Review of Electrical and Gravity Methods PDF
Review of Electrical and Gravity Methods PDF
Review of Electrical and Gravity Methods PDF
2, DECEMBER 2014 31
ABSTRACT: The theory and practice of electrical and gravity methods of geophysics for groundwater exploration was reviewed
with illustrations and data examples. With the goal of reducing cases of borehole/water-well failure attributed to the lack of the
knowledge of the methods of geophysics for groundwater exploration and development, the paper reviews the basic concepts,
field procedures for data acquisition, data processing, and interpretation as applied to the subject matter. Given a case study of
groundwater exploration in University of Ilorin Campus, the three important techniques of electrical method of groundwater
exploration are explained and illustrated using field data obtained in a previous study. Interpretation of resistivity data shows
that an area measuring low resistivity (high conductivity), having thick pile of unconsolidated rock, and underlained by fracture
crystalline is a ‘bright spot’ for citing borehole for groundwater abstraction in a basement complex area. Further to this, gravity
method of groundwater exploration was discussed with field data from Wokbedilo community in Ethopia. Bouguer and reduced
gravity anomaly results were presented as maps and contours to demonstrate how gravity data can be inverted to map
groundwater aquifers and subsurface geological structures during groundwater exploration.
more success than the other. Gravity and magnetics have been
used to map regional aquifers and large-scale basin structures
for groundwater development (Carmichael and Henry 1977,
Al-Garni, 2005, Levi et al., 2011). Electromagnetic and
electrical methods have shown superior suitability for
groundwater exploration because rock properties that are
crucial to hydrogeology (permeability, porosity, and dissolved
minerals) have direct correlation with electrical resistivity or
electromagnetic conductivity. Electrical and gravity methods
measure variation in the rocks’ physical properties which
depend on the rock matrix component, mineral type, pore
spaces and size, and fluid content. Rocks exhibit different
parameter-anomaly based on their physical properties, size of
the target, depth of burial. The unique property of the target is
an important factor that informed the choice of a geophysical
Figure 2: Equipment layout for electrical resistivity survey.
method.
(Image extracted from http://www.wtsgeo.com/index.php)
In this paper, electrical and gravity method of groundwater
exploration are discussed with case histories from University Resistivity meter measures the resistance a geological
of Ilorin Campus, Nigeria, and Wokbedilo Community of formation poses to the flow of current. The apparent resistivity
Ethiopia. Following the introductory section, the details of of a geologic formation, Pa is defined as:
electrical and gravity methods are discussed in the respective V
order, with particular attention to field procedure for data Pa = 2π G (1)
I
acquisition, theory of the methods, data processing and where I is the current, V is the potential difference, and G is
interpretation. For electrical method, data used for illustration the geometric factor.
is from the author’s thesis and published papers (Raji, 2005, Geometric factor is dependent on the arrangement of the
Olasehinde and Raji, 2007, and lecture note). For Gravity metallic electrodes, and the distances between the electrodes.
method, data used for illustration is from a report by Levis et The conductivity, ρe of a porous rock varies with the volume
al. (2011). The report is in the public domain and thus gives and arrangement of pore spaces, the amount and conductivity
permission for reproduction and redistribution with proper of contained water (Waxman and Thomas, 1974) as given in
acknowledgement. This paper is a review of the electrical and eqn (2).
gravity methods of geophysics as applied to groundwater
Pe = aΦ − m S − n ρ w (2)
exploration. Its main contribution is that it brings together, the
experiences and scientific ideas scattered in published papers where Φ is fractional pore volume (porosity); S is the fraction
and textbooks that are not readily available to the of pores containing water, ρw is resistivity of water. The
audience/readership. constant n equals 2; 0.5 ≤ a ≤ 2.5; 1.3 ≤ m ≤ 2.5.Variation in
the properties of different rocks and the fluids within them
II. ELECTRICAL METHOD OF NEAR-SURFACE give rise to different conductivity or resistivity signatures. In
GEOPHYSICS general, soil with high clay content and/or moisture will show
higher conductivity than others. This is due to the presence of
Electrical method of Geophysics is by far the most mineral particles that potentially carry electrical charges, and
patronized geophysical method for groundwater exploration. the presence of moisture that aids electrolytic conduction.
