Magnetic resonance sounding: Enhanced modeling of a phase shift

Abstract

Magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) is a geophysical method for noninvasive groundwater investigation. A wire loop on the surface is energized by a pulse of oscillating current. After the pulse is cut off, the free induction decay signal from groundwater is measured with the same loop. The Larmor frequency depends on the Earth’s magnetic field and varies between 800 and 2800 Hz around the world. Available mathematical models assume that the geomagnetic field is constant and the pulse frequency is equal to the Larmor frequency. These assumptions allow calculation of the phase shift of the signal caused by only the electrical conductivity of the subsurface. However, the existing models are simplified. The Earth’s magnetic field may be locally modified by rocks and often is not homogeneous over the volume investigated by MRS. It may also vary in time. A nonconstant geomagnetic field is changing the Larmor frequency at 1 to 5 Hz during one sounding, whilst the pulse frequency is set in the beginning of the sounding. Under these conditions, the assumption of zero frequency offset between the pulse frequency and the Larmor frequency is often unsound. The nonzero frequency offset causes a phase shift in the MRS signal comparable with the shift caused by electrically conductive rocks. For increasing the accuracy of phase shift modeling, and enhanced mathematical model in which the frequency offset is taken into account has been developed. With the enhanced model, the phase of the MRS signal can be calculated with better accuracy. Field measurements reveal a good correlation between experimental and theoretical signals.