INVERSE

FILTER
COEFFICIENTS
FOR THE COMPUTATION
APPARENT
RESISTIVITY
STANDARD
CURVES
FOR
HORIZONTALLY
STRATIFIED
EARTH *

OF
A

BY

D. P. GHOSH
ABSTRACT
GHOSH,
D. P., 1971, Inverse Filter Coefficients
for the Computation
of Apparent
Resistivity Standard Curves for a Horizontally
Stratified Earth, Geophysical Prospecting
19, 769-775.

In this paper a fast method is developed for computing

apparent resistivity
curves
for known layer configurations.
The method is based on the application
of a linear filter
to determine the apparent resistivity curve from the kernel function.

In a previous
between

the

publication
(Ghosh 1971) it was shown that the relation
apparent
resistivity
function
pa(x) and the resistivity
transform

function T(y) (related to the kernel function in Stefanescos integral, Stefanesco et al 1930) is linear in nature. As such it was possible to derive a set of
filter coefficients that act on the sampled apparent resistivity field data to
yield the function T, as a first step in the process of directly determining the
layer parameters from the resistivity sounding measurements.
In this note the principles are extended further to arrive at a set of inverse
filter coefficients that perform the reverse procedure, namely operate on the
transform sample values to yield the resistivity values.
The idea is that the function T is determined only by the thicknesses (dz)
and resistivities (pi) of the enclosed layers in a geoelectric section and can be
computed fairly simply with the help of a slide rule or a mathematical
table.
Thus the technique of linear transformation
can be utilized to obtain the apparent resistivity curve from the transform function for known earth models.
FREQUENCY

CHARACTERISTXC

The relation between

(see Ghosh 1971)

OF THE INVERSE

RESISTIVITY

p,(x) and T(y) in the frequency

F(f)

* Received May 1971.

** Department
of Geophysics,

Banares

G(f)

Hindu

is given by
(1)

fJ(f)

University,

domain

FILTER

India.

D. P. GHOSH

770
where,
7(Y) ++W)

Pa(X) ++W)

and H(f) = frequency characteristic

denotes a Fourier transform pair.
Rewriting (I) we have

of the resistivity

filter.

The symbol

cf

W) = %I?&
= F(f) Q(f))

(2

where

Q(f)

= 1/H(f).

Q(f) is the frequency characteristic of the inverse filter and can be determined
from (2) by taking the Fourier transforms of partial resistivity functions and
their corresponding known theoretical resistivity transforms (Koefoed 1968,
Ghosh 1971).
INVERSE DIGITAL FILTER COEFFICIENTS
In accordance with the principle laid down earlier (Ghosh 1971), the inverse
filter coefficients will be the sampled values of the sine-response of the inverse
filter. The sine-response is defined as the response of the inverse filter to an
input of a sine-function
(functions of the form of sin x/x) of a period determined by the sampling interval used to sample the transform function (it has
been shown that three samples per In IO is adequate).
It is convenient to carry out the above operation in the frequency domain
where we have the following simple algebraic form
r(f)

= E(f)

Q(f)j

(3)

where
I(f)

= Fourier

transform

of the sine-response

k(f)

= Fourier

transform

of the sine-function

The sine-response can now be recovered from 1(f) by the application of the
inverse Fourier transform. Sampled values of the response constitute the nine
point filter for the Schlumberger arrangement and the ten point filter for the
Wenner arrangement
shown in table r(i) and r(ii) respectively.
For convenience the response has been so sampled that bo refers to the response value
at an abscissa point shifted to the left of x = o (i.e. on part of the response for
x c o), by a factor In 1.05 for the Schlumberger arrangement and by a factor
In 1.36 for the Wenner arrangement.
The other coefficients are then defined
with respect to bo at a constant spacing of + In IO. The implication
of this is

INVERSE

FILTER

COEFFICIENTS

FOR APPARENT

RESISTIVITY

CALCULATIONS

771

that the outputs, i.e. the pa values, will be accordingly shifted to the left in
relation to the input transform values. This results in a shortening by the
above amounts of the apparent resistivity curve in relation to the transform
curve.
THE

RELATION

BETWEEN

THE

RESISTIVITY
DISTRIBUTION

TRANSFORM

AND

The resistivity transform is a function of the layer parameters

two layer section with top layer A underlain by substratum B,

THE

LAYER

only. For a

I + kAB e-zddu
TAB(U) = PA I-kABe-2dA/u

where
24 = I/A = exp (y)
k/m

= (PB -

PA) I (pti + PA).

