Konstantin Titov

• Dr. Sc., Prof.
• Head of Department at St Petersburg University

Clay minerals are extensively used in a wide range of applications. In particular, clay-bearing formations are considered as suitable radioactive waste repository. Electrical resistivity tomography is an appropriate tool to monitor the properties of clay-bearing locations. However, an inherent drawback of a conventional resistivity survey is its am...

S U M M A R Y In the field, kimberlites are characterized by high electrical conductivities (about 0.1 S m −1) compared to most igneous rocks. The reason for these high conductivities has not been fully elucidated to date. We investigate here the spectral induced polarization of seven core samples of kimberlites in the frequency range 1.43 mHz-20 k...

The time-domain (TD) induced polarization (IP) method is used as an extension of direct current (DC) resistivity measurements to capture information on the ability of the subsurface to develop electrical polarization. In the TD, the transient voltage decay is measured after the termination of the current injection. To invert tomographic TD IP data...

Induced polarization (IP) method is widely used in different applications including mining geology, hydrogeology, contaminant hydrology, geodynamics, and geothermal research. For this reason, petrophysical investigations of IP parameters present an increased interest. Last decades IP behavior of rocks and sediments containing metallic particles (MP...

The paper discusses current state of the spectral approach to analysis of induced polarization (IP), its possibilities and limitations, along with directions for the method development. Reviewed are the main methods and approaches for estimation of spectral IP parameters and their specific features. Our practical experiments have shown the advantag...

Landfills have been identified as a significant concern to the surrounding surface and groundwater ecosystem because of the discharge of leachate. To tackle the uncertain localization of the contamination plume due to low sampling densities, a combination of hydrochemical analysis and induced polarization survey (IP) is employed to characterize the...

Last decades, there has been an increased interest in the use of the self-potential (SP) method in hydrogeophysics. In response to this strong interest, we develop a novel approach to the inversion of SP data. Mathematically, the SP inverse problem is the source identification problem for the Poisson equation. Our approach substantially differs fro...

В работе предлагается новый численный метод решения обратной задачи метода естественного поля. Метод существенно отличается от стандартной минимизации по Тихонову и основан на преобразовании обратной задачи к вариационной задаче с седловой точкой. Для численного решения вариационная задача аппроксимируется в конечно-элементных пространствах и своди...

In this study, we investigate the pore space of a sample of the Portland sandstone using various methods with different resolution, and based on different physical principles (Mercury injection capillary pressure, MICP, Micro-computed tomography, µ-CT, and Spectral induced polarization, SIP). According to their physical principles, each method prov...

In this paper, we review mathematical models of the Induced Polarization (IP) of ion-conducting porous media. In the first part we consider the IP phenomenological description based on the classical Debye and Pelton models, and we review the Electrical Double Layer (EDL) theory. We concluded that IP can be represented by an equivalent circuit, whic...

Based on the review of the phenomenological models of the Induced Polarization (IP), and the Electrical Double Layer theory, which is done in Part I, in Part 2, we review the capillary and granular models of porous media. These mechanistic models are derived for (i) an individual dielectric particle and (ii) a sequence of pores with different radii...

In this paper, we review phenomenological and physical-chemical theories of Induced Polarization (IP) of saturated ion-conducting rocks and soils. The IP phenomenology is based on a behavior of equivalent electrical scheme including parallel connection of two elements: (1) a resistance, and (2) a serial connection of another resistance and capacita...

When carrying out field works with Self-Potential (SP) and Induced Polarization (IP) methods, it is necessary to measure small values of the electric field; therefore, non-polarizable electrodes are used. However, for measurements in boreholes, the use of non-polarizable electrodes is technologically inconvenient. In this work, we performed systema...

Spectral information obtained from induced polarization (IP) measurements can be used in a variety of applications and is often gathered in frequency domain (FD) at the laboratory scale. In contrast, field IP measurements are mostly done in time domain (TD). Theoretically, the spectral content from both domains should be similar. In practice, they...

Electrically conductive minerals (e.g. graphite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and magnetite) occur in the various geological contexts. They might represent economic resources or serve as indicators of such resources. In addition, they can be sources of contamination of soil and groundwater. Therefore, characterization of rocks containing electrically cond...

In this paper, we presented results of interpretation of Self-Potential (SP) signals produced by pumping test experiment of heterogeneous aquifer. Heterogeneity is represented by zone with low and high hydraulic conductivity in two types of configuration: planned boundary and strip-layer. We studied five models for each type of heterogeneity with t...

Kimberlites are of interest for geologists because they present important sources of diamonds. Electrical methods usually provide useful information to delineate kimberlite pipes, which typically show small apparent resistivity values. However, to the best of our knowledge, nobody studied, why intrusive rock like kimberlite is a good electrical con...

