Use of magnetotelluric signals from 50 Hz power lines for resistivity mapping of geothermal fields in New Zealand

Abstract

Electromagnetic (EM) fields radiated from the transmission lines of the New Zealand electricity grid have been digitally recorded at test sites near the Tokaanu geothermal field. Amplitudes and phases of the 50 Hz signals (and the odd harmonics up to 450 Hz) were determined using a software implementation of a phase‐locked filter. These data were then analysed to determine the components of the magnetotelluric impedance tensor and the corresponding apparent resistivities and phases. At most sites, there was sufficient variation in the elliptical polarization of the EM fields to enable the impedance tensors to be determined in full. Sites where the EM data had been affected by near‐source effects were identified by having large vertical magnetic field components and by being closer to a power line source than about 3–5 skin depths. With the test measurements, the north‐eastern part of the Tokaanu geothermal field was successfully delineated giving low resistivities (< 5 Ωm) on the inside and higher resistivities on the outside, in agreement with the Schlumberger array DC apparent resistivities. The small size of the 50 Hz magnetotelluric equipment and its portable nature make this method of resistivity measurement suitable for reconnaissance resistivity mapping in places with difficult access.