Slopes of an airborne electromagnetic resistivity model interpolated jointly with borehole data for 3D geological modelling

We investigate a novel way to introduce resistivity models deriving from airborne electromagnetic surveys into regional geological modelling. Standard geometrical geological modelling can be strengthened using geophysical data. Here, we propose to extract information contained in a resistivity model in the form of local slopes that constrain the modelling of geological interfaces. The proposed method is illustrated on an airborne electromagnetic survey conducted in the region of Courtenay in France. First, a resistivity contrast corresponding to the clay/chalk interface was interpreted confronting the electromagnetic soundings to boreholes. Slopes were then sampled on this geophysical model and jointly interpolated with the clay/chalk interface documented in boreholes using an implicit 3D potential‐field method. In order to evaluate this new joint geophysical–geological model, its accuracy was compared with that of both pure geological and pure geophysical models for various borehole configurations. The proposed joint modelling yields the most accurate clay/chalk interface whatever the number and location of boreholes taken into account for modelling and validation. Compared with standard geological modelling, the approach introduces in between boreholes geometrical information derived from geophysical results. Compared with conventional resistivity interpretation of the geophysical model, it reduces drift effects and honours the boreholes. The method therefore improves what is commonly obtained with geological or geophysical data separately, making it very attractive for robust 3D geological modelling of the subsurface.     

A comparison of helicopter‐borne electromagnetic systems for hydrogeologic studies

The increased application of airborne electromagnetic surveys to hydrogeological studies is driving a demand for data that can consistently be inverted for accurate subsurface resistivity structure from the near surface to depths of several hundred metres. We present an evaluation of three commercial airborne electromagnetic systems over two test blocks in western Nebraska, USA. The selected test blocks are representative of shallow and deep alluvial aquifer systems with low groundwater salinity and an electrically conductive base of aquifer. The aquifer units show significant lithologic heterogeneity and include both modern and ancient river systems. We compared the various data sets to one another and inverted resistivity models to borehole lithology and to ground geophysical models. We find distinct differences among the airborne electromagnetic systems as regards the spatial resolution of models, the depth of investigation, and the ability to recover near‐surface resistivity variations. We further identify systematic biases in some data sets, which we attribute to incomplete or inexact calibration or compensation procedures.     

INVERSION OF SURFACE AND BOREHOLE ELECTROMAGNETIC DATA FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY MODELS*

A method for inverting electromagnetic fields induced by a line source in an earth of two-dimensional conductivity structure is developed. Certain unique features of the finite element method are used to construct an efficient algorithm for the accurate calculation of the Jacobian matrix of partial derivatives, and the resulting linearized equations are solved using the damped least squares method. Case studies of theoretical data generated from a simple model of interest in geophysical prospecting show that, in general, it is impossible to obtain, from surface data alone, accurate estimates of the conductivity of structures buried deeper than 0.2 skin depths under a conducting overburden. The addition of borehole data to the surface data is found to increase the resolving power of the electromagnetic method dramatically. In particular, the borehole data appear to stabilize the inverse when only a poor initial estimate of the likely structure is given.     

江宁地电台深井地电阻率观测系统分析

江宁地电台在原址开展地电观测抗干扰保护工程,采取缩短极距和电极深埋来减轻地铁和蔬菜大棚的影响。本文介绍了江宁地电台深井地电阻率观测系统场地布设方式、安装技术要求和施工要点,并讨论深井观测存在的问题。通过分析试运行1年的深井地电阻率观测数据,发现采用深井观测可减少干扰、缓解地电观测与经济建设的矛盾,是地电观测的重要发展方向之一。     

Resistivity inversion of cross-hole and borehole-to-surface EM data using axially symmetric models1

We describe a least-squares inversion approach to estimating the subsurface resistivity structure from cross-hole or borehole-to-surface electromagnetic data. It is assumed that the resistivity distribution is symmetric about the axis of a borehole and that vertical magnetic dipoles are located on the borehole axis. The receivers are placed either in another borehole or on the earth's surface. The inversion scheme uses the finite-element and smoothness-constrained least-squares methods. The computational effort required to obtain partial derivatives is reduced considerably by using the reciprocity principle. Numerical simulations show that the reconstructions are generally in good agreement with the true structures when the assumption of an axisymmetric earth structure holds. An example involving the breakdown of this assumption, which can be obtained by interchanging the source and receiver boreholes, suggests that the inversion result may also be useful for locating a general 3D anomaly although artifacts are present.     

