Toward real-time three-dimensional mapping of surficial aquifers using a hybrid modeling approach

A hybrid modeling approach is proposed for near real-time three-dimensional (3D) mapping of surficial aquifers. First, airborne frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) measurements are numerically inverted to obtain subsurface resistivities. Second, a machine-learning (ML) algorithm is trained using the FDEM measurements and inverted resistivity profiles, and borehole geophysical and hydrogeologic data. Third, the trained ML algorithm is used together with independent FDEM measurements to map the spatial distribution of the aquifer system. Efficacy of the hybrid approach is demonstrated for mapping a heterogeneous surficial aquifer and confining unit in northwestern Nebraska, USA. For this case, independent performance testing reveals that aquifer mapping is unbiased with a strong correlation (0.94) among numerically inverted and ML-estimated binary (clay-silt or sand-gravel) layer resistivities (5–20 ohm-m or 21–5,000 ohm-m), and an intermediate correlation (0.74) for heterogeneous (clay, silt, sand, gravel) layer resistivities (5–5,000 ohm-m). Reduced correlation for the heterogeneous model is attributed to over-estimating the under-sampled high-resistivity gravels (about 0.5 % of the training data), and when removed the correlation increases (0.87). Independent analysis of the numerically inverted and ML-estimated resistivities finds that the hybrid procedure preserves both univariate and spatial statistics for each layer. Following training, the algorithms can map 3D surficial aquifers as fast as leveled FDEM measurements are presented to the ML network.     

Delineation of saltwater intrusion into the freshwater aquifer of Lekki Peninsula,Lagos, Nigeria

Recently, the deterioration of water quality in the coastal zones of Lekki Peninsula area of Lagos due to saltwater infiltration into the freshwater aquifer has become a major concern. With the aim of providing valuable information on the hydrogeologic system of the aquifers, the subsurface lithology and delineating the groundwater salinity, vertical electrical resistivity (VES) sounding survey was carried out utilizing surface Schlumberger electrode arrays, and electrode spacing varying between 1 and 150 m. The DC resistivity surveys revealed significant variations in subsurface resistivity. Also, the VES resistivity curves showed a dominant trend of decreasing resistivity with depth (thus increasing salinity). In general, the presence of four distinct resistivity zones were delineated viz.: the unconsolidated dry sand (A) having resistivity values ranging between 125 and 1,028 Ωm represent the first layer; the fresh water-saturated soil (zone B) having resistivity values which correspond to 32–256 Ωm is the second layer; the third layer (zone C) is interpreted as the mixing (transition) zone of fresh with brackish groundwater. The resistivity of this layer ranges from 4 to 32 Ωm; while layer four (zone D) is characterized with resistivities values generally below 4 Ωm reflecting an aquifer possibly containing brine. The rock matrix, salinity and water saturation are the major factors controlling the resistivity of the formation. Moreover, this investigation shows that saline water intrusion into the aquifers can be accurately mapped using surface DC resistivity method.     

Electrical resistivity mapping of oil spills in a coastal environment of Lagos,Nigeria

Three years after the oil spillage and pipeline explosion that claimed about 100 human lives at Ijegun Community of Lagos–Nigeria, a combination of carefully designed 2D Electrical Resistivity Profilling and Vertical Electrical Sounding methods was deployed to map and characterise the subsurface around the contaminated site. Data acquired were processed, forward modelled and tomographically inverted to obtain the multi-dimensional resistivity distribution of subsurface. The results of the study revealed high resistivity structures that indocate the presence of contaminant (oil plumes) of different sizes and shapes around the oil leakage site. These high resistivity structures are absent in the tomograms and resistivity-depth slices computed for Iyana—a linear settlement not affected by oil spillage. The five geo-electric layers and the resistivities delineated in the area are the top soil layer, 220–670 Ωm; clayey sand layer, 300–1072 Ωm; top sand layer, 120–328 Ωm; mudstone/shale layer, 25–116 Ωm and the bottom sand layer, 15–69 Ωm. The base of the first four geo-electric layers corresponds to 3.9, 8.4, 27.2 and 34.6 m respectively. The two groundwater aquifers delineated correspond to the third and fifth geo-electric layers. The top aquifer has been infiltrated by oil plumes. The depth penetrated by the oil plume decreases from 32 m to about 24 m across the survey profiles from the two ends. It was concluded that the contaminant plumes from the oil spillage are yet to be completely degraded as at the time of the study. It is recommended that the contaminated site be remediated to remove or reduce the contaminant oil in the subsurface.     

