scholarly journals Modeling induced polarization effects in helicopter time domain electromagnetic data: Synthetic case studies

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. E31-E50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Viezzoli ◽  
Vladislav Kaminski ◽  
Gianluca Fiandaca

We have developed a synthetic multiparametric modeling and inversion exercise undertaken to study the robustness of inverting airborne time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) data to extract Cole-Cole parameters. The following issues were addressed: nonuniqueness, ill posedness, dependency on manual processing and the effect of constraints, and a priori information. We have used a 1D layered earth model approximation and lateral constraints. Synthetic simulations were performed for several models and the corresponding Cole-Cole parameters. The possibility to recover these models by means of laterally constrained multiparametric inversion was evaluated, including recovery of chargeability distributions from shallow and deep targets based on analysis of induced polarization (IP) effects, simulated in airborne TDEM data. Different scenarios were studied, including chargeable targets associated with the conductive and resistive environments. In particular, four generic models were considered for the exercise: a sulfide model, a kimberlite model, and two generic models focusing on the depth of investigation. Our study indicated that, in cases when relaxation time ([Formula: see text]) values are in the range to which the airborne electromagnetic is most sensitive (e.g., approximately 1 ms), it is possible to recover deep chargeable targets (to depths more than 130 m) in association with high electrical conductivity and in resistive environments. Furthermore, it was found that the recovery of a deep conductor, masked by a shallower chargeable target, became possible only when full Cole-Cole modeling was used in the inversion. Lateral constraints improved the recoverability of model parameters. Finally, modeling IP effects increased the accuracy of recovered electrical resistivity models.

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. B49-B61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislav Kaminski ◽  
Andrea Viezzoli

Induced polarization (IP) effects are becoming more evident in time-domain helicopter airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data thanks to advances in instrumentation, mainly due to improvements in the signal-to-noise ratio and hence better data quality. Although the IP effects are often manifested as negative receiver voltage values, which are easy to detect, in some cases, IP effects can distort recovered transients in other ways so they may be less obvious and require careful data analysis and processing. These effects represent a challenge for modeling and inversion of the AEM data. For proper modeling of electromagnetic transients, the chargeability of the subsurface and other parameters describing the dispersion also need to be taken into consideration. We use the Cole-Cole model to characterize the dispersion and for modeling of the IP effects in field AEM data, collected by different airborne systems over different geologies and exploration targets, including examples from diamond, gold, and base metal exploration. We determined how multiparametric inversion techniques can simultaneously recover all four Cole-Cole parameters, including resistivity [Formula: see text], chargeability [Formula: see text], relaxation time [Formula: see text], and frequency parameter [Formula: see text]. The results obtained are in good agreement with the ancillary information available. Interpretation of the IP effects in AEM data is therefore seen by the authors as providing corrected electrical resistivity distributions, as well as additional information that could assist in mineral exploration.


Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. A59-A63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Li ◽  
Guoqiang Xue ◽  
Yiming He

We have developed a scheme for decoupling the induced polarization (IP) effect from time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) data. This scheme is achieved by simultaneously sampling the resistivity and pseudochargeability in a Bayesian framework. The TDEM and IP responses are simulated separately with the sampled model parameters and then are stacked to fit the IP-affected TDEM data. Thus, the influence of the IP phenomenon is eliminated in the process of recovering the resistivity. To reduce the computational cost brought by the Bayesian sampling, we use a 2D parametrization instead of sampling the full 3D space and we use a linear perturbation approximation for calculating the IP response. The linearized inversion results are used as the initial model, and a multiple proposed points algorithm is used to accelerate the sampling. We validate the proposed method with synthetic and field examples showing that it restores accurate estimates of electrical structures from the TDEM data that are significantly affected by the IP phenomenon. Our method could advance the application of the TDEM method to the scenario in which the IP may affect the TDEM data and mask the underlying geologic targets.


Geophysics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Smith ◽  
Jan Klein

Airborne induced‐polarization (IP) measurements can be obtained with standard time‐domain airborne electromagnetic (EM) equipment, but only in the limited circumstances when the ground is sufficiently resistive that the normal EM response is small and when the polarizability of the ground is sufficiently large that the IP response can dominate the EM response. Further, the dispersion in conductivity must be within the bandwidth of the EM system. One example of what is hypothesized to be IP effects are the negative transients observed on a GEOTEM® survey in the high arctic of Canada. The dispersion in conductivity required to explain the data is very large, but is not inconsistent with some laboratory measurements. Whether the dispersion is caused by an electrolytic or dielectric polarization is not clear from the limited ground follow‐up, but in either case the polarization can be considered to be induced by eddy currents associated with the EM response of the ground. If IP effects are the cause of the negative transients in the GEOTEM data, then the data can be used to estimate the polarizabilities in the area.


Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. B13-B24 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Chaturvedi ◽  
Cas Lotter ◽  
Shailesh Tripathi ◽  
A. K. Maurya ◽  
Indrajit Patra ◽  
...  

