Subject 14: Survey design and procedure

Lecturer: Dr. Bakhtiar Q. Aziz

Objective: The student will learn how to make a complete scientific plan for a
resistivity survey in the field and how to select a suitable field design for a certain
problem. Two field procedures are explain to the students, profiling mode and
sounding mode.
Scientific contents
1- Vertical electrical sounding.

1- lateral profiling.

3- Profiling-sounding mode.

References

1. Applied and environmental geophysics, 1999, Sharma,V.,P.

2. Introduction to geophysical prospecting, 1988, Durbin, M. B.
3. www.Geophysics.net
4. www.hager-richter.com/resistivity.htm
5. www.geovision.com/PDF/M_Resistivity.pdf
Electrode Spread (Array type)
C1 P1 P2 C2
1- Wenner Array a a a
Surface

C1 P1 P2 C2
2- Schlumberger Array r r r Surface

C1 C2 P2 P1
a na a Surface
3- Dipole-Dipole Array

C1 P1 P2 C2
4- Pole-Dipole Array a na 

C1 P1 P2 C2
5- Pole-Pole Array
a 
 C1 P1 P2 C2
6- Gradient Array a Surface

P0
C1 P1 P2 C2
7- Lee-partition Array ½a ½a
a a Surface

C2 P2
a
C1 a P1 a
a
8- Square Array
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Wenner and Schlumberger Arrays
The following table lists some of the strengths and weaknesses of
Schlumberger and Wenner sounding methods.

Schlumberger Wenner
Advantage Disadvantage Advantage Disadvantage
Need to move the two
potential electrodes only
for most readings. This All four electrodes, two current and
can significantly two potential must be moved to
decrease the time acquire each reading.
required to acquire a
sounding.
Because the potential Potential electrode
electrode spacing is small spacing increases as
compared to the current current electrode
electrode spacing, for large spacing increases.
current electrode spacings Less sensitive
very sensitive voltmeters are voltmeters are
required. required.
Because all electrodes are moved for
Because the potential
each reading, this method can be more
electrodes remain in
susceptible to near-surface, lateral,
fixed location, the
variations in resistivity. These near-
effects of near-surface
surface lateral variations could
lateral variations in
potentially be misinterpreted in terms
resistivity are reduced.
of depth variations in resistivity.
In general, interpretations
based on DC soundings will In general, interpretations based on
be limited to simple, DC soundings will be limited to simple,
horizontally layered horizontally layered structures.
structures.
Survey Design and Procedure
Survey design depends on the specific characteristics of the site and the objective of the
survey. The three most common modes of electrical resistivity surveying are profiling,
sounding, and profiling-sounding, each having its own specific purpose. If the purpose
of the survey is to map the depths and thickness of stratigraphic units, then the
electrical resistivity data should be collected in the sounding mode. Lateral electrical
resistivity contrasts, such as lithologic contacts, can best be mapped in the profiling
mode. In cases where the electrical resistivity is expected to vary both vertically and
horizontally, such as in contaminant plume mapping, the preferred mode is profile
sounding.
1- Sounding Mode
As we've already shown, the resistivity method can detect variations in resistivity that
occur solely in depth. In fact, this method is most commonly applied to look for
variations in resistivity with depth. Surveys that are designed to determine resistivity
variations with depth above some fixed surface location are referred to as resistivity
soundings. In these experiments, electrode spacing is varied for each measurement.
The center of the electrode array, where the electrical potential is measured, however,
remains fixed. An example of a problem for which one might employ resistivity
soundings is the determination of the depth to water table
The two most common arrays for electrical resistivity surveying in the sounding mode
are the Schlumberger and Wenner arrays. Electrode geometry for both arrays is shown
in Figure below.
Increasing the separation of the outer current electrodes, thereby driving the currents
deeper into the subsurface increases the depth of exploration.
 Wenner Sounding Schlumberger Sounding
VES-1 VES-1
a=1m AB/2=1.5, MN/2=0.5

a=2m AB/2=2, MN/2=0.5

a=3m AB/2=3, MN/2=0.5

a=4m AB/2=4, MN/2=0.5

a=5m AB/2=5, MN/2=0.5

AB/2=5, MN/2=1
Data Table
Data Table
a,m R ρa
AB/2 R ρa
1
1.5
2
2
3
3
4
4
ρa Field Curve ρa Field Curve

a,m AB/2
2- Profiling Mode
The two most common arrays for electrical resistivity surveying in the profiling mode are
the Wenner and dipole-dipole arrays. The electrode geometry for the Wenner array is
the same as the sounding mode — the difference is that in profiling mode the entire
array is moved laterally along the profile while maintaining the potential and current
electrode separation distances.

The electrode geometry for the dipole-dipole array is shown in Figure below. In the
profiling mode, the distance between the potential and current dipoles (a dipole consists
of a pair of like electrodes) is maintained while the array is moved along the profile.
As was mentioned on the previous page, the data collected from resistivity soundings is
usually interpretable only for horizontally stratified structures. If you are employing
resistivity methods to find vertical structures, one would typically use resistivity profiles
instead of resistivity soundings.
As described previously, resistivity profiles are resistivity surveys in which the electrode
spacing is fixed for all readings. Apparent resistivity is computed for different electrode
center points as the electrode spread is moved. Usually the center point is moved along
the line of the electrodes, although this does not have to be the case. Shown below is a
geological structure involving a vertical boundary between a higher resistivity material to
the left and a lower resistivity material to the right. Below the geological model is the
apparent resistivity you would observe using a Wenner array as the array is moved from
left to right. Note that the distance shown along the bottom of this plot is the distance
between the vertical fault and the current electrode farthest to the left of the array.
 Profiling by Wenner array

a= 5 m
1 2 3 4 5 6 Profile-1
1 2 3 4 5 6 Profile-2
1 2 3 4 5 6
Profile-3

Data Table
St. R ρa
1
2
3
4
ρa Field Curve

St. (Distance ,m)

3- Profiling-Sounding Mode
As in the profiling mode, the Wenner and dipole-dipole arrays are the most common
arrays used in the profiling sounding mode. As the name implies, this mode is a
combination of the profiling and sounding modes.
In the Wenner array the typical field procedure is to collect the data in a succession of
profiles, each having a different electrode separation. The resulting data therefore
contains information about the lateral and vertical electrical resistivity variations.
(3) (2) (1)