Review of self-potential methods in hydrogeophysics

The self-potential (SP) method is a passive geophysical method based on the natural occurrence of electrical fields on the Earth's surface. Combined with other geophysical methods, SP surveys are especially useful for localizing and quantifying groundwater flows and pollutant plume spreading, and estimating pertinent hydraulic properties of aquifers (water table, hydraulic conductivity). Laboratory experiments have shown that the involved coupling coefficients mainly depend on the fluid chemistry, conductivity and pH, and on the soil or rock properties. The interpretation of SP observations can be done qualitatively, for instance, by correlation of SP gradients with water fluxes (through electrokinetics) or salt fluxes (through electro-diffusion). In recent years, the interpretation has been improved with the help of modelling or/and inversion of the Poisson equation and endeavours to estimate hydraulic parameters by means of the intensity of electric current sources caused by underground flows.     

岩溶塌陷自然电场及其应用

流经土洞或岩溶塌陷坑中的地下水破坏了土层的固-液界面离子双电层扩散区中正、负电荷的平衡,引起地下介质（土层）自然极化,形成自上而下的自然电场。土洞或岩溶塌陷在平面上产生自然电位似同心圆负心异常、在剖面上引起极小值异常;自然电位梯度在剖面上出现过零点异常,在平面上呈以零值线为对称轴的正负对称的似“蝴蝶状”异常。岩溶区自然电场法干扰因素主要有工业游散电流等人文干扰电磁场、地下金属管道（线） 自然极化电场、上升或下降泉自然电场、山地电场、炭质灰岩自然电场等。针对岩溶区自然电场法干扰因素特点,本文提出采用避让法、排除法、在线监测法进行消除,并将之应用于广西来宾市吉利村岩溶塌陷探测中。结果表明,自然电位剖面曲线在地面沉陷区中心附近出现极小值异常,自然电位梯度剖面曲线也在相同部位显示过零点异常。水文地质监测钻孔在相应的位置上分别揭露了塌陷堆积物、溶洞和断层破碎带,从而验证了上述自然电场法异常的属性。      

德尔尼钴铜矿床物探勘查方法优选

德尔尼钴铜矿床主要矿石为致密块状含铜黄铁矿,上世纪60年代通过在矿区和外围投入11∶0000面积性自电、磁法测网,圈定自电异常28处,其中确定为矿致异常的14处,自电方法在德尔尼铜钴矿勘探初期发挥了重要作用。但利用这种找矿模式,从上世纪70年代至今,矿区外围找矿尚无突破性进展,这就需要对勘查方法进行比较与优选。本文通过对前人在矿区进行的物探方法加以比较,设计地电模型,进行瞬变电磁方法模拟计算,分析用瞬变电磁法探测矿体的有效性并在已知矿区进行的瞬变电磁剖面试验中获得成功,试验方法效果好,可以用于进一步外围找矿。     

自然电场法与高密度电法联作在西江中下游岩溶区找水中的应用

基于溶洼区浅层岩溶地下水的渗流特性,研究富水岩溶地质结构在地下水渗流作用下引起的自然极化及由此形成的自然电场的分布特征,通过自然电场法与高密度电法联作,利用科研和中国地质调查局地质调查项目中探采结合井位的综合物探结果,探讨以自然电场法为主导、辅以高密度电法等综合物探方法,在西江中下游岩溶石山地区不同水文地质环境中寻找岩溶地下水的成功应用效果与失败的经验教训。研究结果表明,感应类电法（如瞬变电磁法、音频大地电磁测深法、地面核磁共振法、激发极化法、声频大地电场法、甚低频电磁法等）受电网、通信网络等人为电磁场干扰较严重;高密度电法抗人为电磁场干扰的能力较强,信噪比较高,但勘探深度相对较浅,且易受炭泥质灰岩、岩溶矿产等良导电岩矿体的干扰。自然电场法利用岩溶地下水运移引起的富水岩溶地质结构自然极化特征,自然电场异常与动态地下水的补给与运移状态关系较密切,自然电场法与基于探测目的体导电特性的高密度电法联作寻找溶洼区浅层地下水可起到方法互补、相互印证、提高探测分辨率与精度的作用。      

A comparative performance of least-square method and very fast simulated annealing global optimization method for interpretation of self-potential anomaly over 2-D inclined sheet type structure

