SCALE MODEL ELECTROMAGNETIC RESPONSE TO INLINE AND BROADSIDE SYSTEMS AT SKEW TRAVERSES OF A DIPPING HALF PLANE EMBEDDED IN A CONDUCTING HOST ROCK*

Laboratory scale model experiments have been performed to obtain the electromagnetic response of a finitely conducting half plane embedded in resistive/conductive surrounding and excited by an oscillating magnetic dipole. Inphase and quadrature profiles are presented for two horizontal coplanar transmitter-receiver systems (inline and broadside) for normal and skew traverses and for different dips of the conductor. It is observed that the broadside system is more diagnostic in delineating the strike and dip of the conductor and is more sensitive to the conducting host rock. The broadside profile over a vertical or dipping half plane is characterized, when traversing perpendicular to strike, by two positive peaks flanking a zero response when the coils are over the top edge of the conductor. For skew traverses a negative peak replaces the zero response. An increasing asymmetry in the anomalies is caused by changing the dip of the conductor from the vertical in both the systems, but it is more pronounced for the broadside system. The quadrature response in the broadside system changes in a characteristic way when the target is surrounded by a conducting host rock. The comparative results of the two systems may, therefore, be useful in the induction prospecting for ore deposits approximated by a half plane, especially in delineating the strike, dip, and effect of conductive host rock.     

THE USE OF TWO-ELECTRODE AND SCHLUMBERGER FILTERS FOR COMPUTING RESISTIVITY AND EM SOUNDING CURVES*

Different sets of filter coefficients for the linear filter technique for the computations of resistivity and EM sounding curves are evaluated for several electrode and coil configurations. Instead of this procedure, the two-electrode filter can be used for computations of Wenner, Schlumberger, and dipole—dipole apparent resistivity model curves by defining convolutional expressions which contain the new input functions in terms of the resistivity transform function. Similarly, the Schlumberger filter performs the computations of dipole—dipole apparent resistivity model curves. The Wenner, Schlumberger, and dipole—dipole filter functions are defined in terms of the two-electrode filter using the new convolutional expressions. A relationship between the Schlumberger and dipole—dipole filter functions is given. The above arguments are adopted for the computations of EM sounding curves. It is shown that the EM filter for the horizontal coplanar loop system (which is identical to the two-electrode filter) performs the computations of the mutual coupling ratios for perpendicular, vertical coplanar, and vertical coaxial loop systems. In the same way, the Schlumberger filter can be used to compute vertical coaxial sounding curves. The corresponding input functions are defined in terms of the EM kernel for all convolutional expressions presented. After these considerations, integral expressions of the mutual coupling ratios involving zero-order Bessel function are derived. The mutual coupling ratio for the vertical coaxial loop system is given in the same form as the mutual coupling ratio for the vertical coplanar loop system.     

THE CROSS-HOLE MAGNETOMETRIC RESISTIVITY (MMR) RESPONSE OF A DISC CONDUCTOR*

The cross-hole variant of the magnetometric resistivity (MMR) method requires two bore holes in the vicinity of a conductive target. In the first, two fixed current electrodes are located, one above the other. They are linked to a low frequency current source by cables, the whole system forming a vertical current bipole. In the second, a sensitive coil measures the axial magnetic field as a function of depth. For a uniform earth, if both holes are vertical, the measured component vanishes by symmetry. However, the presence of a local conductor channels the current and causes an anomalous magnetic component which is interpreted to indicate the position, shape and relative conductance of the target. Mineral deposits are often lamellar in form. The conductive disc is the simplest bounded lamella for which MMR responses may be computed. It is excited by a single current source on its axis. The second source and the surface of the earth are assumed to be far away, a valid assumption for down-hole measurements. The numerical method introduces a new integral equation describing the interaction of current dipoles located in the plane of the disc. The equation is solved analytically for a disc of infinite radius, a layer, and the result is compared with a corresponding known boundary value solution. The computed radial current in the disc and the magnetic field generated by it are described in terms of a current channelling number. The magnitude of the computed field is of the order of one nanoTesla for a typical mining problem.     