航空电磁法应用的新领域——盐渍土及次生盐渍化调查

本文提出用航空电磁法、地面电磁法检查和农化样分析相结合的方法进行区域性土壤盐碱化调查.首先,提出用于土壤填图的理论模型,即水平层大地模型,讨论了航空电磁系统在这种模型上的理论电磁响应特征、解释方法.然后,分析了土壤视电阻率与土壤盐碱化指标的关系,最后给出实例,本文的结论是,现有航空电磁系统和解释理论都可直接用于土壤盐渍化填图,并能以较低的费用快速地获得土壤视电阻率图,根据土壤视电阻率与土壤可溶盐总量、阳离子浓度的关系,便可得到土壤盐碱化指标的定量估计。     

Assessment of integrated electrical resistivity data on complex aquifer structures in NE Nuba Mountains – Sudan

Two geophysical techniques were integrated to map the groundwater aquifers on complex geological settings, in the crystalline basement terrain in northeast Nuba Mountains. The water flow is structurally controlled by the northwest–southeast extensional faults as one of several in-situ deformational patterns that are attributed to the collision of the Pan-African oceanic assemblage of the Nubian shield against the pre-Pan African continental crust to the west. The structural lineaments and drainage systems have been enhanced by the remote sensing technique. The geophysical techniques used are: vertical electrical soundings (VES) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), in addition to hydraulic conductivity measurements. These measurements were designed to overlap in order to improve the producibility of the geophysical data and to provide a better interpretation of the hydrogeological setting of the aquifer complex structure. Smooth and Block inversion schemes were attempted for the observed ERT data to study their reliability in mapping the different geometries in the complex subsurface. The VES data was conducted where ERT survey was not accessible, and inverted smoothly and merged with the ERT in the 3D resistivity grid. The hydraulic conductivity was measured for 42 water samples collected from the distributed dug wells in the study area; where extremely high saline zones were recorded and have been compared to the resistivity values in the 3D model.     

西南岩溶地区找水技术方法探讨

我国西南岩溶地区的地下水主要赋存于溶洞、管道和裂隙中,由于岩溶发育的不均匀性及其浅部的泥质充填,给岩溶水的勘查和开发带来了极大的困难,造成了当地人畜饮用水严重缺乏。在广西隆安县抗旱找水工作实践中,根据地形地貌、地层岩性、落水洞及泉点的分布等情况分析推断储水构造的位置,确定找水靶区;进而依据储水构造的电性特征结合水文地质...     

The use of magnetic and geo-electrical data to delineate the subsurface structures and groundwater potentiality in Southeastern Sinai, Egypt

The study area is located in the southern part of Sinai Peninsula. This study was done to delineate the subsurface structure of the basement rocks affecting the groundwater potentiality in the study area and to perform the lateral and vertical variations in the subsurface lithologic properties. To achieve these, a high-resolution total intensity magnetic map and geo-electrical survey were acquired. Two-dimensional power spectrum, analytical signal, and Euler deconvolution techniques are applied on magnetic data. The geo-electric data interpretations concluded that, the study area can be classified into five units of sediments arranged as: (1) the top surficial layer of dry sand and gravels; (2) the second layer of silty sand layer with thickness ranging from 5 to 35 m; (3) the third layer of dry sand with thickness ranging from 5 to 130 m; (4) the fourth layer composed of saturated sand which was considered as the water-bearing zone of the investigated interval, its thickness ranges between 50m and more than 200 m; (5) the fifth layer is interpreted as basement rocks. The depth to the basement surface has an average value of 156 m at the eastern side and 758 m at the western side of the study area. This area is characterized by a graben structure bounded by major faults striking in the NW–SE direction and is considered one of the most promising regions for water resources in Sinai.     

