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GLE 594: An introduction to

applied geophysics
Electrical Resistivity Methods
Fall 2004

Earth Properties and Basic Theory

Reading
Today : 207-218
Next Lecture : 218-228

Introduction
Link resistivity (ability of the earth to
conduct an electric current) to subsurface
structure.
Useful because resistivity of earth
materials varies by around 10 orders of
magnitude.
Developed by Conrad Schlumberger
(France) and Frank Wenner (United
States) in early 20th century.
Uses: Archeology, Environmental, Mineral
exploration

Electricity Basics
Voltage V - Electrical potential energy per unit charge [volts]
Current i - amount of charge per unit time [amperes]

i=

1
V
R

Resistivity R is just a proportionality constant [ohms]


R relates current I to voltage I.
However, no units of length in this form of Ohms law.

Resistivity
Resistance includes length and area
We want resisitivity [ohm/m] because
- property of the material alone.
- no geometry included

R =

L
[ohm]
A

length

resistance

area

resistance

Conductivity [siemens/m] or [mhos/m]:

1
[mhos m]

It is the ability of the electrical charge to move through the material

Electrical Conductivity of Geomaterials


Non-conductive minerals
Electric field

Electric field

Hydrated ion mobility

Double layer surface conduction

Equation
Electrolyte
Soil (Archies law)
Soil (clays)

Comments

[ ]

]
el [mS
m = 0.15 TDS

mg
L

soil = ael Scr n m


soil = nel + (1 n ) gSs

TDS: total dissolved salts


a1; m~1-2.4; c~4-5
10-9 S (for Kaolinite)

Non-conductive Minerals

Analogous to Heat and Fluid Flow


Any solutions you know for one of these flows works for the others with the
analogous boundary and initial conditions.

(Wang and Anderson 1982)

Earth as a Circuit
Soils and rocks can be conceptually modeled as a circuit made of a
resistor, capacitor, inductor and battery:

Electrodes
R
C
L
B

Resistor R:
Capacitor C:
Inductor L:
Battery B:

dissipator of applied energy as heat


storage of energy as separation of charges
self voltage associated to electromagnetic methods
electrokinetics and self-potentials

Current Source on Surface


Electric potential at distance away from current source on surface
given as V(r)=I/2r. How?

Boundary conditions:
1)As r => , V => 0.
2) V is continuous across any boundary
3) Tangential E continuous across any boundary
4) Normal I continuous across any boundary.
5) Above leads to no vertical current crossing earth-air interface.

Current Flow in a Homogeneous and


Isotropic Medium
Point Current Source:
dV = iR shell = i

dr
l
= i
A
2 r 2

Voltage decreases as the inverse of


the distance from the current source.
Shape of constant voltages are
hemispheres for a single point source.

VD = dV =
D

i dr i
( 1)1
=

2
2 D r
2
rD

i
( 1) 1 1 = i
=
2
D 2 D

Two Current Electrodes: Source and Sink


Why run an electrode to infinity when we can use it?

source

sink

rsource
P

rsink

Vsource =

Total Voltage at P:

i
2rsource

Vp = Vsource Vsin k =

Vsin k =

i
2 rsink

i 1
1

2 rsource rsink

Measurement Practicalities
Cant measure potential at single point unless the other end of our
volt meter is at infinity. This is inconvenient. It is easier to
measure potential difference (V). This lead to use of four
electrode array for each measurement.

Resulting measurement given as


V=VP1-VP2= I/(2)*(1/r1-1/r2-1/r3+1/r4). Can be rewritten
V=I*G/(2) where G/2 is the Geometrical Factor of the array.

Current density and equipotential lines


for a current dipole
d
fraction total current
2z
2
i f = tan1
d

if=0.5 at

z=

d
2

if=0.7 at z = d
Wider spacing Deeper currents

Apparent Resistivity
Previous expression can be
rearranged in terms of resistivity:
=(V/I) (2/G).
This can be done even when
medium is inhomogeneous. Result
is then referred to as Apparent
Resistivity.

Definition:Resistivity of a fictitious homogenous subsurface


that would yield the same voltages as the earth over which
measurements were actually made.

Geometrical Factors

Array advantages and disadvantages


Array

Advantages

Disadvantages

Wenner

1. Easy to calculate a in the 1. All electrodes moved each


sounding
field
2. Sensitive to local shallow
2. Less demand on
variations
instrument sensivity
3. Long cables for large depths

Schlumberger

1. Fewer electrodes to move 1. Can be confusing in the field


each sounding
2. Requires more sensitive
2. Needs shorter potential
equipment
cables
3. Long Current cables

Dipole-Dipole

1. Cables can be shorter for


deep soundings

1. Requires large current


2. Requires sensitive instruments

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