Evaluation of groundwater potentials of Orogun, South\u2013South part of Nigeria using electrical resistivity method

Sixtus Nwachukwu,Ayomide O Balogun,Rasaq Bello

doi:10.1007/s13201-019-1072-z

Sixtus Nwachukwu, Ayomide O Balogun + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1072-z

Copy DOI

Abstract

An investigation has been made of the groundwater potentials of Orogun Town, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, using electrical resistivity survey. This study motivated to determine electrical resistivity parameters of the area. The aim of this work is to use electrical resistivity method to explore the groundwater potentials of Orogun Town with the determination of its Dar Zarrouk parameters. A total of eight vertical electrical sounding (VES) were conducted with maximum electrode spacing of 150 m. The data were acquired using ABEM SAS 4000 Terrameter and processed using IPI2win and Interpex softwares. The groundwater potentials of the area are evaluated based on the longitudinal conductance (S), transverse resistance (T), coefficient of electrical anisotropy (λ), resistivity for the formation (rho_{text{m}}), reflection coefficient (RC) and resistivity contrast (FC). The results reveal four subsurface geoelectric layers in seven of the eight VES while one VES revealed three subsurface geoelectric layers. Resistivity values for all the layers in the study area are very high, higher than what is expected in a sedimentary basin as we have in the study area. The resistivity values range from 8470 Ωm (layer 1, VES 7) to 118,030,000 Ωm (layer 3, VES 8). Depth to aquifer in the study area ranged from 1.61 m (VES 2) to 12.41 m (VES 1), while resistivity values of the aquifer ranged from 64,182 Ωm (VES 3) to 118,030,000 Ωm (VES 8). The results from the formation parameters evaluated showed that the area has good groundwater potential but might have been highly contaminated, especially from hydrocarbon sources and other man-made pollutants. The suggested contamination of the aquifer is as a result of the high values of resistivity of the aquifer layers.

Highlights

Electrical resistivity survey, a geophysical survey technique, has proved to be an effective and a reliable tool in locating viable aquifers for continuous and regular water supply (Adeniji et al 2013)
According to the work of Laouini et al (2017) on the delineation of aquifers using Dar Zarrouk parameters in parts of Akwa Ibom, Niger Delta Nigeria, the results showed that the area is vulnerable to contamination due to high permeability in the aquiferous layer
The aim of this work is to carry out geoelectric investigation (VESs) in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, to study the electrical resistivity parameters of the area for groundwater exploration

Summary

Introduction

Electrical resistivity survey, a geophysical survey technique, has proved to be an effective and a reliable tool in locating viable aquifers for continuous and regular water supply (Adeniji et al 2013). This method has the advantage of nondestructive effect on the environment, cost-effective, rapid and quick survey time and less ambiguity interpretations of the results when compared to other geophysical survey methods. VESs, when combined with other geophysical methods, geologic mapping and available well data can greatly assist in the location and completion of water wells in bedrock areas of complex hydrogeology. The VES method is usually considered more suitable for the subsurface investigation of geologic environments consisting

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion