Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017

2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

QuickproGRAV: An Innovation Software for Gravity Processing, Modelling and

Interpretation with Special Benefits: Quick Processing, Portable, and Stereoanaglyph
Visualization
T.Sastranegara 1, T.Hendriansyah 1, A. Dandari 1, L. Agung1, S. Sahat1, I.B. Raharjo 1
1PT
Pertamina Geothermal Energy, Skyline Building 19 th Floor, Jl. MH Thamrin 9th Jakarta, Indonesia
rmtofans@pertamina.com; tommy.hendriansyah@pertamina.com, astha.dandari@Pertamina.com, ssj.nainggolan@pertamina.com,
iraharjo@pertamina.com

Keywords: gravity, 3D modeling, visualization
ABSTRACT
QuickproGRAV is MATLAB Graphical User Interface
(GUI) based software which is designed for geophysicist to
make gravity procesing, modelling (2D and 3D) and
interpretation become easier. The software is able to do
quality control of raw gravity data , data corrections (such
as: tide, drift, free air correction, bouger correction and
terrain correction) and other standard processings (such as
spectrum analysis, filtering, anomaly separation) fast and
automatically. The software applies a new method in
inversion modelling (triangular mesh inversion) which
succeed to reduce the number of grid cells so the running
time of the inversion process can be much more shortened
and geometry model can be more accurate. Visualisation
model in stereoanaglyph helps geophyisicist to interpret
gravity data easier in detecting target anomaly. This
application can be run on portable platform such as
minitablet, therefore the data processing can be conducted
directly in the field (on site procesing). The application of
this software in geothermal field shows good result in
delineating subsurface structure and monitoring reservoir
mass changes due to production and reinjection activity.
processing and modeling of gravity data faster and accurate,
which is named quickproGRAV.
2. THE MAKING OF SOFTWARE
QuickproGRAV was written using MATLAB and designed
using GUI (Graphical User Interface) to make it easier for
users. There are 3 (three) main steps in developing and
designing quickproGRAV software. Step 1 : Writing source
code and designing interface. In this step, we wrote basic
source code for calculation in processing and modeling
gravity data. We utilized several functions which are
available in MATLAB, such as Statistic tool box for QC
gravity data, Symbolic Mathematic and Signal Processing
Toolbox for gravity data processing and Mapping Toolbox
for data visualization in map. For modeling process we
created own code using Blakely (1995) formula. Source
code is packaged in Graphical User Interface (GUI) to make
it easier to be operated.

1. INTRODUCTION

One of the geoscience studies conducted to determine the

condition of geothermal reservoir is gravity method. The
gravity method basically measures the variation of the
gravitational field in the surface which is caused by
differences in subsurface density contrast. In the exploration
stage, gravity method is used to confirm the geological
structure which is the drilling target. While in the
development stage, it is used to monitor reservoir mass
changes due to reinjection and production activities.
Fig 1. Step 1 : Source code & Designing Interface
Step 2 : QuickproGRAV software installation on severals
platform. In this step, we compiled source code that we have
created to become executable file, which are adjusted to the
type of platform system that will be used.

The main activities in the gravity method consist of

acquistion, data processing and modeling. Data processing
consists of data sorting and correction, while modeling
consist of building mesh geometry and inversion process. In
2016, PT. Pertamina Geothermal Energy, has been planned
measurement of gravity method for 6 fields, which is
Lahendong, Tompaso, Ulubelu, Karaha, Lumut Balai and
Kamojang. Based on the previous work references, gravity
processing and modeling of one field using third party
Fig 2. Step 2 Compiling source code
consultant services can takes 3 months. This condition
makes difficult to complete all fields, which is normally
Step 3 : Transfering data from gravimeter to the portable
needs 18 months to complete 6 fields. This is a challenge for
platform. In order to make gravity data can be directly
geophyscists in PGE to build software that can perform
processed in the field, the data must be transfered directly

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Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017

2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

from gravimeter to several types of platforms. Conventional

data transfer usually uses RS232 cable which is only used
for transfering data from gravimeter to laptop or PC. For
transfering gravity data from gravitmeter to other platforms,
the data must be transfered first from gravimeter to flashdisk
using additional adapter converter (RS232 to USB adapter).
Thus the gravity data in the flashdisk USB OTG can be
accessed from the portable platform, such as tablet or
minitablet. Therefore, it allows users to process the gravity
data in the field (on site processing).

