Geoelectrics - Crosshole tomography

Method Type:
Electrical Methods
Assigned Problems:
+
Aquifer pollution
Groundwater
+
Cavity detection
Civil Engineering
+
Characteristics of hazardous waste
Hazardous Waste
+
Contaminant plumes
Hazardous Waste
+
Fractures
Groundwater
+
Location of buried materials
Hazardous Waste
+
Monitoring
Hazardous Waste
+
Quality / Thickness of aquifer/aquitard
Groundwater
+
Quality and thickness (Natural resources)
Natural Resources
+
Soil / rock quality
Civil Engineering
0
Depth of Overburden-bedrock interface
Civil Engineering
0
Foundations of ancient structures
Buildings and Structures
0
Gravel, clay, limestone, salt exploration
Natural Resources
0
Groundwater table
Groundwater
0
Host sediments, hydogeological settings
Hazardous Waste
0
Permafrost and ice detection
Natural Hazards
0
Porosity / Permeability
Groundwater
0
Quantity/ Thickness
Hazardous Waste
0
Temporal variations
Groundwater
'+' = Technique applicable; '0' = Application possible/limited use.

Principle:
DC geoelectric crosshole tomography is a method in which the source electrodes (current
injection points) and the potential electrodes (measuring points) are placed downhole in two
separated boreholes and moved over a range of depths. It is able to yield detailed information on
the variation of resistivity between the boreholes.
Keywords:
Crosshole tomography; 2-D and 3-D electrical survey; tomographic inversion; resistivity contrast;
resistivity distribution; tomogram
Prerequisites:
- Target must be characterized by a resistivity contrast
- Buried wires, metal pipes, metal fences may influence measurements
- Urban areas may cause high noise levels (e.g. stray currents)
- Changing waether conditions may influence measurements
- Electrode coupling in cased boreholes is difficult and mostly impossible, electrode need to be
attached outside of casing
- Topography effects need to be considered
Resolution:
Main factors that control resolution of tomograms include resistivity contrasts, signal-to-noise ratio,
and electrode configurations employed. Vertical resolution is at best of the order of the electrode
spacing. Horizontal resolution depends on the array type chosen and the borehole separation.
Expected Results:
- Measured parameter: voltages [mV]. Depending on electrode configurations and currents
injected values may range from a few V to several V

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- Data analysis: tomographic inversion of voltages. Resulting tomograms show 2D resistivity

distributions along profiles or between boreholes. Pitfalls: Non-uniqueness problem: many
underground models may predict observed data equally well.
- Interpretation: individual resistivities are related to different geological units and water content.
Additional geological or geophysical surface data may be required for reliable interpretation. A
priori information (layer thickness and / or resistivity values) are helpful to constrain the models.
Combination with other Methods:
- Required additional information: geological information for reliable interpretation
- Related add-on information: surface-based geoelectrical data;
electromagnetic data
- Independent additional information: crosshole seismics; crosshole georadar
Operation Expense:
- Crew size: 1 key person, 1-2 assistants
- Acquisition speed: 1 - 2 tomographic planes / day (strongly instrument dependent)
- Processing:Requires 1 - 2 days per acquisition day
- Equipment rental costs: intermediate
Parameters to specify:
QC Documents:
- Documentation of accuracy of transmitted currents and voltages
- Measurements of reproducibility (measurements of reciprocal or redundant configurations)
- Sensitivity matrices, resolution matrices
- Optional: Map of buried cables
Products:
- Tomogram (2-D Resistivity distribution between boreholes)
- Interpretation

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