Andean Geophysical Laboratory Projects Page

Dr. James N. Kellogg
Andean Geophysical Laboratory,
Dept. of Geological Sciences,
University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
( 803)777-4501 /
Fax: (803)777-9133

Welcome to the Andean Geophysical Laboratory Projects Page

Dept. of Geological Sciences
University of South Carolina

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CASA

Portable receivers using signals from satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS) have greatly expanded our ability to make precise geodetic measurements. These measurements are yielding contraints on plate motion models, behavior at plate boundaries, and intraplate deformation. As the lead U.S. academic institution in the 12-year NSF/NASA funded CASA (Central And South America) GPS Project, USC is taking a leading role in this exciting technology. In 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1994 scientists in 34 countries cooperated in the world's largest GPS campaigns and the first civilian global tracking netoworks. Observers spent long nights in wet jungles, on cold Andean peaks, and on barren rocks in the middle of the ocean to make the experiments possible. Additional field campaigns were conducted in 1996, 1998 and 1999, with plans currently on the table for a year 2000 campaign.

With NASA-developed GIPSY software, USC graduate students are routinely calculating precise satellite orbits and long baselines (up to 1000 km) with centimeter-level precision and evaluating the effects of global tracking network geometries on baseline accuracy. Several of the most exciting results after the repeat GPS occupation of CASA sites were the first direct measurements of the convergence rates of rapidly subducting trenches and the divergence rate for an oceanic spreading center. The relative motions of the larger plates are in agreement with the predictions of global plate motion models. However, deformation in the wide plate boundary is not addresses by the models.

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PGP

The Peru Geophysical Project (PGP) is a three year (1996-1999) interdisciplinary venture of the Andean Geophysical Laboratory (AGL) at the University of South Carolina (USA) and PERUPETRO S.A., the Peruvian National Oil Company, to interpret the geological and geophysical database for Peru's Andean Foothills and Adjacent Basins. PERUPETRO joined the PGP as an Associate Member. The PGP was also sponsored by Coastal Oil & Gas, Crestar Energy International, Elf Aquitaine, Mobil, Occidental Peruana, and Shell. Interpretations are based on open file data from the AGL and proprietary aerogravity and aeromagnetic data, seismic profiles, and well log data. Sponsors have access to digital point and line data where not prohibited by previous agreements. The gravity coverage includes 17,000 land stations and over 19,000 km of aerial gravity flight lines, and the aeromagnetic surveys cover 370,000 square kilometers of Peru's foreland basins. The project products, which include a Map Atlas, Profile and Seismic Atlas, Technical Report and data CDs, provide the Associate Member and Sponsors with maps, cross sections, and interpretations that will assist future evaluation of Peru's Andean Foothills and adjacent sedimentary basins for hydrocarbon exploration.

The Bolivia Geophysical Project (BGP) is a three year (1996-1999) interdisciplinary venture of the Andean Geophysical Laboratory at the University of South Carolina (USA) and Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), the Bolivian National Oil Company, to interpret the geological and geophyiscal database for Bolivia's Altiplano, Andean Foothills and Adjacent Basins. YPFB joined the BGP as an Associate Member. The BGP was also sponsored by Elf Aquitaine, Mobil, and Occidental. Interpretations are based on open file data from the AGL and proprietary aerogravity and aeromagnetic data, seismic profiles, and well log data. Sponsors have access to digital point and line data where not prohibited by previous agreements. BGP aeromagnetic survey coverage includes over 509,000 square kilometers (160,000 line kms). The project products, which include a Map Atlas, Profile and Seismic Atlas, Technical Report and data CDs, provide the Associate Member and Sponsors with maps, cross sections, and interpretations that will assist future evaluation of Bolivia's Altiplano, Andean Foothills and adjacent sedimentary basins for hydrocarbon exploration.

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CGP

Hydrocarbon discoveries in Cusiana, Cupiagua, Buenos Aires, and Opon-Cimitarra have generated exploration excitement in the Eastern Cordillera and Foothills Belt of Colombia. Exploration, however, has been limited by the difficulties of high quality seismic data acquisition within the Cordillera itself and by uncertainty regarding the thickness of the sedimentary section. The Colombian Geophysical Project (CGP) was a two year interdisciplinary project (1993-1995) to interpret the geophysical and geologic data for Colombia's Eastern Cordillera and Foothills sponsored by: Amoco, Arco, Chevron, ECOPETROL, Exxon, Maxus, Mobil, Occidental, Pecten, Texaco, Triton, and Unocal. Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos (ECOPETROL) generously supplied aeromagnetic survey data. The 15,412 gravity points were provided by Shell (8571 stations), AGL, Maxus, and ECOPETROL. Seismic profiles were provided by ECOPETROL, BP, Triton, Maxus, Shell, Elf Aquitaine, Texaco, and Citgo. Four regional profiles were interpreted with seismic time sections, depth sections, gravity and magnetic models, and retrodeformed sections. Complete Bouguer, regional, residual, total field aeromagnetic, Euler deconvolution, structural interpretation of Euler trends, structure map - base of Cretaceous, and prospective areas maps were produced.