Adapting the Differential Target Antenna Coupling (DTAC) Method to Commercial Geophysical Exploration Equipment

Abstract

The Differential Target Antenna Coupling (DTAC) method is a newly developedelectromagnetic method that has been thoroughly studied using different array setups, such as horizontal array, vertical array, and fixed transmitter loop with moving receiver. However, all previous studies were conducted using laboratory equipment, which is not suitable for real-world survey’s needs. The primary objective of this paper is to adapt the DTAC method using equipment from Zonge International, a well-known geophysical equipment manufacturer worldwide. To achieve this goal and accommodate the limitations of a small-sized field crew used for this project, a newly designed compact version of the vertical array DTAC setup was built. This setup includes a 6m-by-6m transmitter loop and a 3-axis receiver coil. Field tests were conducted in a well-studied test site with a known target, along with numerical simulations using EMIGMA software as the benchmark. The results demonstrated that the DTAC method with Zonge International’s geophysical equipment offers significant advantages over conventional electromagnetic methods. This validates that the DTAC method is suitable for real-life exploration surveys. Additionally, this paper discusses a possible real-life field exploration setup and procedure that can be adapted for a larger field crew and a larger transmitter loop.