Inversion of self-potential anomaly for 2-D inclined sheets of infinite horizontal extent has been studied. Least-square inversion and very fast simulated annealing global optimization has been used to model the five parameters of self potential anomaly. The method of least square and very fast simulated annealing global optimization method is compared and analyzed. Very fast simulated annealing can model the noisy and field data of self potential anomaly very precisely than linear inversion technique. However, time taken by very fast simulated annealing inversion is larger than linearized inversion. The comparative analysis has been done on synthetic data (noise free and noisy) and two field data from Bavarian woods anomaly, Germany and Surda anomaly, India to show the efficacy of both the methods. The estimated parameters were compared with those from previous studies using various global optimization algorithms, mainly neural network, genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization on the same field data sets. It can be concluded that the global optimization algorithms considered in this study were able to yield compatible solutions with those from least-square methods. The present global optimization method is in good agreement with the other global optimization methods in terms of results and computation time.     

可地浸层间氧化带砂岩型铀矿自然电场形成机理及自然电位异常模拟与应用

通过对可地浸砂岩型铀矿的地球化学特征及成矿物理化学条件分析,详细讨论了其自然电场的形成机理,建立了数学计算模型,并对常见形态矿体的自然电位异常进行了模拟计算,分析了曲线特征,讨论了自然电位异常地形校正方法,并给出了一种斜坡地形条件下的自然电位模拟曲线。最后,以一个实例说明该方法的有效性。     

Preferred orientation of antiphase boundaries in pigeonite as a cooling ratemeter

Antiphase domains (APD's) of pigeonite lamellae in natural and heated augite crystals from the Hakonetoge andesite have been examined by a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Antiphase boundaries (APB's) of the pigeonite lamellae in natural specimens have a sigmoidal shape cutting the c axis in (010) sections. APB's in specimens heated at temperatures above the high-low inversion and then quenched are nearly parallel to the c axis with almost straight boundaries. These observations indicate that the preferred orientation of APB's in (010) sections depends on cooling rate; at fast colling rates the APB's are nearly parallel to the c axis, whereas at slower cooling rates they are inclined to the c axis. The cooling rate of the natural augite specimen from Hakonetoge is estimated to be about 0.01 °C/h from the experimentally determined time-temperature-transformation (TTT) diagram for the APB orientations. APD sizes are large in specimens quenched from above the inversion temperature; they are at a minimum after cooling rates of around 1–0.1 °C/h, and then become larger with slower cooling rates.     

Integrated geophysical studies to elicit the subsurface structures associated with Uranium mineralization around South Purulia Shear Zone,India: A review

South Purulia Shear Zone in India is an important zone that hosts uranium mineralization. Since detailed geophysical studies have not been carried out in this region, an integrated geophysical study using self-potential, resistivity, very low frequency electromagnetic and radiometric methods was performed to identify the subsurface structures that could host the hydrothermally altered uranium deposits in the area. The study reveals the wide and large magnitude of negative self-potential anomaly across the South Purulia Shear Zone. The peak negative self-potential anomalies are correlated with the low gravity and low resistivity anomalies measured along various profiles. The low self-potential, gravity and low resistivity anomaly zones are also correlated with conducting zones inferred from very low frequency electromagnetic measurements. Interpretation of self-potential data reveals multiple thick sheet-type vertical and/or inclined structures which might be associated with uranium mineralization. Schlumberger resistivity sounding data reveals an increasing trend of apparent resistivity with current electrode separations/depth. Apparent conductance measured simultaneously with resistivity measurement reveals an increase in current flow of current as depth increases. This exhibits the presence of thin conducting layers at these depths, which is not reflected in resistivity sounding data due to suppression problem. Also this conducting layer is consistent in various soundings and is connected from Raghunathpur to the South Purulia Shear Zone. Correlation of very low frequency and self-potential data shows that the structures are comparable and a radiometric profile also advocate that the conducting structure is associated with radioactive minerals. These structures are likely to be mineralized zones as hydro-uranium anomaly has also been reported from various locations in the area. Moreover, drilling results at a specific mine near the study area also confirms the presence of uranium mineralization. The hydrothermal activity associated with uranium mineralization seems to be still active in the area. Such combined geophysical studies are essential to understand this highly complex shear zone for the economic exploitation of its natural resources.     

