Application of curvatures to airborne gravity gradient data in oil exploration

Abstract

We apply equipotential surface curvatures to airborne gravity gradient data. The mean and differential curvature of the equipotential surface, the curvature of the gravity field line, the zero contour of the Gaussian curvature, and the shape index improve the understanding and geologic interpretation of gravity gradient data. Their use is illustrated in model data and applied to FALCON airborne gravity gradiometer data from the Canning Basin, Australia.