The Utility of a Fully-distributed Direct Current Resistivity and Induced Polarisation System with Common Voltage Referencing

Summary

The direct current electrical resistivity and induced polarization (DCIP) method has received another significant upgrade through the introduction of common voltage referencing (CVR) in a fully-distributed array system. An array of single-channel receivers with a CVR wire allows for the extraction of an unprecedented volume of dipole data for the number of receivers deployed. In 3D implementation, this new method reduces noise levels and allows for the derivation of multi-scale and multi-azimuth receiver dipoles.

Operational efficiencies in the CVR method include lower overall wire lengths, less equipment weight and less crew fatigue when compared with conventional and other distributed array methods. Cable-free mesh network capability in each receiver allows for real-time assessment of data quality metrics, safety information, location data, and system health data. These operational efficiencies translate directly to improvements in safety.

With several hundred active receivers, data volume can reach 10s of millions of data records. Careful processing and selection of an optimised data subset with multi-scale and multi-azimuth information will inform highly accurate inversion imaging.

• induced polarisation
• resistivity
• 3D survey
• distributed array
• common voltage reference