Processing high-frequency electromagnetic logs from conducting formations: linearized 2D forward and inverse solutions with regard to eddy currents

High-performance algorithms and software have been designed for fast 2D forward modeling and inversion of high-frequency electromagnetic logs to recover the patterns of electrical conductivity and relative permittivity (dielectric constant) of rocks. Forward modeling implies linear representation, with regard to eddy current, of attenuations and phase shifts of electromagnetic fields propagating in 2D conducting formations. In order to improve the modeling quality, the background model is chosen proceeding from the eddy current pattern in a heterogeneous subsurface. The inverse solution is obtained by pseudoinversion of the sensitivity matrix of relative amplitudes and phases. Joint 2D inversion of phase shifts and attenuations improves the reliability of the inferred spatial conductivity distribution and allows estimating permittivity. The reported numerical experiments on inversion of synthetic and field EM logs prove the possibility of estimating the permittivity of complex terrigenous and carbonate reservoirs with water- and oil-filled porosity.     

Detection and evaluation of horizontal fractures in earth dams using the self-potential method

The self-potential method can be applied to evaluate the degree of water seepage into earth or rockfill dams. Spatial distribution of measured self-potential data can indicate possible anomalous water flow. Phenomena, such as piping, can be modelled as cylindrical bodies. Internal erosion can develop structures, which can be represented by a sphere or point source. Differential settlement in the dam structure occasionally creates horizontal fractures, which require equivalent geometrical body formula. An equation, which allows the calculation of a self-potential profile over a horizontal contact, was developed. This equation can also be applied to the inspection of water flow into horizontal drainage filters. When inverse interpretation returns bodies of relatively small amplitudes, then their probability can be tested statistically. A test, based on cross-correlation between a modelled curve and field data, can be used to evaluate their existence at a given probability level. An acceptance criterion is computed, using the concept of likelihood coefficient. The equation was applied to two case histories. The first is an example of water flow evaluation into a horizontal drainage filter. Several anomalous bodies were interpreted from residual self-potential data, i.e. from the difference between the theoretical response of the filter and the measured self-potential values, then, most of the interpreted bodies were statistically tested. The second case deals with detection and evaluation of a horizontal fissure. The interpreted parameters of the detected body corresponded well to a horizontal fracture found when the water level in the reservoir was lowered.     

Comparative study of geophysical and soil–gas investigations at the Hartoušov (Czech Republic) natural CO2 degassing site

Our study at this natural analog site contributes to the evaluation of methods within a hierarchical monitoring concept suited for the control of CO₂ degassing. It supports the development of an effective monitoring concept for geological CO₂ storage sites—carbon capture and storage as one of the pillars of the European climate change efforts. This study presents results of comprehensive investigations along a 500-m long profile within the Hartou?ov (Czech Republic) natural CO₂ degassing site and gives structural information about the subsurface and interaction processes in relation to parameters measured. Measurements of CO₂ concentrations and investigation of the subsurface using electrical resistivity tomography and self-potential methods provide information about subsurface properties. For their successful application it is necessary to take seasonal variations (e.g., soil moisture, temperature, meteorological conditions) into consideration due to their influence on these parameters. Locations of high CO₂ concentration in shallow depths are related to positive self-potential anomalies, low soil moistures and high resistivity distributions, as well as high δ13C values and increased radon concentrations. CO₂ ascends from deep geological sources via preferential pathways and accumulates in coarser sediments. Repetition of measurements (which includes the effects of seasonal variations) revealed similar trends and allows us to identify a clear, prominent zone of anomalous values. Coarser unconsolidated sedimentary layers are beneficial for the accumulation of CO₂ gas. The distribution of such shallow geological structures needs to be considered as a significant environmental risk potential whenever sudden degassing of large gas volumes occurs.     

A generalized image and boundaries of the Bazhenov Formation: constraints from well log data for Salym-type sections (West Siberia)

A technique akin to Galton’s composite portraiture is suggested for creating a generalized image of a stratigraphic unit based on well log data from a group of well sections. The procedure begins with superimposing stratigraphically equivalent section points according to pairwise correlation models followed by weighted summation of similar logs. The superimposition highlights persistent common features of the sections, while their minor individual details become suppressed. A generalized model of the Bazhenov Formation in the Salym area has been constructed from gamma-ray, apparent resistivity, and self-potential logs. Radioactivity and resistivity anomalies, which are often used as constraints on the Bazhenov Formation boundaries, show a significant spatial discrepancy. According to the correlation, the formation volume in each well depends on the depth interval corresponding to the hypostratotype. The results were used to map the Bazhenov Formation thickness and its standard deviation, as well as average values of different logs.     