Spectrometric gamma radiation of shale cores applied to sweet spot discrimination in Eastern Pomerania,Poland

This paper describes the application and calculation of hydrocarbon anomalies in two different boreholes located in Eastern Pomerania (northern Poland). Spectrometric data from borehole geophysical probe (borehole 1) and portable gamma logger (borehole 2) were used to analyze shale formations. The results from borehole 1 presented a statistically significant, moderate correlation between calculated hydrocarbon anomalies and hydrocarbon saturation data obtained from well log interpretation. Borehole 2 has been analyzed focusing on the gamma radiation of the core samples, and the positive results of borehole 1. Hydrocarbon anomalies calculated from spectral gamma radiation are reliable indicators of sweet spots, based solely on a cursory evaluation of core measurements. These preliminary information acquired from gamma-ray measurements could help increase sampling precision of further geochemical analysis.     

庐枞盆地科学钻探地球物理测井及深部铀异常的发现

庐枞盆地砖桥科学钻探ZK01孔为深部探测技术与实验研究专项在庐枞盆地施工的钻探验证孔,全井段实施了连续取心和地球物理测井工作.测井工作分三次完成,测井总深度1994.02m.测井项目包括视电阻率、极化率、磁化率、纵波速度、超声成像、自然伽马、密度、井斜、井径、井温、泥浆电阻率、井中三分量磁测等10多种方法,获得了钻孔剖面原位物性参数、钻孔几何形态及井壁超声图像.通过对地球物理测井和钻孔岩心编录等资料的研究,完成了岩性的人工识别与支持向量机判别,建立了钻孔测井解释岩性剖面;通过对矿化地层的测井响应分析,将电阻率和磁化率作为粗安岩矿化的识别标识;根据超声成像测井资料推断本地区深部地层最大水平主应力方向为南北走向.在ZK01孔1500~1900m发现放射性异常,对铀当量大于万分之一的21处异常进行了定量解释,铀矿化段累积厚度93.02m,为庐枞地区深部找铀矿提供了重大线索.     

2019年9月16日张掖5.0级地震前多尺度电磁异常现象

2019年9月16日甘肃张掖发生5.0级地震，地震发生前既有空间范围跨度较大的地磁低点位移异常，也有单台电磁扰动异常；既有震前2年开始出现的山丹台视电阻率的年变形态畸变，也有震前3个月之内出现的高台钻孔应变和高台大庄低频电磁扰动异常。本次地震震级不高却记录到丰富的电磁场的异常信号，表明该地区处于地震电磁异常的敏感区。高台钻孔应变在震前观测到同步的异常变化，揭示孕震区应力状态发生了显著的变化。     

Laterally constrained inversion of helicopter-borne frequency-domain electromagnetic data

Helicopter-borne frequency-domain electromagnetic (HEM) surveys are used for fast high-resolution, three-dimensional resistivity mapping. Standard interpretation tools are often based on layered earth inversion procedures which, in general, explain the HEM data sufficiently. As a HEM system is moved while measuring, noise on the data is a common problem. Generally, noisy data will be smoothed prior to inversion using appropriate low-pass filters and consequently information may be lost.For the first time the laterally constrained inversion (LCI) technique has been applied to HEM data combined with the automatic generation of dynamic starting models. The latter is important because it takes the penetration depth of the electromagnetic fields, which can heavily vary in survey areas with different geological settings, into account. The LCI technique, which has been applied to diverse airborne and ground geophysical data sets, has proven to be able to improve the HEM inversion results of layered earth structures. Although single-site 1-D inversion is generally faster and — in case of strong lateral resistivity variations — more flexible, LCI produces resistivity — depth sections which are nearly identical to those derived from noise-free data.The LCI results are compared with standard single-site Marquardt–Levenberg inversion procedures on the basis of synthetic data as well as field data. The model chosen for the generation of synthetic data represents a layered earth structure having an inhomogeneous top layer in order to study the influence of shallow resistivity variations on the resolution of deep horizontal conductors in one-dimensional inversion results. The field data example comprises a wide resistivity range in a sedimentary as well as hard-rock environment.If a sufficient resistivity contrast between air and subsurface exists, the LCI technique is also very useful in correcting for incorrect system altitude measurements by using the altitude as a constrained inversion parameter.     