导电大地上航空电磁系统校准

航空电磁系统校准是开展实际测量工作的基础,校准情况直接影响数据处理和解释.传统校准方法通常假设在自由空间中进行,忽略导电大地耦合影响.然而,实际工作中很难找到绝对高阻的校准场地,导电大地对系统校准和观测数据的影响无法忽视.本文以频率域航空电磁系统为例,对导电大地上航电系统校准技术和校准误差改正方法进行研究.我们首先推导了层状导电大地上水平共面和直立共轴线圈系统的校准公式,结果表明导电大地对航电系统校准尤其是水平共面装置的高频信号影响很大.针对校准过程中大地电导率已知的情况,本文采用非线性方程求解技术一次性确定校准线圈位置和Q值;在没有任何辅助信息情况下,也可直接利用实测数据计算校正因子进行迭代求解.测试结果表明该方法快速、准确、有效.考虑到系统相位和增益调整直接影响观测数据,本文提出了航空电磁数据校准误差的改正算法.实测数据误差改正结果表明,导电大地对高频信号影响严重,校准误差改正后的航空电磁数据与实际地质资料更好吻合.     

Numerical modelling of airborne electromagnetic anomalies originating from low-conductivity 3D bodies1

Responses of a multifrequency, multicoil airborne electromagnetic (AEM) system were modelled numerically for 3D electrical conductors embedded in a resistive bedrock and overlain by an overburden of low to moderate conductivity. The results cover a horizontal coplanar coil configuration and two frequencies, 7837 Hz and 51 250 Hz. The models studied are single or multiple, poor conductors (conductance lower than 0.1 S) embedded in a host rock of high but finite resistivity (5000 Ωm) and overlain by a layer of overburden with finite thickness and low to moderate conductivity (conductance up to 2 S). On the basis of the modelling results, limits of detectability for poor conductors have been studied for the various model structures. The results indicate that the anomaly from a steeply dipping, plate-like conductor will decrease significantly when the conductor is embedded in a weakly conductive host rock and is overlain by a conductive overburden. However, an anomaly is obtained, and its magnitude can even increase with increasing overburden conductivity or frequency. The plate anomaly remains practically constant when only the overburden thickness is varied. Changes in overburden conductivity will cause the plate-anomaly values to change markedly. If the plate conductance is less than that of the overburden, a local anomaly opposite in sign to the normal type of anomaly will be recorded. Another major consequence is that conductors interpreted with free-space models will be heavily overestimated in depth or underestimated in conductance, if in reality induction and current channelling in the host rock and overburden make even a slight contribution to the anomalous EM field. The lateral resolution for the horizontal coplanar coil system was found to be about 1.7 times the sensor altitude. Similarly, the lateral extension of a horizontal conductive ribbon, required to reach the semi-infinite (half-space) behaviour, is more than three times the sensor altitude. Finally, screening of a steeply dipping plate, caused by a small, conductive horizontal ribbon, is much more severe than screening of the same plate by an extensive horizontal layer.     

The effect of the electrical anisotropy on the response of helicopter-borne frequency-domain electromagnetic systems

