Amunátegui 890, Of.

1913, Santiago
www.geotecniachile.cl

METHODOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTIONS
THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL

Realizado Revisado Aprobado

Óscar Rojas Fernando Espinoza Beatriz Parra
2016.09.01 2016.09.08 2016.09.09
Rev 1.0 Rev 1.0 Rev 1.0
Ricardo Hernández Fernando Espinoza Beatriz Parra
2017.05.28 2016.05.28 2016.05.28

MANUAL DE CALIDAD
2017.05.28
Rev 1.0
01_Calidad/01_Metodología/03_Geofísica Térmica y Eléctrica
 Amunátegui 890, Of. 1913, Santiago
www.geotecniachile.cl

ÍNDICE

1. INTRODUCCIÓN ..................................................................................................................... 3

2. MEANS AVAILABLE .............................................................................................................. 4

3.1 Vertical Electrical Probes (SEV) ................................................................................................ 4

3.1.1 Methodology SEV Schlumberger and Wenner ........................................................................ 7

3.1.2 Wenner configuration ............................................................................................................. 9

3.1.3 Schlumberger configuration .................................................................................................. 11

3.2 Study resistivity or thermal conductivity .................................................................................. 11

MANUAL DE CALIDAD
2017.05.28
Rev 1.0
01_Calidad/01_Metodología/03_Geofísica Térmica y Eléctrica
 Amunátegui 890, Of. 1913, Santiago
www.geotecniachile.cl

1. INTRODUCCIÓN
This document contains the methodology corresponding to the geophysical surveys of the thermal type
and vertical electric soundings (SEV).

1.1 Reference Regulation.

The content of this document is based on the following standards or technical specifications:

•IEEE Standard: IEEE Std-81-2012 "IEEE Guide for measuring earth resistivity, ground impedance, and
earth surface potential of a ground system

•ASTM Standard: ASTM G57-06 "Standard Test Method for Filed Measurement of Soil Resistivity
Using the Wenner Four-Electrode Method"

•IEEE Guide for Soil Thermal Resistivity Measurements (IEEE Standard 442-1981)

• ASTM D 5334-00 Standard Test Method for Determination of Thermal Conductivity of Soil and Soft
Rock.

•AT. Specifications Technical: Earth electrical and soil thermal resistivity measurements

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2. MEANS AVAILABLE
The equipment to be used in the works will be:

• The electrical resistivity measurements will be carried out with a WDJD-4 Multi Function Digital DC
Resistivity / IP Meter, manufactured by the Chongqing Benteng Digital Control Technology Institute
(BTSK) W.T.S Limited (China). AMEC 6471 equipment manufactured by AEMC Instrumental.
• The measurements of temperature and thermal resistivity will be made with a Hukseflux brand
equipment, model FNT01 year 2013 or K2 PRO equipment manufactured by Decagon Devices-USA

3. METHODOLOGY OF THE WORK

3.1 Vertical Electrical Probes (SEV)

The objective of this method is to investigate the vertical distribution of electrical resistivities, which
can be associated to the different types of materials that make up the subsoil and the different levels
of saturation of them.
The ideal situation for the application of the method is a distribution of homogeneous and horizontal
strata, parallel to each other and to the surface. However, good results are obtained experimentally for
slopes of up to 30 °.
The method has limitations in areas where there is development of nitrate / caliche levels, in which the
test is not viable, unless an energy source is used above the usual.
For the data capture of the SEV, the Wenner-Schlumberger method (according to ASTM G57, IEEE Std
81-2012), consisting of circulating a current through the ground, through a direct current transmitter,
and through a system of emission and reception electrodes. The electrical flow that occurs in the subsoil
between the emitting and receiving electrodes translates into the generation of an electrical potential
capable of measuring, from which the electrical resistivity of the substrate is calculated.

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Below is a schematic of the SEV method:

Figure 1: Theoretical diagram of current and equipotential lines in resistivity measurement with four
electrodes.

There are two rules that regulate the measurements of electrical resistivities of the ground for design
purposes of grounding:

• IEEE Standard: IEEE Std-81-2012 "IEEE Guide for measuring earth resistivity, ground impedance, and
earth surface potential of a ground system
• ASTM Standard: ASTM G57-06 "Standard Test Method for Filed Measurement of Soil Resistivity Using
the Wenner Four-Electrode Method"

The ASTM standard only mentions the Wenner method and the IEEE standard explicitly mentions the
Wenner and Schlumberger methods. However, the Schlumberger method is a special geometry of the
Wenner method.

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SEV Geoelectric Instrumentation

WDJD-4 Multi Function Digital DC Resistivity / IP Meter equipment, manufactured by the

Chongqing Benteng Digital Control Technology Institute (BTSK) W.T.S Limited (China).
This equipment is designed to perform as many measurements of SEV Vertical Electrical Probes
of the Wenner and Schlumberger type but also allows measurements of geoelectrical
tomography with multiple electrodes.
This equipment uses an external DC voltage source with a maximum voltage of 1100 Volts and
a maximum current of 6 Ampere. This equipment allows higher voltages compared to the AMEC
6472 equipment since it is designed for geophysical exploration measurements to reach great
depths (over 100 meters).
In the measurements of this study a source between 155 to 1000 Volt DC will be used.
Another relevant technical aspect is that it uses a 24 bit A / D converter, which allows a
resolution of 0.1 microvolt (0.0001 millivolt) and 0.2 microampere (0.0002 milliampere).

