnetometer. Alternatively, a magnetometer can be installed on a moving platform (aircraft, boat, drone, bicycle) to conduct a more efficient magnetic survey. The geophysics team at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln assembled a drone-based magnetic survey system in 2019 (Jacobson and Filina, 2019) that has proven effective in magnetic readings over the Northern Bounding Fault (NBF) in eastern Nebraska (Jacobson and Filina, 2020; Jacobson, 2020). This project builds up on that study and aims to utilize the system to conduct two more magnetic surveys near Venice, NE. The first survey targeted the Northbound Fault to further study its strike direction and potential segmentation. Two separate flights were made to cover the target area above the fault. The second survey was conducted over an abandoned petroleum well (the Sorenson well drilled in 1974) to check its location against the published coordinates. As the well was cased with highly magnetic metal pipes, it is subject to an elevated magnetic signature. This project has two main conclusions. The first relates to the fault direction that was determined to be consistent with the one found in the 2019 survey and deviating further from the published fault orientation; no-fault segmentation was interpreted in the study area. The second conclusion relates to the location of the Sorenson well which is 35 meters to the southwest of the published well coordinates.

Faculty Mentor: Irina Filina,