Helicopter electromagnetic (HEM) systems are commonly used for conductivity mapping and the data are often interpreted using an isotropic horizontally layered earth model. However, in regions with distinct dipping stratification, it is useful to extend the model to a layered earth with general anisotropy by assigning each layer a symmetrical 3 × 3 resistivity tensor. The electromagnetic (EM) field is represented by two scalar potentials, which describe the poloidal and toroidal parts of the magnetic field. Via a 2D Fourier transform, we obtain two coupled ordinary differential equations in the vertical coordinate. To stabilize the numerical calculation, the wavenumber domain is divided into two parts associated with small and large wavenumbers. The EM field for small wavenumbers is continued from layer to layer with the continuity conditions. For large wavenumbers, the EM field behaves like a DC field and therefore cannot be sensed by airborne EM systems. Thus, the contribution from the large wavenumbers is simply ignored. The magnetic fields are calculated for the vertical coaxial (VCX), horizontal coplanar (HCP) and vertical coplanar (VCP) coil configurations for a helicopter EM system. The apparent resistivities defined from the VCX, VCP and HCP coil responses, when plotted in polar coordinates, clearly identify the principal anisotropic axes of an anisotropic earth. The field example from the Edwards Aquifer recharge area in Texas confirms that the polar plots of the apparent resistivities identify the principal anisotropic axes that coincide well with the direction of the underground structures.     

用磁流源并矢Green函数的递推矩阵方法计算层状各向异性地层中多分量感应测井响应

采用递推矩阵方法计算各向异性介质的磁流源并矢Green函数,并利用上述并矢Green函数对层状各向异性倾斜地层中多分量感应测井的响应进行数值模拟,分析了线圈距、层厚、倾角和围岩对多分量感应测井响应的影响.计算发现,共面视电导率比共轴视电导率变化规律复杂,不能反映地层电导率的真实情况.各向异性地层共轴视电导率随井眼相对倾角的增加而减小,而共面视电导率随井眼相对倾角的增加而增加.仪器的垂向分辨率、围岩各向异性对目的层响应的影响程度取决于线圈距,围岩各向异性对高电导率目的层中测井响应的影响大于对高电阻率目的层中测井响应的影响.     

横向各向同性地层中倾斜线圈系响应特征的数值模拟

详细推导了模拟倾斜线圈系在横向各向同性地层中响应的垂向数值模式匹配方法,在轴对称模型下,该方法采用垂直本征模式描述三维激励源,使得三维问题可以在二维条件下快速解决,另外,本文引入的高阶基函数进一步提高了算法的计算速度.为了验证算法的可靠性与准确性,分别与均匀无限厚各向同性地层的解析解和横向各向同性地层的有限差分解进行对比,结果表明,模式匹配方法与它们吻合的较好.在此基础上,利用模式匹配方法模拟了倾斜线圈系和水平线圈系在横向各向同性地层的响应特征,计算结果表明:在横向各向同性地层中,倾斜线圈系的响应既受水平电导率的影响,也受垂直电导率的影响,而水平线圈系则只与水平电导率有关,由此,可以通过倾斜线圈系评价地层的各向异性特征.此外,本文还分析了钻铤对倾斜线圈系响应的影响,模拟结果表明,虽然钻铤没有改变相位值和幅度值的变化趋势,但对它们的绝对值有一定的影响,而且这种影响与不同法向角度也有关系,因此当组合不同倾斜线圈系进行地层评价时,需要对钻铤的影响进行校正.最后研究了不同法向角度线圈系在横向各向同性地层中的响应特征,得出不同法向角度线圈系的探测特性和对各向异性的敏感性都有较大的差异.本文的研究表明倾斜线圈系的响应与水平线圈系的响应不同,通过利用不同倾斜线圈系组合可以进行油气储层评价.     

A first application of a marine inductive source electromagnetic configuration with remote electric dipole receivers: Palinuro Seamount,Tyrrhenian Sea

