Delivering seismic imaging within the exploration workflow
Fibre optic cables deployed during drilling can deliver distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) capability as an integral component of exploration drilling.
Field trials undertaken in MinEx CRC Project 5 (supported by MRIWA as Project M10446) show this inexpensive form of seismic sensing can provide an efficient, robust and non-invasive method for imaging buried geology and structure. For mineral systems and other geological features associated with distinct acoustic properties, this approach could help to better define the location of anomalies within a search volume, accelerating the discovery and characterisation of hidden mineral systems.
By lowering the barriers to defining and testing buried targets, this technology could help reduce exploration risk, encouraging investment to underpin the productive future of the WA minerals industry.
Read MRIWA report 10446 for more details of this research.
Page was last reviewed 27 May 2026