scholarly journals Application of Combined Geophysical Methods for the Examination of a Water Dam Subsoil

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 2981
Author(s):  
Tomisław Gołębiowski ◽  
Bogdan Piwakowski ◽  
Michał Ćwiklik ◽  
Antoni Bojarski

The paper presents the results of geophysical measurements that were carried out in the vicinity of the water dam/water reservoir supplying the city of Bielsko-Biala with drinking water. The measurements were performed in order to non-invasively detect faults, fractured zones and areas filled with breccia, which may be, at the same time, a preferential path of groundwater flow. The aforementioned factors influence the stability of the dam. The general identification of the examined media was realized by the electrical resistivity tomography method. The ERT surveys were supplemented by capacitively-coupled resistivity. The electrical methods allowed them to recognize geological settings, indicate possible fault locations, and point out the fault plane as a path of water flow. The ground penetrating radar method detected fractured and filled water areas and underground water paths in the dam’s forefield as a result of the method’s very high resolution. The high resolution seismic reflection method provided a clear and high resolution image of the relatively deep geological structure and verified a location and the run of the faults. In general, the complex geophysical-geological interpretation enabled classification of the unconsolidated/fractured zones associated with faults as a place where the erosion process is the most intense and can bring danger on the dam. Finally, it was confirmed that the area should be the subject of geophysical monitoring.

Geophysics ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuneo Imai ◽  
Toshihiko Sakayama ◽  
Takashi Kanemori

In Japan, geophysical methods are normally used to estimate the distribution of cultural relics before digging. Objects of archaeological interest are usually located within a few meters of the surface. Therefore, geophysical methods suitable for archaeological exploration are those which provide high resolution at shallow depths. The most commonly used geophysical methods are ground‐probing radar, resistivity, and magnetometry. Of these methods, we used mainly ground‐probing radar and resistivity surveys in archaeological investigations at four sites. Three of the sites were in Gumma Prefecture (Japan); they were covered with volcanic deposits (loam or pumice). Using ground‐probing radar, we were able to locate ancient dwellings, burial mounds, and a distribution of archaeologically significant “culture layers.” At the other site, in Nara Prefecture, we located part of the remains of an ancient city. In this investigation, the resistivity method and ground‐probing radar were combined to determine the location of an underground water course within the ancient city.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Cygal ◽  
Michał Stefaniuk ◽  
Anna Kret

AbstractThis article presents the results of an integrated interpretation of measurements made using Audio-Magnetotellurics and Seismic Reflection geophysical methods. The obtained results were used to build an integrated geophysical model of shallow subsurface cover consisting of Cenozoic deposits, which then formed the basis for a detailed lithological and tectonic interpretation of deeper Mesozoic sediments. Such shallow covers, consisting mainly of glacial Pleistocene deposits, are typical for central and northern Poland. This investigation concentrated on delineating the accurate geometry of Obrzycko Cenozoic graben structure filled with loose deposits, as it was of great importance to the acquisition, processing and interpretation of seismic data that was to reveal the tectonic structure of the Cretaceous and Jurassic sediments which underly the study area. Previously, some problems with estimation of seismic static corrections over similar grabens filled with more recent, low-velocity deposits were encountered. Therefore, a novel approach to estimating the exact thickness of such shallow cover consisting of low-velocity deposits was applied in the presented investigation. The study shows that some alternative geophysical data sets (such as magnetotellurics) can be used to significantly improve the imaging of geological structure in areas where seismic data are very distorted or too noisy to be used alone


Geophysics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donat Demanet ◽  
François Renardy ◽  
Kris Vanneste ◽  
Denis Jongmans ◽  
Thierry Camelbeeck ◽  
...  

