Electrical Methods

• Resistivity is a rock property – quantifies resistance to current flow

• Range of rock resistivities is very large
• Widely used in mineral exploration, and in geoenvironmental
applications
• Widely used in boreholes in the oil and gas industry
 Resistivity method
• Is an example of a “controlled source” method
• Requires direct electrical contact with the ground
(electrodes, spools of wire, …)
• Labour intensive, but better resolution than
gravity or magnetics
Resistivity method
 Resistance and resistivity
Resistivity: An inherent rock property, controls resistance to
current flow
Resistance: Simply a ratio between voltage drop and current flow
in an electric circuit (i.e., across a rock sample):

Resistance depends on geometrical factors, as well as resistivity:

I
δl
Solving for resistivity:
A

δV
 Resistivity and conductivity
Resistivity: An inherent rock property, controls
resistance to current flow – measures resistance for a
unit cube.
Conductivity: The inverse of resistivity (i.e., the ease
with which current flows)
 Ohm’s law
The current, I distributes itself
across the cross-sectional
area, A of the sample. We
define the current density,

Ohm’s law states , thus

Ohm’s law in “continuous media”

Ohm’s law states

From calculus:

In 3-D:
 Injecting current at a single electrode

Earlier, for a sample:

Geometrical term

How do we do this from

the surface, for ground
measurements?
Start with a single current
electrode …
 Injecting current at a single electrode
Current, I is
distributed over a
half-sphere, hence

Using Ohm’s law

or
 Injecting current at a single electrode

Integrating

Solving for resistivity:

Geometrical term
Current flow in the ground
 Field electrode arrays

Apply the single

electrode formula for
each of the four
electrode
combinations:
Geometrical term
Field electrode arrays

Geometrical term
Field electrode arrays

Geometrical term

(for the gradient array, we usually require L – x > 3l )

The Gradient array is often used for “lateral profiling” (see

later)
In the next array, the Schlumberger array we use x = 0
Field electrode arrays

Geometrical term

The Schlumberger array is commonly used for

“depth sounding” (see later)
Field electrode arrays

Geometrical term

The dipole-dipole array is commonly when both the

lateral position, and spacing are varied (see later)
 Next lecture: Types of resistivity
surveys
There are several variations on resistivity surveys:

1. A “lateral profile” aims to locate anomalies,

along a line or on a map
2. A “depth profile” aims to construct a vertical
profile of subsurface resistivities and depths
3. A combination of the above, which aims to
construct a “pseudo-section” or a “real section”