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Generic comparison of ISM and LSIT interpretation of geo-resistivity technology data, using constraints of ground truths: a tool for efficient explorability of groundwater and related resources

Acta Geophysica volume 70, pages 1223–1239 (2022)Cite this article

Abstract

Geo-electrical resistivity technology, an investigative tool for prognosis or prospection of subsurface resources in relation to hydrogeology, environment, Archeology, engineering and mining, was employed to estimate the prime geo-electrical indices in a sedimentary environment using the interpretative candidacy of direct modelling of geo-electrical data through inverse slope method (ISM) and inverse modelling utilizing the least squares inversion technique (LSIT). The aim was to generically compare in-line with borehole indices, the results from the direct interpretation (ISM) with the conventional digitally computerized method (LSIT), which is associated with the ill-posed problem of inverse theory. The image maps, regression analysis and charts, from the qualitative and quantitative analyses of resistivity data, show that marginal correlations exist between ISM and LSIT in layer one while maximal correlation of resistivities is revealed in layers two and three. The curve types obtained from LSIT were 100% in agreement with the values of resistivities obtained from the ISM. Comparatively, the depth of investigation from the LSIT showcased a correlation with borehole depth in the range of 56.3–88.6% (average: 70.3%) while ISM has middling correlation of 79.0% with range of 68.0–87.7% in layers one to three distinctively delineated at the maximum electrical current separation. In terms of comparison, the depths and thicknesses displayed in Table 2 and Figs. 10–12, ISM is practically more compliant with the drilling results than the results from conventional and digitally computerized method (LSIT). Again, the results indicate the ill-posed problem of inverse theory associated with LSIT can be made well-posed by hybridizing the ISM and LSIT techniques in the interpretation of geo-resistivity data, mostly in the areas where there are no borehole logs (ground truths).

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to our colleagues in Geophysics Research Group (GRG) of Akwa Ibom State University for their assistance during the field data acquisition and editing of the manuscript

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The project was funded by the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics (Geophysics Research Group), Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpat Enin, PMB 1162, Uyo, Nigeria

    Nyakno Jimmy George, Kufre Richard Ekanem, Aniekan Martin Ekanem, Ndifreke Inyang Udosen & Jewel Emem Thomas

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  1. Nyakno Jimmy George
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Correspondence to Nyakno Jimmy George.

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George, N.J., Ekanem, K.R., Ekanem, A.M. et al. Generic comparison of ISM and LSIT interpretation of geo-resistivity technology data, using constraints of ground truths: a tool for efficient explorability of groundwater and related resources. Acta Geophys. 70, 1223–1239 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-022-00794-8

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Keywords

  • Geo-electrical resistivity technology
  • Inverse and forward modelling
  • ISM
  • LSIT
  • Nash–Sutcliffe optimization criterion