Mark Goldman

Application of the integrated NMR-TDEM method in groundwater exploration in Israel

The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) method is the only physical tool currently available which is able to detect directly the presence of fresh water in the subsurface. The Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) method, in turn, has been proven highly efficient in detecting saline groundwater. The combined application of these two methods is the most promising way to delineate accurately groundwater-bearing aquifers and to evaluate the quality of the water. This idea was tested during the feasibility study carried out under different hydrogeological conditions throughout Israel during August-September 1992. The Russian Hydroscope and Geonics PROTEM-IV instruments were used for the NMR and TDEM measurements, respectively

On the influence of 3-D structures in the interpretation of transient electromagnetic sounding data

The limitations of a standard 1-D inversion applied to multidimensional (synthetic) data are investigated. Simple correction procedures for interpreting field data distorted by 3-D structures are suggested. Two different transmitter/receiver configurations of the transient electromagnetic (TEM) sounding method are examined: a central loop configuration for the near zone (sometimes called short offset) and a fixed transmitter/moving receiver configuration for the far zone (long offset). The 3-D models are structural depressions and highs in both resistive and conductive basements. The fixed transmitter (grounded dipole) in the long offset TEM configuration is located at a distance significantly greater than both the size and depth of the structure. In all cases, 1-D interpretation of the central loop soundings recovers geoelectric parameters of the section with good reliability, although fictitious layers may appear near vertical boundaries. The 1-D interpretation of long offset soundings does not, in most...

Detection of the water level in fractured phreatic aquifers using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) geophysical measurements

Abstract Correlation of geophysical data collected using the NMR method in the Negev Desert, Israel, with hydrogeological data from nearby observation wells is presented. The experiment was conducted near Kibbutz Revivim in the Besor drainage system (Fig. 1). The objective of the survey was to detect groundwater layers in the Quaternary cover filling and Eocene fractured aquifers down to a depth of 100 m. The experiment was performed using a combination of two different geophysical techniques, namely the NMR and time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) methods. The geophysical results were verified by measuring the water level in three observation wells, two of which were drilled several months after the geophysical survey was carried out. The water level measured in these follow-up observation wells shortly after drilling did not coincide with the geophysical data. However, it settled over a period of time and finally stabilized at a depth very similar to that obtained from the NMR measurements. This phenomenon is caused by the fractured nature of the phreatic aquifer. Since the flow of water in such aquifers is confined by the fractures, the appearance of water in the well during or shortly after drilling is determined solely by the intersection of the well and the fracture. Our experiments showed that geophysical measurements in fractured phreatic aquifers may have a distinct advantage over direct borehole measurements, since the former average the depth to the water table over large areas (several thousand square meters) while the latter are limited by the area of the borehole cross-section (several tens of square centimeters).

Direct time‐domain calculation of the transient response for a rectangular loop over a two‐layer medium

The time derivative of the vertical magnetic field due to an electric dipole on the surface of a two‐layer half‐space is computed directly in the time domain by applying the residue theorem to the analytic field expressions. The second layer must be either insulating (σ2=0) or perfectly conducting (σ2=∞). The first case can be used to estimate the response of a conductive overburden for mining exploration problems. The second case is useful in explaining the overshoot seen in transient sounding voltage apparent‐resistivity curves when a conductive basement underlies a resistive first layer. In the late stage, the time derivative of the vertical magnetic field decays as t-4 and the late‐stage apparent resistivity increases as t for σ2=0, while for σ2=∞, these quantities behave as t-4e-αt and te2αt/3, respectively, where α=π2/4μ0σ1h12, σ1, is the first‐layer conductivity, h1 is the first‐layer thickness, and μ0=4π10-7H/m. The electric dipole expressions are integrated to obtain solutions for rectangular loo...

The 2D coastal effect on marine time domain electromagnetic measurements using broadside dBz/dt of an electrical transmitter dipole

Galvanic transmitter-receiver arrays commonly are used in marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) exploration of electrically resistive targets such as hydrocarbons, gas hydrates, etc. These arrays utilize vertical electric currents and, as a result, are expected to provide better resolving capability for exploring subhorizontal resistive structures than arrays including horizontal coils. If, however, a subseafloor resistive target is located within a transition zone at distances of up to a few kilometers from the shoreline, the 2D sea-coast resistivity contrast significantly affects the resolving capability of the measurements. An extensive multidimensional modeling supported by numerous offshore measurements showed that the inductive array consisting of a horizontal electric dipole transmitter and a broadside vertical magnetic dipole (horizontal coil) receiver exhibits much better resolving power in time domain compared to all other arrays but those with a vertical electric dipole. This effect takes place only if a short offset receiver coil is located between the transmitter dipole and the coast. If the coil is located at the seaside of the transmitter dipole, the signal lacks the resolving capability almost entirely. At large offsets, the resolving capability of the measurements is relatively low at both sides of the transmitter dipole. Although actual field measurements were conducted only to explore a shallow target (fresh subseafloor groundwater body), calculations show that the same phenomenon exists in case of deep targets (e.g., hydrocarbons).

