Self-potential Method Research Articles

An analytical effective excess charge density model to predict the streaming potential generated by unsaturated flow

The self-potential (SP) method is a passive geophysical method that relies on the measurement of naturally occurring electrical field. One of the contributions to the SP signal is the streaming potential, which is of particular interest in hydrogeophysics as it is directly related to both the water flow and porous medium properties. The streaming current is generated by the relative displacement of an excess of electrical charges located in the electrical double layer surrounding the minerals of the porous media. In this study, we develop a physically based analytical model to estimate the effective excess charge density dragged by the water flow under partially saturated conditions. The proposed model is based on the assumption that the porous media can be represented by a bundle of tortuous capillary tubes with a fractal pore size distribution. The excess charge that is effectively dragged by the water flow is estimated using a flux averaging approach. Under these hypotheses, this new model describes the effective excess charge density as a function of saturation and relative permeability while also depending on the chemical and interface properties, and on petrophysical parameters of the media. The expression of the model has an analytical single closed-form which is consistent with a previous model developed from a different approach. The performance of the proposed model is then tested against previous models and different sets of laboratory and field data from the literature. The predictions of the proposed model fits fairly well the experimental data and shows improvements to estimate the magnitude of the effective excess charge density over the previous models. This new model proposes a simple and efficient way to model the streaming current generation for partially saturated porous media.

Self-potential mapping using an autonomous underwater vehicle for the Sunrise deposit, Izu-Ogasawara arc, southern Japan

We performed a simultaneous survey of self-potential and plume turbidity using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) above the Sunrise deposit in the Myojin Knoll caldera of the Izu-Ogasawara arc. A 10-m-long electrode rod, on which five electrodes referenced with a common electrode were mounted, was connected at the tail of an AUV. The survey was conducted at a typical speed of 2 knots, covering the 1500 m × 1500 m area with a typical spacing of survey lines of 100 m. With AUV altitude of 100 m above the seafloor, a negative self-potential anomaly of a few millivolts was observed. The self-potential anomaly was found to spread 300 m × 300 m. The self-potential is probably attributable to the geo-battery mechanism: electric current is generated by redox reactions occurring around an ore body crossing a redox contrast. Assuming that the source of the self-potential is an electric current dipole, we can image a southward-dipping dipole with the moment of approximately 103 A m, approx. 30 m below the southern part of the ore deposit. Anomalies of turbidity, which are correlated to ambient temperature and which are signatures of discharged hydrothermal fluids, were distributed more broadly than the self-potential. Some turbidity anomalies were found without self-potential anomalies. They were probably transported by the ocean current. Spatial decoupling between the self-potential and turbidity anomalies suggests that the direct contribution of hydrothermal fluids to the self-potential anomalies is probably a secondary effect. The survey altitude of 100 m and the survey speed of 2 knots in the present study represent practical limitations for the self-potential survey when active hydrothermal fields are targeted. We have observed that the self-potential method responds exclusively to the presence of hydrothermal ore deposits. This behavior differs from other methods for exploring seafloor hydrothermal ore deposits: The geomagnetic method responds not only to ore deposits but also to volcanic bodies. The plume method can detect remote hydrothermal activities, but the source locations are not necessarily specified. The self-potential method is useful as an excellent exploration tool, particularly for initial surveys.

Self-potential near surface and subsurface Investigation for soil and ground water in Farming land nearby Quldara Village /Northeast Kirtuk/Nothern Iraq

Near surface soil and subsurface self-potential investigations were carried out in farming land nearby Quldara Village/Northeast Kikruk town about 15 km at area about 63000 m2. Nine soil samples has been taken to determine texture, organic materials percentage , PH, electric conductivity Ec and electric resistivity in the laboratory. Geophysical Self-potential method survey applied through six lines, the separation was teen meters between the electrodes of the employed instrument and teen measurement points has been taken , each line was 100 m. The self-potential data processed and presented as profiles and contour maps. Soil analysis proved that it is composed of homogeneous sandy clayey silt with normal content of organic materials and salt with moderate acidity, it is suitable for crop growin. Self-potential data interpretations indicated that the possibility of ground water in the study area