Coastal-zone shallow-aquifer characterization study using geoelectrical and geochemical methods in Zirconium Complex,Atomic Energy,Pazhayakayal, Thoothukudi,India

Groundwater is a very important component of water resources in coastal aquifers in Thoothukudi. It has been established that the groundwaters in the coastal zone of the Zirconium Complex, Pazhayakayal, Thoothukudi district, Tamilnadu, India, are subjected to wave and tidal impact. The groundwater quality was studied by hydrogeological methods, 2D electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) techniques (six profiles), 11 Wenner vertical electrical sounding (VES), and well log analysis. Also, nine geochemical water samples were taken from the study area. The 2D ERI and VES surveys were carried out using WGMD-4 Ltd., Chennai, resistivity meter, multicore cable, and multielectrodes with Wenner array. The collected resistivity data were interpreted using the Res2DINV software. The research shows that the groundwaters are the result of the paleoriver flow along the Tamirabarani Channel in the western area and of the seawater intrusion in the eastern area. The fresh water is characterized by resistivity of about 10–100 Ohm?m in the study area. The resistivity of 10–50 Ohm?m indicates that the subsurface section is made up of sand, clay, and caliche. Resistivity values of more than 200 Ohm?m are specific to sand dunes. The very low resistivity (<5 Ohm?m) layer might be due to the seawater intrusion in the study area. Six water samples from the well drilled in the coastal area were analyzed, which made it possible to determine the concentrations of major and trace elements in the groundwaters. These data were used to establish the seawater intrusion and coastal environment characteristics in the study area.     

A method for the stochastic modeling of karstic systems accounting for geophysical data: an example of application in the region of Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)

The eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, contains one of the most developed karst systems in the world. This natural wonder is undergoing increasing pollution threat due to rapid economic development in the region of Tulum, together with a lack of wastewater treatment facilities. A preliminary numerical model has been developed to assess the vulnerability of the resource. Maps of explored caves have been completed using data from two airborne geophysical campaigns. These electromagnetic measurements allow for the mapping of unexplored karstic conduits. The completion of the network map is achieved through a stochastic pseudo-genetic karst simulator, previously developed but adapted as part of this study to account for the geophysical data. Together with the cave mapping by speleologists, the simulated networks are integrated into the finite-element flow-model mesh as pipe networks where turbulent flow is modeled. The calibration of the karstic network parameters (density, radius of the conduits) is conducted through a comparison with measured piezometric levels. Although the proposed model shows great uncertainty, it reproduces realistically the heterogeneous flow of the aquifer. Simulated velocities in conduits are greater than 1 cm?s^?1, suggesting that the reinjection of Tulum wastewater constitutes a pollution risk for the nearby ecosystems.     

层状介质中含水岩溶的数值模拟

针对用均匀高阻介质中的低阻体来模拟含水岩溶构造的缺陷,用积分方程法对两层介质中的岩溶构造进行了数值模拟,并分析了计算曲线的特征,以及表层、岩溶与围岩的电阻率差异对探测结果的影响。计算结果对野外施工和资料解释具有指导意义。     

Surficial geophysical deduction of the geomaterial and aquifer distributions at Ngor-Okpala local government area of Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria

Twenty seven vertical electrical sounding (VES) profiles surrounding four known traverses were obtained in Ngor-Okpala local government area of Imo state to examine the subsurface geomaterials and the associated groundwater potential. The VES data, constrained by borehole data, provided useful information about the subsurface hydrogeologic and lithologic conditions. From the validated interpretation, the area assessed has loamy soil, medium grained sands, well-sorted medium-grained/gravelly sands and river sand as the lithologic succession from top to the bottom of the depth penetrated. The aquifers in the area were found in the medium-grained sands and well-sorted medium-coarse-grained sands. The aquifer depth for all-season groundwater that would be devoid of draw-down can be found at a depth range of 42–50 m. The resistivity maps of selected depths exhibit sharp resistivity changes at depth due mainly to undulating subsurface topography. A map of the distribution of the kσ-values shows that good quality groundwater can be found in most parts of the area.     