2.5-D modeling in electromagnetic methods of geophysics

Abstract Understanding, using, or eliminating three-dimensional (3-D) effects in electromagnetic methods of geophysics are critical requirements. Numerous achievements in 3-D modeling sometimes give the impression that they are widely available today in geophysical practice. This is not necessarily true. Existing 3-D modeling packages prove that we know how to perform 3-D modeling. However, the computer resources and costs involved make the practical application of 3-D EM modeling in geophysical applications very limited. A practical compromise, or even alternative, is represented by 2.5-D modeling characterized by the use of a 3-D source in a 2-D medium. This combination allows one to mathematically describe the related boundary value problem as a sequence of independent two-dimensional problems. The typical technique leading to such a split formulation is Fourier analysis. That is why the individual terms of a split solution are often referred to as harmonics. Although each independent problem is two-dimensional, the algorithmic implementation of finite differences or integral equations for the higher harmonics has some specific features not present in the classical 2-D cases. In this paper, a hybrid scheme consisting of a combination of the finite difference technique with the integral equation approach for transient fields is described. Evaluation of algorithm accuracy is presented and a transient logging technique application is considered. The algorithm is fast and easily implemented on a personal computer

Transient electromagnetic inversion based on an approximate solution to the forward problem

A rapid algorithm for forward one‐dimensional modeling is based on the graphical construction of a multi‐layered apparent resistivity curve using an appropriate combination of two‐layered curves. A collection of two‐layered curves is calculated only once for fixed geoelectrical parameters and saved for future use; an arbitrary two‐layered curve within the wide range of the geoelectrical parameters is then obtained by simple interpolation. This method reduces computation time over other fast algorithms by at least one order of magnitude; in addition, it does not produce any significant computation errors in the late stage as do most other methods. A maximum relative error of about 10 to 15 percent may occur at a few points (usually two to three) in the vicinity of the intersection of the two‐layered curves. In most cases, however, this error does not affect the inversion since the relative contributions of these points to an objective function are small. The application of such a rapid forward algorithm al...

Signal detectability of marine electromagnetic methods in the exploration of resistive targets

We compare selected marine electromagnetic methods for sensitivity to the presence of relatively thin resistive targets (e.g., hydrocarbons, gas hydrates, fresh groundwater, etc.). The study includes the conventional controlled-source electromagnetic method, the recently introduced transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines method, and the novel marine circular electric dipole method, which is still in the stage of theoretical development. The comparison is based on general physical considerations, analytical (mainly asymptotic) analysis, and rigorous one-dimensional and multidimensional forward modelling. It is shown that transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and marine circular electric dipole methods represent an alternative to the conventional controlled-source electromagnetic method at shallow sea, where the latter becomes less efficient due to the air-wave phenomenon. Since both former methods are essentially short-offset time-domain techniques, they exhibit a much better lateral resolution than the controlled-source electromagnetic method in both shallow sea and deep sea. The greatest shortcoming of the transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and marine circular electric dipole methods comes from the difficulties in accurately assembling the transmitter antenna within the marine environment. This makes these methods significantly less practical than the controlled-source electromagnetic method. Consequently, the controlled-source electromagnetic method remains the leading marine electromagnetic technique in the exploration of large resistive targets in deep sea. However, exploring laterally small targets in deep sea and both small and large targets in shallow sea might require the use of the less practical transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and/or marine circular electric dipole method as a desirable alternative to the controlled-source electromagnetic method.

Detection of Saline Groundwater Bodies between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Israel, Using the TDEM Method and Hydrochemical Parameters

A Time Domain ElectroMagnetic (TDEM) survey coupled with hydrogeological information was carried out along the Be’er Sheva valley between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea base levels, aiming to obtain the subsurface distribution of the different fresh and saline water bodies. Hydrochemical considerations and previous TDEM results hinted that the previously accepted model of an upper fresh water body underlain by solely Dead Sea (R-type) brines in the east and C-type brines in the west does not match the actual observations. Thus, the suggested working hypothesis of additional intruding seawater from the Mediterranean Sea to the Dead Sea base level was checked by the TDEM method. The results, indeed, exhibit an upper high resistivity fresh water body, an underlying low resistivity brine body and a moderate resistivity body in between. The origin of this body is not uniquely determined based on the geophysical measurements alone. Analysis of borehole data testifies that hydrochemical parameters of the body cannot be solely interpreted as a mixture of the above two end members, but rather calls for an additional contribution of intruding seawater. The suggested configuration consists of an upper fresh water body flowing to both base levels in the west and the east. Underneath there is a saline body resulting from seawater intrusion reaching from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea base level. At the bottom there is a third body of the westward density driven Dead Sea brine. The entire configuration is supported by results of subsurface flow modeling.

Transient response of a homogeneous half space with due regard for displacement currents

Abstract The solution for the half-space model is represented directly in the time domain as computationally stable convolution integrals. The influence of the geoelectric parameters of the earth and transmitter current waveform are then investigated for both infinitesimal and finite-dimensional transmitter loops. Simple empirical formulae are derived to account for the finite duration of the transmitter current turn off time. The whole transient process is divided into three essentially different stages: the propagation stage, the intermediate stage and the diffusion stage. The first is characterized by extremely complicated signal behavior. Apparently, interpretation of the field data using any kind of model fitting inversion algorithm is impossible in this stage. The diffusion stage virtually coincides with that used in the quasi-static case and is, therefore, unsuitable for detecting the dielectric properties of the earth. The intermediate stage is, thus, the only possible time range in which the dielectric properties can be detected using the dynamic characteristics of the signal. The duration of each stage is evaluated depending on the geoelectric parameters of the earth for different transmitter current waveforms.