Correlation of Self Potential and Ground Magnetic Survey Techniques to Investigate Fluid Seepage in Archaeological site, Sungai Batu, Lembah Bujang, Kedah, Malaysia

One of the substantial of geophysics is to investigate the subsurface condition of the earth (groundwater) using appropriate geophysical techniques. In this research the correlation of self potential (SP) and ground magnetic methods was used to investigate fluid seepage in Archaeological site, Sungai Batu, Lembah Bujang, Kedah, Malaysia. Self-potential method was used to determine flow of water, and Ground magnetic method was used to find object that can influence the result of self potential measurement and the aquifer depth, the lines were spread 0m ≤ x ≤ 9m, 0m ≤ y ≤ 30m with a trace intervals of 1.5m and 0.75m per electrode spacing respectively. The result display by Self Potential signals gives a clear understand that water flow from higher value (central) towards the lower value which is mostly at the southwest part than other areas and distinct level of feasible flow at different part ranges from -30mV to +35mV,which are very related to seepage flow patterns, negative SP anomalies were related with subsurface seepage flow paths (recharge zone) and positive SP anomalies were related with areas of seepage outflow (discharge zone); and Ground Magnetic signals shows good details of the buried materials with high magnetic values which was interpreted as baked clay bricks and low magnetic values indicate groundwater seepage with depth of 5m. Therefore, the two results have correlation significant at 0.8 which show good correlation in groundwater investigation in this study, which validates the results.

Movement of Water Flux through Unsaturated Zones:A Transient Impact on <i>in situ</i> Potential Field

Attempts were made to understand moisture movement in soil and unsaturated zones under a transient saturation phase created through an infiltration test using conventional self-potential (SP) survey and supportive studies of resistivity profiling and tracer, over a granite terrain having coarse sandy soil cover. The SP behaviour at various time intervals of infiltration stages qualitatively indicated a preferential soil moisture movement after an initial vertical downward movement at deeper depths. As inferred from the SP survey, tracer and conventional resistivity profiling studies substantiate the flow direction by means of highest concentration of tritium content in deep soil cores and significant reduction in apparent resistivity along the direction. The results demonstrate that the SP method could be a useful tool to understand the rainfall recharge process and in surface-induced contamination studies.

The Application of 2-D Resistivity and Self Potential (SP) Methods in Determining the Water Flow

Existence of water flow at urban area will decrease the shear strength and increase hydraulic conductivity of soil which finally caused subsurface problems at this area. To avoid landslide, slope instability and disturbance of the ecosystem, good and detailed planning must be done when developing hilly area. The understanding about geological condition has to be considering before construction activities be done. Six 2-D resistivity survey lines with minimum 5 m electrode spacing were executed using Pole-dipole array. The field investigation such as borehole was carried out at multiple locations in the area where the 2-D resistivity method have been conducted. The directions and intensities of the water were evaluated with self-potential (SP) method. Subsequently, the results from borehole were used to verify the results of electrical resistivity method. Interpretation of 2-D resistivity data showed a low resistivity value (< 40 ohm-m), which appears to be a zone that is fully saturated with sandy silt and this could be an influence factor the increasing water level because sandy silt is highly permeable in nature. The borehole, support the results of 2-D resistivity method relating a saturated zone in the survey area. There is a good correlation between the 2-D resistivity investigations and the results of borehole records.

Analysis of Self-Potential Response beyond the Fixed Geometry Technique

The self-potential (SP) method is one of the oldest geophysical methods that are still available for today’s application. Since its early days SP data interpretation has been done qualitatively until the emerging of the fixed geometry analysis that was used to characterize the orientation and the electric-dipole properties of a mineral ore structure. Through the expansion of fundamental theories, computational methods, field-and-lab experiments in the last fifteen years, SP method has emerge from its low-class reputation to become more respectable. It became a complementary package alongside electric-resistivity tomography (ERT) for detecting groundwater flow in the subsurface, and extends to the hydrothermal flow in geothermal areas. As the analysis of SP data becomes more quantitative, its potential applications become more diverse. In this paper, we will show examples of our current SP studies such as the groundwater flow characterization inside a fault area. Lastly we will introduce the application of the "active" SP method - that is the seismoelectric method - which can be used for 4D real-time monitoring systems.

