The article is devoted to the study of the potential possibilities of using molecular-electronic sensors of seismic waves for field work using the seismoelectric method to explore the hydrocarbon deposits. The introduction provides an analytical review of the current state of research based on data from science magazines and patents. It is shown that at present, seismoelectric effects are at the stage of experimental implementation into the practice of field work for oil and gas geophysical prospecting. Further in the article, theoretical estimates and results of mathematical modeling of the manifestation of seismoelectric (SE) phenomena in the regions of hydrocarbon anomalies are presented, numerical estimates of the values of the seismic and secondary electromagnetic fields are given. The analysis of the results (on a tank and real gas condensate field) showed that the use of molecular-electronic geophones, which have a higher sensitivity and operate in a wider frequency range (up to 0.1 Hz), allows one to obtain higher signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, it has been experimentally established that the use of molecular sensors for recording seismic electric effects when searching for deposits is more preferable when carrying out field work.

The first experimental measurements of the cross-correlation function (CCF) of the Earth’s seismic and electrical noise were carried out in two areas of the Minusinskoe gas condensate field in 2014 and 2015 using a VPEMPZ-M1 (Shum-6) two-channel geophysical device developed at Siberian Federal University. The Earth’s seismic noise and electrical noise in the frequency range 0.1–20 Hz were received by a geophone and an electric dipole, respectively. In both cases, a productive pool at depths of 1800–2000 m had a maximum CCF value five to seven times higher than the normal background, indicating the occurrence of the seismoelectric effect in passive fields.

The paper deals with the physical fundamentals of the phase geoelectric method of induced polarization (IP) based on the extraction of information from the natural electromagnetic field of the Earth (NEMFE) in the frequency range 0.1–20.0 Hz. Scientific and technical justification is provided for the differential measurement circuit parameters of the NEMFE and the algorithm of processing of the received signals with the calculation of the IP coefficient, assuming the identity of the field characteristics in two receiving lines. The method consists in recording random noise signals from two adjacent receiving electrical dipoles with simultaneous memorizing of the amplitudes and their automatic equalization. Then the difference between the signals is calculated, with subsequent energy normalization. The presented theoretical fundamentals for the calculation of the IP coefficient of the NEMFE and the processing algorithm were tested in laboratory experiments. Under the assumption of the complete identity of the medium beneath the receiving dipoles, the IP coefficient was 0.01–0.03, due to the error in the elemental base of the analog input path. The paper also presents the results of field experiments on the Samson iron deposit in the Republic of Khakassia. The experimental work confirmed the effect of IP on the NEMFE in the anomalous area and showed that the results are consistent with theoretical and laboratory predictions and the data obtained using a KEP-M pulse system. It is concluded that this method can be used to detect productive anomalies and has an advantage of eliminating artificial sources of excitation of geologic sections.

The paper describes estimation of the energy parameters of electromagnetic communication channel through rock for staff safety and emergency response in the mines. The optimum frequencies of radio waves in depend on the conductivity of the rock and the distance ranges are determined. The minimizing of the transmitting power at the limited antenna size and electromagnetic mine noise is considered.

The ability to communicate is critical aspect of safety in underground mine operations, where conventional radio communication technology is severely limited or not reliable due to disaster. Once again we can determine that the benefits obtained from the principle of the Through-the-Earth (TTE) system can be utilized. This paper presents a new modeling technique in characterizing the electric field strength in connections with the propagation of the waves through the strata of the underground mines. This modeling technique was validated practically in a real mine site environment in Irtishskiy mine, Kazakhstan. Our model considered number of parameters that are critical to performance of the system such as transmitting power, frequency, geometry of antenna and system grounding. To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents a novel analyses and modeling results demonstrating the effects of different grounding systems designs on the wave propagation behaviors in TTE systems. It is evident that this research can be applied in enhancing the performance of the TTE systems and the depth of signal propagations.

In the paper, analysis of condition of non-destructive testing system on railways was carried out. Disadvantages of modern electromagnetic and ultrasound flaw detectors used now on railways were presented. Directions of its elimination promising methods for non-contact NDT of joint weld are offered.