About CUIIC Academy Webinar Series
The 2024 CUIIC Academy Webinar Series intends to advance the state of the knowledge in the industry and bring more awareness to the underground infrastructure community through a free, educational webinars each month.
About this Webinar:
Filling Data Gaps Between Boreholes with Geophysics
Near surface geology is complex and spatially heterogeneous, and often varies in such a way that it cannot be characterized by boreholes alone. Geophysical surveys are a valuable tool for characterizing complex geology and filling in the information gaps between boreholes. They are non-intrusive and are often possible to deploy in areas where it is not feasible to drill a borehole. They can provide continuous information between boreholes, which can be used to inform pipeline construction planning, specifically along trenchless crossings. Having continuous information between boreholes allows pipeline designers to have more confidence in the bedrock relief and to plan for problem areas, such as sand and gravel zones, that can cause unexpected washouts or drill bit wear when discovered during the pipeline construction phase. By conducting a geophysical survey ahead of the drilling program, it may be possible to reduce the number of boreholes required by providing optimized drilling targets to test the geophysical model. Geophysics can be conducted for a fraction of the cost of drilling boreholes and is an excellent complimentary tool that should be considered on all pipeline construction projects.
This presentation will provide an overview of geophysical techniques including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), seismic refraction (SRT), and ground penetrating radar (GPR) and discuss case studies of how these techniques have been used by those planning trenchless crossing routes.
About the Speaker:
Max Layton is a geophysicist with 11 years of experience collecting, processing, and interpreting geophysical datasets including ERT, seismic refraction/reflection, MASW, electromagnetics, and GPR. He has conducted numerous geophysical investigations on pipeline projects throughout Western Canada and the United States to meet a range of objectives. Max and his project teams have mapped bedrock contacts, faults and organic layer thickness, estimated material rippability, and differentiated overburden material types using both land based and waterborne geophysical techniques. Max loves to be outside, loves the wild and remote nature that pipeline projects often offer, and has a passion for getting people excited about geophysics.
Who should attend this webinar?
Pipeline industry professionals. Geotechnical and civil engineers. Pipeline construction project managers. Geophysics and engineering students.
What will the audience learn from this webinar?
The audience will learn about how geophysical techniques such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic refraction surveys can be used alongside borehole information to map subsurface material that may be encountered during pipeline construction.
You can register for the webinar here.