A study on the variation of zeta potential with mineral composition of rocks and types of electrolyte

Streaming potential in rocks is the electrical potential developing when an ionic fluid flows through the pores of rocks. The zeta potential is a key parameter of streaming potential and it depends on many parameters such as the mineral composition of rocks, fluid properties, temperature etc. Therefore, the zeta potential is different for various rocks and liquids. In this work, streaming potential measurements are performed for five rock samples saturated with six different monovalent electrolytes. From streaming potential coefficients, the zeta potential is deduced. The experimental results are then explained by a theoretical model. From the model, the surface site density for different rocks and the binding constant for different cations are found and they are in good agreement with those reported in literature. The result also shows that (1) the surface site density of Bentheim sandstone mostly composed of silica is the largest of five rock samples; (2) the binding constant is almost the same for a given cation but it increases in the order KMe(Na+) &lt; KMe(K+) &lt; KMe(Cs+) for a given rock.References Corwin R. F., Hoovert D.B., 1979. The self-potential method in geothermal exploration. Geophysics 44, 226-245. Dove P.M., Rimstidt J.D., 1994. Silica-Water Interactions. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 29, 259-308. Glover P.W.J., Walker E., Jackson M., 2012. Streaming-potential coefficient of reservoir rock: A theoretical model. Geophysics, 77, D17-D43. Ishido T. and Mizutani H., 1981. Experimental and theoretical basis of electrokinetic phenomena in rock-water systems and its applications to geophysics. Journal of Geophysical Research, 86, 1763-1775. Jackson M., Butler A., Vinogradov J., 2012. Measurements of spontaneous potential in chalk with application to aquifer characterization in the southern UK: Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology &amp; Hydrogeology, 45, 457-471. Jouniaux L. and T. Ishido, 2012. International Journal of Geophysics. Article ID 286107, 16p. Doi:10.1155/2012/286107. Kim S.S., Kim H.S., Kim S.G., Kim W.S., 2004. Effect of electrolyte additives on sol-precipitated nano silica particles. Ceramics International 30, 171-175. Kirby B.J. and Hasselbrink E.F., 2004. Zeta potential of microfluidic substrates: 1. Theory, experimental techniques, and effects on separations. Electrophoresis, 25, 187-202. Kosmulski M., and Dahlsten D., 2006. High ionic strength electrokinetics of clay minerals. Colloids and Surfaces, A: Physicocemical and Engineering Aspects, 291, 212-218. Lide D.R., 2009, Handbook of chemistry and physics, 90th edition: CRC Press. Luong Duy Thanh, 2014. Electrokinetics in porous media, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Luong Duy Thanh and Sprik R., 2016a. Zeta potential in porous rocks in contact with monovalent and divalent electrolyte aqueous solutions, Geophysics, 81, D303-D314. Luong Duy Thanh and Sprik R., 2016b. Permeability dependence of streaming potential coefficient in porous media. Geophysical Prospecting, 64, 714-725. Luong Duy Thanh and Sprik R., 2016c. Laboratory Measurement of Microstructure Parameters of Porous Rocks. VNU Journal of Science: Mathematics-Physics 32, 22-33. Mizutani H., Ishido T., Yokokura T., Ohnishi S., 1976. Electrokinetic phenomena associated with earthquakes. Geophysical Research Letters, 3, 365-368. Ogilvy A.A., Ayed M.A., Bogoslovsky V.A., 1969. Geophysical studies of water leakage from reservoirs. Geophysical Prospecting, 17, 36-62. Onsager L., 1931. Reciprocal relations in irreversible processes. I. Physical Review, 37, 405-426. Revil A. and Glover P.W.J., 1997. Theory of ionic-surface electrical conduction in porous media. Physical Review B, 55, 1757-1773. Scales P.J., 1990. Electrokinetics of the muscovite mica-aqueous solution interface. Langmuir, 6, 582-589. Behrens S.H. and Grier D.G., 2001. The charge of glass and silica surfaces. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 115, 6716-6721. Stern O., 1924. Zurtheorieder electrolytischendoppelschist. Z. Elektrochem, 30, 508-516. Tchistiakov A.A., 2000. Physico-chemical aspects of clay migration and injectivity decrease of geothermal clastic reservoirs: Proceedings World Geothermal Congress, 3087-3095. Wurmstich B., Morgan F.D., 1994. Modeling of streaming potential responses caused by oil well pumping. Geophysics, 59, 46-56.

