Using Integrated 2D and 3D Resistivity Imaging Methods for Illustrating the Mud-Fluid Conduits of the Wushanting Mud Volcanoes in Southwestern Taiwan

Abstract

We conducted 2D and 3D looped resistivity surveys in the Wushanting Natural Landscape Preservation Area (WNLPA) in order to understand the relationships of the mud-fluid conduits in the mud volcano system. 2D resistivity surveys were conducted along seven networked lines. Two separate C-shape looped electrode arrays surrounding the volcano craters were used in the study. First, the two 3D looped measurements were inverted separately. Yet the inverted 3D images of the mudvolcano system were inconsistent with the landscape features suggesting that artifacts perhaps appeared in the images. The 3D looped data were then combined with the 2D data for creating a global resistivity model of WNLPA. The resulting 3D image is consistent with the observed landscape features. With the resistivity model of WNLPA, we further tried to estimate the distribution of water content. The results suggest that the 3D resistivity image has the potential to resolve the dual porosity structures in the mudstone area. Last, we used a simplified WNLPA model for forward simulation in order to verify the field measurement results. We have concluded that the artifacts in the 3D looped images are in fact shadow effects from conductive objects out of the electrode loops, and that inverted images of combined 2D and 3D data provide detailed regional conductive structures in the WNLPA site.

Examining lake-bottom structures with the resistivity imaging method in Ilan's Da-Hu Lake in Northeastern Taiwan

“…Researchers frequently use resistivity imaging methods in various environments to investigate subsurface structures (e.g., Binley et al, 2002;Chang et al, 2011;Kemna et al, 2002;Kim et al, 2002;Mitchell et al, 2008;L. Toran et al, 2010b;van Schoor, 2002).…”

ERT and GPR Prospecting Applied to Unsaturated and Subwater Analogue Archaeological Site in a Full Scale Laboratory

“…It is possible to define different configuration: Wenner, Shlumberger, dipole-dipole, gradient arrays, pole-pole, pole-dipole. Moreover, due to new acquisition instruments with a high number of channels, it is possible to make a personal disposal of the electrodes with different regular or irregular geometry [65]. The apparent resistivity is then interpreted in terms of real resistivity and depth by means of inversion software.…”

Illustrate mud-fluid conduits and their variety using resistivity image profiling method in Southwest Taiwan

“…Considering the effectiveness of electrical resistivity method in studying subsurface structures, it has been used rigorously in studying the variation of mud volcanos in different part of world. Chang et al (2011) conducted 2D and 3D looped resistivity surveys in the Wushanting Natural Landscape Preservation Area (WNLPA) of Southern Taiwan in order to understand the relationships of the mud-fluid conduits in the mud volcano system. The relationship between resistivity and gas hydrate concentration in the subsurface of mud volcanoes through Transient Electromagnetic technique Terr.…”