Decomposition of Marine Electromagnetic Fields Into TE and TM Modes for Enhanced Interpretation

In marine electromagnetic (EM) surveying for hydrocarbon detection, the field’s transverse magnetic (TM) mode is sensitive to hydrocarbon saturated reservoirs but also to geological features relating to local larger-scale resistive structures. The field’s transverse electric (TE) mode is not sensitive to the hydrocarbon saturated reservoirs but sensitive to any local larger-scale resistive structures. Furthermore, the airwave predominantly is a TE mode. Therefore, decomposition of the marine EM field into TE and TM modes is of importance for reliable interpretation.