The Application of Self-Potential Method on Top of Water Surface for the Detection of Karst Leakage Channel in the Morbid Reservoir

As a result of karst development, water leakage from reservoirs and waste water leakage from mine tailings impoundments often occur in karst region of southwestem China. The geophysical prospecting methods commonly used in the investigation of karst leakage passage are mostly located in the dam, abutment and other land of the reservoir area, which are fail to detect and evaluate the karst collapse at the bottom of the reservoir directly. This will result that the effect of detection and governance are often poor. This paper takes the detection of karst leakage passage beside culvert of the first class hydropower station in Jinjihe reservoir in North Guangxi as an example, studying the principle, field working method and detection effect of detecting karst leakage passage in reservoir by self-potential method on the water. Outcropping formation in the study area mainly consist by the limestone clipped dolomite, dolomitic limestone of Devonian Liujiang formation (D3L) and dolomite, limestone, argillaceous limestone of the Devonian Donggangling order (D2d). The hidden karst is secondary development. That outlet pipe of the first class hydropower station in the district releases water can cause a strong negative center regional field of self-potential on the water. By dividing the regional field of self-potential on the water using the circumferential mean method and calculating the residual local anomaly separate 6 secondary negative center residual local anomaly of self-potential on the water covered by a strong regional field like an equiaxed or elliptical shape. After check in the reservoir by the diver, the 6 negative center residual local anomaly zone correspond to karst collapse, karst opening or leaking skylight at the bottom of the reservoir. Among them, the negative center residual local anomaly like an equiaxed shape near the survey points 46-48 of line 16 correspond to the largest karst collapse at the bottom of the reservoir. Through the simple connected experiment of internal and external water and the engineering geological drilling, the effect of geophysical anomaly detection is good. The self-potential method on the water can be used in the investigation of karst geological problems, such as the emergency on the water of the karst sick reservoir, and the rapid delineation of the range of the shallow karst leakage passage.

Marine self-potential survey for exploring seafloor hydrothermal ore deposits

We conducted a self-potential survey at an active hydrothermal field, the Izena hole in the mid-Okinawa Trough, southern Japan. This field is known to contain Kuroko-type massive sulphide deposits. This survey measured the self-potential continuously in ambient seawater using a deep-tow array, which comprises an electrode array with a 30-m-long elastic rod and a stand-alone data acquisition unit. We observed negative self-potential signals not only above active hydrothermal vents and visible sulphide mounds but also above the flat seafloor without such structures. Some signals were detectable >50 m above the seafloor. Analysis of the acquired data revealed these signals’ source as below the seafloor, which suggests that the self-potential method can detect hydrothermal ore deposits effectively. The self-potential survey, an easily performed method for initial surveys, can identify individual sulphide deposits from a vast hydrothermal area.

A self-potential investigation of submarine massive sulfides: Palinuro Seamount, Tyrrhenian Sea

The self-potential (SP) method detects naturally occurring electric fields, which may be produced by electrically conductive mineral deposits, such as massive sulfides. Recently, there has been increasing interest in applying this method in a marine environment to explore for seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits, which may contain economic resources of base and precious metals. Although SMS sites that are associated with active venting and are not buried under sediment cover are known to produce an SP signal, the effectiveness of the method at detecting inactive and sediment-covered deposits remained an outstanding question. We built an instrument capable of recording SP data in a marine setting. We carried out a test of the instrument at the Palinuro Seamount in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Palinuro is one of only a few known sites containing an SMS occurrence that is buried under sediment and not associated with active hydrothermal venting, although diffuse seepage of hydrothermal fluids is known to occur at the site. Elevated electric field strengths recorded in and near the site of previously drilled massive sulfide samples are on the order of [Formula: see text]. A second zone of high field strengths was detected to the north of the drilling area where gravity coring later confirmed the existence of massive sulfides. Our observations indicate that an SP signal can be observed at the site of SMS mineralization even when the mineralized zone is shallowly buried and active hydrothermal venting is not present. These observations could aid in the planning of future marine research expeditions that use the SP method in the exploration of seafloor massive sulfides.