A new approach to interpret self-potential anomaly over a two-dimensional inclined sheet using complex gradient analysis

A new approach is developed to determine the model parameters of a two-dimensional inclined sheet from self-potential anomaly. In this method, the numerical horizontal self-potential gradient obtained from self-potential anomaly is convolved using Hilbert transform to obtain the vertical self-potential gradient. The complex gradient is the sum of horizontal and vertical gradient anomalies. The horizontal and vertical gradients are plotted in one graph to form the complex gradient graph. By defining few characteristic points and distances along the complex gradient profile, procedures are then formulated using the analytical functions of the complex gradients to obtain the model parameters of sheet-like structures. The validity of the new proposed method has been tested on synthetic data with and without random noise. The obtained parameters are in congruence with the model parameters when using noise-free synthetic data. After adding 10% random error in the synthetic data, the maximum error in model parameters is 11.8%. Moreover, the method have been applied to analyze and interpret the self-potential anomaly measured on a graphite ore body at southern Bavarian woods, Germany to prove its efficiency where an acceptable agreement has been noticed between the obtained results and the other published results.     

硫化氢、相态烃和自然电位法综合测量勘查油气田方法

经近几年试验,我们提出用土壤吸附硫化氢气体作指标,勘查油气田新方法.并将它和相态烃法、自然电位法相配合,在已知油气田开展了试验,取得令人十分满意的效果.油气藏中含有大量硫化氢气体及含硫有机化合物.油气垂直微渗漏到近地表时,硫化物气体也随伴而至.运移过程中,硫化氢气体及含硫化合物在细菌及氧气作用下会发生一系列复杂的化学变化,如生成硫酸盐等,但经已知油气田试验结果表明,在油气藏上方近地表土壤中仍保留有明显的硫化氢气体异常,而且异常形态有一定的模式,有环状、半环状、片部和带状等不同形态.异常均和下伏油气藏或断裂构造相吻合,表明硫化氢气体测量法是勘查油气田的有效方法.更引人注目的是,它和相态烃、自然电位异常吻合的很好,异常均出现在油藏上方,表明综合使用这三种方法将会取得更好的找油气效果.     

桂南陇瑞洼地浅层岩溶自然电场特征剖析

岩溶洼地地下水渗透流在一定的渗透压力作用下,通过洼地土层过滤后沿碳酸盐岩溶蚀裂隙网络或孔隙下渗补给岩溶管道或地下河等深层岩溶水,便会产生离子导电岩土层的自然极化现象和自然电场,这种自然电场的研究方法可用于洼地浅层岩溶水的探测。研究结果表明,陇瑞洼地浅层岩溶发育带产生的自然电场实测值的平面等值线在洼地中心部位上出现了场幅值-60～-80 mV、带宽约40 m的带状异常,异常带由北至南呈似“S”状分布;自然电位梯度实测值的平面等值线在岩溶发育带顶部在地面投影中心线附近出现由负值向正值过度的“零值”异常带,“零值”异常带平面分布位置的变化指示了洼地浅层岩溶发育的平面差异与变化。以第18测线为例,陇瑞洼地浅层岩溶自然电位在剖面上分布满足位函数分布特征,即自然电位在浅层岩溶带顶部（615/18测点附近）取得极小值,在极小值的两侧由于逐渐远离岩溶发育带自然电位幅值逐渐减弱,直至趋近于零;自然电场梯度在浅层岩溶带顶部（615/18测点）附近出现由负值向正值过度的“零点”异常,呈似中心对称曲线。水文地质监测钻孔在不同深度揭露了浅层溶洞、溶隙和断层破碎带,从而验证了自然电场法探测岩溶洼地浅层岩溶水资源的有效性。      

Resolution of multiple sheet-type structures in self-potential measurement

The resolution of self-potential anomalies due to closely spaced multiple sheet-like bodies by the potential difference and potential gradient is studied in this paper. Self-potential anomalies due to several synthetic models were inverted through a very fast simulated annealing (VFSA) global optimization. Increase in depth to the top, polarization constant and depth extent of the body decreases resolution at a particular target separation. It has been observed that depth to the top and separation between two targets play an important role in the resolution. Vertical sheets at equal depth can be resolved in the potential difference measurement only if they are separated by at least four times their depth, while they can be resolved in the gradient method, if they are separated by twice the depth. Resolution using potential difference becomes more difficult for dipping sheets, although the potential gradient method can resolve them efficiently. Efficacy of potential gradient data in the inversion is demonstrated in the study using synthetic data as well as field measurement from South Purulia Shear Zone related with uranium investigation.     

