Characterization of an unstable rock mass based on borehole logs and diverse borehole radar data

Unstable rocky slopes are major hazards to the growing number of people that live and travel though mountainous regions. To construct effective barriers to falling rock, it is necessary to know the positions, dimensions and shapes of structures along which failure may occur. To investigate an unstable mountain slope distinguished by numerous open fracture zones, we have taken advantage of three moderately deep (51.0–120.8 m) boreholes to acquire geophysical logs and record single-hole radar, vertical radar profiling (VRP) and crosshole radar data. We observed spallation zones, displacements and borehole radar velocity and amplitude anomalies at 16 of the 46 discontinuities identified in the borehole optical televiewer images. The results of the VRP and crosshole experiments were disappointing at our study site; the source of only one VRP reflection was determined and the crosshole velocity and amplitude tomograms were remarkably featureless. In contrast, much useful structural information was provided by the single-hole radar experiments. Radar reflections were recorded from many surface and borehole fracture zones, demonstrating that the strong electrical property contrasts of these features extended some distance into the adjacent rock mass. The single-hole radar data suggested possible connections between 6 surface and 4 borehole fractures and led to the discovery of 5 additional near-surface fracture zones. Of particular importance, they supplied key details on the subsurface geometries and minimum subsurface lengths of 8 of the 10 previously known surface fracture zones and all of the newly discovered ones. The vast majority of surface fracture zones extended at least 40–60 m into the subsurface, demonstrating that their depth and surface dimensions are comparable.     

RADAR DETECTION OF BOREHOLES IN ADVANCE OF MINING*

Boreholes present a potential hazard to mining in rock salt mines. The only rock salt mine in England was almost lost when they mined into an unknown borehole open to an aquifer. Rock salt is a good transmitter of VHF radar waves, so a good method of detecting boreholes is by using radar probing. This paper investigates theoretically the detection of a borehole in advance of mining using two different radar systems, Bravo II and Charlie II. Bravo II has a peak power of 20 kW at 230 MHz and Charlie II has 3 W at 440 MHz. The borehole detectability depends critically on the radar wave attenuation in salt, which is characterized by its loss tangent, tan δ. The backscattering cross section σ of the borehole is also important. These parameters are related in the radar signal-to-noise equation which determines the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) for a given range in salt to the borehole. Theoretically, in salt with a tan δ of 10^-3, Charlie II can detect (S/N= 3 dB) a 12.7 cm borehole 225 m in advance of mining while Bravo II, using only 100 W, can detect the same borehole 680 m ahead. These values are with the antenna E field parallel to the axis of the borehole. Theory shows this antenna orientation to be optimum for maximum detection probability. For salt with a tan δ of 2 × 10^-5, the smallest value measured for salt, Bravo II can detect the borehole up to 15.3 km using maximum power of 20 kW.     

Two-Dimensional Magnetotelluric Modelling of Ore Deposits: Improvements in Model Constraints by Inclusion of Borehole Measurements

