Resistivity Methods: Earth Properties and Basic Theory

Reading Today : 207-221 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]

1 i= V R
Resistivity R is just a proportionality constant [ohms] R relates Current to voltage. However, no units of length in this form of Ohms law.

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

length R=r area

Conductivity s

length area

resistance resistance

[seiman/m] used to be mhos/m

s = 1/ R

More general form of Ohms law

1 AV i= V = R r l
When looking at a solid, we write ohms law as:

A DV i= r Dl
And in 3-D we use vectors

A I = gradV r

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

Current Source on Surface

Electric potential at distance away from current source on surface given as V(r)=rI/2pr. How?
Boundary conditions: 1)As r => , V => 0. 2) V 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, Isotropic Earth

Point Current Source

dV = iRshell

l dr = ir = ir 2 A 2pr

Voltage decreases as the inverse of the distance from the current source.

ir VD = dV = 2p D

dr ir 1 = (-1) 2 r 2p rD

1 1 ir ir = (-1) - = D 2pD 2p

Shape of constant voltages are hemispheres for a single point source

Two Current Electrodes - Source and Sink Why run an electrode to infinity when we can use it?
source rsource P rsink sink

Vsource

ir = 2prsource

Vsin k

ir = 2prsink

TotalVoltage at P

ir 1 1 Vp = 2p 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 (DV). This lead to use of four electrode array for each measurement.

Resulting measurement given as

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

Current Density and Equipotential lines for a current dipole

d

fraction total current 2 -1 2 z i f = tan d p d if=0.5 at z = 2

if=0.7 at

z=d

Wider spacing Deeper currents

Apparent Resistivity
Previous expression can be rearranged in terms of resistivity: r=(DV/I) (2p/G). This can be done even when medium is inhomogenous. Result is then referred to as Apparent Resistivity. r1

r2

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 Wenner Advantages Disadvantages 1. Easy to calculate ra 1. All electrodes moved in the field each sounding 2. Less demand on 2. Sensitive to local instrument sensivity shallow variations 3. Long cables for large depths 1. Fewer electrodes to 1. Can be confusing in the move each field sounding 2. Requires more sensitive 2. Needs shorter equipment potential cables 3. Long Current cables 1. Cables can be 1. Requires large current shorter for deep 2. Requires sensitive soundings instruments

Schlumberger

Dipole-Dipole