Aquifer Transmissivity from Surficial Electrical Methods

Abstract

Recent advances in the automatic inversion of vertical electrical sounding data offer the opportunity to describe the relationship of the resistivity of a granular aquifer to its hydraulic conductivity. This type of relationship, together with aquifer thickness, can be used to determine the transmissivity of the aquifer. Vertical electrical soundings and pump‐test data along the axis of a glacial outwash aquifer in central Illinois have indicated an inverse relationship between aquifer resistivity and hydraulic conductivity. This relationship has been attributed to differences in sorting of the outwash sediments. But studies of granular aquifers deposited in other geologic environments are needed before meaningful generalizations can be made.

Influence of Degree of Saturation in the Electric Resistivity–Hydraulic Conductivity Relationship

“…Reverse relation between hydraulic conductivity and aquifer resistivity has been found. This result agree with theoretical calculations by Brown (1989), laboratory sample measurements by Mazac et al, (1990), and field data relationship by Heigold et al (1979). B) Laboratory scale: David Huntley (1987) performed laboratory experiments to show the importance of matrix conduction.…”

“…A large number of empirical relationships between hydraulic conductivity and formation factor have been published. Figure (1), shows some inverse relations between aquifer hydraulic conductivity and formation factor, reported after Heigold, et. al., (1979) using data from Illinois, Plotnikov, et.…”

“…al., 1979). Kelly et al, (1984) explained the inverse relation due to the presence of clay, although the clay fraction of the aquifer was quite small (less than 4%) (Heigold et. al., 1979).…”

“…He got a good direct relation between aquifer resistivity and measured hydraulic conductivity, good direct relation between aquifer resistivity and specific capacity, and good direct relation between formation factor and measured hydraulic conductivity. P. C. Heigold, et al, (1979), used Wenner sounding resistivity and hydraulic conductivity data from pumping test to show an inverse relation between hydraulic conductivity and resistivity due to that poorly sorted sediments are responsible for reduced porosity and thus less hydraulic conductivity. W. Kosinski and W. Kelly (1981) presented data showing a direct relation between permeability and apparent formation factor and another direct relation between transmissivity and normalized aquifer resistance.…”

A Relationship between Hydraulic Conductivity and Electrical Properties of Silty Sand on the Riverside of the Nakdong River

“…(1) (Kelly, 1977;Heigold et al, 1979;Urish, 1981; K 343.84τ 0.00094 -= Kosinski and Kelly, 1981;Ponzini et al, 1983;Allessandrello and Lemoine, 1983;Frohlich et al, 1996). …”