A combination of magnetotelluric (MT) measurements on the surface and in boreholes (without metal casing) can be expected to enhance resolution and reduce the ambiguity in models of electrical resistivity derived from MT surface measurements alone. In order to quantify potential improvement in inversion models and to aid design of electromagnetic (EM) borehole sensors, we considered two synthetic 2D models containing ore bodies down to 3000 m depth (the first with two dipping conductors in resistive crystalline host rock and the second with three mineralisation zones in a sedimentary succession exhibiting only moderate resistivity contrasts). We computed 2D inversion models from the forward responses based on combinations of surface impedance measurements and borehole measurements such as (1) skin-effect transfer functions relating horizontal magnetic fields at depth to those on the surface, (2) vertical magnetic transfer functions relating vertical magnetic fields at depth to horizontal magnetic fields on the surface and (3) vertical electric transfer functions relating vertical electric fields at depth to horizontal magnetic fields on the surface. Whereas skin-effect transfer functions are sensitive to the resistivity of the background medium and 2D anomalies, the vertical magnetic and electric field transfer functions have the disadvantage that they are comparatively insensitive to the resistivity of the layered background medium. This insensitivity introduces convergence problems in the inversion of data from structures with strong 2D resistivity contrasts. Hence, we adjusted the inversion approach to a three-step procedure, where (1) an initial inversion model is computed from surface impedance measurements, (2) this inversion model from surface impedances is used as the initial model for a joint inversion of surface impedances and skin-effect transfer functions and (3) the joint inversion model derived from the surface impedances and skin-effect transfer functions is used as the initial model for the inversion of the surface impedances, skin-effect transfer functions and vertical magnetic and electric transfer functions. For both synthetic examples, the inversion models resulting from surface and borehole measurements have higher similarity to the true models than models computed exclusively from surface measurements. However, the most prominent improvements were obtained for the first example, in which a deep small-sized ore body is more easily distinguished from a shallow main ore body penetrated by a borehole and the extent of the shadow zone (a conductive artefact) underneath the main conductor is strongly reduced. Formal model error and resolution analysis demonstrated that predominantly the skin-effect transfer functions improve model resolution at depth below the sensors and at distance of \(\sim \) 300–1000 m laterally off a borehole, whereas the vertical electric and magnetic transfer functions improve resolution along the borehole and in its immediate vicinity. Furthermore, we studied the signal levels at depth and provided specifications of borehole magnetic and electric field sensors to be developed in a future project. Our results suggest that three-component SQUID and fluxgate magnetometers should be developed to facilitate borehole MT measurements at signal frequencies above and below 1 Hz, respectively.     

3D joint inversion of Gradient and Mise-à-la-Masse borehole IP/Resistivity data and its application to magmatic sulfide mineral deposit exploration

Gradient and Mise-à-la-Masse IP/Resistivity surveys were conducted on a group of 19 boreholes in Eagle’s Nest, Eagle One magmatic sulfide deposit in northern Ontario, Canada. The surveys were conducted as a follow-up to the many drilled boreholes, some of which missed the target. The surveys were intended to map the distribution of the ore mineralization, outline the deposit hosted by mafic and ultramafic rocks and then guide the drilling of new boreholes. Joint Gradient and Mise-à-la-Masse data inversion produced 3D chargeability and conductivity models. The inverted 3D models in turn help delineate the outline of the mineralized zone, and determine the shape, size, strength and economic viability of the deposit. The Gradient array determined the direction of the mineralization with respect to the boreholes, and the Mise-à-la-Masse array examined the highly conductive subsurface bodies and their surroundings. The mapped ore zone shows close similarity to the 0.5 Cu% and 1.05 Ni% iso-surfaces that are produced from core assay result confirming the reliability of the results obtained in this study.     

中国大陆科学钻探靶区深部温度预测

依据中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)两口先导孔中地热测量和岩石样品热物性参数,对5000m深钻的可能钻遇温度进行了预测.先导孔中地温梯度介于1-26℃/km;岩石热导率变化为2.64-8.81W/(m@K),平均(3.4±1.26)W/(m@K);实测热流值为76-80mW/m2;30块岩石样品放射性生热率变化为(0.0-2.17)μW/m3,450m深度以上层平均(0.76±0.5)μW/m3,以下层段平均(0.48±0.2)μW/m3,生热率随深度递减,但变化趋势难以明确判定.分别对热流和热导率取上、下限,采用不同的生热率随深度的分布函数,区分考虑或不考虑热导率的温度相关性,分别计算出5000m深度内可能的温度分布剖面.计算结果表明,超深井于5000m垂直深度上的温度将达到110-140℃,2000m深度的探井钻遇温度将介于54-64℃.此外,考虑热导率的温度效应后预测的温度一般高于未考虑热导率温度效应5-8℃.     