The application of GPR and electrical resistivity tomography as useful tools in detection of sinkholes in the Cheria Basin (northeast of Algeria)

Sinkhole collapse is one of the main limitations in the development of karst areas, especially where bedrock is covered by unconsolidated material. Studies of sinkhole formation have shown that sinkholes are likely to develop in cutter (enlarged joint) zones as a result of subterranean erosion by flowing groundwater. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity imaging or tomography (RESTOM) are well suited to mapping sinkholes because of the ability of these two techniques for detecting voids and discriminating subtle resistivity variations. Nine GPR profiles and two-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography have been applied, with relative success, to locate paleo-collapses and cavities, and to detect and characterize karst at two sinkhole sites near Cheria City where limestone is covered by about 10 m of clayey soils. The survey results suggest that GPR and RESTOM are ideal geophysical tools to aid in the detection and monitoring of sinkholes and other subsurface cavities.     

Airborne electromagnetics — Providing new perspectives on geomorphic process and landscape development in regolith-dominated terrains

In regolith-dominated terrains, the nature of contemporary processes and the surface distribution of regolith materials may be a poor guide to the character and history of regolith materials at depth. The nature of regolith materials at depth is often critical to unravelling the development of a landscape. Conventional mapping aids such as air photos, multispectral remote sensing and airborne radiometrics are not wholly adequate in this context, as they penetrate limited depths (<0.4 m). Airborne electromagnetics (AEM) on the other hand, has the potential to map regolith materials to considerable depths (>100m).The application of AEM to regolith mapping and its potential as a tool in geomorphology are illustrated by reference to an AEM survey flown at Lawlers in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia. At Lawlers, AEM identifies a palaeochannel that has no surface expression. It cannot be seen in images of the Landsat, airborne radiometric or airborne magnetic data. The disposition of this channel in the landscape, and in particular its association with ferruginous materials forming breakaways, suggest that inversion of relief has been a significant factor in the evolution of the Lawlers landscape.The AEM data at Lawlers have also been used to map the weathering front. The topography of the weathering front not only reflects the movement of water through the landscape in a general sense, but also reflects the influence of lithology and structure. Different lithologies are clearly weathering to different depths. Information on the nature of the weathering front is potentially an important constraint on models of groundwater flow, and by association, models of solute dispersion.     

The geoelectric structure at the site of “Crystal” underground nuclear explosion (Western Yakutia) from TEM data

The resistivity pattern at the site of the “Crystal” underground nuclear explosion (Daldyn–Alakit district of Yakutia) of 1974 which led to an accident has been imaged using TEM data. The local background pattern corresponds to a three-or four-layer earth with a conductor at the base. The uppermost layer, with a resistivity of tens to hundreds of ohm · m, has its bottom at 190–260 m asl and consists of perennially frozen Late Cambrian carbonates. The resistivity structure of shallow subsurface at the blast epicenter remained unperturbed though being subject to mechanic and thermal effects. The bottom of the second layer is at 20 to 190 m below the sealevel and its resistivity is 7–10 ohm · m. It is composed of frost-bound and unfrozen cold rocks that belong to a Late Cambrian water-bearing sequence (an aquifer). The third and fourth layers make up the conducting base of the section (0.2–1.4 ohm · m) while the conductor’s top matches the table of a Middle Cambrian aquifer. Anomalous transient response at the site prompts the existence of a local conductor possibly produced by highly saline waters in the containment cavity and in deformed rocks around it. However, the resistivity is too low (0.02 ohm · m) to be accounted for by any model available at the present state of knowledge. Another problem is to explain how the brines circulating at large depths may have reached the explosion cavity and the surrounding strained zones. The study has provided a first idea of the background resistivity distribution and its UNE-induced changes.     

