On the 3-D inversion of vertical electrical soundings: Application to the South Ismailia area—Cairo desert road, Cairo, Egypt

A code for 3-D resistivity modelling and inversion of vertical electrical soundings has been developed based on the finite-element technique and regularisation method. Synthetic data were used to test the effectiveness of the code and to examine the resolving capability of the Schlumberger array in investigating 3-D resistivity distributions. The code was applied to experimental data set constituted by 35 Schlumberger soundings collected near the Cairo city in order to study the subsurface resistivity distribution. The results have shown that valuable imaging of the subsurface resistivity distribution can be constructed even when the vertical electrical soundings are acquired in a sparse field data set.     

瞬变电磁法中两种关断电流对响应函数的影响及其应对策略

关断时间是影响瞬变电磁资料处理和解释质量的一个重要因素 ,也是衡量TEM仪器性能的一个关键参数。提出了一种直接数值校正方案 ,并通过对线性和指数关断电流的校正描述了该方案的实施过程。根据文中提出的方案 ,只要仪器记录了一次场的衰减曲线 ,就可以进行较为精确的校正 ,并不必要假设线性衰减或指数衰减 ,这一结论无论是对TEM的仪器设计还是数据处理都具有重要意义     

Ozone as a stratospheric Lagrangian tracer

Published papers reporting the use of ozone as a tracer are reviewed, and we conclude, as have the authors themselves, that the results are limited by lack of data. The results of a Meteorological Office experiment in which soundings were made at 12-hour intervals from four stations are also reported. In the light of these we are of the opinion that little further progress is likely unless campaigns involving sixty stations and soundings every 3 hours can be launched. This would be a formidable undertaking, and raises the question of whether it would be worth the effort and expense. A more modest approach might be to use aircraft and balloons in conjunction.     

DETERMINATION OF A SALT-WATER INTERFACE BY ELECTRIC RESISTIVITY DEPTH SOUNDINGS / Détermination d'un interface d'eau salée à l'aide des mesures verticales de résistivité électrique

Abstract

Vertical electrical resistivity soundings were measured near hydrological observation wells in order to ascertain whether geophysical means could be used to map saline water intrusion into a fresh water aquifer in Israel. The soundings showed that the low resistivity layers associated with the salt water are readily discernible. The technique was applied to the entire coastal belt and resulted in a detailed study of the saline water body and its extent. Measurements were repeated six years later and good agreement between the two sets of measurements was noted. This technique is therefore judged to be an accurate tool for the mapping of salt water intrusion in fresh-water aquifers.     

EXAMPLES OF RESOLUTION IMPROVEMENT IN GEOELECTRICAL SOUNDINGS APPLIED TO GROUNDWATER INVESTIGATIONS1

One simulation and two field examples from New Jersey illustrate resolution improvement in geoelectrical soundings applied to groundwater exploration. Layered-earth parameter resolution is derived from data obtained with the commonly used methods of resistivity, induced polarization (IP) and transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings. Resolution improvement is achieved by simultaneous inversion of two or more data sets and by constraining parameters of the inverse problem. A quantitative analysis showing the contribution of IP data to the resolution of geo-electric sections is presented. Simultaneous inversion of simple IP data with conventional resistivity and resistivity-TEM data sets resulted in improved parameter resolution. IP data improved resolution in three ways: (1) by decoupling correlated layered-earth parameters, (2) by adding information to a geological interpretation about a second physical property, namely chargeability, and (3) by increasing the electrical information available.     

Efficiency of joint use of MRS and VES to characterize coastal aquifer in Myanmar

The productivity and the water quality of coastal aquifers can be highly heterogeneous in a complex environment. The characterization of these aquifers can be improved by hydrogeological and complementary geophysical surveys. Such an integrated approach is developed in a non-consolidated coastal aquifer in Myanmar (previously named Burma).A preliminary hydrogeological survey is conducted to know better the targeted aquifers. Then, 25 sites are selected to characterize aquifers through borehole drillings and pumping tests implementation. In the same sites, magnetic resonance soundings (MRS) and vertical electrical soundings (VES) are carried out. Geophysical results are compared to hydrogeological data, and geophysical parameters are used to characterize aquifers using conversion equations. Finally, combining the analysis of technical and economical impacts of geophysics, a methodology is proposed to characterize non-consolidated coastal aquifers.Depth and thickness of saturated zone is determined by means of MRS in 68% of the sites (evaluated with 34 soundings). The average accuracy of confined storativity estimated with MRS is ± 6% (evaluated over 7 pumping tests) whereas the average accuracy of transmissivity estimation with MRS is ± 45% (evaluated using 15 pumping tests). To reduce uncertainty in VES interpretation, the aquifer geometry estimated with MRS is used as a fixed parameter in VES inversion. The accuracy of groundwater electrical conductivity evaluation from 15 VES is enough to estimate the risk of water salinity. In addition, the maximum depth of penetration of the MRS depends on the rocks' electrical resistivity and is between 20 and 80 m at the study area.     

