Geophysics 223 Lab Assignment 1 - 2009 Resistivity Sounding

After the lab, you should hand in a write up that summarizes your results. Explain the steps in your calculations and data analysis. When you have used software for data analysis, include a print out of the results (e.g. fit to data and model from the EX E! spreadsheets" Question 1 cu ve matching !o a t"o-#aye mode# Wenner array data collected in #alagash, $ova %cotia were analysed in class using &'( modeling approach in #A)!A* (see section *+., in the notes". -n this lab we will use the cu ve matching approach that was popular in the days before computers existed. (etails can be found in *+.. in the notes. )his approach is not used today, but it will give you some insight into the relationship between apparent resistivity curves and models. /ou will be provided with the data plotted on log'log graph paper and a set of maste cu ves for a two'layer Earth. )he goal is to estimate the resistivity of layers & and 0, as well as the depth to the interface that separates the layers. (a" 1lace the master curve sheet over the data plot and hold to the light. %lide the two plots until the dots (data points" give a good match to one of the master curves. (b" )he resistivity of layer & (2&" can be found by reading the resistivity value on the y'axis of the log'log paper. (c" )o find the depth of the interface (d", read the distance on the log'log plot from the y'axis (a3d4&" on the master curve. (d" )he resistivity of the lower layer (20" can be calculated from the value of 0 & associated with the master curve that you have chosen. )his factor defines the esistivity cont ast between the two layers.

Question 2 )o confirm your answers to 5uestion &, you can use an EX E! spreadsheet to find a two'layer resistivity model that fits these data (Q2-Lab1-2009-ghosh$ma#agash%&#s". $ote that6 )his spreadsheet models !ou #aye s. )o consider a 0 layer model, you can assign layers 0,+ and , the same resistivity values Apparent resistivity data is displayed as red dots in the plot. Enter values for the layer resistivity and thic7ness at the top of the spreadsheet. )he predicted model response is shown as a blue line Ad8ust the resistivity model until you obtain a satisfactory fit to the data. (a" 1rint out the model and fit to data (b" omment on the agreement with your answers from 5uestion &

Question 3 $ext we will use the same approach to interpret the Wenner array data in the EX E! spreadsheet Q3-Lab1-2009-ghosh%&#s. )his spreadsheet gives a numerical measure of how well the Wenner array data are being fit. )his 9uantity is called the root mean s9uare error (r.m.s error" (a" :ind a + layer resistivity model to fit the data. /our model should have an r.m.s. error less than & (b" $ow change the resistivity model by halving both the resistivity and thic7ness of the second layer. ;ow does this change the r.m.s. error< Explain your answer in terms of non'uni9ueness and conductance. What implications does this have for exploration with ( resistivity< (c" A water well was drilled in this area and the resistivity log showed that the second layer was &.. m thic7. What is the resistivity of the second layer<

Question ' )he final example uses the data =Q'-Lab1-2009-ghosh%&#s>. )his Wenner array data is ta7en from the textboo7 (1roblem ..&0", and shows the apparent resistivity measured in an area with thic7 alluvial deposits at the surface. (a" :it the data with a + or , layer model to give an r.m.s. error less than & (b" (etermine the most li7ely depth to the water table. (c" )he porosity of the a9uifer was found to be +?@ and the unconsolidated sand has a cementation exponent m 4 &.+. Ase Archie>s !aw to determine the resistivity of the ground water. (d" Ase the e9uation in the notes to compute the amount of dissolved solids in the groundwater. (e" Ase the values below to decide if you would li7e to drin7 this water. (istilled water6 &B?,??? Chm'm (rin7ing water6 0?'0?? Chm'm #ountain Water6 &?,??? Chm'm %ea Water6 ?.0 Chm'm $ote 6 )he resistivity value of the pore water in a particular a9uifer can be used as an indication of whether it may be potable or not. )he water>s salinity, or even values such as sulphate levels, will affect the resistivity. )his particular attribute is exploited in environmental geophysics when searching for groundwater impact (i.e. chloride levels in groundwater can be an indication of produced water from oil and gas activities".