A fracture-controlled uranium deposit was identified in Proterozoic Ajabgarh metasediments of the North Delhi Fold Belt within the Khetri subbasin at Rohil, Sikar district, Rajasthan, India. Uranium mineralization in the area is associated with geologic structures, albitization, and pyroxenization of metasediments and conductors such as metallic sulfides and carbonaceous phyllites/graphitic schists. To locate uranium mineralization akin to Rohil in nearby thick soil covered areas, this association was targeted through heliborne geophysical surveys. High-resolution heliborne magnetic and time domain electromagnetic (TEM) surveys were conducted around Rohil. The survey delineated several targets with favorable geologic structures and conductors such as graphitic schist for further uranium exploration. One favorable target near Chappar village was taken up for follow-up exploration work. The EM conductor mapped from heliborne survey was subsequently validated through ground time-domain electromagnetic surveys and subsurface exploration. Modeling of heliborne and ground-based electromagnetic data revealed the presence of subsurface conducting bodies with comparable model parameters. Drilling established the presence of a subsurface conductor up to a depth of 300 m, which was attributed to the presence of graphite and sulfides (pyrrhotite) along foliation plane of carbon phyllite/graphitic schist/quartz-biotite schist and calc-silicate rock. Further detailed laboratory investigations (petrology/X-ray diffraction) of selected core samples from the conductive zones confirmed the presence of pyrrhotite and graphite responsible for EM signature. This study, carried out by using multiparameter data sets, proved the efficacy of heliborne surveys in locating favorable targets for uranium exploration in Ajabgarh group of rocks.


Geophysics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. E213-E225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianluca Fiandaca ◽  
Esben Auken ◽  
Anders Vest Christiansen ◽  
Aurélie Gazoty

Time-domain-induced polarization has significantly broadened its field of reference during the last decade, from mineral exploration to environmental geophysics, e.g., for clay and peat identification and landfill characterization. Though, insufficient modeling tools have hitherto limited the use of time-domain-induced polarization for wider purposes. For these reasons, a new forward code and inversion algorithm have been developed using the full-time decay of the induced polarization response, together with an accurate description of the transmitter waveform and of the receiver transfer function, to reconstruct the distribution of the Cole-Cole parameters of the earth. The accurate modeling of the transmitter waveform had a strong influence on the forward response, and we showed that the difference between a solution using a step response and a solution using the accurate modeling often is above 100%. Furthermore, the presence of low-pass filters in time-domain-induced polarization instruments affects the early times of the acquired decays (typically up to 100 ms) and has to be modeled in the forward response to avoid significant loss of resolution. The developed forward code has been implemented in a 1D laterally constrained inversion algorithm that extracts the spectral content of the induced polarization phenomenon in terms of the Cole-Cole parameters. Synthetic examples and field examples from Denmark showed a significant improvement in the resolution of the parameters that control the induced polarization response when compared to traditional integral chargeability inversion. The quality of the inversion results has been assessed by a complete uncertainty analysis of the model parameters; furthermore, borehole information confirm the outcomes of the field interpretations. With this new accurate code in situ time-domain-induced polarization measurements give access to new applications in environmental and hydrogeophysical investigations, e.g., accurate landfill delineation or on the relation between Cole-Cole and hydraulic parameters.


Geophysics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 2093-2107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjetil F. Kaaresen ◽  
Tofinn Taxt

A new algorithm for simultaneous wavelet estimation and deconvolution of seismic reflection signals is given. To remove the inherent ambiguity in this blind deconvolution problem, we introduce relevant a priori information. Our major assumption is sparseness of the reflectivity, which corresponds to a layered‐earth model. This allows nonminimum‐phase wavelets to be recovered reliably and closely spaced reflectors to be resolved. To combine a priori knowledge and data, we use a Bayesian framework and derive a maximum a posteriori estimate. Computing this estimate is a difficult optimization problem solved by a suboptimal iterative procedure. The procedure alternates steps of wavelet estimation and reflectivity estimation. The first step only requires a simple least‐squares fit, while the second step is solved by the iterated window maximization algorithm proposed by Kaaresen. This enables better efficiency and optimality than established alternatives. The resulting optimization method can easily handle multichannel models with only a moderate increase of the computational load. Lateral continuity of the reflectors is achieved by modeling local dependencies between neighboring traces. Major improvements in both wavelet and reflectivity estimates are obtained by taking the wavelet to be invariant across several traces. The practicality of the algorithm is demonstrated on synthetic and real seismic data. An application to multivariate well‐log segmentation is also given.


Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. E37-E46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Huang ◽  
Changchun Yin ◽  
Colin G. Farquharson ◽  
Xiaoyue Cao ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
...  

Mainstream numerical methods for 3D time-domain airborne electromagnetic (AEM) modeling, such as the finite-difference (FDTD) or finite-element (FETD) methods, are quite mature. However, these methods have limitations in terms of their ability to handle complex geologic structures and their dependence on quality meshing of the earth model. We have developed a time-domain spectral-element (SETD) method based on the mixed-order spectral-element (SE) approach for space discretization and the backward Euler (BE) approach for time discretization. The mixed-order SE approach can contribute an accurate result by increasing the order of polynomials and suppress spurious solutions. The BE method is an unconditionally stable technique without limitations on time steps. To deal with the rapid variation of the fields close to the AEM transmitting loop, we separate a secondary field from the primary field and simulate the secondary field only, for which the primary field is calculated in advance. To obtain a block diagonal mass matrix and hence minimize the number of nonzero elements in the system of equations to be solved, we apply Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre integral techniques of reduced order. A direct solver is then adopted for the system of equations, which allows for efficient treatment of the multiple AEM sources. To check the accuracy of our SETD algorithm, we compare our results with the semianalytical solution for a layered earth model. Then, we analyze the modeling accuracy and efficiency for different 3D models using deformed physical meshes and compare them against results from 3D FETD codes, to further show the flexibility of SETD for AEM forward modeling.


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