Fig 4.2. Data acquisition work flow after using

quickproGRAV software

QuickproGRAV consists of 3 (three) main modules : QC

Fig 3. Transfering data from gravimeter to other platforms
using additional adapter converter RS232 to USB OTG
gravity data module, data correction module, and modeling
module (Fig.5). All of these modules can be operated both
manually and automatically, and can be run on several type
of platform, especially portable platform, such as laptop,
tablet and minitablet (Fig 6).

3. SOFTWARE FEATURES

A major aim of building quickproGRAV software is to

provide a user friendly tool, which allowing for the
computation of the gravity data comprehensively in one
software, from quality control of raw gravity data, data
correction (such as tide, drift, free air correction, bouguer
correction and terrain correction), modeling gravity data
(forward and inversion), and also 3D visualization of gravity
model data integrated with other data which helps
geophysicist to interpret gravity data easier. QuickproGRAV Fig 5. Software modules in quickproGRAV software
software allows user to input raw data directly from
gravimeter without reformating the data, and also to directly
input data from one modul to others module without
changing the data format. QuickproGRAV software applies
a new method in inversion modeling (triangular mesh
inversion) which succeeds to reduce the number of grid cell
and improve geometry model. It makes the processing time
faster and the model can be more accurate. This software
can be run on portable platform, such as minitablet.
Therefore, data processing can be conducted directly in the
field (on site processing) which makes the duration of
gravity survey becomes shortened. Using this software, the
work flow in gravity field campaign is changed (Fig 4.1 &
Fig 6. QuickproGRAV software can be run on several
4.2).
platforms

Quality Control Gravity Acquisition Data

Recorded gravity field data is expected to have good quality,

but due to several conditions, such as weather condition or
unstable field condition makes gravity data become noisy.

Fig 4.1. Data acquisition work flow before using

quickproGRAV software

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Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017

2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

A is Kernel Matrix which is forward operator or geometry

coefficient between density geometry and distance to the
calculated data. Calculated A for 1 density and 1
measurement point use Blakely equation (1995).
QuickproGRAV software can perform forward and inverse
modeling. QuickproGRAV allows in 2D and 3D density
inversion modeling.

Fig. 7 Examples of unstable gravity measurement data in the

field

Several quality control (QC) parameter for gravity

measurement data :

 Drift (d) <0.035 mGal Fig 8. 2D and 3D inversion modeling using

 Repeatability (R)<0.010 mGal
 SD GRAV (SG) <0.05 mGal
 Tilt <10 arc. Sec
 Rejection (Rej)<5
 SD Temp (ST) < 0.050 mK
In conventional method, QC needs 3 hours due to a lot of
daily data recorded and acquisition parameters (temp, tilt,
drift, repeatability, rejection, seismicity) which all are sorted
manually. To make it automatics, the data are scored, where
the data with a value close to suggested parameter will be
given the higher weighted value. The total scoring parameter
(Sc) follows the equation (1),
Sc=w1xd+w2R+w3 SG+w4Tilt +w5Rej+ w6 ST (1),
Where w1, w2 are weighted value for each parameter. The
data which would be used for further processing is data with
high QC parameters total scores that sorted based on ranking.
QuickproGRAV
Visualization
QuickproGRAV software has visualization module, that can
visualize gravity model in 2D and 3D mode, and can be
integrated with others data, such as well data, raster image,
LIDAR, etc. In the further development of quickproGRAV,
main visualization features module is stereoanaglyph
visualization. In stereoanaglyph visualization module,
quickproGRAV allows user to visualize density models in
3D mode using spesific red-blue stereo glasses which can
help geophyisicist to interpret gravity data in detecting
target anomaly. Stereoanaglyph visualization is combining
pair of images with slightly different azimuth at the same
elevation.