Correlation of vertical electrical sounding and electrical borehole log data for groundwater exploration

We have correlated the longitudinal unit conductance CL obtained from interpreted vertical electrical sounding data with the formation resistivity R_t and the formation resistivity factor F, obtained by carrying out electrical borehole logging. Interpreted geophysical data of eleven soundings and two electrical borehole log records are used for the analysis. The geophysical data used were acquired in a sedimentary basin. The study area is called Lower Maner Basin located in the province of Andhra Pradesh, India. Vertical electrical soundings were carried out using a Schlumberger configuration with half current electrode separation varying from 600–1000 m. For logging the two boreholes, a Widco logger‐model 3200 PLS was used. True formation resistivity R_t was calculated from a resistivity log. Formation resistivity factor F was also calculated at various depths using R_t values. An appreciable inverse relation exists between the correlated parameters. The borehole resistivity R_t and the formation resistivity factor F decrease with the increase in the longitudinal unit conductance CL. We have shown the use of such a relation in computing borehole resistivity R_t and formation resistivity factor F at sites that posses only vertical electrical sounding data, with a fair degree of accuracy. Validation of the correlation is satisfactory. Scope for updating the correlation is discussed. Significance and applications of the relation for exploration of groundwater, namely to update the vertical electrical sounding data interpretation by translating the vertical electrical sounding data into electrical borehole log parameters, to facilitate correlations studies and to estimate the porosity (φ), permeability (K) and water saturation S_w of water bearing zones are discussed.     

Some results of induced polarisation surveys for sulphide mineralisation in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat,India

Some results of induced polarisation surveys carried out for the exploration of sulphide mineralisation in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, employing both frequency-domain and time-domain techniques, are presented. A few typical examples of I.P. results along with borehole sections and results of conventional geophysical surveys have been incorporated. Frequency-domain and time-domain I.P. data have been compared for selected areas.Borehole data pertaining to several areas investigated have corroborated the I.P. results fairly well.     

地球物理测井在多年冻土厚度和地下冰调查中的应用

基于青藏高原多年冻土区三个钻孔的地球物理测井数据和钻孔编录资料,我们对多年冻土厚度和多年冻土层内地下冰与地球物理测井数据之间的关系进行了相关的分析研究.研究表明,当地层为土壤类型时,可以使用井径和侧向测井曲线来判断多年冻土层厚度;而当地层为致密的基岩时,不能使用上述两种测井曲线来判断多年冻土层厚度.此外,还可以使用长源距伽马-伽马曲线和侧向测井曲线来识别多年冻土层内部分地下冰层的位置,其前提条件是地下冰层具有一定的厚度,或即使厚度较薄,但连续出现.这一研究结果对于利用地球物理测井曲线来调查多年冻土情况具有一定的应用价值.     

Sensitivity and inversion of marine electromagnetic data in a vertically anisotropic stratified earth

The controlled‐source electromagnetic (CSEM) and magnetotelluric method (MT) are two techniques that can be jointly used to explore the resistivity structure of the earth. Such methods have, in recent years, been applied in marine environments to the exploration and appraisal of hydrocarbons. In many situations the electric properties of the earth are anisotropic, with differences between resistivity in the vertical direction typically much higher than those in the horizontal direction. In cases such as this, the two modes of the time‐harmonic electromagnetic field are altered in different ways, implying that the sensitivity to the earth resistivity may vary significantly from one particular resistivity component (scalar, horizontal or vertical) to another, depending on the measurement configuration (range, azimuth, frequency or water depth). In this paper, we examine the sensitivity of the electromagnetic field to a vertically anisotropic earth for a typical set of configurations, compare inversion results of synthetic data characterizing a vertically anisotropic earth obtained using the isotropic and anisotropic assumptions and show that correctly accounting for anisotropy can prevent artefacts in inversion results.     