We study a new marine electromagnetic configuration that consists of a ship‐towed inductive source transmitter and a series of remote electric dipole receivers placed on the seafloor. The approach was tested at the Palinuro Seamount in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, at a site where massive sulphide mineralization has been previously identified by shallow drilling. A 3D model of the Palinuro study area was created using bathymetry data, and forward modelling of the electric field diffusion was carried out using a finite volume method. These numerical results suggest that the remote receivers can theoretically detect a block of shallowly buried conductive material at up to ～100 m away when the transmitter is located directly above the target. We also compared the sensitivity of the method using either a horizontal loop transmitter or a vertical loop transmitter and found that when either transmitter is located directly above the mineralized zone, the vertical loop transmitter has sensitivity to the target at a farther distance than the horizontal loop transmitter in the broadside direction by a few tens of metres. Furthermore, the vertical loop transmitter is more effective at distinguishing the seafloor conductivity structure when the vertical separation between transmitter and receiver is large due to the bathymetry. As a horizontal transmitter is logistically easier to deploy, we conducted a first test of the method with a horizontal transmitter. Apparent conductivities are calculated from the electric field transients recorded at the remote receivers. The analysis indicates higher apparent seafloor conductivities when the transmitter is located near the mineralized zone. Forward modelling suggests that the best match to the apparent conductivity data is obtained when the mineralized zone is extended southward by 40 m beyond the zone of previous drilling. Our results demonstrate that the method adds value to the exploration and characterization of seafloor massive sulphide deposits.     

EQUIVALENCE IN ELECTROMAGNETIC (FREQUENCY) SOUNDING*

An analysis of the equivalence phenomenon, analogous to that encountered in resistivity sounding, has been made for electromagnetic (frequency) sounding with the following systems: horizontal coplanar coils, perpendicular coils, vertical coplanar coils, and vertical coaxial coils. Cases analyzed are three-layer H and K type resistivity distributions. The theoretical responses for the EM sounding systems have been computed by the digital linear filter method using short filters. An analysis has been made of the resolution by the four EM systems considered f the equivalence effect. It is concluded that from the equivalence point of view electromagnetic (frequency) sounding has relatively better resolution compared to resistivity sounding for the H type three-layer cases. For the K type three-layer cases electromagnetic (frequency) sounding provides a serious problem in resolution similar to that encountered in resistivity sounding. Empirical relationships have been established for the H and K type cases respectively in order to numerically quantify the equivalence involved in electromagnetic (frequency) sounding.     

Near surface geophysical surveys with a high frequency mutual impedance measuring system

Relationships for the mutual impedance of horizontal coplanar, vertical coplanar, perpendicular and vertical coaxial loop antenna arrays operating at a high frequency, located over a layered conducting medium, have been derived. The relationships take into account the occurrence of displacement currents in both the free space and the conducting medium. The relations can be used for calculating the earth parameters in geophysical prospecting. The use of high frequency antenna array makes it possible to determine distributions of apparent resistivity as well as apparent electrical permittivity. The potential application of the measurements of mutual impedance of loop antennas operating at a high frequency to the geophysical examinations is presented. The measuring system developed for this purpose is described. A simple method of interpreting the mutual impedance measurements to obtain the traces of apparent resistivity and apparent permittivity of the investigated earth is given.     

海底表面磁源瞬变响应建模及海水影响分析

根据电磁场理论,推导了磁偶源和接收点均位于海水中时层状海底模型的频域电磁场响应一般表达式,并通过此式,得到了海水为均匀半空间和有限海水深度两种情况下,垂直磁偶极装置、中心回线和重叠回线分别置于均匀半空间海底表面时的瞬变电磁响应（磁场和感应电压）表达式. 这些表达式将瞬变响应和海底的电导率等参数有机联系在一起,为海底瞬变电磁法的正演计算和反演解释提供了理论基础. 仿真计算表明,海水的存在不仅使得瞬变响应曲线形态发生变化,而且影响其对海底电导率的分辨能力.     

