Detection of fluid flow variations at the Nankai Trough by electric and magnetic measurements in boreholes or at the seafloor

Abstract

Detection of changes in the flow rate of expelled fluids in accretionary prisms by monitoring of electric and magnetic fields is discussed. A numerical model of the electric and magnetic fields associated with fluid flow variations at the Nankai Trough is presented which gives a numerical solution of the coupled system of electric convection currents and conduction currents that directly determines the magnetic anomaly itself. Measurements in a borehole located between two vents are shown to be well adapted to detection of fluid flow variations using the vertical gradient of the electric potential and the horizontal magnetic field. The vertical electric field is about 10 mV/km up to 500 m depth where there is a lithologic reflector and about 50 mV/km below this reflector. The horizontal gradient of the magnetic field is 2 nT/km at the seafloor. Modelization with a lower fault conductivity and a larger décollement thickness has also been modeled. The vertical gradient of the horizontal magnetic field is ∼5 to 15 nT/km. A variation of 3 mV and 1.5 to 3 nT at 600 m depth in a borehole could reveal a fluid flow rate variation of 20%, which is a reasonable fluid flow change based on some observations at short‐scale time. Since a 1.5 to 3 nT anomaly seems easier to detect than a 3 mV anomaly, it is likely that the variation of the magnetic field would more sensitively reveal fluid flow variations. When monitoring the magnetic field at the seafloor, a change of 0.4 nT/km in the horizontal gradient could reveal a fluid flow rate variation of 20%.