G has the dimension of distance.

The resistivity transform of a section of any number of layers can be deduced
from the following iterative rule adapted from Koefoed (1970)

(5)
where
T,
= resistivity transform of an n layer section.
T,-1 = resistivity transform of the same section with the top layer A
removed.
TAB= resistivity transform of a two layer section given by (4) for the
special case kAB = - I.
The application of (5) can be demonstrated
by deriving an expression for
T for a three layer section ABC, where A is the top layer, B the intermediate
layer and C the substratum
T'AB
TABC(~)

1 +

TBC

T~c/p;'

T'AB

TBC is gi.ven from (4) as

T BC
Substituting

I + kBC e-2ddu
=

(7) in (6) we obtain

PB I -

kBc

PddU

(7)

D. P. GHOSH

772
PRACTICAL

PROCEDURE

OF OBTAINING

THE

APPARENT

RESISTIVITY

CURVE

The apparent resistivity curve is obtained in two stages:

(A) In the first stage, the sample values of the resistivity transform function
are obtained for the earth model for which the apparent resistivity curve is
desired. T(U) is computed as a function of u with the help of (4) and (5) and
plotted on the upper right hand portion of transparent
bilogarithmic
paper
preferably of modulus 62.5. The function is then sampled at an interval of
+ In IO to yield the transform sample values T,. Alternatively
the function
T(y) can be computed at equal increments of 31of $ In ro-i.e.
o.77-and
the
values plotted on the transparent
bilogarithmic
paper. This constitutes the
transform
chart.
The computation
of the function T can be considerably simplified by applying a graphical approach suggested by Koefoed (1965, see p. 272) for
constructing
kernel curves. The use of a monologarithmic
graph paper (U
should be on the linear scale) renders the terms like k e-zd/u in the expression
of the transform as straight lines. As such it suffices to compute the terms for
a small and large value of u only. In this manner the computation
of the T
function becomes easy and quick. To obtain the sample values T, the Tcurve, on the monologarithmic
scale, have to be sampled at equal increments of
y = In(u) = 0.77.
(B) In the second stage the transform sample values are convolved with the
filter coefficients bj, given in table I, to yield the apparent resistivity values
R m. Algebraically stated :
R,

= i bj T,-j
l=P

for

m = o, I, 2, 3. . . . .

(9)

where
for Schlumberger

arrangement:

for Wenner arrangement

u = 5 and p = -

: a = 8 and p = -

I,

(9) can be numerically evaluated. The outputs, namely the resistivity values
R, obtained from (9), refer to abscissa points shifted to the left in relation to
the input transform values by the respective amounts stated earlier for both
electrode arrangements.
It should be pointed out that to yield the output corresponding to a given
range of T values we still require five further values of T for the Schlumberger
arrangement and 8 values for the Wenner arrangement to the left of the range
(i.e. for smaller values of u), and three for the Schlumberger and one for the
Wenner arrangement to the right of the range (i.e. for larger values of N). This is
required from the theory of operation of digital filters and can also be verified
from (9).

INVERSE

FILTER

COEFFICIENTS

FOR

APPARENT

RESISTIVITY

CALCULATIONS

773

For graphical application the following steps have to be observed.

(i) The coefficients given in table I are plotted on a bilogarithmic
paper such
that bo is at the left of x = o (the center of filtering operation) by In 1.05 for
the Schlumberger case and by In 1.36 for the Wenner case. The other coefficients are then plotted with respect to bo maintaining
a constant spacing of
4 In IO. The cross is placed at x = o and an ordinate value of I. This plot will
be referred to as the filter chart.
(ii) The transform chart is now superimposed on the filter chart with the
left fifth extra
sample point for the Schlumberger arrangement
and the
eighth extra sample point for the Wenner arrangement
at the cross. The
filter points are traced on the transform chart. This procedure is repeated
until the third extra
sample point for the Schlumberger arrangement
and
the first extra sample point for the Wenner arrangement (to the right of the
range) have been successively at the cross and filter points traced. The points
are then added up (contribution
of the negative coefficients have, however,
to be subtracted) to yield the apparent resistivity values corresponding to the
transformsample
values.
(iii) The apparent resistivity curve may now be drawn by interpolating
the
resistivity
values. To aid careful interpolation,
a second set of transform
values may be defined in between the first set and the filter steps mentioned
above repeated. This would yield the resistivity values at a closer spacing,
i.e. at & In I0 cu 0.38.
Examples illustrating
a similar graphical procedure of operation
with
filter coefficients have been given by Ghosh (1971).

