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