城市活断层探测中电磁噪音和环境干扰对浅层电磁方法的影响

城市噪音主要指由于城市设施和人类活动 (如电网、管线、通讯设备、建筑物、交通等 )对电磁信号的干扰。克服城市噪音、提高信噪比是保证城市活断层的电磁探测能否成功的关键。因而 ,在福州市活断层的电磁试验探测中 ,噪音观测与分析被列为试验的一项重要内容 ① 。文中将主要讨论不同类型的噪音对高密度电法 (DC)和瞬变电磁法 (TEM)的影响 ,并提出一些实用的解决办法。试验表明 ,影响高密度电法观测质量的主要因素是地下噪音源 ,如地下管道、地下电缆等 ,地面以上噪音的影响相对较小。对于瞬变电磁法 ,不管地面以下还是地面以上的噪音源都将产生影响。但是 ,只要仪器的性能好 ,对不同噪音源采取相应的措施 ,可以获得满意的结果     

A MODIFIED GEOELECTRICAL PROCEDURE USING POLARDIPOLE ARRAYS—AN EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION TO DEEP EXPLORATION *

Dipole soundings are more sensitive to noise caused by lateral and superficial inhomogeneities than Schlumberger soundings. However, the former are preferable for deep explorations in view of the relatively short cables required. The simple solution of carrying out the field work by means of dipole spreads, and to transform the dipole resistivity diagrams into Schlumberger ones by means of proper formulae would be valid only for smooth and regular curves; but often, owing to the presence of lateral noises, the dipole data show a considerable scatter. For such cases a “continuous dipole sounding” method is proposed for which all successive dipoles are contiguous, so that all parts of the profiles are covered and interpolation is not necessary. Obviously the moving dipoles have lengths proportional to their distances, so that they appear equal in the usual bilogarithmic scale. It follows that only polar-dipole arrays may be used. The transition from a dipole to the corresponding Schlumberger apparent resistivity diagram requires an integration constant which is not unequivocally determined. Therefore, the solution is not unique, but all possible derived Schlumberger diagrams have a common part. Similarly, they have some common interpretative results, which may be referred to the original dipole diagram obtained in the field. A special measurement technique is required since the dipole-dipole voltages to be determined are noticeably smaller than the Schlumberger ones. This is true also because dipole soundings are used for great depths and for long distances between the two dipoles.     

MRS applicability for a study of glacial sedimentary aquifers in Central Jutland, Denmark

Intensive geophysical measurements are currently being carried out in Denmark to comply with the Danish Government's environmental plans of dense hydrogeological mapping to ensure high quality non-treated drinking water supply based solely on groundwater. A MRS-TDEM combined geophysical survey was conducted to measure the applicability and the contribution of MRS to running drilling programs.Despite complicated electromagnetic noise conditions, the MRS method proved to be applicable in the Danish context. An example of the practical application of MRS combined with TDEM in two selected areas of the former County of Vejle in Denmark, demonstrates the efficiency of the technique. The MRS results clearly suggest optimal locations for water supply boreholes within subsurface structures with homogeneous resistivity conditions mapped by TDEM. These results reveal the interest of using MRS as a new geophysical tool for the Danish water supply policy, which can provide a foundation for optimising drilling site locations within areas with resistivities in the aquifer range. However, more MRS soundings need to be carried out in order to improve MRS calibration in the Danish context, which will allow quantitative MRS characterization of aquifers.     

Structural mapping in basin-and-range-like geology by electromagnetic methods: a powerful aid to seismic

A case history is presented where electromagnetic (EM) methods were applied as a complement to seismic, for structural mapping in basin-and-range-like geology: 366 five-component magnetotelluric (MT) soundings were carried out together with 331 transient soundings (TDEM) along seismic lines. Due to high structural complexity, seismic shows a number of limitations. For the same reasons, MT is highly perturbed and three specific interpretation techniques were comprehensively applied: 1. a classical correction of static effect using TDEM sounding, to determine the high-frequency nondistorted apparent resistivities and thus the corrected tensor; 2. a so-called regional correction based upon the same concept as the static effect, to transform distorted resistivity curves due to the horst/graben situation into plausible 1D curves, through the use of nomograms built for 2D H-polarization situations; 3. a stripping technique which made it possible to map areas where a deep conductive Mesozoic shale was present below carbonates, at a depth of 3 km. After the best MT interpretation was obtained along each line, it was integrated with seismic and with the results from two boreholes. A crude empirical law relating resistivity and acoustic velocity was established and the MT horizons were plotted on the two-way traveltime seismic sections. The final integrated cross-sections obtained are undoubtedly of greater use to the explorationist than the initial seismic sections alone and two wells were accurately predicted.     