Calibrating a Salt Water Intrusion Model with Time‐Domain Electromagnetic Data

Salt water intrusion models are commonly used to support groundwater resource management in coastal aquifers. Concentration data used for model calibration are often sparse and limited in spatial extent. With airborne and ground‐based electromagnetic surveys, electrical resistivity models can be obtained to provide high‐resolution three‐dimensional models of subsurface resistivity variations that can be related to geology and salt concentrations on a regional scale. Several previous studies have calibrated salt water intrusion models with geophysical data, but are typically limited to the use of the inverted electrical resistivity models without considering the measured geophysical data directly. This induces a number of errors related to inconsistent scales between the geophysical and hydrologic models and the applied regularization constraints in the geophysical inversion. To overcome these errors, we perform a coupled hydrogeophysical inversion (CHI) in which we use a salt water intrusion model to interpret the geophysical data and guide the geophysical inversion. We refer to this methodology as a Coupled Hydrogeophysical Inversion‐State (CHI‐S), in which simulated salt concentrations are transformed to an electrical resistivity model, after which a geophysical forward response is calculated and compared with the measured geophysical data. This approach was applied for a field site in Santa Cruz County, California, where a time‐domain electromagnetic (TDEM) dataset was collected. For this location, a simple two‐dimensional cross‐sectional salt water intrusion model was developed, for which we estimated five uniform aquifer properties, incorporating the porosity that was also part of the employed petrophysical relationship. In addition, one geophysical parameter was estimated. The six parameters could be resolved well by fitting more than 300 apparent resistivities that were comprised by the TDEM dataset. Except for three sounding locations, all the TDEM data could be fitted close to a root‐mean‐square error of 1. Possible explanations for the poor fit of these soundings are the assumption of spatial uniformity, fixed boundary conditions and the neglecting of 3D effects in the groundwater model and the TDEM forward responses.     

The electromagnetic response of a horizontal electric dipole buried in a multi‐layered earth

The electromagnetic response of a horizontal electric dipole transmitter in the presence of a conductive, layered earth is important in a number of geophysical applications, ranging from controlled‐source audio‐frequency magnetotellurics to borehole geophysics to marine electromagnetics. The problem has been thoroughly studied for more than a century, starting from a dipole resting on the surface of a half‐space and subsequently advancing all the way to a transmitter buried within a stack of anisotropic layers. The solution is still relevant today. For example, it is useful for one‐dimensional modelling and interpretation, as well as to provide background fields for two‐ and three‐dimensional modelling methods such as integral equation or primary–secondary field formulations. This tutorial borrows elements from the many texts and papers on the topic and combines them into what we believe is a helpful guide to performing layered earth electromagnetic field calculations. It is not intended to replace any of the existing work on the subject. However, we have found that this combination of elements is particularly effective in teaching electromagnetic theory and providing a basis for algorithmic development. Readers will be able to calculate electric and magnetic fields at any point in or above the earth, produced by a transmitter at any location. As an illustrative example, we calculate the fields of a dipole buried in a multi‐layered anisotropic earth to demonstrate how the theory that developed in this tutorial can be implemented in practice; we then use the example to examine the diffusion of volume charge density within anisotropic media—a rarely visualised process. The algorithm is internally validated by comparing the response of many thin layers with alternating high and low conductivity values to the theoretically equivalent (yet algorithmically simpler) anisotropic solution, as well as externally validated against an independent algorithm.     

Identification of coal seam strata from geophysical logs of borehole using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System

Different parameters obtained through well-logging geophysical sensors such as SP, resistivity, gamma–gamma, neutron, natural gamma and acoustic, help in identification of strata and estimation of the physical, electrical and acoustical properties of the subsurface lithology. Strong and conspicuous changes in some of the log parameters associated with any particular stratigraphy formation, are function of its composition, physical properties and help in classification. However some substrata show moderate values in respective log parameters and make difficult to identify or assess the type of strata, if we go by the standard variability ranges of any log parameters and visual inspection. The complexity increases further with more number of sensors involved.An attempt is made to identify the type of stratigraphy from borehole geophysical log data using a combined approach of neural networks and fuzzy logic, known as Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System. A model is built based on a few data sets (geophysical logs) of known stratigraphy of in coal areas of Kothagudem, Godavari basin and further the network model is used as test model to infer the lithology of a borehole from their geophysical logs, not used in simulation. The results are very encouraging and the model is able to decipher even thin cola seams and other strata from borehole geophysical logs. The model can be further modified to assess the physical properties of the strata, if the corresponding ground truth is made available for simulation.     

