Have you Noticed Cords on Norton Road? Here's What They're About

Have you seen spools of cords lined down Norton Road?

Service Director Mike Miller said the cords are actually cable television cords placed down the street by Nicholson Land Services for seismic testing — a process used to determine the density of rock layers and where oil and gasses could be trapped. Results can also help predict earthquakes. 

Along with the cords, flags called "geophones," or listening devices, are placed down the street every 150 feet.

The cords are expected to be lined down the street for about a week.

"The process in Green when they did it went one day after the 'cords' were in place along with the geophones. It took about a week to set up," said Miller. 

Once everything is set up, workers will stop every 300 feet to send a seismic vibration through the ground. 

"The seismic test consists of surveyors placing pin flags and geophones along roadway in ditch, and then trucks using 'vibrosize' method will conduct the test along roadway on pavement," said Miller. "As the test is completed all pin flags and equipment will be picked up."

Miller said the method of testing is nondestructive and noninvasive. 

"The trucks send a sound wave down into the ground, which is reflected off the formation," he explained. "The geophones receive the reflection and send a signal to the recording van through the wires, where the data is collected and stored.”