A GENERAL TECHNIQUE FOR THE DIRECT INTERPRETATION OF RESISTIVITY DATA OVER TWO-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURES*

The indirect method of interpreting resistivity data is capable only of limited success because of the difficulty of calculating type curves for complex structures. Consequently a need arises for a direct method of interpretation for complex generalized structures. Such a technique for the direct interpretation of apparent resistivity data, obtained by electrical soundings carried out over two-dimensional structures, has been developed from an examination of the Hankel transform of such data. The method is based on the observation that the asymptotic expansion of the Hankel transform is critically dependent upon the minimum distance between the measuring device and the surface of discontinuity in resistivity. The variation in the across strike direction may be mapped by a sequence of depth soundings made parallel to each other and separated in the across strike direction.     

MRS applicability for a study of glacial sedimentary aquifers in Central Jutland,Denmark

Intensive geophysical measurements are currently being carried out in Denmark to comply with the Danish Government's environmental plans of dense hydrogeological mapping to ensure high quality non-treated drinking water supply based solely on groundwater. A MRS-TDEM combined geophysical survey was conducted to measure the applicability and the contribution of MRS to running drilling programs.Despite complicated electromagnetic noise conditions, the MRS method proved to be applicable in the Danish context. An example of the practical application of MRS combined with TDEM in two selected areas of the former County of Vejle in Denmark, demonstrates the efficiency of the technique. The MRS results clearly suggest optimal locations for water supply boreholes within subsurface structures with homogeneous resistivity conditions mapped by TDEM. These results reveal the interest of using MRS as a new geophysical tool for the Danish water supply policy, which can provide a foundation for optimising drilling site locations within areas with resistivities in the aquifer range. However, more MRS soundings need to be carried out in order to improve MRS calibration in the Danish context, which will allow quantitative MRS characterization of aquifers.     

Dynasonde observations of electron concentration gradients above Tromsø

The Dynasonde is a digital ionosonde which measures the amplitude and phase of radio echoes reflected from the ionosphere. In addition to the frequency and virtual range of each echo, one parameter of particular interest is the direction of arrival which allows horizontal structures in the ionosphere to be studied. Under suitable ionospheric conditions, namely where structures or strong gradients are present in the electron concentration, echoes may be observed out to horizontal distances of several hundred kilometres. We describe an automated method for latitudinally mapping these gradients in F-region peak electron concentration using the Dynasonde. Good agreement is found when the results are compared with a co-located incoherent scatter radar lending credibility to observations of electron concentration gradients by a Dynasonde alone. This is significant for sites where no supporting instruments exist. Although Dynasondes account for only a small fraction of digital ionosondes in use today, the techniques described in this paper could be extended to other digital ionosondes with similar directional capabilities. The combination of routine soundings, and the worldwide distribution of such instruments, would provide a powerful means to monitor ionospheric structures on a regular basis.     

USE OF THE SEISMIC DYNAMIC DECONVOLUTION ALGORITHM IN DIRECT RESISTIVITY INTERPRETATION*

Seismic dynamic deconvolution is the mathematical basis on which a degree of unification in different prospecting methods is possible, relative to the parameter identification in horizontally stratified media. There is a basic structure which has some immediate applications to the inversion of resistivity data and possibly to other problems. For resistivity soundings there exists a key equation which is parallel to the energy conservation law in the theory of synthetic seismograms.     

NUMERICAL INTERPRETATION OF RESISTIVITY SOUNDINGS OVER HORIZONTAL BEDS*

The digital computer technique described for interpreting resistivity soundings over a horizontally stratified earth requires two steps. First, the kernel function is evaluated numerically from the inverse Hankel transform of the observed apparent resistivity curve. Special attention is given to the inversion of resistivity data recorded over a section with a resistant basement. The second step consists in the least-squares estimation of layer resistivities and thicknesses from the kernel function. For the case of S or T-equivalent beds only one layer-parameter can be obtained, either the longitudinal conductance, or the transverse resistance respectively. Two examples given in the paper show that a wide tolerance is permitted for Choosing the starting values of the layering parameters in the successive approximation procedure. Another important feature for practical applications is good convergence of the iterations. The method is probably best suited for interpreting profiles of electrical soundings with the purpose of mapping approximately horizontal interfaces at depth.     