Resolution of freshwater and saline water aquifers by composite geophysical data analysis methods

Abstract

The resolution of the freshwater and saline water aquifers in a coastal terrain (Mahanadi Basin, India) is updated. We analysed electrical borehole log data at four sites and compared the water resistivity regime of the freshwater and saline water zones obtained from electrical borehole logging, with the resistivity regime obtained by interpreting vertical electrical sounding (VES) data. The multilayer VES data interpretation is modified to a simple model, containing only the freshwater zone and the saline water zone. The composite geophysical parameters of the freshwater and saline water zones, in particular the resistivity and longitudinal unit conductance regime, are identified. The resolution obtained from the composite geophysical data analyses is very clear and convincing. The composite longitudinal unit conductance regime of the saline water zones is very high compared to that of the freshwater zones. This makes the identification of the two aquifers easy and increases its reliability. A technique which enables analysis of composite geophysical data of freshwater and saline water zones at VES sites in the vicinity of the borehole log sites is proposed. The significance of longitudinal unit conductance in resolving the freshwater and saline water aquifers is illustrated graphically. The proposed technique is validated by correlating the longitudinal unit conductance and resistivity with the total dissolved solids. The efficiency of the technique is validated by carrying out discriminant function analysis.

Citation Hodlur, G. K., Dhakate, R., Sirisha, T. & Panaskar, D. B. (2010) Resolution of freshwater and saline water aquifers by composite geophysical data analysis methods. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(3), 414–434.     

Distributed electric field sensing using fibre optics in borehole environments

In the past decade, rapid advances in distributed optical fibre sensing technologies have made it possible to record various geophysical data (e.g. strain, temperature and pressure) continuously in both time and space along the fibre, providing an unprecedented quantity and spatial density of data compared to traditional geophysical measurements as well as reducing data acquisition cost. To date, no distributed fibre-based electromagnetic field sensing system has been implemented although electromagnetic sensing could have a broad range of applications to geophysical imaging and monitoring in borehole environments. The goal of this paper is to provide a theoretical feasibility study regarding the design and use of an electromagnetic sensing optical fibre for geophysical applications. First, we present the sensitivity analysis of a ‘hypothetical’ optical fibre coated with polyvinylidene fluoride, a polymer that provides relatively high piezoelectric properties, yet unlike ceramics, is flexible. Using a two-dimensional electromagnetic modelling algorithm, we simulate the earth electric-field-to-fibre-strain transfer function and estimate the theoretical sensitivity of the optical fibre to electric fields. Given the state-of-the-art distributed acoustic sensing strain sensitivities in the picometres strain range, our numerical modelling analysis suggests that a perfectly coupled polyvinylidene fluoride–coated optical fibre can measure electric field values in the mV/m to V/m amplitude range. We then apply a cylindrically symmetric modelling algorithm to simulate numerical models demonstrating the applicability of such a fibre in an oilfield environment. Scenarios investigated employ an electric field source and suggest that the measurements can be used to distinguish the oil versus water ratio with a fibre mounted inside a producing steel cased oil well as well as distinguishing between brine and hydrocarbon filled reservoir zones with a fibre located outside of the casing.     

瞬变电磁法的探测深度问题

用解析分析、时域有限差分、时-频分析的方法,以地面中心回线装置和阶跃脉冲激励源为例,分析讨论了瞬变电磁测深法的勘探深度问题,以便为野外勘探工作设计提供依据,达到预期的探测目的.解析计算证实了瞬变场在地下以有限速度传播,数值模拟表示出了准静态条件下瞬变场的反射.研究结果表明,由于时间域电磁场遵循因果律,瞬变电磁法的探测深度主要由观测时间决定. 瞬变电磁场的初始传播速度与大地电阻率无关,继后在大地色散作用下,阶跃脉冲前沿逐渐变得平缓,各频率分量的传播速度与电阻率有关,在低阻地层中探测同样的深度需要较长的观测时间. 最大探测深度是在给定时间内电磁波往返地下某一深度的单程距离,最小探测深度受仪器性能的限制,但是埋藏较浅的异常体也有可能在晚时段被观测到.从时-频密度谱中可得到瞬变电磁场信号时间与频率的关系.     

深井地球物理观测的最新进展与中国大陆科学钻探长期观测

深井地震与地球物理观测(Borehole Seismology)是21世纪的一项崭新的高科技项目. 其目的是为了解决地球的表面效应和人类社会高度发展的城市化、工业化、现代化带来的噪音干扰,提高信噪比,推进现代地球物理观测与研究.随着地球系统科学的深入以及解决环境、资源、地震灾害预报等问题的需求, 近年来世界大陆科学钻探以及在钻孔深井内进行的地球物理长期观测得到了飞速发展,取得了高精度的观测研究成果. 中国大陆科学钻探长期观测在前期工作基础上,已经启动并正在构建我国第一个无地面干扰的深井地震、地球物理长期观测站,为实现我国的“入地”科学计划,开创我国21世纪地球科学观测研究的新局面作出贡献.