Gravity Data Correction

Data correction is applied to obtain gravity value caused by

object in subsurface which is the target of study. This
gravity value is obtained by eliminating gravity values that
caused by elevation changes, latitude and terrain, using
formula (Telford, 1974)

CBA= Gobs - Glat+0.3085h -0.041ρh +TC , (2)

Density value (ρ) is calculated using Nettleton, parasnis

equations or petrophysics data.

Modeling

Basically gravity data is modeled using the equation of Fig 9. Stereoanaglyph visualization in quickproGRAV
surface gravity data observed (Δg) and subsurface density,

Δg=A Δρ (3)

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Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017

2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

4. FIELD DATA TEST

QuickproGRAV software was tested in onsite data

processing at Tompaso Geothermal Field. The result of daily
gravity data at Tompaso field shows that gravity data at 7
days measurement (28, 29/04/16, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14/5/16) had a
poor resolution. By using quickproGRAV software, quality
of data measurement was directly known in the field within
2 minutes/daily loop. The gravity sites with poor data
quality were re-measured immediately without processing
data at basecamp. In the end, we had good quality data from
every station which is ready to be modeled.

Fig 12. Comparison of gravity data processing result

between manually processed (A), and automatically
processed using quickproGRAV (B) and the
difference .of gravity values (C)

Subsurface density model result from 2D gravity data

Fig 10 On-site processing test at Tompaso Field using
QuickproGRAV
The result shows that data with good quality have a QC
parameter value at the quality standard expected, with SD <
0.1 mGal and Tilt < 10 arc.sec. Based on the calculation of
resolution (drift and repeatability), Tompaso gravity data has
a very precise resolution that can be used for exploration
gravity modeling, and even for monitoring, which requires
high precision (drift <0.035 mGal and Repeatability <0.01
mGal).
inversion modeling shows good correlation with geological
model that validated with well data (Figure 10). The low
density (-200 kg / m3) can be associated with tuff filling the
depression structure, while the high density can be
associated with young volcanic lava to the west (+200 kg /
m3) and caldera wall at the south (+ 300 kg / m3). Changes
of density contrast lineament (red line) interpreted as a fault
structure which is the drilling target.

Fig 11. QC parameter gravity acquisition data using

quickproGRAV software

To evaluate processing result using quickproGRAV

software, we compared the result obtained from manually
procesing using other software and from automatically
processed using quickproGRAV. Based on Figure 11, the
two gravity anomaly data have the same anomaly trend. The
difference of gravity value after substraction shows that it
has a very small difference from the overall anomaly
amplitude side (error). This difference does not have a
significant effect on the density model which has anomalous
amplitude far above its error value.
Fig 13. Subsurface density model at Tompaso Geothermal
Field overlay with several well data. Visualized using
quickproGRAV software.
5. CONCLUSION
QuickproGRAV software provides advantages for
geophysicist in the gravity data quality control, processing
and modeling. The use of this software can maintain the data
quality, speed up gravity data processing, and improve the
accuracy of the model. This software can be run in several
portable platform such as tablet or a mini tablet, making it
possible to perform data processing directly in the field. The

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Proceedings The 5th Indonesia International Geothermal Convention & Exhibition (IIGCE) 2017

2 - 4 August 2017, Cendrawasih Hall - Jakarta Convention Center, Indonesia

density model resulted using this software give a much more

accurate depiction of the true subsurface. With the
implementation of this software, the gravity model becomes
more conclusive and reliably used for targeting and reservoir
monitoring.

REFERENCES

Blakely, R.J., 1995, Potential Theory in Gravity and

Magnetic Applications: Cambridge University Press.

Meza, J. C. (2002). Steepest Descent. California: Lawrence

Barkeley National Laboratory.

Sastranegara, T, 2015, The Application of Triangular Mesh

Gravity Inversion Guided by FMS Logging
Interpretation to Reconstruct Subsurface Geological
Structures in X Geothermal Field, Joint Convention
Balikpapan 2015.

Telford. W.M. et al, 1974, Applied Geophysics, Cambridge

University Press.

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