Assessment of landfill leachate in Nam Son, Hanoi using 3D electrical imaging and self-potential data

The main objective of this study was to assess the environmental impact of the Nam Son Landfill on the subsurface geological structure studied using 3D electrical imaging and self-potential investigations. The map of the equipotential was based on self-potential data and was indicative of concentrations of redox-active components, and the map of the electrical conductivity provided information about the mineralization of the groundwater. The electrical conductivity of the subsurface was obtained from 3D-electrical imaging analysis conducted using a Wenner-based array configuration. An inversion of the data was carried out using 3D regularized least-squares optimization methods with robust model constraints. Three profiles of 3D electrical imaging and 180 self-potential data points, scattered within the study area near the disposal site, were implemented. The self-potential method supports the results of the geoelectrical method relating to a contaminated zone in the survey area with a large negative self-potential anomaly of ∼−260 mV with respect to the reference of a contaminant plume. Interpretations of geophysical data showed a low resistivity zone (&lt;10 Ω m), which appeared to be a fully saturated zone with leachate from the Nam Son open dumpsite. The correlation between geophysical investigations and hydrochemical analysis proved to show high conductivity zones related with landfill leachate.

Redox potential distribution of an organic-rich contaminated site obtained by the inversion of self-potential data

Mapping the redox potential of shallow aquifers impacted by hydrocarbon contaminant plumes is important for the characterization and remediation of such contaminated sites. The redox potential of groundwater is indicative of the biodegradation of hydrocarbons and is important in delineating the shapes of contaminant plumes. The self-potential method was used to reconstruct the redox potential of groundwater associated with an organic-rich contaminant plume in northern France. The self-potential technique is a passive technique consisting in recording the electrical potential distribution at the surface of the Earth. A self-potential map is essentially the sum of two contributions, one associated with groundwater flow referred to as the electrokinetic component, and one associated with redox potential anomalies referred to as the electroredox component (thermoelectric and diffusion potentials are generally negligible). A groundwater flow model was first used to remove the electrokinetic component from the observed self-potential data. Then, a residual self-potential map was obtained. The source current density generating the residual self-potential signals is assumed to be associated with the position of the water table, an interface characterized by a change in both the electrical conductivity and the redox potential. The source current density was obtained through an inverse problem by minimizing a cost function including a data misfit contribution and a regularizer. This inversion algorithm allows the determination of the vertical and horizontal components of the source current density taking into account the electrical conductivity distribution of the saturated and non-saturated zones obtained independently by electrical resistivity tomography. The redox potential distribution was finally determined from the inverted residual source current density. A redox map was successfully built and the estimated redox potential values correlated well with in-situ measurements.

Experimental study of the self-potential anomaly caused by coal fires

Self-potential method has been used to detect coal fires for decades. However, the origin of self-potential anomaly relating to coal fires is still unclear. In this paper, we first analyze three possible sources of self-potential anomaly that relating to coal fires, i.e., the thermoelectric potential, the redox potential and the streaming potential, among which the streaming potential is negligible. Then, an experimental system is designed to research the above-mentioned three possible sources, in which six experiments are conducted finally. The results verify the existence of the thermoelectric potential and the redox potential. The self-potential that measured on the surface increases with the increase of temperature of the heat source, but decreases dramatically with the increase of its buried depth. Furthermore, the redox potential reduces the total self-potential values on the surface.

