This was part of the work that took me to the far east in 1989. My role was to plan the 3D seismic survey and oversee the collection of static correction data. In Libya we used drilling rigs and uphole surveys with a sledgehammer as the energy source. In Brunei we used Tovex, a seismic explosive, and an LVL spread of geophones to collect the sound refractions from the subsurface layers. Our seismograph (in the back of the Isuzu Trooper, shielded by the golf umbrella) was challenged in the amplification department so while the main crew were using 2kg charges, we often used 4kg which made for a nice bump. Seismic explosive is supposed to have a really fast detonation speed – to provide more of a ‘crack' than the ‘bang' of regular dynamite. But, whether it was the swampy surface or the challenged seismograph, bumps were what we usually saw on the readouts.
Actually, the shot below is of a pretty shoddy job. If we'd done it properly, as we did most of the time, there wouldn't have been any blow-out. Here, a large part of the energy of the charge is moving upwards as the shot hole blows out and the noise generated when the dirt falls back to the ground also degrades the signal. But when a shot goes well, there's nothing to photograph.
This was shot along the Seria Bypass before it was opened to the public. We only did a few shots along here, most of our LVLs were shot in the jungle on either side of this road though we did add some bunkers on the Shell golf course down by the coast. I'll post some images from the jungle in the coming days.
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