As part of a paleoseismological investigation along the Bree fault scarp (western border of the Roer Graben), various geophysical methods [electrical profiling, electromagnetic (EM) profiling, refraction seismic tests, electrical tomography, ground‐penetrating radar (GPR), and high‐resolution reflection seismic profiles] were used to locate and image an active fault zone in a depth range between a few decimeters to a few tens of meters. These geophysical investigations, in parallel with geomorphological and geological analyses, helped in the decision to locate trench excavations exposing the fault surfaces. The results could then be checked with the observations in four trenches excavated across the scarp. Geophysical methods pointed out anomalies at all sites of the fault position. The contrast of physical properties (electrical resistivity and permittivity, seismic velocity) observed between the two fault blocks is a result of a differences in the lithology of the juxtaposed soil layers and of a change in the water table depth across the fault. Extremely fast techniques like electrical and EM profiling or seismic refraction profiles localized the fault position within an accuracy of a few meters. In a second step, more detailed methods (electrical tomography and GPR) more precisely imaged the fault zone and revealed some structures that were observed in the trenches. Finally, one high‐resolution reflection seismic profile imaged the displacement of the fault at depths as large as 120 m and filled the gap between classical seismic reflection profiles and the shallow geophysical techniques. Like all geophysical surveys, the quality of the data is strongly dependent on the geologic environment and on the contrast of the physical properties between the juxtaposed formations. The combined use of various geophysical techniques is thus recommended for fault mapping, particularly for a preliminary investigation when the geological context is poorly defined.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianhua Zhang ◽  
Shiduo Yang ◽  
Chandramani Shrivastava ◽  
Adrian A ◽  
Nadege Bize-Forest

Abstract With the advancement of LWD (Logging While Drilling) hardware and acquisition, the imaging technology becomes not only an indispensable part of the drilling tool string, but also the image resolution increases to map layers and heterogeneity features down to less than 5mm scale. This shortens the geological interpretation turn-around time from wireline logging time (hours to days after drilling) to semi-real time (drilling time or hours after drilling). At the same time, drilling motion is complex. The depth tracking is on the surface referenced to the surface block movement. The imaging sensor located downhole can be thousands of feet away from the surface. Mechanical torque and drag, wellbore friction, wellbore temperature and weight on bit can make the downhole sensor movement motion not synchronized with surface pipe depth. This will cause time- depth conversion step generate image artifacts that either stop real-time interpretation of geological features or mis-interpret features on high resolution images. In this paper, we present several LWD images featuring distortion mechanism during the drilling process using synthetic data. We investigated how heave, depth reset and downhole sensor stick/slip caused image distortions. We provide solutions based on downhole sensor pseudo velocity computation to minimize the image distortion. The best practice in using Savitsky-Golay filter are presented in the discussion sections. Finally, some high-resolution LWD images distorted with drilling-related artifacts and processed ones are shown to demonstrate the importance of image post-processing. With the proper processed images, we can minimize interpretation risks and make drilling decisions with more confidence.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enzo Rizzo ◽  
Luigi Capozzoli ◽  
Gregory De Martino ◽  
Giacomo Fornasari ◽  
Valeria Giampaolo

<p>Carbonate aquifers in karst systems are very important water reservoir and are recognized as the most difficult to characterize. The purpose of this article is to present a project aimed to understand the circulation of fluids in carbonate reservoirs through innovative hydrogeophysical methodologies both in the laboratory and in the field. The test site is located in the Castel di Lepre karst system, which is disposed in the Mezo-Cenozoic carbonate substratum of the Monti della Maddalena ridge (Southern Appenines). In the karst area are located several caves, but the presence of an artificial tunnel (disused railway tunnel) could give the opportunity to characterize the whole area and the fluid circulation by multisensors geophysical sensors installed inside the karst aquifer. This natural laboratory permits to define an Applied Geophysics strategy developing several main topics from an engineering to hydrogeological point of view. Firstly, the geophysical investigations conducted, without altering the structure and in a fast manner, obtains important information concerning the construction of the tunnel, and the interaction between the infrastructure and surrounding rock, in that area that we define infrastructural critical zone. The study conducted aims to highlight the potential and any limitations of the use of geophysical techniques applied to infrastructures, emphasizing the emerging role of urban geophysics for the importance and topicality of its contents as well as the important innovations that the use of these techniques they can contribute to the hazardous processes. Secondly, the geophysical methods are used as a tool to characterize the fluid circulation by hydrogeophysal sensors installed inside the karst aquifer. The hydrogeophysics arose as an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the improved understanding of hydrological processes through geophysical observation. These approaches aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of environmental problems.</p>


Geofluids ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Maćkowski ◽  
Anna Sowiżdżał ◽  
Anna Wachowicz-Pyzik