Interpretation of Self-Potential anomalies for investigating fault using the Levenberg-Marquardt method: a study case in Pinggirsari, West Java, Indonesia

Self-Potential (SP) method is frequently used to identify subsurface structures based on electrical properties. For fixed geometry problems, SP method is related to simple geometrical shapes of causative bodies such as a sphere, cylinder, and sheet. This approach is implemented to determine the value of parameters such as shape, depth, polarization angle, and electric dipole moment. In this study, the technique was applied for investigation of fault, where the fault is considered as resembling the shape of a sheet representing dike or fault. The investigated fault is located at Pinggirsari village, Bandung regency, West Java, Indonesia. The observed SP anomalies that were measured allegedly above the fault were inverted to estimate all the fault parameters through inverse modeling scheme using the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The inversion scheme was first tested on a synthetic model, where a close agreement between the test parameters and the calculated parameters was achieved. Finally, the schema was carried out to invert the real observed SP anomalies. The results show that the presence of the fault was detected beneath the surface having electric dipole moment K = 41.5 mV, half-fault dimension a = 34 m, depth of the sheet’s center h = 14.6 m, the location of the fault’s center xo = 478.25 m, and the polarization angle to the horizontal plane θ = 334.52° in a clockwise direction.

Application of electrical resistivity imaging and self-potential methods to determine leakage pathways in an earth fill dam

Application of electrical resistivity imaging and self-potential methods to determine leakage pathways in an earth fill dam

Performance evaluation for intelligent optimization algorithms in self-potential data inversion

The self-potential method is widely used in environmental and engineering geophysics. Four intelligent optimization algorithms are adopted to design the inversion to interpret self-potential data more accurately and efficiently: simulated annealing, genetic, particle swarm optimization, and ant colony optimization. Using both noise-free and noise-added synthetic data, it is demonstrated that all four intelligent algorithms can perform self-potential data inversion effectively. During the numerical experiments, the model distribution in search space, the relative errors of model parameters, and the elapsed time are recorded to evaluate the performance of the inversion. The results indicate that all the intelligent algorithms have good precision and tolerance to noise. Particle swarm optimization has the fastest convergence during iteration because of its good balanced searching capability between global and local minimisation.

Gas Leakage from Palaeogene Reservoir in Assam - A Geophysical Puzzle

Reports of gas leakage started coming since the beginning of 2012 from different localities in the Deohal area near the oil township Duliajan, Assam (India). The source was located in a gas reservoir in the Palaeogene sediments (Barail group). Multi-component seismic reflection methods which were highly successful to locate gas bearing zones at depths, were not very effective to locate the same in the shallow subsurface. From different types of electrical surveys conducted, self-potential (SP) method showed the most promising result. Probable SP was sensitive to high electrokinetic potential difference between the leaking and non-leaking zones.

Streaming potential modeling in fractured rock: Insights into the identification of hydraulically active fractures

AbstractNumerous field experiments suggest that the self‐potential (SP) geophysical method may allow for the detection of hydraulically active fractures and provide information about fracture properties. However, a lack of suitable numerical tools for modeling streaming potentials in fractured media prevents quantitative interpretation and limits our understanding of how the SP method can be used in this regard. To address this issue, we present a highly efficient two‐dimensional discrete‐dual‐porosity approach for solving the fluid flow and associated self‐potential problems in fractured rock. Our approach is specifically designed for complex fracture networks that cannot be investigated using standard numerical methods. We then simulate SP signals associated with pumping conditions for a number of examples to show that (i) accounting for matrix fluid flow is essential for accurate SP modeling and (ii) the sensitivity of SP to hydraulically active fractures is intimately linked with fracture‐matrix fluid interactions. This implies that fractures associated with strong SP amplitudes are likely to be hydraulically conductive, attracting fluid flow from the surrounding matrix.

Particle swarm optimization inversion of self-potential data for depth estimation of coal fires over East Basuria colliery, Jharia coalfield, India

Coal fires pose a serious threat to the environment and it is important to detect them at an early stage for their control and hazard mitigation. The present study addresses an innovative approach for depth estimation of coal fires using self-potential (SP) method and its inversion through particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique. The suitability of PSO inversion technique for self-potential data has been established using synthetic models of spherical and cylindrical objects, and inclined sheet with large horizontal extent as causative sources. Present study reveals that the geometry of subsurface coal combustion is possibly similar to inclined sheet with relatively large horizontal extension. The depth of coal fires has been estimated using PSO inversion of SP anomaly data over the East Basuria colliery, Jharia coal field, Jharkhand, India with good accuracy. The results of the analysis are compared with borehole lithologic log data which proves efficacy of the PSO inversion technique.