Delineation of Ground Water Flow in Fractured Rock in the Southwestern Part of Manhattan, New York, Through Use of Advanced Borehole Geophysical Methods

Advanced borehole-geophysical methods were used to assess the geohydrology of fractured crystalline bedrock at five test boreholes in southwestern Manhattan Island, New York, in preparation for construction of a third water tunnel for New York City. The boreholes penetrated gneiss and other crystalline bedrock that has an overall southwest to northwest dipping foliation with a 60° dip. Most of the fractures encountered are either nearly horizontal or have moderate northwest dip azimuths. Fracture indexes range from 0.25 to 0.44 fracture per foot (0.3 m) of borehole.
Electromagnetic (EM) and heat-pulse flowmeter logs obtained under ambient and pumping conditions, together with other geophysical logs, indicate transmissive fracture zones in each borehole. Pumping tests of each borehole indicated transmissivity ranges from <2 to 360 ft²/day (0.2 to 33 m²/day). Ground water appears to flow within an interconnected fracture network toward the south and west within the study area. No correlation was indicated between the fracture index and the total borehole transmissivity.     

Evaluating the Use of In‐Well Heat Tracer Tests to Measure Borehole Flow Rates

Recent research has demonstrated the use of in‐well heat tracer tests monitored by a fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system to characterize borehole flow conditions in open bedrock boreholes. However, the accuracy of borehole flow rates determined from in‐well heat tracer tests has not been evaluated. The purpose of the research presented here is to determine whether borehole flow rates obtained using DTS‐monitored in‐well heat tracer tests are reasonable, and to evaluate the range of flow rates measureable with this method. To accomplish this, borehole flow rates measured using in‐well heat tracer tests are compared to borehole flow rates measured in the same boreholes using an impeller or heat pulse flowmeter. A comparison of flow rates measured using in‐well heat tracer tests to flow rates measured with an impeller flowmeter under the same conditions showed good agreement. A comparison of in‐well heat tracer test flow rate measurements to previously‐collected heat pulse flowmeter measurements indicates that the heat tracer test results produced borehole flow rates and flow profiles similar to those measured with the heat pulse flowmeter. The results of this study indicate that borehole flow rates determined from DTS‐monitored in‐well heat tracer tests are reasonable estimates of actual borehole flow rates. In addition, the range of borehole flow rates measurable by in‐well heat tracer tests spans from less than 10^?1 m/min to approximately 10¹ m/min, overlapping the ranges typically measurable with an impeller flowmeter or a heat pulse flowmeter, making in‐well heat tracer testing a versatile borehole flow logging tool.     

利用钻孔雷达探测地下含水裂缝

钻孔雷达是地质雷达的一种特殊模式.和通常的地质雷达比起来,它有好几个显著的特点.比如,利用钻孔接近地下的某个区域,天线可以相对接近所要测量的地质异常体或目标,从而导致在较深的范围对目标的精确测量.实验场地位于北京西部的一个石灰岩的小山上.该处有一组钻孔,并被大量的裂缝所切割.在这些钻孔中,我们进行了单孔反射测量和跨孔测量.测量的数据经过处理和解释表明,在该场地雷达的径向探测范围可达30米,地下裂缝的分布可以形成清晰的图像.我们可以看到很多裂缝,它们距钻孔的距离及倾角都可以确定下来.在有些情况下,确定裂缝分布的方位是可能的.     

Interactive 3D forward modeling of total field surface and three-component borehole magnetic data for the Daye iron-ore deposit (Central China)

The ground magnetic response of deep ore bodies in the Daye iron-ore deposit is relatively weak, and sometimes concealed by the strong magnetic background of shallower sources. Apart from the low-quality ground magnetic data, another critical problem for reconstructing the deep skarn-type ore bodies is developing a versatile inversion scheme that can simultaneously resolve 3D sources with arbitrary shapes. In this case, we resort to interactive 3D forward modeling solution with the joint use of two data sets-total field surface and three-component borehole magnetic data. Joint inversion of the two data sets is expected to help resolve the ambiguity associated with either data set and greatly reduces the nonuniqueness of the magnetic inversion. Such nonuniqueness is especially severe when a 3-D distribution of magnetic susceptibility, instead of a simple body, is sought from the inversion.In this paper, we calculate the magnetic field on the surface and in the borehole caused by 3D arbitrarily-shaped bodies with the triple integral method. The complex 3D magnetic sources having arbitrary shapes are constructed with cross-sections, termination points and facets in our visualization technology. We specify, interactively and in a user-friendly environment, the outline of the sources in terms of geometric elements and their magnetic parameters. The method automatically fits the observations within a prescribed precision. If dissatisfied, the user can redefine the model parameters and proceed to a new inversion. The method's ability to interpret a complicated 3D geologic environment is demonstrated on synthetic models and real data profiles in the Daye iron-ore deposit in central China. The interactive forward modeling results in all tests demonstrate a good correlation of estimated magnetic sources with corresponding known geologic features.     