DISCUSSION

Existing methods (CGG 195.5, Flathe 1955, Van Dam 1965, Mooney et al.
1966) of computing theoretical resistivity curves depend on the evaluation of
Stefanescos integral (Stefanesco et al. 1930)
which, being a product of a
kernel function and a Bessel function, cannot be brought into a simple form
containing only elementary functions. As the kernel function is a quotient of
exponential functions, the most commonly accepted procedure is to expand it
into an infinite series of terms and integrate term by term. The kernel function
can also be decomposed into a series of partial fractions in the special case of a
perfectly conducting or resistive substratum.
For rapid convergence of the
series in either of the methods, it is required that the thicknesses be multiples
of some common thickness.
The present method thus differs essentially in disposing of the evaluation
of Stefanescos integral. Also there is no restriction as to the number of layers
present in the section or to their thickness.

D. P. GHOSH

774

This study has been guided by the following points in consideration:

(I)
It is often desirable to know the shape of the apparent resistivity curve
that will be produced by a certain subsurface distribution in connection with a
resolution
study dealing with the question of detectability
of a layer in that
subsurface.
(2) It might be advisable to reconstruct the apparent resistivity curve with
the values of the layer parameters obtained from direct interpretation
of
geoelectrical sounding measurements.
(3) The easy manner of computing
graphically
theoretical
resistivity
curves, as suggested here, should enable field parties to compute their own
curves when the collection of standard curves fails.
(4) The method can be used in the preparation
of a catalogue of standard
graphs. In this respect an only relatively simple computer program is necessary.
Moreover, with the increase of layers the computation-unlike
other methodsstill remains comparatively
easy and quick. This should result in a considerable
saving of computer time.
(5) This method could be most effectively used by organizations who have
at their disposal electrical desk calculators with a small memory.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The guidance of Prof. 0. Koefoed

gratefully acknowledged.

BRACEWELL,

R., 1965, The Fourier

of Technological

University

REFERENCES
transform
and its applications,

McGraw

at Delft

Hill,

is

New

York.
GENERALE
DE GEOPHYSIQUE,
1963, Master curves for electrical sounding,
2nd revised edition, E.A.E.G., The Hague.
DAM, J. C. VAN, 1965, A simple method for the calculation
of standard graphs to be used
in Geo-electrical
prospecting,
Geophysical Prospecting
13, 37-65.
method of calculating
geoelectrical
model graphs for
FLATHE,
H., 1955, A practical
horizontally
stratified media, Geophysical Prospecting
3, 268-294.
GHOSH,
D. P., 1971, The application
of linear filter theory to the direct interpretation
of
geoelectrical resistivity sounding measurements, Geophysical Prospecting rg. 192-2 I 7.
KOEFOED,
O., 1965, A semi-direct
method of interpreting
resistivity
observations,
Geophysical Prospecting
13, 259-282.
--,
1968, The application
of the kernel function in interpreting
geoelectrical
measurements, Geoexploration
monographs, series I no. 2, Gebrtider Borntraeger,
Stuttgart.
-, 1970, A fast method for determining
the layer distribution
from the raised kernel
function in geoelectrical sounding, Geophysical Prospecting
18, 564-570.
KUNETZ,
G., 1966, Principle
of direct current resistivity
prospecting
Geoexploration
monographs,
series I, no. I, Gebriider Borntraeger,
Stuttgart.
MOONEY,
H. M., et al., 1966, A resistivity
computational
method for layered earth
models, Geophysics 31, 192-203.
STEFANESCO,
S. S., et al., 1930, Sur la distribution
electrique potentielle
autour dune
prise de terre ponctuelle
dans un terrain a couches horizontales
homogenes et isotropes, Journal de Physique et du Radium, 7, 132-140.
COMPAGNIE

INVERSE

FILTER

COEFFICIENTS

FOR

APPARENT

TABLE

RESISTIVITY

CALCULATIONS

775

Inverse digital filter coefficients

(i)

Schlumberger
b-2

b-1

-0.0499

0.1064

b-s
0.0225
(ii)

Wenner

b-1
0.0284

Geophysical

arrangement

bo

bl
I.9720

0.1854

ba
-1.5716

bs

b4

b5

0.4018

-o.o814

0.0148

bo

67

bs

0.0179

-0.0067

case

bo
0.4582

bl
1.5662

Prospecting,

bz
-1.3341

Vol.

XIX

ba
0.3473

bs
-0.0935

0.0416

-0.0253

50