VEXRAD • Pre-Drill Subsurface Intelligence
Virtual Borehole
A borehole before the borehole.
A VEXRAD Virtual Borehole is a depth-referenced interpretation of the subsurface at a selected surface location, constructed from Atomic Dielectric Resonance (ADR) measurements. It is designed to help exploration teams investigate what a physical borehole may encounter before committing to drilling.
WATCH THE CONCEPT
From surface acquisition to a Virtual Borehole
See how VEXRAD uses ADR measurements to build depth-referenced subsurface intelligence before physical drilling.
VEXRAD ADR Virtual Borehole — cinematic explainer.
The concept
Downhole-style intelligence acquired from the surface
Conventional surface geophysics is powerful for mapping physical-property contrasts, structures and prospective geological architecture. A Virtual Borehole addresses a complementary question: how do ADR responses change with depth at this selected location, and what geological interpretation is consistent with those responses?
VEXRAD analyses depth-dependent electromagnetic response characteristics and converts them into log-style subsurface interpretations. Depending on the project, geology, signal quality and calibration, these interpretations may support investigation of lithological changes, formation boundaries, structures, fluids, alteration or mineralisation indicators and candidate target intervals.
The Virtual Borehole is a prediction, not ground truth. Its value is ultimately established by comparison with independent evidence such as drilling, core, assays, geological logs or wireline measurements.
How it works
From surface measurement to a testable prediction
ADR measurements can be examined through multiple processed attributes, including energy and frequency behaviour, harmonics, dielectric/conductivity-related responses, correlation methods and classification outputs. VEXRAD interprets these measurements together rather than treating any single response as a unique geological fingerprint.
What you receive
A depth-referenced evidence layer for the drill decision
Lithology interpretation
Predicted geological changes and lithological classes with depth where the data and calibration support that interpretation.
Formation boundaries
Intervals where ADR responses indicate changes that may correspond with geological contacts or boundaries.
Structures & target intervals
Candidate zones or changes worthy of integration with geology, geochemistry and established geophysical datasets.
Response logs
Depth-referenced ADR outputs and interpreted response characteristics used to construct the Virtual Borehole.
Confidence & evidence
Interpretations should be presented with their evidential basis, uncertainty and project-specific limitations.
Drill-decision support
An additional evidence layer for ranking targets, refining locations and deciding which uncertainty should be tested first.
Clear boundaries
What a Virtual Borehole is — and is not
It can be
- A predictive, depth-referenced digital representation of the subsurface.
- A way to investigate possible lithological changes and geological boundaries before drilling.
- An additional evidence layer alongside geology, geochemistry and conventional geophysics.
- A hypothesis that can be frozen before drilling and tested against independent ground truth.
It is not
- Physical core or a replacement for drilling.
- A laboratory assay or direct measurement of commodity grade.
- A mineral resource or reserve estimate.
- A guarantee of permeability, flow rate, deliverability or drilling success.
- An exact digital copy of a borehole that has not yet been drilled.
Evidence first
Let the drill test the prediction
VEXRAD’s preferred validation approach is straightforward: define the geological question, acquire and interpret the ADR data, freeze the Virtual Borehole before the answer is revealed, then compare it with independent subsurface evidence.
“The objective is not no drilling. It is better-informed drilling.”
Applications
One concept, different geological questions
Critical minerals
Investigate host geology, structures, alteration/mineralisation indicators and candidate target intervals before drilling.
Explore applications →Geothermal
Investigate lithology, geological boundaries and subsurface changes that may contribute to geothermal targeting and well planning.
Geothermal before drilling →Water
Support hydrogeological targeting by investigating subsurface changes and candidate water-bearing intervals in context with other evidence.
Groundwater before drilling →Have a target or planned borehole?
Give VEXRAD one geological question to test.
If you have an existing target, proposed drill location or future borehole suitable for comparison, start with a Project Fit Check. We will assess whether ADR and a Virtual Borehole are appropriate for the question you need to answer.