Tidal and non-tidal signals in groundwater boreholes in the KTB area,Germany

Tides and barometric pressure variations cause pore pressure changes in the solid earth. In boreholes which are hydraulically connected to confined aquifers these pore pressure changes can be observed as water level variations. In case of confined aquifers boreholes can be regarded as volumetric strainmeters. From June 2004 until May 2005 a large scale injection experiment was realised in the pilot borehole (4000 m) at the German Continental Deep Drilling (KTB) site in Bavaria. During this test the injection induced deformation was observed by a tiltmeter array around KTB consisting of five tiltmeter stations at horizontal distances from 1.6 to 3 km from the injection borehole. At each station the local groundwater level was observed in depths between 30 and 50 m. The pore pressure was recorded in the boreholes. The time series were checked for tidal signals and injection influence. The injection was not verified presumably due to the fact that the penetration of the injected water was controlled by local geology and tectonic faults zones. Although the boreholes extending only to shallow depth tidal signals are clearly observable in at least two of five stations. On December the 26th 2004 the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake occurred which is clearly detectable in the pore pressure variations at all five stations.     

Calculation of elastic properties in lower part of the Kola borehole from bulk chemical compositions of core samples

In-situ elastic properties in deep boreholes are controlled by several factors, mainly by lithology, petrofabric, fluid-filled cracks and pores. In order to separate the effects of different factors it is useful to extract lithology-controlled part from observedin-situ velocities. For that purpose we calculated mineralogical composition and isotropic crack-free elastic properties in the lower part of the Kola borehole from bulk chemical compositions of core samples. We use a new technique of petrophysical modeling based on thermodynamic approach. The reasonable accuracy of the modeling is confirmed by comparison with the observations of mineralogical composition and laboratory measurements of density and elastic wave velocities in upper crustal crystalline rocks at high confining pressure. Calculations were carried out for 896 core samples from the depth segment of 6840–10535m. Using these results we estimate density and crack-free isotropic elastic properties of 554 lithology-defined layers composing this depth segment. Average synthetic P- wave velocity appears to be 2.7% higher than the velocity from Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP), and 5% higher than sonic log velocity. Average synthetic S-wave velocity is 1.4 % higher than that from VSP. These differences can be explained by superposition of effects of fabric-related anisotropy, cracks aligned parallel to the foliation plain, and randomly oriented cracks, with the effect of cracks being the predominant control. Low sonic log velocities are likely caused by drilling-induced cracking (hydrofractures) in the borehole walls. The calculated synthetic density and velocity cross-sections can be used for much more detailed interpretations, for which, however, new, more detailed and reliable seismic data are required.     

Reliable Monitoring of the Transition Zone Between Fresh and Saline Waters in Coastal Aquifers

This study deals with the reliability of monitoring the transition zone between fresh and saline waters in coastal aquifers, considering the effect of tides in long‐perforated boreholes. Electric conductivity (EC) fluctuations in the coastal aquifer of Israel, as measured in long‐perforated borehole, were found to have the same periodicities as the sea tide, though some orders of magnitude larger than sea‐level or groundwater level fluctuations. Direct measurements in the aquifer through buried EC sensors demonstrate that EC measurements within the long‐perforated boreholes might be distorted due to vertical flow in the boreholes, whereas actual fluctuations of the transition zone within the aquifer are some orders of magnitude smaller. Considering these field data, we suggest that monitoring of the transition zone between fresh and saline water adjacent to the sea through long‐perforated boreholes is unreliable. EC fluctuations in short‐perforated boreholes (1 m perforation at the upper part of the transition zone) were somewhat larger than in the aquifer, but much smaller than those in the long‐perforated borehole. The short‐perforation diminishes the vertical flow and the distortion and therefore is more reliable for monitoring the transition zone in the shoreline vicinity.     

