Subsurface imaging of water electrical conductivity, hydraulic permeability and lithology at contaminated sites by induced polarization

Maurya, Pradip Kumar; Balbarini, Nicola; Møller, Ingelise; Rønde, Vinni Kampman; Christiansen, A.V.; Bjerg, Poul Løgstrup; Auken, Esben; Fiandaca, Gianluca

doi:10.1093/gji/ggy018

Cited by 60 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 78 publications

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“…As an alternative to equations and and the inversion in terms of the BIC parameters of equation , it is possible to derive the permeability from equations and and the inversion in terms of the MIC parameters of equation , i.e., it is possible to use

σ_{0}

instead of

σ_{b u l k}

. In this study, we prefer to follow the first approach for two reasons: (i) the effect of surface conductivity in the estimation of the formation factor is taken into account (i.e., an estimate of the true formation factor

F

is used instead of an estimate of the apparent formation factor

F^{'}

); (ii) the use of the BIC model instead of the MIC model is better suited for permeability estimation from surface IP data, as shown recently by Maurya et al (). In fact, the use of the BIC model in 2‐D/3‐D imaging practically imposes a geometrical constraint between the spatial distribution of the inverted imaginary conductivity

σ^{''}

and the spatial distribution of the total DC conductivity

σ_{0}

section, so that a chargeable area in the inversion model is also conductive.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the contrary, when

σ_{s u r f}^{'}

gives a negligible contribution to

σ_{0}

, no geometrical constraint is enforced between the

σ^{''}

and

σ_{0}

spatial distributions and the BIC and MIC models give equivalent results. This feature reduces the equivalences in the

σ_{0}

imaging and helps in retrieving inversion models more representative of the site geology, and henceforth better permeability estimations (Maurya et al, ). However, in this study, the high vertical resolution of the El‐log technique avoids equivalence problems in the

σ_{0}

estimation, and the permeability estimates retrieved by the MIC and BIC inversions are of comparable quality (results not shown for brevity).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Permeability Estimation Directly From Logging‐While‐Drilling Induced Polarization Data

Fiandaca

Maurya

Balbarini

et al. 2018

Water Resources Research

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In this study, we present the prediction of permeability from time domain spectral induced polarization (IP) data, measured in boreholes on undisturbed formations using the El‐log logging‐while‐drilling technique. We collected El‐log data and hydraulic properties on unconsolidated Quaternary and Miocene deposits in boreholes at three locations at a field site in Denmark, characterized by different electrical water conductivity and chemistry. The high vertical resolution of the El‐log technique matches the lithological variability at the site, minimizing ambiguity in the interpretation originating from resolution issues. The permeability values were computed from IP data using a laboratory‐derived empirical relationship presented in a recent study for saturated unconsolidated sediments, without any further calibration. A very good correlation, within 1 order of magnitude, was found between the IP‐derived permeability estimates and those derived using grain size analyses and slug tests, with similar depth trends and permeability contrasts. Furthermore, the effect of water conductivity on the IP‐derived permeability estimations was found negligible in comparison to the permeability uncertainties estimated from the inversion and the laboratory‐derived empirical relationship.

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σ_{0}

instead of

σ_{b u l k}

F

is used instead of an estimate of the apparent formation factor

F^{'}

σ^{''}

and the spatial distribution of the total DC conductivity

σ_{0}

section, so that a chargeable area in the inversion model is also conductive.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the contrary, when

σ_{s u r f}^{'}

gives a negligible contribution to

σ_{0}

, no geometrical constraint is enforced between the

σ^{''}

and

σ_{0}

spatial distributions and the BIC and MIC models give equivalent results. This feature reduces the equivalences in the

σ_{0}

σ_{0}

estimation, and the permeability estimates retrieved by the MIC and BIC inversions are of comparable quality (results not shown for brevity).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Permeability Estimation Directly From Logging‐While‐Drilling Induced Polarization Data

