Full Length Research Paper

Anomaly effects of arrays for 3d geoelectrical resistivity imaging using orthogonal or parallel 2d profiles

A. P. Aizebeokhai¹* and A. I. Olayinka²

¹Department of Physics, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria.

²Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: philps_a_aizebeokhi@yahoo.co.uk.  Tel: +234-803-734 1-499.

Accepted 20 May, 2010

  Abstract

The effectiveness of using a net of orthogonal or parallel sets of two-dimensional (2D) profiles for three-dimensional (3D) geoelectrical resistivity imaging has been evaluated. A series of 2D apparent resistivity data were generated over two synthetic models which represent geological or environmental conditions for a typical weathered profile and waste dump site, respectively, commonly associated with geophysical applications for hydrogeological, environmental and engineering investigations. Several minimum electrode separations and inter-line spacing were used to generate the apparent resistivity data for each electrode array with a view to determining the optimum inter-line spacing relative to the minimum electrode separation. The 2D apparent resistivity data for each array were collated to 3D data sets. The effectiveness and efficiency of the arrays in 3D geoelectrical resistivity imaging were evaluated by determining the mean absolute anomaly effects of the electrodes arrays on the synthetic models. The anomaly effects observed in dipole-dipole (DDP), pole-dipole (PDP) and Wenner-Schlumberger (WSC) arrays were generally larger than that observed in other arrays considered. The least anomaly effect on the synthetic models was observed in pole-pole (PP) array. This indicates that DDP, PDP and WSC arrays are more sensitive to 3D features. In all the arrays, the anomaly effects observed in the data set generated using the conventional square grids were slightly larger than those from parallel or orthogonal 2D profiles. This slight increase is attributed to the increased data density and is insignificant when compared with those of parallel and orthogonal 2D profiles. Hence, the use of parallel or orthogonal 2D profiles for 3D geoelectrical resistivity survey is effective.

Key words: Anomaly effects, orthogonal/parallel 2D profiles, 3D surveys, geoelectrical resistivity imaging, measurement effectiveness.