Abstract
A commercial version of the magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) technique became available in 1996. At that time, ITC research team started to investigate the MRS technique with respect to its appropriateness to groundwater investigations. MRS is the only non-invasive surface geophysical technique with an inherent selectivity to free hydrogen and, therefore, to groundwater. The signal amplitude inversion allows quantifying free water content as a function of depth and signal decay rate inversion characterizes pore size with depth. The technique is limited in its depth investigation capability mainly by the size of its excitation/sensing loop, by the electric conductivity of the media, by the ambient noise level and by the Earth's magnetic field value. Two field cases illustrate MRS applications. A conglomeratic aquifer within metamorphic fractured rock sequence in Portugal shows the MRS response in a low porosity environment and unconsolidated porous aquifer system in the Netherlands, presents an opposite case of high porosity environment.
Résumé
Une réalisation commerciale de Sondage par Résonance Magnétique (SRM) est disponible depuis 1996. À cette époque, une équipe de recherche d'ITC a commencé à étudier la pertinence de la technique SRM pour l'étude des aquifères. Le SRM est la seule technique géophysique non-invasive de surface qui présente une sélectivité inhérente à l'hydrogène libre et par conséquent à l'eau souterraine. L'inversion de l'amplitude du signal permet de quantifier la teneur en eau libre en fonction de la profondeur et l'inversion du taux de décroissance du signal caractérise la taille des pores en fonction de la profondeur. La technique est limitée pour sa profondeur d'investigation surtout par la dimension de la boucle d'excitation/détection, la conductivité électrique du milieu, le niveau du bruit ambiant et la valeur du champ magnétique terrestre. Deux exemples illustrent des applications du SRM. Un aquifère conglomératique dans une séquence fracturée métamorphique au Portugal montre la réponse du SRM dans un milieu à faible porosité et un système aquifère poreux non consolidé des Pays-Bas présente la situation opposée d'un milieu à forte porosité.
Resumen
En 1996, apareció una versión comercial de la técnica de Sondeos mediante Resonancia Magnética (SRM). En aquel momento, el equipo de investigación del ITC comenzó a estudiar la utilidad de dicha técnica para su aplicación a las aguas subterráneas. Los SRM son la única técnica geofísica de superficie no invasiva que posee una selectividad inherente al hidrógeno libre y, por tanto, a las aguas subterráneas. La inversión de la amplitud de la señal permite cuantificar el contenido de agua libre en función de la profundidad, mientras que la inversión de la tasa de decaimiento de la señal caracteriza el tamaño de poro con la profundidad. La técnica está limitada en su capacidad para investigaciones profundas esencialmente por el tamaño del bucle de excitación/detección, por la conductividad eléctrica del medio, por el nivel de ruido ambiental y por el valor del campo magnético terrestre. Se ilustra la aplicación de los SRM mediante dos ejemplos de campo: el primero consiste en un acuífero de conglomerados intercalados en una secuencia de rocas fracturadas, en Portugal, con lo que se muestra la respuesta de los SRM en un medio de baja porosidad; el segundo ejemplo trata de un sistema acuífero en materiales no consolidados, en los Países Bajos, que supone el caso contrario de un medio de alta porosidad.
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Acknowledgements
We want to acknowledge, with thanks, the contributions from C. Owuor to the data acquisition and processing and from Dr. A. Marques da Costa, IGM, for the investigations done in Portugal. This work has also been made possible through the effective collaboration with IRIS Instrument, the ITC's Internal Research Program, the WRS and EXG Divisions contributions and the 1998 information on the Netherlands sites from TNO. We thank David L. Campbell, F. Peter Haeni and Perry G. Olcott for their comments, which helped improve an earlier version of this contribution.
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Roy, J., Lubczynski, M. The magnetic resonance sounding technique and its use for groundwater investigations. Hydrogeology Journal 11, 455–465 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0254-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0254-8