Geol 454
Environmental and Exploration Geophysics I
Introduction
tom.h.wilson
[email protected]
Phone: 293-6431
Department of Geology and Geography
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
General information - handouts
Syllabus (see handout)
Hunting for Abandoned Wells Example paper summary
Hunting for caves
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
General information
Syllabus (see handout)
Hunting for Abandoned Wells Textbook (current status ?)
Class web page
Grading (32% (pbs),28% (labs), 10%
(paper summaries), 10% (mid term),
20% (final))
Papers and paper summaries (see Hunting for caves
handout and link)
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Textbook ?
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Geophysics
Objectives
1. Obtain conceptual knowledge of the basic theory
of gravitational, magnetic, electric, and
electromagnetic fields.
2. Develop an understanding of how geophysical
observations can be integrated into your
discipline or study.
3. Provide analytical experience necessary to
oversee applications of these methods in your
specialty area.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Geophysics
Definitions
Applied Geophysics
Making and interpreting measurements of physical properties of the
earth to determine sub-surface conditions, usually with an economic
objective, e.g. discovery of fuel or mineral deposits.
Environmental Geophysics
The applications of geophysical methods to the investigation of near-
surface physico-chemical phenomena which are likely to have
(significant) implications for the management of the local environment
Sheriff, R. E., Encyclopedic Dictionary
of Exploration Geophysics, SEG. &
Reynolds (1997)
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Geophysical Methods
Terrain Conductivity
Resistivity
Gravity
Magnetics
These methods represent only a few of the
various geophysical methods used to peer
beneath the surface in a
manner.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Terrain Conductivity
Inducing current flow action at a distance
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Terrain Conductivity Instrumentation
Active Source
EM31 EM34
Two Commonly used Terrain Conductivity Meters -
Youll hear a lot about these in the first 3-4 weeks of the class
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Multifrequency terrain conductivity meter-
Same idea
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Applications
Metal Detection
Contaminant Plumes
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Abandoned mine lands and mine spoil
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Terrain Conductivity over the Greer Site
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Other kinds of instrumentation
Gem2 Aeroquest/GeoPhex
http://www.terraplus.ca/products/electromagnetics/gem2.htm
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Resistivity
Active source
TerraPlus
Case Histories http://www.terraplus.ca/case-histories/index.html
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Resistivity applications
Map is contoured in units of 0.5 percent
change, which is a measure of the drop in
apparent resistivity from the baseline data set
to the data collected after 69 gallons of
solution was released. The largest observed Underground Storage Tanks
percent change in the data was 0.2%,
concentrated near the northeast margin of the
Leak detection (TerraPlus)
tank, and beneath the center of the tank.
WESTEC Case Study
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Resistivity measurements made below the liner system
A typical response to an introduced leak is shown on in the
figure. This calibration demonstrated that the sensitivity of
the particular system was approximately 20 gallons
in total introduced leachate, and the location ability of the
software was within 10 to 20 feet. This 20-gallon detection
level is equivalent to a 4-foot-square zone of saturated
Landfill Leak Detection soil, assuming a 1-foot thickness.
http://www.terraplus.com/papers/henderson.htm
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Gravitational fields
Passive source
LaCoste Romberg Gravimeter
Worden Gravimeter
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
kx
From Hookes Law F kx we get g
ms
ms g
x
k
x spring extension
ms spring mass
k Youngs modulus
g acceleration due to gravity
Colorado School of Mines web sites -
Mass and spring
Pendulum measurement
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Newtons Universal Law of Gravitation
m1m2 m1
F12 G
2
r12
r12
F12 Force of gravity
G Gravitational Constant
m2
Newton.org
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
We are interested in gobject: some subsurface feature like karst
systems, bedrock configuration and groundwater accumulations
F12 mE ms spring mass
gE G mE mass of the earth
ms RE2 RE radius of the earth
gE represents the acceleration of gravity at
a particular point on the earths surface. The
variation of g across the earths surface
provides information about the distribution
of density contrasts in the subsurface since
m = V (density x volume).
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Comparison of bedrock depth map to the
residual gravity map
Form Stewart Residual gravity map
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Magnetic Methods
Passive source
Magnetic Elements for your location
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/IGRFWMM.jsp
Todays Space Weather
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Proton Precession Magnetometers
Tom Boyds Introduction to Geophysical Exploration Course
http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/ES304/index.html
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
See
http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/ES304/MODULES/MAG/DESIGN/MagForwardJava.html
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Field Operation
Coal mine refuse area
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Magnetic monopoles
1 p1 p2
Fm12 p1
2
r12
r12
Fm12 Magnetic Force
Magnetic Permeability
p1 and p2 pole strengths Coulombs Law
p2
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Magnetic Monopoles do not exist. The fundamental
magnetic element is a dipole or combination of one
positive and one negative magnetic monopole.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Looking for abandoned wells
Critical to EOR, EGR, CO2 Sequestration, fracking and frack water storage and disposal
From Martinek
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
7000 gamma anomaly
No excavation planned since
the anomaly is located
adjacent to a water main
From Martinek
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Start reading chapter 8
Visit class page at
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~wilson/geol454.htm
For general background on electromagnetic
methods read pages 499 through 514.
Most of our work will concentrate on concepts
associated with non-contacting ground conductivity
measurements pages 514 518.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Also look over McNeills technical note on EM
Conductivity/Low induction number
Both readings are linked on lecture 1 see class web page at
http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~wilson/geol454.htm
We will begin discussing basic terrain conductivity theory on Thursday
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Any questions?
If you are taking the writing section,
please remain for a few minutes so we
can have a brief discussion and answer
any basic questions you may have.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
Writing Section please remain after class
Read through the handout with brief
question/answer session.
Writers should start working on their
first paper this week.
Tom Wilson, Department of Geology and Geography
