On negative induced polarization in frequency domain measurements
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University Newark, NJ 07102, USA. E-mail: cw701@scarletmail.rutgers.edu
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
SUMMARY
Induced polarization (IP) has been widely used to non-invasively characterize electrical conduction and polarization in the subsurface resulting from an applied electric field. Earth materials exhibit a lossy capacitance defined by a negative intrinsic phase in frequency-domain IP (FDIP) or a positive intrinsic chargeability in time-domain IP (TDIP). However, error-free positive apparent phase or negative apparent chargeability (i.e. negative IP effects) can occur in IP measurements over heterogeneous media. While negative IP effects in TDIP data sets have been discussed, no studies have addressed this topic in detail for FDIP measurements. We describe theory and numerical modelling to explain the origin of negative IP effects in FDIP measurements. A positive apparent phase may occur when a relatively high polarizability feature falls into negative sensitivity zones of complex resistivity measurements. The polarity of the apparent phase is determined by the distribution of subsurface intrinsic phase and resistivity, with the resistivity impacting the apparent phase polarity via its control on the sensitivity distribution. A physical explanation for the occurrence of positive apparent phase data is provided by an electric circuit model representing a four-electrode measurement. We also show that the apparent phase polarity will be frequency dependent when resistivity changes significantly with frequency (i.e. in the presence of significant IP effects). Consequently, negative IP effects manifest themselves in the shape of apparent phase spectra recorded with multifrequency (spectral IP) data sets. Our results imply that positive apparent phase measurements should be anticipated and should be retained during inversion and interpretation of single frequency and spectral IP data sets.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0016412
- OSTI ID:
- 1834276
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1852232
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Journal International, Journal Name: Geophysical Journal International Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 225; ISSN 0956-540X
- Publisher:
- Oxford University PressCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
3-D spectral IP imaging: Non-invasive characterization of contaminant plumes. 1998 annual progress report