地面矩形大定源电磁法频率域三维非线性共轭梯度反演

本文实现了地面矩形大定源三维频率域反演.矩形大定源三维模型响应计算采用交错网格有限差分技术.正演的微分方程为异常电场满足的非齐次Helmholtz方程,方程右手边源项中的大定源产生的背景格林函数由虚界面法结合虚框法计算.频率域三维反演采用非线性共轭梯度反演技术.反演的数据类型为垂直磁场的频率域响应Hz的实部和虚部分量.数值结果表明,(1)三维模型正演模拟数值结果与前人一致,为三维反演奠定基础;(2)针对两个三维导电模型,分别进行了三维反演数值试算.反演结果可以清晰恢复出异常体的电阻率和位置信息,表明地面矩形大定源三维频率域非线性共轭梯度反演具有可行性.本文研究的意义在于,在电磁响应时频转换技术的基础上,如果将野外实测的瞬变电磁数据变换为对应的频率响应,则结合本文提出的三维反演技术,可以为矩形大定源瞬变电磁数据的三维解释提供一个新的思路.     

Influence of water mixing on the inhibitory effect of UV radiation on primary and bacterial production in Mediterranean coastal water

The scaling of the solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280–400 nm) effect on phyto- and bacterio-plankton at the ecosystem level is difficult since its estimate is often based on short-time incubation experiments performed at fixed depths, neglecting the previous days’ radiation history and the variable radiation caused by vertical mixing. To examine this issue, we measured primary (PP) and bacterial (BP) production in samples from coastal water in the Northwest Mediterranean Sea incubated at fixed depths or moving vertically within the water column (0–8 m) with a periodicity of 22 min, exposed to full sun, PAR or maintained in dark. Three experiments were carried out on consecutive days to measure day-to-day variations in planktonic response. In surface waters, PP was inhibited by ~32 to 42% by UVR, and BP was inhibited by ~50 to 70% by solar radiation (UVR + PAR). We observed a general decrease in the integrated inhibition of PP due to UVR for both fixed and moving incubations over the 3 days from ~27% of inhibition to non-significant inhibition. In contrast, large discrepancies were observed in the integrated inhibition of BP due to solar radiation (UVR + PAR) between fixed and moving incubations. Whereas both type of incubations gave similar estimation of solar radiation inhibition on day 1 (~25%), inhibition became much higher for fixed incubation compared to moving incubation on days 2 and 3. Differences in responses between days suggest that light history, spectral quality, photoadaptation or acclimation may be important factors in daily observed responses. Our results also underline, for the first time, the importance of the vertical mixing in the BP inhibition by solar radiation.     

A MODIFIED MODE OF OPERATION FOR THE TURAM ELECTROMAGNETIC EXPLORATION SYSTEM WITH BENEFITS FOR DEEP EXPLORATION*

A new mode of operation for the Turam electromagnetic exploration system is proposed in which the transmitter loop is placed across the expected trend of a conductor and the receiver is operated along lines parallel to one side of the transmitter. The concept appears to offer several benefits which include greatly extended traverse length, the use of large coil spacing, rejection of the effects of conductive environments, and consistency in the indication of target dip.     

Effects of metallic system components on marine electromagnetic loop data

Electromagnetic loop systems rely on the use of non-conductive materials near the sensor to minimize bias effects superimposed on measured data. For marine sensors, rigidity, compactness and ease of platform handling are essential. Thus, commonly a compromise between rigid, cost-effective and non-conductive materials (e.g. stainless steel versus fibreglass composites) needs to be found. For systems dedicated to controlled-source electromagnetic measurements, a spatial separation between critical system components and sensors may be feasible, whereas compact multi-sensor platforms, remotely operated vehicles and autonomous unmanned vehicles require the use of electrically conductive components near the sensor. While data analysis and geological interpretations benefit vastly from each added instrument and multidisciplinary approaches, this introduces a systematic and platform-immanent bias in the measured electromagnetic data. In this scope, we present two comparable case studies targeting loop-source electromagnetic applications in both time and frequency domains: the time-domain system trades the compact design for a clear separation of 15 m between an upper fibreglass frame, holding most critical titanium system components, and a lower frame with its coil and receivers. In case of the frequency-domain profiler, the compact and rigid design is achieved by a circular fibreglass platform, carrying the transmitting and receiving coils, as well as several titanium housings and instruments. In this study, we analyse and quantify the quasi-static influence of conductive objects on time- and frequency-domain coil systems by applying an analytically and experimentally verified 3D finite element model. Moreover, we present calibration and optimization procedures to minimize bias inherent in the measured data. The numerical experiments do not only show the significance of the bias on the inversion results, but also the efficiency of a system calibration against the analytically calculated response of a known environment. The remaining bias after calibration is a time/frequency-dependent function of seafloor conductivity, which doubles the commonly estimated noise floor from 1% to 2%, decreasing the sensitivity and resolution of the devices. By optimizing size and position of critical conductive system components (e.g. titanium housings) and/or modifying the transmitter/receiver geometry, we significantly reduce the effect of this residual bias on the inversion results as demonstrated by 3D modelling. These procedures motivate the opportunity to design dedicated, compact, low-bias platforms and provide a solution for autonomous and remotely steered designs by minimizing their effect on the sensitivity of the controlled-source electromagnetic sensor.     

