Anisotropy of Hydraulic Conductivity Investigations with Azimuthal Self Potential Measurements

We describe in this paper the theoretical background for the electrokinetics in rocks and in porous media, to be included in the special issue “Electrokinetics in Earth Sciences” of International Journal of Geophysics. We describe the methodology used for self-potential (SP) and for seismoelectromagnetic measurements, for both field and laboratory experiments and for modelling. We give a large bibliography on the studies performed in hydrology to detect at distance the water flow, to deduce the thickness of the aquifer and to predict the hydraulic conductivity. The observation of SP has also been proposed to detect fractures in boreholes, to follow the hydraulic fracturing, and to predict the earthquakes. Moreover, we detail the studies on geothermal applications.

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Estimation of hydraulic conductivity and water table map in a large-scale laboratory model by means of the self-potential method

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres ◽

10.1029/2009jb007053 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 115 (B6) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Salvatore Straface ◽

Enzo Rizzo ◽

Francesco Chidichimo

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Water Table ◽

Large Scale ◽

Potential Method ◽

The Self ◽

Laboratory Model ◽

Self Potential

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Self-Potential signals produced by pumping test of heterogeneous aquifer

Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University Earth Sciences ◽

10.21638/spbu07.2020.410 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Aleksandra A. Mikhailenko ◽

◽

Pavel K. Konosavsky ◽

Konstantin V. Titov ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hydraulic Conductivity ◽

Outer Boundary ◽

Current Source ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Pumping Test ◽

Anomalous Field ◽

Heterogeneous Aquifer ◽

Electrical Potentials ◽

Self Potential ◽

High Hydraulic Conductivity

In this paper, we presented results of interpretation of Self-Potential (SP) signals produced by pumping test experiment of heterogeneous aquifer. Heterogeneity is represented by zone with low and high hydraulic conductivity in two types of configuration: planned boundary and strip-layer. We studied five models for each type of heterogeneity with two variants of hydraulic conductivity. We carried out three-dimensional modelling with the use of Modflow (for hydraulic heads and electrical potentials) and ElSources (for current source term). We obtained SP distributions Self-Potential produced by pumping test which indicate heterogeneity. We calculated the values of the anomalous field for a detailed study of the heterogeneties. We found a correlation between SP and drawdown for the case of heterogeneity with low hydraulic conductivity. We defined the both boundaries of the strip clearly for zone with low hydraulic conductivity. The outer boundary of the strip-layer was not fixed due to the high hydraulic conductivity of the heterogeneity and low hydraulic gradient at the boundary. We estimated dependence of horizontal thickness of heterogeneity on SP distribution. The results can serve as a base for defining the heterogeneties in the aquifer.

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