Borehole Instrumentation and Initial Broadband Surface Seismic and Walkaway VSP Test Results at the Priddis Geophysical Observatory, Alberta, Canada

Two new geophysical test holes were drilled and completed at the University of Calgary's Priddis Geophysical Observatory (PGO), south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 2013. The test holes were drilled to a depth of 146 m and were cased with schedule 80 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) casing. Testhole 1 (Figure 1) was permanently instrumented with 45 28 Hz three component (3C) geophones at a nominal 3 m spacing, in addition to single and multi-mode optical fibers. All instrumentation was strapped to the outside of the casing upon insertion into the borehole and was then cemented into place. Immediately following installation two approximately 300 m long 2D surface seismic lines with 10 Hz 3C geophones at a nominal 6 m spacing were acquired at approximately right angles to each other centered on the instrumented borehole. All surface and borehole receivers recorded linear sweeps from an IVI EnviroVibe source, 0.125 kg dynamite test shots, and United Service Alliance accelerated weight-drop test shots. The weight drop source was used to hit the ground vertically, at +45O from vertical and at -45O from vertical at each source point that it was used.