Detection and characterization of hydraulically active fractures in a carbonate aquifer: results from self-potential, temperature and fluid electrical conductivity logging in the Combioula hydrothermal system in the southwestern Swiss Alps

A geophysical and geochemical study has been conducted in a fractured carbonate aquifer located at Combioula in the southwestern Swiss Alps with the objective to detect and characterize hydraulically active fractures along a 260-m-deep borehole. Hydrochemical analyses, borehole diameter, temperature and fluid electrical conductivity logging data were integrated in order to relate electrokinetic self-potential signals to groundwater flow inside the fracture network. The results show a generally good, albeit locally variable correlation of variations of the self-potential signals with variations in temperature, fluid electrical conductivity and borehole diameter. Together with the hydrochemical evidence, which was found to be critical for the interpretation of the self-potential data, these measurements not only made it possible to detect the hydraulically active fractures but also to characterize them as zones of fluid gain or fluid loss. The results complement the available information from the corresponding litholog and illustrate the potential of electrokinetic self-potential signals in conjunction with temperature, fluid electrical conductivity and hydrochemical analyses for the characterization of fractured aquifers, and thus may offer a perspective for an effective quantitative characterization of this increasingly important class of aquifers and geothermal reservoirs.     

Laboratory-based geoelectric monitoring of water infiltration in consolidated ground

Infiltration usually plays a significant role in construction failures and transfer of contaminants. Therefore, it is very important to monitor underground water migration. In this study, a soil infiltration experiment was carried out using an indoor model test. The water infiltration characteristics were recorded and analyzed based on the response of the geoelectric field, including the primary field potential, self-potential, excitation current and apparent resistivity. The phreatic water surface and the infiltration velocity were determined. The inversion results were compared with direct observations. The results showed that the changes in the geoelectric field parameters explain the principles of groundwater flow. The infiltration velocity and the phreatic surface can be determined based on the primary field potential response and the excitation current. When the phreatic surface reached the location of the electrodes, the primary field potential and self-potential decreased rapidly whereas the excitation current increased rapidly. The height of the phreatic surface and the infiltration time exhibited a linear relationship for both the observation data and the calculations of the excitation current. The apparent resistivity described the infiltration status in the soil and tracked the phreatic surface accurately.     

陆相盆地主要沉积微相的测井特征

通过研究自然电位和视电阻率曲线的响应特征,将我国陆相盆地的3个陆相组：冲积相组、过渡相组、湖泊相组,进一步划分出27个沉积微相。并论述了它们的测井曲线特征,建立了测井沉积微相模式。它们具有在自然电位曲线和视电阻率曲线上的可识别特征。测井沉积微相模式为陆相盆地沉积学和定量测井沉积学的深入研究可提供一个参考模式。     

Review: Some low-frequency electrical methods for subsurface characterization and monitoring in hydrogeology

Low-frequency geoelectrical methods include mainly self-potential, resistivity, and induced polarization techniques, which have potential in many environmental and hydrogeological applications. They provide complementary information to each other and to in-situ measurements. The self-potential method is a passive measurement of the electrical response associated with the in-situ generation of electrical current due to the flow of pore water in porous media, a salinity gradient, and/or the concentration of redox-active species. Under some conditions, this method can be used to visualize groundwater flow, to determine permeability, and to detect preferential flow paths. Electrical resistivity is dependent on the water content, the temperature, the salinity of the pore water, and the clay content and mineralogy. Time-lapse resistivity can be used to assess the permeability and dispersivity distributions and to monitor contaminant plumes. Induced polarization characterizes the ability of rocks to reversibly store electrical energy. It can be used to image permeability and to monitor chemistry of the pore water–minerals interface. These geophysical methods, reviewed in this paper, should always be used in concert with additional in-situ measurements (e.g. in-situ pumping tests, chemical measurements of the pore water), for instance through joint inversion schemes, which is an area of fertile on-going research.