APPLICATION OF THE MULTIFREQUENCY HORIZONTAL-LOOP EM METHOD IN OVERBURDEN INVESTIGATIONS1

In recent years, geophysical methods (shallow seismic, electromagnetic, resistivity, ground penetrating radar) have been increasingly applied to overburden investigations. Their effectiveness has been found to depend significantly on local geological conditions. Compared with advanced seismic techniques, EM methods are faster and hence more cost-effective, but they have not been considered sufficiently accurate. Analysis is carried out of data obtained with the multifrequency horizontal-loop method (HLEM) in northeastern Ontario, where the overburden consists of Quaternary glacial and glaciolacustrine sediments. Surveying along 1-6 km long profiles permitted recognition of bedrock inhomogeneities and selection of sites suitable for HLEM data interpretation using the layered model. Phasor diagrams and computer inversion based on the ridge regression technique were used to interpret HLEM soundings obtained at eight frequencies. Interpreted layer resistivities and thicknesses were correlated with the results of Rotasonic drilling at 70 sites. Relatively accurate estimates of overburden thickness (within 10%) could be obtained in about 80% of the cases. Nine examples of HLEM soundings are given and discussed: three each of one-, two- and three-layer situations. An appropriate interpretation model cannot be selected simply by minimizing the rms error or by analysing the parameter resolution matrix. Frequently, the most effective way of evaluating a solution is to consider whether resistivity values determined by inversion fit any of the ranges determined by statistical analyses of sediment resistivities. A previously published study of electrical properties of Quaternary sediments indicated that resistivities of clay, till and sand are stable within a fairly large area, such as the one under investigation. While the application of HLEM methods to mapping of Quaternary sediments can be considered a success, interpretation of EM data in regions covered by glacial sediments is more difficult than in weathered terrains, where near-surface layering is more predictable. The problem of equivalence causes non-uniqueness in interpretation. Thickness equivalence, which results in poor resistivity estimates, was found to affect areas convered by sand and till. Conductance equivalence caused poor resolution of thickness and resistivity for thin clay layers (less than 10 m).     

基于信号估计的高分辨率叠加速度分析

如何得到高分辨率的叠加速度谱是高分辨率地震资料处理的关键.本文在分析地震共中心点(CDP)道集的振幅随偏移距变化(AVO)特性的基础上,提出一种信号模型来逼近CDP道集,然后利用优化技术估计信号,并采用信号估计误差实现信号检测,从而提出一种新的基于信号检测和估计的高分辨率叠加速度谱分析方法.文中的方法充分利用地震信号波形中所包含的速度信息.     

NUMERICAL MODELLING OF STANDARD AND CONTINUOUS VERTICAL ELECTRICAL SOUNDINGS1

Analytical solutions of vertical electrical soundings (VES) have mostly been applied to groundwater exploration and monitoring groundwater quality on terrains of fairly simple geology and geomorphology on which the electrode arrays are symmetrical (e.g. Schlumberger or Wenner configurations). The sounding interpretation assumes flat topography and horizontally stratified layers. Any deviations from these simple situations may be impossible to interpret analytically. The recently developed GEA-58 geoelectrical instrument can make continuous soundings along a profile with any colinear electrode configuration. This paper describes the use of finite-difference and finite-element methods to model complex earth resistivity distributions in 2D, in order to calculate apparent resistivity responses to any colinear current electrode distribution in terrains in which the earth resistivities do not vary along the strike. The numerical model results for simple situations are compared with the analytical solutions. In addition, a pseudo-depth section of apparent resistivities measured in the field with the GEA-58 is compared with the numerical solution of a real complex resistivity distribution along a cross-section. The model results show excellent agreement with the corresponding analytical and experimental data.     

GEOELECTRICAL MODEL CALCULATIONS FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL RESISTIVITY DISTRIBUTIONS*

For the calculation of geoelectrical model curves for a two-dimensional resistivity distribution, the potential equation is transformed by means of a Fourier cosine transform into a two-dimensional Helmholtz equation containing the separation parameter λ. The numerical solution of this equation for different values of λ for an irregular grid is obtained using the method of finite differences combined with the method of overrelaxation. The method by which derivatives are replaced by finite differences turned out to be very important, especially for high resistivity contrasts. After testing several methods designed to deal with any type of resistivity distribution, a method of discretization similar to that used by Brewitt—Taylor and Weaver (1976) for magnetotelluric modeling for H polarization was found the best. Examples are given of model curves for Schlumberger soundings over a vertical fault covered by overburden. The incorrect use of horizontal-layer models leads to erroneous interpretations that are more complex than the real subsurface situations.