Borehole Enhanced IP

BOREHOLE ENHANCED IP/RESISTIVITY

The resolution of IP/Resistivity surveys decreases greatly
with depth. Conventional down-hole Resistivity surveys normally image within a
few meters of the borehole with no directional information. A simple way to increase
the subsurface resolution is to use the Borehole Enhanced IP/Resistivity Array.
This will dramatically increase the resolution of the inversion in the vicinity
of the borehole.

 

Benefits of Borehole Enhanced IP/Resistivity

• Profiles in 4 directions = full 3D imaging.
• Improved resolution of features near borehole.
• Surface Forward & Reverse PDP surveys.
• No moving receiver.
• No specialized borehole cables and equipment.
• No expensive probe.
• Fewer personnel = relatively lower cost.

 

Borehole Enhanced IP/Resistivity Array

The borehole array consists of surface potential
electrodes with both surface and subsurface current injections. For each
surface profile, there are forward and reverse pole-dipole measurements as well
as the down-hole injections. Since only a single current electrode is lowered
and raised down the hole, the setup is extremely simple.

 

Survey Equipment

Any standard IP equipment can be used, but with a
distributed array system (such as the DIAS32 Resistivity/IP System), the survey
becomes even more efficient. A single borehole survey takes approximately 4
days (1 day setup, 2 days survey and 1 day tear-down). Spacing is easily
modified to accommodate project requirements.

Results of a recent survey suggest modifications to
the typical survey layout, originally designed for detecting stock-works in a
relatively homogeneous environment. Surface lines along dominant trends are not
useful in defining structural offsets. Rather, it seems a layout consisting of
lines across dominant trends would be much more effective at mapping cross features.
The results are even better when incorporating older surveys to provide more
background information.

 

                                                                                                         Typical Survey Layout

 

The sections below are extracted from Resistivity 3D inversions of borehole surveys combined with historical survey data. The borehole surveys were done recently in the Athabasca Basin area (data courtesy of ALX Uranium Corp.). The Borehole Enhanced survey inversion shows a significant increase in resolution in the deeper portion of the section near the boreholes.

Surface Resistivity

Borehole Enhanced Resistivity

Borehole Enhanced IP Paper