Site Investigation Using Wenner Resistivity methods at

400KV QAIA GIS AND EXTENSION OF EXISTING

132/33 KV SUBSTATION , Jordan

Wenner Resistivity Method Statement

1.0 Introduction
Geophysical methods can be used to recognize subsurface structures by
observing contrasts in their physical properties. These properties (e.g. electrical
resistivity) vary between the media involved, and different materials (e.g. clay,
concrete, air and water) have different geophysical properties. Geophysical
surveys represent an efficient way to detect subsurface heterogeneities including
voids, refilled cavities and the like. There is an increasing demand for detailed
knowledge about subsurface features in environmental, hydrogeological, and
engineering applications (Gardener 1984) .

2.0 Wenner Resistivity method

Resistivity surveys measure the capacity of the ground to pass an electrical
current. This property can be utilized for designing earthing systems for
substations or specialist plant, and for measuring the corrosion susceptibility of
buried pipelines and other steel structures. Four equidistant electrodes are set-
out in a fixed configuration array; a low frequency current is applied across the
two outer electrodes with the resultant voltage measured across the inner
electrodes. The reading is converted by standard equations into a value
representing the average resistivity of the ground between the electrodes.
Resistivity depth readings are acquired by electrical soundings using an

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expanding electrode array centred on the same point. The depth penetration of
the readings is directly proportional to the electrode spacing.

2.1 Applications
Earthing systems provide a safe connection between an electrical circuit and the
ground. They are used for the dissipation of electrical faults, grounding lightning
strikes and maintaining the correct operation of electrical equipment. The correct
design of an earthing system is dependent upon detailed knowledge of the local
ground resistivity. This is measured as a function of depth at a series of locations
around the site, using an expanding four electrode Wenner array. The procedure
is known as soil resistivity or earth resistance testing. Correct measurement is
particularly important in areas of high resistivity ground, where electrical currents
are not able to dissipate. In these conditions obtaining an earth can be
problematic, and information on ground resistivity is required to much greater
depths for the successful installation of an earthing system .

The resistance of an installed earth rod can also be tested to verify an earthing
system. Using a specially adapted testing procedure, the earth rod is connected
with a two-electrode resistivity system. The electrodes are configured so that the
system measures the resistance of the earth rod directly. A knowledge of soil
corrosivity is critical for the design of cathodic protection measures, or predicting
the effective lifetime of a steel structure such as a tank that is to be buried within
the ground. Factors such as soil composition, moisture content, pore water
chemistry, pH and redox potential (control the ground resistivity, which is the
main diagnostic factor. The delivered report shall contain the following:

2.2 The required test

1.The original resistivity data of each electrode spacing, voltage and current;

2. The corrosivity of each depths of ground;

3.The curves between the electrode spacing and resistivity;

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4. The final conclusion; other details

2.3 Field Procedures

The Wenner array consists of four collinear, equally spaced electrodes. The
outer two electrodes are typically the current (source) electrodes and the inner
two electrodes are the potential (receiver) electrodes. The array spacing expands
about the array midpoint while maintaining an equivalent spacing between each
electrode. The spacing between adjacent electrodes (a) is varied from 0.1m,
0.2m, 0.3m, 0.5m, 0.7m, 1m, 2m, 3m, 5m, 7m, 10m, 20m, 30m, 50m, 70m
to100m. The testing points location (E01,E02) as assigned in location map will be
carried out according to IEEE Std 81™-2012 7.2.3 Four-point method, see Figure
2.

The advantages of the Wenner array are that the apparent resistivity is easily
calculated in the field and the instrument sensitivity is not as crucial as with other
array geometries. Relatively small current magnitudes are needed to produce
measurable potential differences. The disadvantages are that for each sounding,
all of the electrodes have to be moved to a new position. In order to image deep
into the earth, it is necessary to use longer current cables; handling the cables
and electrodes between each measurement can be cumbersome, especially in
difficult terrain. The Wenner array is also very sensitive to near surface
inhomogeneity which may skew deeper electrical responses.

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Figure 2: Wenner resistivity field setup and equation

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 Geophysical instruments
Syscal R1 plus specifications

The SYSCAL R1 Plus resistivity meter, specifically designed for medium-depth

exploration, can be used for civil engineering, groundwater and environmental projects,
to solve problems such as depth-to-bedrock determination, localisation of weathered
bedrock, clay-gravel determination, measurement of depth and thickness of aquifers,
salinity control, pollution monitoring, etc.

The SYSCAL R1 Plus combines a power source, transmitter up to a 600 V output

voltage, and receiver in a single unit; its compactness makes it an effective tool for
intensive resistivity surveys.

The SYSCAL R1 Plus generates the current, measures the voltage between the receiving
electrodes and displays the apparent resistivity value. Various electrode arrays are
available: Schlumberger and Wenner soundings or profiling, gradient and dipole-dipole.
IP chargeability measurements are performed on four predefined windows, allowing data
quality control.

The measurement is made fully automatically, controlled by a microprocessor : automatic

self-potential correction, automatic ranging, digital stacking for signal enhancement, error
display in case of procedure troubles. The internal memory can store more than 800
measurements (3000 in multi-electrode mode) with full information on intensity, voltage,
resistivity, IP Chargeability, geometrical parameters, station number. A serial link
permits transfer of the data to a microcomputer for plotting and interpretation of the data.