Tectonic evolution of the southern Gawler Craton,South Australia,from electromagnetic sounding

Long-period natural-source electromagnetic data have been recorded using portable three-component magnetometers at 39 sites in 1998 and 2002 across the southern Eyre Peninsula, South Australia that forms part of the Gawler Craton. Site spacing was of order 5 km, but reduced to 1 km or less near known geological boundaries, with a total survey length of approximately 50 km. A profile trending east – west was inverted for a 2D electrical resistivity model to a depth of 20 km across the southern Eyre Peninsula. The main features from the models are: (i) on the eastern side of the Gawler Craton, the Donington Suite granitoids to the east of the Kalinjala Shear Zone are resistive (>1000 Ωm); (ii) the boundary between the Donington Suite granitoids and the Archaean Sleaford Complex, which has much lower resistivity of 10 – 100 Ωm, is almost vertical in the top 10 km and dips slightly westwards; and (iii) two very low resistivity (<1 Ωm) arcuate zones in the top 3 km of Hutchison Group sediments correlate with banded iron-formations, and are probably related to biogenic-origin graphite deposits concentrated in fold hinges. Such features suggest an extensional regime during the time period 2.00 – 1.85 Ga. We suggest that the resistivity boundary between the Donington Suite and the Archaean Sleaford Complex represents a growth fault, typical for rift systems that evolve into a half-graben structure. In the graben basin, low-resistivity shallow-marine Hutchison Group sediments were deposited. Folding of the sediments during the Kimban Orogeny between 1.74 and 1.70 Ga has led to migration of graphite to the fold hinges resulting in linear zones of very low resistivity that correlate with banded iron-formation magnetic anomalies.     

豫西洛宁县铁炉坪Ag多金属矿床的CSAMT剖面及找矿意义

为获得新的深部找矿靶区,在铁炉坪Ag多金属矿床实施了CSAMT法测深。CSAMT剖面中,高、中、低电阻率异常体边界清晰、形态各异,高阻异常体具有上、下双层结构,低阻异常体出露较小,多呈孤立形态产出,主要有400m低阻异常体和1400m低阻异常体。高阻异常体被解释为浅部和深部两层岩浆和深部流体活动的产物,推测深部高阻异常体以岩浆体系为主,浅部高阻异常体应是岩浆体系、深部流体体系及围岩硅化蚀变等的综合反映。400m低阻异常体对应于于地表剖面线400m~600m之间的主矿脉,表明它是深部成矿流体的显示,提出1400m低阻异常体为新的深部找矿靶区。     

Electrical resistivity tomography mapping of beachrocks: application to the island of Thassos (N. Greece)

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) technique is widely used in mapping subsurface electrical properties. In this study, ERT was used to map a beachrock outcrop, extended both inland, under beach sediments, and seawards, on and under seafloor sediments. Mapping of beachrock is considered important because it can help evaluate the lateral and vertical extend of the formation. Fast and reliable mapping of beachrocks may contribute in several applications like engineering and construction, coastal management, recreational reformation as well as scientific approaches like coastal evolution research, and palaeo-environmental studies. The outcome of the survey was the mapping of the formation with centimeter precision, especially towards the sea. Special processing was applied to the data in order to constrain the inversion procedure to include the known sea water layer.     

