Christine Fichler
Background and activities
The earth’s crust tells its story in its outcropping rocks which can be mapped in many different ways. Oil- and ore exploration need models of the distribution and petrology of rocks also in the subsurface. For this purpose, the rocks need to be parameterized. Petrology and mineralogy can be expressed in a simplified way in densities and magnetic attributes. All rocks, from the surface to the deep, contribute with their densities to the gravity field and with their magnetic attributes to the magnetic field. Interpretation of the potential fields leads to subsurface models. These fields are called potential fields and can be measured from mineral- to satellite scale. Acquisition of such data is performed by moving sensors over the area of interest which does not harm the environment.
My field of research is to integrate surface geology with potential field interpretation in order to derive subsurface models and by that, adding new puzzle pieces to the tectonic setting and geological development. Powerful methods for potential field modelling and inversion with the ability to shape the 3D subsurface rock parameter distribution have become available during the last years, its development mainly driven from demands of the petroleum- and ore industry. These methods are applicable from field- to planetary scale, onshore and offshore.There is an unlocked potential in the crossover zone between oil exploration and ore exploration.
Research highlights:
- Ultramafic rocks and its gravity and magnetic field expression in Norway (Seiland Province, Ottrøya; NTNU research group headed by prof. S. McEnroe) and below sedimentary basins (Norwegian continental shelf)
- Worldwide offshore studies on all scales related to hydrocarbon exploration with potential field interpretation applied to quaternary channels, gas hydrates, shallow gas, salt imaging, sub sedimentary crustal characterization, sediment compaction characterization and magnetic anomalies at hydrocarbon fields.
My career includes a phD in global seismology (KIT), postdoc. in regional seismic interpretation and gravity in the North Sea (IPT / NTNU), research specialist in gravity and magnetics in hydrocarbon exploration worldwide (1990 - present) and adjunct professor (2013 - present). Throughout my career I was in touch with a wide variety of geological and geophysical topics and have gained a lot of experience also in lecturing, all with focus on geological applications of potential fields.
Publications: search with "Fichler" in Google scholar for more publications
Scientific, academic and artistic work
A selection of recent journal publications, artistic productions, books, including book and report excerpts. See all publications in the database
Journal publications
- (2020) Magnetic mapping of fault zones in the Leka Ophiolite Complex, Norway. Norwegian Journal of Geology. vol. 100.
- (2018) Portrait of a giant deep-seated magmatic conduit system: The Seiland Igneous Province. Lithos. vol. 296-299.
- (2018) Geophysical expression of the Leka Ophiolite, Norway modeled from integrated gravity, magnetic and petrophysical data. Norwegian Journal of Geology. vol. 98 (1).
- (2018) Magnetic anomalies of the mafic/ultramafic seiland igneous province. Norwegian Journal of Geology. vol. 98 (1).
- (2018) Detecting multiscale karst features including hidden caves using microgravimetry in a Caledonian nappe setting: Mefjell massif, Norway. Norwegian Journal of Geology. vol. 98 (3).
- (2017) Radiogenic heat production in the crust from inversion of gravity and magnetic data. Norsk Geologisk Tidsskrift. vol. 97 (3).
- (2016) The deep crustal structure of the mafic-ultramafic Seiland Igneous Province of Norway from 3D gravity modelling and geological implications. Geophysical Journal International. vol. 207 (3).
- (2014) Improved salt imaging in a basin context by high resolution potential field data: Nordkapp Basin, Barents Sea. Geophysical Prospecting. vol. 62 (3).
- (2011) Crustal inhomogeneities in the Northern North Sea from potential field modeling: Inherited structure and serpentinites?. Tectonophysics.
- (2011) Magnetic expression of salt diapir related structures in the Nordkapp Basin, Western Barents Sea. Geology. vol. 39 (2).
- (2003) Combined seismic inversion and gravity modelling of a shallow anomaly in the southern Barents Sea. Geophysics. vol. 68.
- (2002) Quaternary lithology and shallow gas from high resolution gravity and seismic data in the central North Sea. Petroleum Geoscience. vol. 8.
- (1999) Regional tectonic interpretation of image enhanced gravity and magnetic data covering the mid-Norwegian shelf and adjacent mainland. Tectonophysics. vol. 306 (2).
- (1997) The Barents Sea tectonic structures visualized by ERS1 satellite gravity data with indications for an offshore Baikalean trend. First Break.
- (1995) Remote sensing methods in offshore exploration. In: Exploration and Exploitation in Norway. Norwegian Petroleum Society (NPF) : Special Publications.
- (1994) Continuation of the Caledonides north of Norway: Seismic reflectors within the basement beneath the southern Barents Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology. vol. 11 (2).