The technical characteristics are:

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3.1.1 Methodology SEV Schlumberger and Wenner

The SEV Wenner and Schlumberger geoelectric methods are based on a configuration of four
electrodes, with which current is injected by two electrodes and the difference in potential is
measured by two others. The figure shows the general geometry of these methods.

A current flows through electrode A through electrode B. An electrical field is generated by electrical
theory, which is represented by current lines and equipotential lines. The shape of this electric field
will depend on the resistivities of the subsoil.
From the geo-electric equations we have that the potential difference between points M and N (figure
1) for a homogeneous and isotropic medium (constant electrical resistivity) is given by the equation:

I  1 1   1 1  Ecuación 2.1
U =  AM − BM − − 
2    AN BN 

Where ρ: electrical resistivity

By clearing the resistivity we have:

2 U U
= • =k Ecuación 2.2
 1 1   1 1  I I
 − − − 
 AM BM   AN BN 

Where k is the so-called geometric factor

2
k= Ecuación 2.3
 1 1   1 1 
 − − − 
 AM BM   AN BN 

Equation 2.2 is valid to calculate the electrical resistivity ρ in a homogeneous medium. It is also used for
the condition of a heterogeneous soil but the calculated resistivity is known as apparent resistivity ρa.

U
a = k
I Ecuación 2.4

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In a heterogeneous environment the apparent resistivity is not the average of the different resistivities
of the materials, but depends on the geometric shape of the different materials. There may be
situations in which the apparent resistivity is greater or less than the values of real resistivities of the
materials.

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3.1.2 Wenner configuration

Wenner's method or equal spacing employs 4 electrodes. The separation between each adjacent pair
remains the same, while moving the four electrodes for each test (Figure 1).
The mathematical equation is provided by 7.2.3 points of IEEE STD 81 [1]:

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Where

• ρ Apparent Resistivity (Ω-m)

• a Measuring electrode spacing (m)
• b Penetration of the electrode (m)
• R Measured resistance (Ω)

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3.1.3 Schlumberger configuration

The Schlumberger method or different spacing is a modification of the Wenner method, since it also
uses 4 electrodes, but in this case the separation between the central or potential electrodes (a) is kept
constant, and the measurements are made by varying the distance of the outer electrodes from the
internal electrodes, multiples distance (na) from the base separation of the internal electrodes (a).

Where
• ρ Apparent Resistivity (Ω-m)
• c Spacing of the injection electrodes (m).
• a Measuring electrode spacing (m)
• R Measured resistance (Ω)

3.2 Study resistivity or thermal conductivity

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The measurement method is based on the so-called Non-Steady-State Probe (NSSP) technique, which
uses a probe (also called thermal sensor or thermal needle) in which both a heat wire and a temperature
sensor are incorporated. The probe is inserted into the ground. The thermal conductivity can be
calculated from the response to a heating stage of the soil resistivity. The measurement methodology
complies with:

- IEEE Guide for Soil Thermal Resistivity Measurements (IEEE Standard 442-1981)
- ASTM D 5334-00 Standard Test Method for Determination of Thermal Conductivity of Soil and Soft
Rock.
In general, an NSSP consists of a heat wire, which represents a perfect line source, and a
temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature in this source. The probe is inserted
into the soil under investigation. The NSSP principle is based on a unique property of a line source:
after a short transient period the temperature increase, Delta T, only depends on the power of the
heater, Q, and the average thermal conductivity, λ:

ΔT = (Q / 4 π λ) (ln t + B)

In general, an NSSP consists of a heat wire, which represents a perfect line source, and a
temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature in this source. The probe is inserted
into the soil under investigation. The NSSP principle is based on a unique property of a line
source: after a short transient period the temperature increase, Delta T, only depends on the
power of the heater, Q, and the average thermal conductivity, λ: = (Q / 4   T) Ln (T2 / T1)

The measurements of Q, T and T are all direct measurements of power, time, and temperature
and are performed without the need for reference materials. The measurement with FTN01 is
absolute. In addition to the term "thermal conductivity", the term "thermal resistivity" is also
often used.

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Rth = 1 /

Figure: Signal of FTN01 as a function of the natural logarithm of time. After a transient period the graphs
show linear behavior. In this phase, the slope of the graph is inversely proportional to the thermal
conductivity.

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The instrumentation to be used will be a Hukseflux brand equipment, model FNT01 year 2013
with factory calibration certificate.

Sens
or

Lanza
Lector
inserción
datos

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3. ELECTRICAL MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

As final document issued, it will collect at least the following points:

- Table of results obtained in the performance of the SEV trial.

- Result of the electrical resistivity curve for this test.
- Specific soil resistivity up to a maximum depth of 20 m

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4. THERMAL MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

As final document issued, it will collect at least the following points about the measurements made:

- Measured initial temperature.

- Thermal Resistivity.
- Thermal conductivity
- Thermal diffusivity.
- Graph of the thermal records obtained

PROFUNDIDAD CONDUCTIVIDAD RESISTIVIDAD TEMPERATURA

PUNTO
(m) TERMICA (W/mK) TERMICA (mK/W) INICIAL (oC)

RT-01 1 0.211 4.75 24.6

RT-01 2 0.191 5.23 24.3
RT-01 3 0.152 6.58 24.8
RT-02 1 0.227 4.41 27.8
RT-02 2 0.193 5.18 26.8
RT-02 3 0.169 5.93 26.1
RT-03 2 0.211 4.74 27.7

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ANNEX 1: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ENEL: Electrical and thermal resistivity

measurements

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