This is partly due to the affordability of its equipment, and the Fractured consolidated rocks would measure lower resistivity
simplicity of the method (Olasehinde and Raji, 2007). Being than similar rocks with no fractures because fractures are
one of the earliest geophysical methods, it enjoys wide potential paths for groundwater flow, and they usually harbour
application for several geophysical studies ranging from fluids. Contaminated water and saline water will show higher
down-hole measurement to near surface applications for conductivity (or lower resistivity) compared to fresh water
groundwater exploration, groundwater contamination study, because they contain dissolves ions that aid electrical
bedrock depth and topography measurement, salt water conductivity. The different techniques of electrical resistivity
intrusion study, mineral exploration and quarry study, fracture survey for groundwater include Vertical Electrical Sounding,
depth and direction probing, post foundation study and road Horizontal Resistivity Profiling and Azimuthal Electrical
failure investigation, etc. There exist a direct correlation Resistivity Probing. Depending on the purpose of a survey and
between electrical properties, geologic formations and rock the complexity of the geology of the area, two of the three
fluid content (Zohdy et al, 1974; McNeill, 1980). Electrical methods are often combined. Groundwater exploration usually
method of groundwater survey is based on electrolytic starts with Horizontal Resistivity Probing (HRP) to study the
conduction, where four metallic electrodes are coupled to the lateral variation in the rock properties at near surface depth
ground and connected to the resistivity meter (known as (usually less than 10m). Measured value of resistivity is
terrameter) through conducting wires (Figure 1). The two plotted with horizontal distance. Locations with anomalous
outer electrodes A and B introduce current to the rock value (low resistivity, or high conductivity) along the profiles
formation; the two inner electrodes M and N measure the are marked for detailed study using Vertical Electrical
potential difference.
NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 11, NO. 2, DECEMBER 2014 33
Sounding (VES) Technique. VES probes into deeper Garni (2004, 2005), Abubakar et al. (2014) demonstrated the
subsurface than HRP. As shown in Figure 2, the farther the applications of electrical techniques for siting wells and
separation between the current electrodes, the deeper the depth boreholes locations in crystalline basement aquifers in sub-
of penetration of the current introduced to the subsurface. Saharan Africa Countries. Ako, (1976), Olasehinde and
Adelana (1999) applied electrical resistivity survey to the
study of proposed dam sites.
Different rock layers give different electrical properties
depending on the porosity, permeability, presence of
moisture/water, and dissolved ions. Rock layers with high
Depth, m
intervals. Based on the HRP results from the 16 profiles, 23 their interpretations, places around 90m and 180m were
locations were selected for detailed study using Vertical recommended for borehole drilling. In this study, the selection
Electrical sounding of Schlumberger array. of an area for groundwater development (e.g., borehole/well
siting) is informed by the presence of low resistivity, presence
App. Resis vity, Ωm
800#
of thick unconsolidated/weathered rocks and fractures. These
600# three elements are the essential indicators of aquifers system
400# in a crystalline rock terrain.
200#
0#
N!
50# 100# 150# 200#
Distance, m
103
Depth (m)
102
101
100 101 102 103
0 2km
AB/2 (m)
Figure 5: VES curve from the Vertical Electrical Sounding at Figure 7: Geo-electric cross-section distance around 90m in blue
distance 90 m along the profile shown in Figure 4. arrow, VES2. Cross-section shows the number of geo-electric layers,
thickness and depth of each geo-electric layer and their resistivities.
At the final stage of the exploration study, Azimuthal
Electrical Probing is applied to 8 locations (distance 90m, and IV. GRAVITY METHOD FOR GROUNDWATER
other not shown here) to determine the depths and directions EXPLORATION
of fractures. The resistivity polygon computed from the Gravity method of geophysics measures difference in the
Azimuthal Electrical Probing of distance 90m on figure 4 is Earth’s gravitational field at specific location due to the rock
presented in Figure 6. The polygon shows two episodes of mass property. The method is suitable for near surface
fractures: a northwest - southeast trending fracture at shallow groundwater exploration in areas where poorly-
depth, and a northeast-southwest trending fracture at greater consolidated/unconsolidated low-density rock overlies denser
depth. This fracture is suspected to be responsible for the very Precambrian basement rocks. Because gravity is directly
low resistivity at AB/2 of about 15m in Figure 5. Finally, related to mass, the difference between the two rock masses
electrical resistivity pseudo-sections are computed for this will produce noticeable anomaly in the earth’s gravity field. If
profile. The pseudo-section shows the number of layers, the anomaly is properly measured, it can be used to estimate
thickness of each geo-electric layers and their resistivities. the thickness of the unconsolidated rock (Chandler, 1994). In
Putting together the results of the different techniques and crystalline rock terrain, unconsolidated rock usually forms
NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 11, NO. 2, DECEMBER 2014 35
2000# 2000#
200"
semi-arid sediments (aquifer) and the bedrock (Lewis, et al,
Depth (m)
400" 400"
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