Tube wave modeling by the finite-difference method with varying grid spacing

A finite-difference approach of aP-SV modeling scheme is applied to compute seismic wave propagation in heterogeneous isotropic media, including fluid-filled boreholes. The discrete formulation of the equation of motion requires the definition of the material parameters at the grid points of the numerical mesh. The grid spacing is chosen as coarse as possible with respect to the accurate representation of the shortest wavelength. If we assume frequencies lower than 250 Hz then the grid spacing is usually chosen in the range of a few meters. One encounters difficulties because of the large-scale difference between the grid spacing and the size of the borehole, usually several centimeters.These difficulties can be overcome by a grid refinement technique. This technique provides the construction of grids with varying grid spacing. The grid spacing in the vicinity of the borehole is chosen such that the borehole is properly represented. An example demonstrates the accuracy of this technique by comparisons with other methods. Unlike many analytical methods, the FD method can handle complex subsurface geometries. Further numerical examples of walk-awayVSP configurations show tube wave propagation within fluid-filled boreholes of realistic diameters.     

新疆乌鲁木齐地区vS30经验估计研究

从新疆乌鲁木齐市2004—2015年得到的841个钻孔中选择深度达30 m以下且钻孔资料记录完整的有效钻孔123个,通过计算5~30 m范围内不同深度的等效剪切波速,分别利用线性拟合、二次拟合和三次拟合对各深度v_S（d）及其v_S30进行拟合。通过对比发现,三个方程的拟合误差都随深度的增加而减少,且三次拟合方程的误差始终小于同深度的线性拟合和二次拟合方程,因此推荐使用三次拟合方程来估计新疆乌鲁木齐市钻孔的v_S30值。同时将此结果和Boore的结果进行比较后发现,不同深度处的等效剪切波速v_S（d）和v_S30具有地域差异性;Boore得到的结果在钻孔深度小于20 m时明显高估v_S30值,拟合曲线偏离实际数据点较远,所以本文拟合结果更适用于新疆乌鲁木齐市。综合比较可知,三次拟合得到的研究结果可以为新疆乌鲁木齐市钻孔深度不足30 m的地区求解v_S30值提供参考。最后,利用新疆克拉玛依市2004—2015年钻孔资料检验三个拟合公式对克拉玛依市的适用性,发现深度越接近30 m,误差越小;线性模型和二次模型相对来说比较可靠,平均误差接近于0,并且对深度大于10 m的钻孔有高估现象;三次模型相对来说误差比较大,并且几乎在所有深度都有低估现象。     

井下综合观测技术发展现状

21世纪以来,井下观测以日、美等国为首迅速进入“深钻井,多分量,宽频带”的发展时期,我国也紧随其后开始了井下综合观测技术的研究.本文介绍了10年来井下综合观测技术在世界各国大陆、大洋科学钻探工程中的应用,展示了各国井下综合观测技术上的成果,并分析比较了各种技术的特点,最后对深井高温高压环境、多测项集成技术和井下安装检测工艺等关键问题进行了分析和总结.在我国,井下综合观测仍属于技术创新项目,虽然第一批井下综合观测系统已成功研制出来,并在500m以内的钻孔中进行了小规模的实验,但成功经验较少,与技术领先的发达国家相比仍有不小的差距.     

Estimation of the 3D correlation structure of an alluvial aquifer from surface-based multi-frequency ground-penetrating radar reflection data

