BHP develops airborne gravity gradiometer for mineral exploration

摘要

BHP's Project Falcon, a research effort specifically aimed at building the world's first airborne gravity gradiometer (AGG) system, has developed two fully operational systems that are capable of sensitive, high-resolution detection of small variations in the earth's gravity at the level required in exploration for mineral and hydrocarbon resources. The Falcon project, the result of a strategic vision of a group of research and exploration staff in the early 1990s, was undertaken by a small group of technology-development staff that BHP assembled from its corporate technology laboratories. This team operated under intense focus and pressure in a manner similar to the "Skunk Works" environment used by several organizations seeking significant technology breakthroughs.