The geothermal waters constitute a specific type of water resources, very important from the point of view of their thermal energy potential. This potential, when utilized, supplies an ecological and renewable energy, which, after effective development, brings many environmental, social, and industrial benefits. The key element of any geothermal investment is the proper location of geothermal installation, which would guarantee the relevant hydrogeothermal parameters of the water intake. Hence, many studies and analyses are carried out in order to characterize the reservoir parameters, including the integrated geophysical methods. For decades, the geophysical surveys have been the trusty recognition methods of geological structure and petrophysical parameters of rock formations. Thus, they are widely applied by petroleum industry in exploration of conventional and unconventional (shale gas/oil, tight gas) hydrocarbon deposits. Advances in geophysical methods extended their applicability to many other scientific and industrial branches as, e.g., the seismic survey used in studies of geothermal aquifers. The following paper presents the opportunities provided by seismic methods applied to studies of geothermal resources in the central Poland where the geothermal waters are reservoired in both the Lower Cretaceous and the Lower Jurassic sedimentary successions. The presented results are obtained from a network of seismic profiles. An important advantage of the seismic survey is that they may support the selection of an optimal location of geothermal investment and determination of the geometry of geothermal aquifer. Furthermore, the application of geophysical methods can significantly contribute to the reduction of estimation error of groundwater reservoir temperature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-216
Author(s):  
N.P. Yusubov ◽  
I.S. Guliyev

The high degree of knowledge of the upper horizons of the sedimentary cover of the Middle and South Caspian depressions, given an insufficient increase in hydrocarbon reserves, leads to the need for a detailed approach to the search for oil and gas deposits in deep-seated sediments (over 6 km). During the geological interpretation of new highly informative seismic data, as well as data of deep drilling and petrological core studies, there were revealed obvious shortcomings in the concepts of the origin and evolution of the Middle and South Caspian depressions. These ideas misinterpret evolution, especially the South Caspian Basin, which is characterized by a number of unique features: very thick sedimentary cover (up to 22 km), extremely high sedimentation rate, low heat flow and reservoir temperatures, abnormally high pore and reservoir pressures, high clay content of the section, etc. The main purpose of the study was to elucidate the regional structure and features of the dissection of the sedimentary cover of the Middle and South Caspian depressions, the conditions of occurrence and distribution of facies and thicknesses of individual complexes of deposits. The paper analyzes the results of some previous studies of the geological structure of the Middle and South Caspian depressions based on the data of deep seismic sounding, seismological and gravimetric observations. We consider the main conclusions of these studies, about the geological structure of the sedimentary complex of the region’s, very outdated and subject to revision. The results of seismic stratigraphic analysis of seismic data allowed the authors to identify new data about the tectonic structure and express a completely different point of view regarding the structure of the sedimentary cover in the region. The work also touches on the issue associated with the tectonics of the region and the alleged subduction zone here.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-134
Author(s):  
T. R. Akhmedov ◽  
T. Kh. Niyazov

The article is devoted to the elucidation of the nature of the wave field recorded below the supporting-dominant seismic horizon «P» in the Middle Kura depression of Azerbaijan. A brief overview of the work carried out here is given; it is indicated that some geologists and geophysicists of our country, in our opinion, mistakenly assume that the observed wave field below the specified horizon is formed mainly by multiple reflections. Since the introduction of the common depth point method into the practice of seismic exploration, individual areas of the Middle Kura depression in Azerbaijan, including the Yevlakh-Agjabedi trough, have been repeatedly studied with varying degrees of frequency tracking. On the basis of this, a fairly large number of promising structures have been identified and mapped. But the structure of the Mesozoic, in particular the deposits of the Upper Cretaceous, still remains insufficiently studied. The study of the geological structure of the Mesozoic sediments, which are considered promising in terms of oil and gas content, is an urgent geological task; exploration work was carried out in the studied areas of the Middle Kura depression using a complex of geophysical methods at the modern technical and methodological level and new results were obtained. The constructed seismic sections show a dynamically pronounced and well-traceable seismic horizon corresponding to the Mesozoic surface and located deeper than it, relatively weak, short, discontinuous reflective boundaries that characterize the structure within the Mesozoic deposits. The studies carried out on the basis of modeling and velocity analysis made it possible to prove that the wave field in the time interval corresponding to the Mesozoic deposits owes its origin to intermittent single reflections from volcanic-carbonate deposits of the Upper Cretaceous age.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document