The document discusses electrical resistivity methods for measuring the resistivity of rocks. It defines key concepts like resistance, resistivity, and conductivity. Rock resistivity is influenced by factors like metallic sulfide content, porosity, clay content, pore saturation, and water salinity. Various electrode arrays like Wenner and Schlumberger are used to measure resistivity in the subsurface. Resistivity can provide information about rock properties and subsurface structures and fluids.

1. 1
Electrical Properties of Rocks
and
Electrical Resistivity Methods
Resistance
Definition of an OHM
An ohm is a resistance in a conductor that produces a
potential difference of one volt when a current of one
ampere is flowing through it.
R =
Ohm’s Law
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/ohmlaw.html#c1
Resistance vs Resistivity
Resistance is relevant only to a particular
measurement circuit. Units: ohms
Resistivity is an intrinsic property of all
physical materials Units: ohm-meters
Apparent Resistivity is a resistivity estimate based on a
assuming a half-space geometry. Units: ohm-meters
Electrical Resistivity vs
Electrical Conductivity
Conductivity = σ = 1/ρ (mho/meters)
Resistance = ρ (ohm-meters)
Calculating Resistance from
Resistivity
• http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm

2. 2
Factors Influencing Electrical
Conductivity in Rocks
Metallic Sulfide Mineral Content
Porosity (connected/effective - fractures or pores)
Clay Content
Pore saturation (% air or gas)
Water salinity (TDS)
Hydrocarbon Fluid Saturation
Rock Matrix intrinsic resistivity
Fluid temperature
Archie’s Law
Formation Factor
The conductivity of most geological formations can be fit
to Archie’s Law
Influence of Permeability
A rock with a non-conducting matrix must be permeable (connected pores) as well as porous to
conduct electricity.
Darcy's Law:
Ohm's Law:
where
Despite the similarity between Darcy’s and Ohm’s Laws, electric currents have zero
viscosity so even a narrow crack can provide an effective electrical connection between pores that not contribute to hydraulic
permeability.
Comparison of electric and
hydraulic properties.
Avg. hydraulic conductivities:
Kl, Kt
Average aquifer resistivities:
ρl, ρt
Leakance:
Lh=Σki/hi = Kt/H
Longitudinal conductance:
S= Σhi/ρi = H/ρl
Transmissivity:
Th = Σhiki= KlH
Transverse resistance:
T = Σ hiρi = Hρl
HydraulicElectrical
• http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm

3. 3
Electrical resistivity of rocks
with various wt % of sulfide.
Metallic Sulfide
Mineral Content
• http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm
Effect of Water Temperature
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/figures/fig43_7.jpg
Conductivity Ranges of Various Materials
http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm
http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm
http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm
http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm

4. 4
Resistance vs Resistivity
Resistance is relevant only to a particular
measurement circuit. Units: ohms or Ω
Resistivity is an intrinsic property of all
physical materials Units: ohm-meters or Ω-m
Apparent Resistivity is a resistivity estimate based on a
assuming a half-space geometry. Units: ohm-meters or Ω-m
Calculating Resistance from
Resistivity
• http://www.cflhd.gov:80/agm/index.htm
Four Electrode Resistivity Measurement on
rock sample
… are used to avoid electrode contact resistance effects
seen in two electrode measurements.
C1 C2
current I
P1 P2
Four electrode resistivity arrays
http://www.cflhd.gov/agm/images/fig90.jpg
The Basic
Concept of an
Earth
Resistivity
Measurement
http://www.cflhd.gov/agm/images/fig91.jpg
Electrode Contact Resistance is typically much
higher than the intrinsic earth resistivity

5. 5
Electrode Contact Resistance is concentrated
around each electrode
If a standard two electrode resistivity meter were
used to measure the earth’s “resistance” we only
obtain information on the quality of the electrode
contacts – not the earth’s resistivity
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/em44.pdf
Pole-Pole Array Pole-Dipole Array
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/em44.pdf
Pole-Dipole Array
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/em44.pdf
Wenner Array
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/em44.pdf

6. 6
Schlumberger
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/em44.pdf
Dipole-Dipole Array
Fig. 5.4g
The electric potential varies as 1/r around a single
current electrode on a homogeneous half-space
Fig. 5.5g
Fig. 5.9g Fig. 5.6g
Equal potential voltage surfaces between the electrodes

7. 7
Depth of current flow between two current electrodes
Fig. 5.14g
Fig. 5.13g (a) Fig. 5.13g (b)
Fig. 5.13g (c) Fig. 5.12g (a)

8. 8
Fig. 5.12g (b) Fig. 5.12g (c)
Fig. 5.14g Fig. 5.15g (a)
Fig. 5.15g (b) Fig. 5.13g (b)

9. 9
Fig. 5.13g (c) Fig. 5.18g (a)
Fig. 5.18g (b) Fig. 5.18g (c)
Fig. 5.19g Fig. 5.21g (a)

10. 10
Fig. 5.20g Fig. 5.21g (b)
Fig. 5.21g (c) Fig. 5.22g
Fig. 5.23g (a) Fig. 5.23g (c)

11. 11
Fig. 5.24g (a) Fig. 5.24g (c)
Fig. 5.25g (a) Fig. 5.25g (b)
Fig. 5.26g Fig. 5.27g (a)

12. 12
Fig. 5.27g (b) Fig. 5.28g
Fig. 5.29g Fig. 5.30g (a,b)
Fig. 5.30g (c,d) Fig. 5.31g

13. 13
Fig. 5.33g (a) Fig. 5.33g (b)
Fig. 5.33g (c) Fig. 5.39g
One point removed

14. 14
C:Shortcut to Geo-CD-ROM.exe
Airborne EM Resistivity Airborne EM Resistivity
http://ece.uprm.edu/~pol/waves_review.pdf
http://appliedgeophysics.berkeley.edu:7057/dc/archie/index.html