Knowledge about the stochastic nature of heterogeneity in subsurface hydraulic properties is critical for aquifer characterization and the corresponding prediction of groundwater flow and contaminant transport. Whereas the vertical correlation structure of the heterogeneity is often well constrained by borehole information, the lateral correlation structure is generally unknown because the spacing between boreholes is too large to allow for its meaningful inference. There is, however, evidence to suggest that information on the lateral correlation structure may be extracted from the correlation statistics of the subsurface reflectivity structure imaged by surface-based ground-penetrating radar measurements. To date, case studies involving this approach have been limited to 2D profiles acquired at a single antenna centre frequency in areas with limited complementary information. As a result, the practical reliability of this methodology has been difficult to assess. Here, we extend previous work to 3D and consider reflection ground-penetrating radar data acquired using two antenna centre frequencies at the extensively explored and well-constrained Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site. We find that the results obtained using the two ground-penetrating radar frequencies are consistent with each other, as well as with information from a number of other studies at the Boise Hydrogeophysical Research Site. In addition, contrary to previous 2D work, our results indicate that the surface-based reflection ground-penetrating radar data are not only sensitive to the aspect ratio of the underlying heterogeneity, but also, albeit to a lesser extent, to the so-called Hurst number, which is a key parameter characterizing the local variability of the fine-scale structure.     

干涉雷达在获取地震同震位移场中的应用

给出了干涉雷达位相构成的表达式,其次对干涉雷达的数据处理方法进行了比较分析并且对一些数据处理应注意的问题进行了阐述;最后以1997年11月8日西藏玛尼发生的7. 5级地震前后的ERS-1/2干涉雷达数据为基础,介绍了干涉雷达在获取西藏玛尼地震同震位移场中的应用。     

Estimation of coseismic deformation, poroelasticity, and fracturing of rocks from the data on water level in a borehole

Variations in the water level in boreholes emerge in response to tidal, baric, and tectonic forcing. We analyze the data on atmospheric pressure and water level recorded in the boreholes located in the mid-latitude Eurasia (45°?C55°N) from Western Europe (Belgium, Uccle), Siberia (coastal area of Lake Baikal, Talaya River) to Far Eastern Russia (the Bychikha borehole near Khabarovsk and the boreholes on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Kurils). The response of the water level in a borehole to periodic tidal and baric impacts is investigated. In this case, water level variations reflect areal (lateral) and vertical deformations, which allows estimating the elastic moduli and porosity of the confined aquifer in a static model. Measurements in the boreholes drilled in the fractured solid rock enable determining the geometric parameters of the fractures. The possibility to apply the method for evaluating tectonic deformations is discussed. Application of tidal coefficients of boreholes for determining the coseismic deformation is demonstrated by the example of the Kultuk earthquake (Lake Baikal, August 27, 2008, M = 6.3).     

Precision estimation and geomorphological analysis based on the DEM generated by InSAR: Taking Damxung-Yangbajain area as an example

Digital elevation model (DEM) can be generated by interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). In this paper, the interferometric processing and analyses are carried out for Damxung-Yangbajain area in Tibet, using a pair of Europe remote-sensing satellite (ERS)-1/2 tandem SAR images acquired on 6 and 7 April 1996. A portion of the In- SAR-derived DEM is selected and compared with the 1:50 000 DEM to determine the precision of the InSAR-derived DEM. The comparison indicates that the root mean squared er...     

Long-term underground temperature measurements at Syowa Station, East Antarctica

Underground temperature measurements in two shallow boreholes have been carried out by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition at Syowa Station, East Antarctica from April, 1981 to January, 1985. Two quartz thermometers were installed in the first borehole at depths of 2 and 5 m and three were in the second one at depths of 1, 4 and 6.8 m. The mean underground temperatures in the first borehole were −8.181 and −8.843°C at depths of 2 and 5 m, and in the second one −8.242 and −8.220°C at depths of 4 and 6.8 m. As the mean air temperature at Syowa Station was −10.8°C, the underground temperature in the 2 −6.8 m depth range is about two degrees higher than the air temperature. The thermal diffusivities of the observation area are determined by the same principle of the Ångström method, using long-term underground temperature records. The thermal diffusivity around Syowa Station is established to be about two times larger than those of ordinary igneous and metamorphic rocks measured in the laboratory. The thermal conductivity of the drilled cores and surrounding outcropping rocks are also measured by the transient method with temperature conditions at +23°C and −20°C. The thermal conductivities measured in various samples at −20°C are about 7% larger than those at +23°C. Thes tendency is consistent with the results of holocrystalline rock experiments.