Complex Conductivity

(Active Method)

GHR 613 – Groundwater Geophysics

Prepared by:
Lungisa, Yolanda and Clifford
 Defination of Complex Conductivity

• When analyzing the response of materials to

Alternating Electric Fields (AC), in applications such
as Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), it is
necessary to replace Resistivity (DC) with a complex
quantity called Impeditivity (in analogy to impedance).
This phenomenon is called Complex Resistivity

• Impeditivity is the sum of a real component, the

resistivity, and an imaginary component, the
reactivity (in analogy to reactance).

• The magnitude of Impeditivity is the square root of

sum of squares of magnitudes of resistivity and
reactivity.
 Defination Cont’d
• Conversely, in cases of AC signals the Conductivity must
be expressed as a complex number called the Admittivity.
This is called Complex Conductivity Measurements

• Admittivity is the sum of a real component called the

Conductivity and an imaginary component called the
Susceptivity.

• An alternative description of the response to AC signals

uses a real (but frequency-dependent) conductivity, along
with a real permittivity. Which is the one we shall explain

• The larger the conductivity is, the more quickly the

alternating-current signal is absorbed by the material
• The absorbed current signal generates an electrical voltage
signal through induction process of conductors
 Principle of Operation
• From Measurements of DC Resistivity Surveys we learnt that:

R = V/I …………………………….(1)
&
R = ρL/A…………………………...(2)

Equating 1 and 2 and re-arranging yields:

……………………….(3)

Where: I/A = Current density (J), V/L = Electric Field Strength (E)
& 1/ ρ = σ (conductivity)

Therefore for DC conductivity surveys 3 becomes:

J = σE…………………………...(4)
 Principle of Operation Cont’d
• Now of Sinusoidal Time Varying Currents (AC) the process is
described by:
Frequency dependent
Real Conductivity Real Permittivity

………….(5)

Complex conductivity Induced time varying

Transmitted time Electrical Field
varying Current signal
• Equation 5 is the governing equation, where: w = angular
frequency of the time varying J and E.

Complex conductivity, ………………(6)

Imaginary conductivity
…………...(7)

Real conductivity
 Principle of Operation Cont’d
• The best way to understand Complex conductivity
measurements is to imagine a simple induction EM process.

Induced or measured,
Transmitter, J*(w) σ’(w) σ’(w)
iσ"(w) E(w)

Hoooh ..ok..The transmitter generates a current signal

J*(w) to a subsurface formation with real conductivity
σ’(w) and imaginary conductivity σ’’(w). An Electrical
voltage signal E(w) is induced and hence measured at
the receiver. The generated current signal J*(w) is
usually of low frequency <1kHz
 Principle of Operation Cont’d
• Complex conductivity measurements are performed on the
basis that there exist a Constant Phase Angle response
between the transmitted time varying signal and induced
measured time varying Electrical field E(w), This is called the
CPA response, For Geohydrology measurements the CPA
response exists at the grain boundary interfaces which are
related to the electrochemical or biological processes.

• The principle of measuring complex conductivity is to transmit

J*(w) and measure E(w) ---------Known variables &
• Calculating:
1. magnitude of complex conductivity (σ*):
………..(9)

2. Constant Phase Angle /shift (ϕ): ……………..(10)

 Equipment & Configuration of Field Measurements

• The configuration of Complex Conductivity measurements is similar to that of

normal resistivity surveys i.e. Geo-electrical methods
 Field Measurements
• The method measures conductivity as the physical property of
the subsurface
• Step 1: Read out the magnitudes of J*(w) and E(w) from the instrument

• Step 2: From equation 4 calculate complex conductivity (σ*):

=

• The Signal Analysis circuit of the instrument also gives the phase shift (ϕ)

• Step 3: read out the Phase Angle (ϕ)

• Step 4: Substitute calculated σ* and measured ϕ in equations 9 and 10 and

solve the simultaneous equations to get real conductivity (σ’) and imaginary
conductivity (σ”)

• Step 5 change frequency and repeat steps 1 to 4

• Step 6 Plot the Complex Conductivity Spectrum using σ’, σ” and Frequencies
(f).
Summary of Measurement Steps

Steps 1 and 3: i.e Reading

J*(w), E(w) and ϕ

Steps 2 and 5: i.e Calculate

σ* and plot with ϕ against f
to get a conductivity and
phase spectrum

Steps 4 and 6: Calculate σ’

and σ’’ and plot the complex
conductivity spectrum
 Field Measurement Form
Station Frequency (f), J*(w) or I E(w) or Q Φ
Hz (Phase) (mS/m)

10

n
 Interpretation
Complex conductivity method can be interpreted Quantitatively
or Qualitatively by relating calculated σ’ and σ’’ to:

Each Subsurface material / formation has a unique Complex

Complex Conductivity Spectrum / complex parameter model.
 Advantages of Complex Conductivity Measurements

• Complex Conductivity method is an innovative geo-electrical

method which is sensitive to physico-chemical mineral water
interaction at grain surface,

• Unlike other geophysical methods which provide only the

physical properties of the sub-surface through inversion,
Complex conductivity method:
i. Is a non invasive method which has potential to predict
parameter distribution more realistically.

ii. Besides only conductivity, it provides also information on

electrical capacity and relaxation processes in the frequency
range below kHz (at high frequencies the electrical behaviour of the
rock is increasingly determined by the physical interactions alone).
 Disadvantages of Complex Conductivity Measurements

• The major problem of complex conductivity measurements in

the field is the determination of the exact frequency
dependencies and phase angles respectively.

• The measured phase angles are of the size of a few milliradian

(1 mrad = 0.057 deg)

• Their numerical values are in clay free sands or gravels only

slightly greater than the measurement error.

• Because we are dealing with signals of very small frequency

and magnitudes, Non-polarizable porous pots are used as
electrodes to reduce the noise error
 No Questions Please ????????????

Otherwise you will get more confused

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Thank You!!