Electrical imaging of the groundwater aquifer at Banting,Selangor, Malaysia

A geophysical study was carried out in the Banting area of Malaysia to delineate groundwater aquifer and marine clay layer of the alluvial Quaternary deposits of Beruas and Gula Formations. The Beruas Formation is formed by peat and clayey materials as well as silt and sands, whereas the Gula Formation consists of clay, silt, sand and gravels. Both Formations were deposited on top of the Carboniferous shale of the Kenny Hill Formation. A 2-D geoelectrical resistivity technique was used. Resistivity measurement was carried out using an ABEM SAS 4000 Terrameter. The 2-D resistivity data of subsurface material for each survey line was calculated through inverse modelling and then compared with borehole data. The resistivity images of all the subsurface material below the survey lines show similar pattern of continuous structure of layering or layers with some lenses with resistivity ranging from 0.1 to 50 Ωm. The upper layer shows resistivity values ranging from 0.1 to 10 Ωm, representing a clay horizon with a thickness up to 45 m. The second layer with depth varies from 45 to 70 m below surface and has resistivity values ranging from 10 to 30 Ωm. Borehole data indicate coarse sand with some gravels for this layer, which is also the groundwater aquifer in the study area. The lowermost layer at a depth of 70 m below ground level shows resistivity values ranging from 30–50 Ωm and can be correlated with metasedimentary rocks consisting of shale and metaquartzite.     

塔里木盆地低电阻率油层成因与评价

随着塔里木盆地油气勘探工作的深入, 相继发现了一批低电阻油层, 油层电阻率最低达0.4 5Ω·m, 与水层的电阻率几乎相当.通过对轮南侏罗系J_Ⅳ、吉拉克三叠系T_Ⅱ和哈得逊石炭系C_Ⅲ 3套低电阻油层的地质与实验分析认为, 引起低电阻的主要原因是黄铁矿的局部富集、粘土矿物以及高矿化度束缚水等的附加导电, 提出利用毛管压力资料, 建立油藏物性、油层高度与含油饱和度的关系以及采用高温高压岩电参数等不同的评价方法, 从而使计算的饱和度提高8%~ 2 5 %, 测井解释符合率上升5 %~ 8%.      

Investigation of seawater intrusion in the Dibdibba Aquifer using 2D resistivity imaging in the area between Al-Zubair and Umm Qasr,southern Iraq

Electrical resistivity surveying for delineating seawater intrusion was performed in the Dibdibba aquifer in the area between the cities of Al-Zubair–Safwan and Al-Zubair–Umm Qasr in the vicinity of Khor AL-Zubair Channel, Basrah governorate, southern Iraq. Fourteen 2D resistivity profiles with a total length of 14 km were collected in the study area. The resistivity sections were compared with lithological data extracted from 11 boreholes. Thirty-nine groundwater samples were collected within the area and analyzed for chemical constituents; internal hydrogeological reports and unpublished studies were also evaluated. Results reveal the existence of three major resistivity layers, ranging from 0.1 to 130 Ωm at various depths and locations. The first layer has very low electrical resistivity (0.1–5 Ωm) representing a layer saturated with saltwater intruded from Khor AL-Zubair Channel. The second layer shows resistivity in the range of 5–130 Ωm, attributed to a transition zone and an unaffected zone saturated with brackish groundwater. The last resistivity layer (<?3 Ωm) represents coarse-grain sediments saturated with saline groundwater. Furthermore, a hard clay bed (Jojab) appears with a resistivity of 3–7 Ωm in all 2D imaging lines within a depth of 20–28 m. Electrical conductivity (EC) measurements from seven wells collected in 2014 and 2016 show a positive EC difference increasing landward with an average increase of 1927 µS/cm. In addition, six chemical relationships (Na/Cl, [Ca?+?Mg]/[HCO₃?+?SO₄], SO₄/HCO₃, SO₄/Cl, Mg/Ca and Cl/[HCO₃?+?CO₃]) are used to detect the source of salinity in groundwater. This study proves that extensive use of high-resolution 2D imaging sections, alongside lithological and hydrogeological data, can serve as a useful tool to delineate the boundaries between aquifers, identify hydraulic boundaries between groundwater with different salinities and allocate hard clay layers between the upper and lower Dibdibba aquifer. In general, the combination of 2D imaging and hydrochemistry enables conceptualization of the hydrogeological situation in the subsurface and characterization of the salinity source, here seawater intrusion, in the study area. There have been no studies published so far on the characteristics of saltwater intrusion in the study area, and this study is considered to be important for monitoring and studying the intrusion and regression of seawater.