Electrical and induction logging

Method Type:
Borehole Methods
Assigned Problems:
+
Aquifer pollution
Groundwater
+
Contaminant plumes
Hazardous Waste
+
Fractures
Groundwater
+
Gravel, clay, limestone, salt exploration
Natural Resources
+
Groundwater table
Groundwater
+
Ice thickness
Natural Hazards
+
Permafrost and ice detection
Natural Hazards
+
Quality / Thickness of aquifer/aquitard
Groundwater
+
Quality and thickness (Natural resources)
Natural Resources
+
Soil / rock quality
Civil Engineering
0
Characteristics of hazardous waste
Hazardous Waste
0
Depth of Overburden-bedrock interface
Civil Engineering
0
Heat mining
Natural Resources
0
Host sediments, hydogeological settings
Hazardous Waste
0
Landslides
Natural Hazards
0
Porosity / Permeability
Groundwater
0
Temporal variations
Groundwater
'+' = Technique applicable; '0' = Application possible/limited use.

Principle:
Measurement of the electrical resistivity of the borehole environment and surrounding rock. The
resistivity is related to various geological parameters such as the mineral and fluid content,
fractures and porosity.
Keywords:
Electrolog, Resistivity log, Induction log, Dielectric log; Electric field, Electromagnetic field,
Prerequisites:
- Limited to water-, or mud-filled (conductive borehole fluid) open holes. FEL can be measured in
PVC-filter tube. Exception: Induction log: PVC-cased and/ or air-filled boreholes possible
- Proper calibration for quantitative interpretation
- Active measurements: resistivity of formation must be higher than resistivity of borehole fluid
- Stray currents may influence the measurements significantly
- Measurements are very sensitive to equipment interferences
- Rocks with high clay content
- Corrections required (e.g., for borehole diameter, fluid resistivity, temperature; Induction logging
may require a Skin-depth correction)
Resolution:
The resolution varies from several cm to few m: e.g., Microresistivity: 2 to 5 cm; Induction logging:
0.5 - 1.2 m (proportional to resistivity); Dip log: 1 - 1.5 cm thick bedding
The depth of investigation varies from several cm to few m: e.g. Microresistivity: 3 to 5 cm; DualInduction log: 0.5 to 3 m (proportional to resistivity)
Expected Results:
- Measured parameter: Resistivity in Ωm or conductivity in mS / m (Induction logging); Self
potential log: Voltage in mV
- Data analysis: Resistivity function with depth (log); Pitfall: SP-logs may be difficult to interpret in
aquifers

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- Interpretation: Qualitative interpretation: classification, correlation; Quantitative interpretation:

estimation of porosity and permeability in some cases
Combination with other Methods:
- Required additional information: Often needed: temperature log for corrections
- Related add-on information: Mud or fluid resistivity; caliper log
- Independent additional information: Other loggings; petrophysical laboratory analyses
Operation Expense:
- Crew size: 1 - 2 persons
- Acquisition speed: logging speed 2 - 8 m / min
- Processing: low
- Equipment rental costs: intermediate to high
Parameters to specify:
- Instrument type
- Electrode configuration and separation
- Velocity of logging tool (2 - 8 m / min)
QC Documents:
- Calibration data: last laboratory-calibration or on-site calibration
- At least 20 m of repeated measurements
- Borehole information (i.e., casing type, length, diameter, deviation, fluid properties)
- Complete headers
- Field notes (e.g., all activities, effective time schedule, present personnel)
Products:
- Field logs (displayed using specified scales)
- Composite logs
- Crossplots
- Listings; histograms
- Interpretation

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