Development of a Versatile Ferromagnetic Loop Antenna for Shallow Water

Electromagnetic (EM) transmitter plays a crucial role in reservoir assessment and
development. Lacking of a powerful transmitter is seemed to be the major problem in
oil and gas industry. Thus, this project proposes a new EM transmitter that can boost
up the electromagnetic signals. The design of this versatile antenna design is made up
from a rod of iron material with its diameter of 0.9 cm in a circular shape with
diameter of 123 cm and weight of 1.82 kg. To enhance the transmission signals,
additional magnetic feeders (D28) from nickel zinc type of material were used. The
significant concept of the prototype is as in sea bed logging (SBL). CST EM Studio
software was preliminary used to simulate two EM transmitters, namely a circular
loop and a semi-circular loop. It was found that the circular loop antenna is able to
produce 2066 V/m electric field while the semi-circular loop produces 449 V/m
electric field. Based on this. the prototype of a circular loop antenna was developed.
The project was then carried out by doing experimental works and prototype design.
From the result findings it proves that iron rod as a magnetic based material and can
be used to transmit EM signals. A versatile ferromagnetic loop antenna is
successfully invented with a proven result that by adding magnetic feeders to the
circular loop antenna can boost up the detected voltage signals by 214.7%.