Electromagnetic geophysical survey systems and methods employing electric potential mapping

Abstract

The present disclosure describes various geophysical survey systems and methods for mapping an electric potential field. At least one illustrative embodiment includes an electromagnetic (EM) source and geophysical survey cables that each includes multiple electrodes spaced apart along each geophysical survey cable's length, and multiple data acquisition units that each obtains measurements indicative of an electric potential between two the electrodes. A calculation module is included and configured to combine signals representative of the measurements to produce signals indicative of the electric potential of each electrode relative to a reference potential assumed to be present at a selected electrode for each of the plurality of geophysical survey cables. Each reference potential is assumed to be of a magnitude that is within a tolerance range of a common reference potential.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.