Fiandaca

Maurya

Balbarini

et al. 2018

Water Resources Research

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…The approach has proven particularly effective in unconsolidated sediments, where formation factors are low and limited to a narrow range (Slater and Lesmes ; Maurya et al . ). When the role of F on

σ^{''}

becomes significant, IP measurements become ambiguous as they then depend both on the pore radius, along with the tortuosity and porosity of the porous network.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Permeability estimation from induced polarization: an evaluation of geophysical length scales using an effective hydraulic radius concept

Weller

Slater

2019

Near Surface Geophysics

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Geophysical length scales defined from induced‐polarization measurements can be used in models of permeability (k) prediction. We explore the relative merit of different induced‐polarization parameters as proxies of an effective hydraulic radius (reff) that can be used to predict permeability from a modified Hagen–Poiseuille equation. Whereas geometrical measures of the hydraulic radius are good proxies of reff, the induced‐polarization measures are not well correlated with reff. However, a new proxy of reff that considers both imaginary conductivity and formation factor shows an improved correlation with reff. The resulting model enables a better quality of permeability prediction compared with the other geophysical length scales, but does not reach the predictive quality of the models based on geometrical length scales. The specific polarizability defined when incorporating the effect of the formation factor on imaginary conductivity appears to be independent of pore geometry, indicating that it is the correct parameter representing the role of the surface electrochemistry on the induced‐polarization effect. However, the joint dependence of induced‐polarization measurements on both the pore radius and the tortuosity and porosity of the interconnected pore network is a limitation to the widely explored use of induced‐polarization measurements to isolate surface properties from volumetric properties of the interconnected pore network.

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“…Postglacial freshwater sand and peat deposits overlie the meltwater sand deposits close to the stream. Below this, there is a Miocene Odderup sand layer (Heron et al ; Balbarini et al ; Maurya et al ). The top of the Miocene sand deposits can be found between 30‐ and 25‐m asl.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Transport of Pharmaceutical Compounds in a Layered Aquifer Discharging to a Stream

Balbarini¹,

Frederiksen

Rønde

et al. 2019

Groundwater

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A groundwater plume containing high concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds, mainly sulfonamides, barbiturates, and ethyl urethane, in addition to chlorinated ethenes and benzene was investigated. The contamination originating from a former pharmaceutical industry discharges into a multilayered aquifer system and a downgradient stream. In this study, geological and hydrogeological data were integrated into a numerical flow model to examine identified trends using statistical approaches, including principal component analysis and hierarchal cluster analysis. A joint interpretation of the groundwater flow paths and contaminant concentrations in the different compartments (i.e., groundwater and hyporheic zone) provided insight on the transport processes of the different contaminant plumes to the stream. The analysis of historical groundwater concentrations of pharmaceutical compounds at the site suggested these compounds are slowly degrading. The pharmaceutical compounds migrate in both a deep semiconfined aquifer, as well as in the shallow unconfined aquifer, and enter the stream along a 2‐km stretch. This contrasted with the chlorinated ethenes, which mainly discharge to the stream as a focused plume from the unconfined aquifer. The integrated approach developed here, combining groundwater flow modeling and statistical analyses of the contaminant concentration data collected in groundwater and the hyporheic zone, lead to an improved understanding of the observed distribution of contaminants in the unconfined and semiconfined aquifers, and thus to their discharge to the stream. This approach is particularly relevant for large and long‐lasting contaminant sources and plumes, such as abandoned landfills and industrial production sites, where field investigations may be very expensive.

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Subsurface imaging of water electrical conductivity, hydraulic permeability and lithology at contaminated sites by induced polarization

Cited by 60 publications

References 78 publications

Permeability Estimation Directly From Logging‐While‐Drilling Induced Polarization Data

Permeability Estimation Directly From Logging‐While‐Drilling Induced Polarization Data

Permeability estimation from induced polarization: an evaluation of geophysical length scales using an effective hydraulic radius concept

Assessing the Transport of Pharmaceutical Compounds in a Layered Aquifer Discharging to a Stream

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