Feasibility of central loop TEM method for prospecting multilayer water-filled goaf

With deep mining of coal mines, prospecting multilayer water-filled goaf has become a new content that results from geophysical exploration in coalfields. The central loop transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is favorable for prospecting conductive layers because of the coupling relationship between its field structure and formation. However, the shielding effect of conductive overburden would not only require a longer observation time when prospecting the same depth but also weaken the anomalous response of underlying layers. Through direct time domain numerical simulation and horizontal layered earth forward modeling, this paper estimates the length of observation time required to prospect the target, and the distinguishable criterion of multilayer water-filled goaf is presented with observation error according to the effect of noise on observation data. The observed emf curves from Dazigou Coal Mine, Shanxi Province can distinguish multilayer water-filled goaf. In quantitative inversion interpretation of observed curves, using electric logging data as initial parameters restrains the equivalence caused by coal formation thin layers. The deduced three-layer and two-layer water-filled goafs are confirmed by the drilling hole. The result suggests that when observation time is long enough and with the anomalous situation of underlying layers being greater than the observation error, the use of the central loop TEM method to prospect a multilayer water-filled goaf is feasible.     

同心补偿式直升机时间域航空电磁法吊舱校准装置研究

直升机间域航空电磁法(Helicopter-borne time-domain electromagnetic method,HTEM)的多次空中仪器校准可消除飞行过程中仪器系统受外界环境的时变影响.吊舱校准装置可解决地面环线方式无法实现的空中飞行过程中仪器校准问题.本文从研究同心补偿吊舱装置模型出发,提出了吊舱装置空...     

Numerical analysis of multicomponent responses of surface-hole transient electromagnetic method

We calculate the multicomponent responses of surface-hole transient electromagnetic method. The methods and models are unsuitable as geoelectric models of conductive surrounding rocks because they are based on regular local targets. We also propose a calculation and analysis scheme based on numerical simulations of the subsurface transient electromagnetic fields. In the modeling of the electromagnetic fields, the forward modeling simulations are performed by using the finite-difference time-domain method and the discrete image method, which combines the Gaver–Stehfest inverse Laplace transform with the Prony method to solve the initial electromagnetic fields. The precision in the iterative computations is ensured by using the transmission boundary conditions. For the response analysis, we customize geoelectric models consisting of near-borehole targets and conductive wall rocks and implement forward modeling simulations. The observed electric fields are converted into induced electromotive force responses using multicomponent observation devices. By comparing the transient electric fields and multicomponent responses under different conditions, we suggest that the multicomponent-induced electromotive force responses are related to the horizontal and vertical gradient variations of the transient electric field at different times. The characteristics of the response are determined by the varying the subsurface transient electromagnetic fields, i.e., diffusion, attenuation and distortion, under different conditions as well as the electromagnetic fields at the observation positions. The calculation and analysis scheme of the response consider the surrounding rocks and the anomalous field of the local targets. It therefore can account for the geological data better than conventional transient field response analysis of local targets.