dr. chen\'s slides

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Archaeological Imaging Through Oil Exploration Technologies

Zhangxing John Chen NSERC/AERI/Foundation CMG Chair

AITF Chair Director, Schlumberger iCentre Simulation

& Visualization, University of Calgary

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Outline

•  Brief History of China •  Three Influential Dynasties •  Traditional Archaeological Exploration Methods •  Proposed New Exploration Methods •  Feedback

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Brief History of China

•  Prehistoric China: 7,600 – 2,570 BC

•  Ancient China: 2,852 BC (Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors ) – 246 BC (Eastern Zhou Dynasty)

•  Imperial China: 361 BC (Qin Dynasty) – 1911 (Qing Dynasty)

•  Modern China: 1912 – present

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Brief History of China (cont’d)

•  China had 231 emperors and one ruling empress.

•  79 of whom were buried in tombs near Xi’an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

•  The most famous, influential, and mysterious tombs are the Qin Shi Huang (Qin Dynasty), Han Wen Di (Han Dynasty), and Wu Ze Tian (Tang Dynasty).

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Brief History of China (cont’d) Xi’an: It was called Chang’an (long peace).

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Brief History of China (cont’d)

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Three Influential Dynasties

•  Qin dynasty: 221 – 206 BC

•  First emperor: Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210 BC)

•  Reforms: Unified laws, currency, words, national road system, measurement units, etc.

•  Gigantic projects: Great Wall, Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, (7th and 8th World Wonders) etc.

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Mausoleum of First Emperor

•  Construction of this mausoleum began in 246 BC and involved 700,000 workers.

•  The entire mausoleum is 56.25 km2.

•  It was discovered in the spring of 1974.

•  The life-sized figures vary in height 1.83–1.95 meters (6.0–6.4 ft), including generals, warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

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Mausoleum of First Emperor (cont’d)

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Tomb of First Emperor

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Three Influential Dynasties (cont’d)

•  Han dynasty: 206 BC–220 AD

•  Fundamental changes during this time helped to foster what we now call the Chinese culture.

•  For the first time in history, China had contact with the West through the Silk Road.

•  First emperor: Liu Bang (Han Gaozu) , total 24 emperors.

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Tomb of Fourth King of Han Dynasty

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Three Influential Dynasties (cont’d)

•  Tang dynasty: 618–907 AD

•  It was the most powerful and prosperous country in the world (economy, politics, culture, and military) during that time.

•  Only ruling empress in Chinese history: Wu Ze Tian, 624–705 AD.

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Tomb of Wu Ze Tian

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Traditional Archaeological Exploration Methods

• Remote sensing

• Geophysical exploration

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Remote Sensing

•  Traditional remote sensing:

- Airborne scanning

- Satellite images

- Thermal imagery

- Airborne radar images

•  Hyperspectral remote sensing

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Geophysical Exploration •  Potential methods:

- Gravity method

- Magnetic method

- Electrical method

•  Diffusive methods

- Electromagnetic method

•  Wavefield methods

- Georadar - GPR

- Elastic wave method (seismic)

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Traditional Archaeological Exploration Methods (cont’d)

•  Advantages:

- Easy and effective for objects near surface

•  Disadvantages:

- Low resolution

- Only used near surface

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Proposed New Exploration Methods

• Development of a comprehensive, scientific, and unintrusive technology to examine the cultural relics and archaeological information in historical sites worldwide without excavation.

Goal:

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Proposed New Exploration Methods (cont’d)

•  It must allow the protection of the artifacts and therefore, not allowing any air (oxygen) penetration.

•  It must be an able to explore a chamber (for instance) with such clarity that a concise three-dimensional image can be modeled above the surface.

Requirements of the technology:

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Proposed New Exploration Methods (cont’d)

• Petroleum exploration methods: High resolution seismic method

• Petroleum production methods: Micro dry drilling

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High Resolution Seismic Method

•  Sound source: Vibroseis trucks

•  Receivers: geophones

•  Recording: Seismograph and computer

Seismic Source

Geophone

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Seismic Source

Geophone

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Proposed New Exploration Methods (cont’d)

•  Resolution: F=140 Hz

•  Velocity: V=800 m/s

•  Min thickness: H= 1m

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Micro Dry Drilling Method

•  Directional drilling

•  Dry drilling

•  Drill bit with diameter <1 inch

•  Rotary motion < 375rpm

•  Air-tight conditions

•  With micro-sensors and video cameras

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Proposed New Exploration Methods (cont’d)

•  Large scale: High resolution seismic method

•  Local scale: High accurate micro-drilling with sensors and cameras.

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Research Collaboration

• Alberta (University of Calgary, University of Alberta and Government of Alberta)

•  Xi’an (Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an Institute of Archaeology and Shaanxi Province)

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Feedback

•  Exclusive agreement with Xi’an government signed

•  Still seeking funds to support this project.

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Feedback