Effect of coupling noise on the interpretation of results of electromagnetic horizontal sounding and modeling

Abstract

The time variation of a source of alternating current produces an electromagnetic coupling between the transmitting and receiving systems in induced electrical polarization and resistivity surveys that employ horizontal electrical sounding. The coupling alters, sometimes significantly, the resistivity and chargeability values and, consequently, compromises the interpretation of the data. This work develops the analysis of this coupling on the time domain for both a homogeneous Earth and an Earth constituted of several homogeneous horizontal layers. Based on the results, it evaluates the theoretical variation of the voltage and compares it to observed data of an induced electrical polarization and resistivity survey with horizontal electrical sounding. The comparative study of the voltage decay curves assesses the contribution of the electromagnetic coupling to the values of the chargeability and apparent resistivity as a function of the bipole length and the period of the source current. Besides that, the respective pseudosections have delineated the horizontal and vertical variations of those two electrical properties, providing the interpretation of the geoelectrical section. This research is important for the oil industry because it may furnish information that help to: (i) define the structure of the sedimentary strata; (ii) estimate the clay content of the sandstones; and (iii) detect the possible presence of metallic sulphide halos at fractured zones of the sediments above the oil reservoir. It may be adapted to analysis of EM coupling in both resistive and induced electric well logs.