3D electric prospecting

Theory of SCL
It goes without saying, that the highest priority of every method of electrical prospecting
works, determinated, used, receivinggenerator installation, is the efficiency (resolution,
preciseness, sensitivity, deepness, etc.). But technological priorities are also of high importance.
It is quite fast, convenient and cheap but not efficient. The matter is that a currentline is a
mixed source (disturbing TE and TMpolarization of electromagnetic field), but such one, the
field of which loses TMpolarization quite quickly. Powerful TEfield, connected with a summed
up longitudinal conductivity of a geological section, is the strongest disturbance at studying of
weak lateral heterogeneous medium (like oildeposit is), and also at determining of such typical
characteristics as thin layer with high resistivity.
It is highly willingly to get rid of TEfield, that is connected with inductive disturbance from a
horizontal electric line, and leave on only TMfield, that is disturbed by means of groundings. In
such case electromagnetic field becomes more sensitive to anomaly conductivity, and also to
more delicate influence of other geoelectrical parameters (for example, those that occurs in
halos above the deposit). It is possible to compensate TEfield completely only by means of
radial set of lines (a wellknown circle electrical dipole ). But this type of source is notmobile.
Now we suggest a compromise variant, in which a compound of TEfield is compensated to a
large extent, and configurations stays as mobile as a usual horizontal electric line. You can
easily understand our suggestion from a pic. 1, where it is depicted a usual installation with a
horizontal electric line (two groundings on both ends) and a suggested installation with 3
groundings. In this case the current goes from the edge groundings to the central one. Such
source can be called as a counter electric line (CEL). Thereby we eliminate, not completely but
to a certain extent, the capability to an inductive disturbance, keeping galvanic disturbance at
the same time.

Pic.1 Usual and counter electric line.

Let us demonstrate the advantages of a suggested source by means of mathematical modeling
and taken a wellknown problem of defining of thin layer with high resistivity as an example.
This problem is often connected to the problems of search and prospecting of oil deposit. You
can see such model with the parameters in the pic.2. It is usual practice that for a traditional
installation they use more solid layer parameters of higher resistance which have weak ground
but which are absolutely must components for getting even weakmeasured signal. Lets
disturb this medium by a traditional installation (2000 m, current of 50A) and by a counter
electric line (1000+1000m, current of 50A in each segment, directed into opposite to each
other). We can observe an electric signal of 100meter receivingline at a distance of 2000 m
from the source center.

Pic.2 a medium including high resistivity thin layer

Pic.3. Curves of EMF formation from a receiving line.

We have used a checked universal program VyborTS (pic.3) and have done proper
calculations of processes establishment. In pic.3 you can see the curves of EMF for a traditional
and counter electric line, for a model described in pic.2 (code3/1), and also for a
heterogeneous medium.
It can be seen in pic.3 the total weakening of a signal from a counter electric line and more
rapid fall. It is clear as a part of magnetic type field (TE) has dropped drastically, and TMfield
goes down much faster. Its interesting to watch the absolute value of anomaly (influence of
high resistivity layer) signal. We can see (pic.4) that an absolute anomaly signal has even gone
up on the first stage of formation. Finally, in pic.5 there performed some graphs of a relative
anomaly effect (in %). In case with differential installation an anomaly effect has gone up by 4
5 times, and its easy to explain as only TMfield gets into contact with thin high resistivity
layer. We have increased drastically a part of TMfield within a common field by means of
differential configuration of feed current.

Pic.4 The curves of anomaly signals

Pic.5 The curves of relative anomaly signals

Thereby, counter electric line is really more effective than a traditional current line. At the same
time the mobility of suggested feed installation is equal to a traditional one.