1. Sediment Properties Determined through Magnetotellurics
By: Andrew Frassetto
University of South Carolina
July 17, 2002

2. Outline: Overview of field area The Magnetotelluric Method
Examples of MT Curves and 1-D Inversion Models
Description of the Geoelectric profile
My focus: Determining sediment properties of shallow, low resistivity layer
Problems in determining sediment properties using Archie’s Law (and Wyllie’s Equation)
Summary of results and interpretations regarding porosity and seismic velocity
Implications of the sediment properties

3. Field Area:
MT/TEM Line N
8 km

4. The Basics of MT:
Low frequency, passive, deep imaging of the Earth’s lithosphere
Traditionally uses Ex and Ey, along with Hx, Hy, Hz (Titan-24 System did not measure Hz)
(Jiracek et al., 1995)

5. MT at SAGE 2002:
On an MT curve, a positive slope indicates a resistive layer, while a negative slope shows increasing conductivity. The increasing period represents a lowering frequency at depth.
(Jiracek et al., 1995)
SAGE 2002’s MT setup consisted of 41 separate
Data collection points spread at 100 m intervals over 4.1 km. The data was collected in 2 days.

6. Examples:
App. Resistivity (ohm-m)
Period (sec)

7. Examples:
App. Resistivity (ohm-m)
Period (sec)

8. Examples:
App. Resistivity (ohm-m)
Period (sec)

9. Examples:
App. Resistivity (ohm-m)
Period (sec)

10. Initial Observations:
From the 1-D Inversion model, 4 basic layers can be seen:
-a thin resistive surface layer
-a m thick layer of low resistivity
-a m thick layer of high conductivity
-the highly resistive basement at m
The basement layer becomes shallower down the line, with the conductive layer becoming thinner
The subsequent 1-D Inversion stitch illustrates these layers fairly well

11. Geoelectric Profiles:
Area of Focus
Depth (m) 4
Precambrian Basement: km depth
Distance (km)

12. Geoelectric Profiles:
Possible Power Line Effect
Depth (m)
Distance (km)

13. Well Data:
Data from a geochemical analysis was used to estimate the resistivity of water in this region using a Salinity-Porosity Nomogram. Thus, porosity can be calculated using Archie’s Law.
Flora Barres Well
(Longmire, 1985)

14. Calculations:
The well data include temperature (18.1 ˚C) and equivalent salinity (385 ppm). Plotting these on the Nomogram and connecting them with a best fit line yields ρw ≈ 14 ohm-m.
(SAGE 2002 Notes)

15. Calculations - Porosity:
Archie’s Law: ρr / ρw = aΦ-m …where a is the coefficient of saturation and m is the cementation factor. ρr was taken from the 1-D inversion model Values range from 8 ohm-m to 34 ohm-m, with most approximately 20 ohm-m.
Humble Formula: a = 0.62, m = 2.15
…used in sandstone environments and this study
Archie’s Law cannot be applied to clay environments, as clay drastically increases the conductivity and renders porosity estimates useless.

16. Calculations – Seismic Velocity:
Wyllie’s Equation:
1/v = Φ/vf + 1-Φ/vm
…where vf is the velocity of the fluid and vm is the velocity of the matrix rock, in this case assumed to be granite. As such,
vf = 1510 m/s and
vm = 5375 m/s.

17. Data: Calculated Results: Φ ≈ 29% vp = 3148.28 m/s
Several data points were dropped due to power lines in center and clays near the end of MT line.
(SAGE 2002 Notes)

18. Graphs:

19. Graphs:

20. Interpretations: Possible clay zone Φ ≈ 25-35%: potential aquifer
Significant clay & possible increase in salinity?: poor aquifer

21. Conclusions:
Resistivities are a reasonable method to estimate the porosity of buried sediments or rocks.
Calculated values for porosity and sand maintain fairly consistent across the profile.
The values suggest a large amounts of loosely consolidated, non-lithified sand to a depth of 660 m.
This region of basin has low the potential to be an excellent freshwater aquifer.

22. References:
Jiracek, G.R., Haak, V., Olsen, K.H., 1995, Practical magnetotellurics in a continental rift environment. In: K.H. Olsen (ed.), Continental Rifts: Evolution, Structure, and Tectonics, Developments in Geotectonics Vol. 25, Elsevier, Amsterdam, p
Longmire, P., 1985, A Hydrogeochemical Study Along the Valley of the Santa Fe River, Santa Fe and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico. Ground Water and Hazardous Waste Bureau, Santa Fe, p
Ward, S.H., 1990, Resistivity and induced polarization methods. In: Ward, S.H. (ed.), Geotechnical and environmental geophysics, Vol. 1, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, p
SAGE 2002 Handbook

23. Acknowledgements:
Quantec and Zonge Engineering for their equipment and expertise
Cochiti Pueblo for allowing us the privilege of working on their land
David and George for always taking the time to answer one of my many questions
Lauren for the TEM data, through which all static shift corrections were possible
The entire SAGE 2002 group for making this such a great experience