We studied an effect of anisotropy of induced polarization parameters (the total chargeability and the relaxation time) with 22 synthetic models containing rounded, rod-like, and plate-like electronically conducting and semiconducting particles. We carried out the measurements in the time domain with a commercial AIE-2 instrument and a low-current...

Plain Language Summary Most people know about biophysical techniques—MRI, CT scan, X‐ray, etc.—that help doctors detect anomalies (areas of sickness) in a human body. Along the same lines, geophysical techniques help geologists detect anomalies (areas rich in minerals, oil, etc.) in the “body” of planet Earth. One of such techniques, called the ind...

In this paper, using numerical modelling, we study Self-Potential (SP) responses of a pumping well partially penetrated an aquifer. We considered short well screens located at different depth and we compare the self-potential responses to those obtained for the well fully penetrated an aquifer, which we served as the reference model. For the case o...

In this paper, we compared Time Domain Induced Polarization (IP) data obtained from a collection of natural samples that contained pyrite with X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (CT) data. Induced polarization allowed us to obtain the relaxation time distribution and the total chargeability. Computed Tomography enabled us to assess the volumetric cont...

We carried out a numerical analysis of Self-Potential (SP) signals produced in the course of pumping test experiments. We studied SP responses on the basis of the GWFGEM code. In the models, the pumping well partially penetrated the aquifer. We considered the short well filters (1/5 of the aquifer thickness) and longer filters penetrated up to 4/5...

We numerically model self-potential responses associated with periodic pumping test experiments by sequential calculation of the hydraulic response and the coupled electrical potential. We assume the pumping test experiments with a fully saturated confined aquifer. Application of different excitation functions leads to quasi-linear trends in electr...

This paper presents the results of 2D mathematical modeling of induced polarization (IP) in the cases of profiling and electrical tomography for piecewise homogeneous media containing ore bodies with different structures, sizes, depths, relaxation times, chargeability, and electrical resistivity. The standard and spectral approaches to data analysi...

We discuss a membrane polarization effect that can occur when the walls of two sequential pores are built of different minerals, with different interface properties (the zeta potential and the partition coefficient). The differences in the interface properties lead to a difference in the ion transport numbers (even if the two aforementioned pores a...

In order to upscale the induced polarization (IP) response of porous media, from the pore scale to the sample scale, we implement a procedure to compute the macroscopic complex resistivity response of random tube networks. A network is made of a 2-D square-meshed grid of connected tubes, which obey to a given tube radius distribution. In a simplifi...

Time-domain induced polarization (IP) data are used for approach to ore prospecting problems on the flanks of the Julietta gold-silver deposit. IP time-domain data are analyzed on the basis of the Debye decomposition, which allows reconstruction of the relaxation time distribution. Experimental dependences of the IP parameters on the main petrophys...

We studied artificial ore models that contained galena, pyrite, magnetite, graphite and cryptomelane with the time domain induced polarization technique. The models were mixtures of sand and metallic-type, electronically conductive mineral particles. We varied the volumetric content of the particles, their mineral composition and average grain size...

In hydrothermal and metasomatic deposits, gold is frequently accompanied by sulphide minerals of different grain size and shape depending on degree of alteration of host rocks. We applied Time Domain (TD) Induced Polarization (IP) method combined with Debye Decomposition approach (DDA) to profiling data, in order to map zonality of the altered rock...

We present a multidisciplinary approach for characterization of a crude oil-contaminated site (Trecate, Italy), integrating geophysical data, such as subsoil electrical potential (in millivolts) and electrical resistivity (in ohm meters) distribution, with hydrogeological and bio-chemical data. Self-potential measurements have been evaluated togeth...

Two different equations, both of which are often called ‘the Cole–Cole equation’, are widely used to fit experimental Spectral Induced Polarization data. The data are compared on the basis of fitting model parameters: the chargeability, the time constant and the exponent. The difference between the above two equations (the Cole–Cole equation propos...

The article presents the results of a laboratory investigation of spectral induced polarization (IP) carried out on synthetic models of disseminated ores. The models are represented by mixtures of sand (the grain size is 200-300 μm) and electron-conductive ore minerals with different grain sizes. The research examines IP with different current wave...

Over the last 15 years significant advancements in induced polarization (IP) research have taken place, particularly with respect to spectral IP (SIP), concerning the understanding of the mechanisms of the IP phenomenon, the conduction of accurate and broadband laboratory measurements, the modelling and inversion of IF data for imaging purposes and...

In this paper, we present an application of the resistivity model based on a modified Archie’s law (Glower et al., 2000), and accounting for a conductivity of clay material, to the Kotlin clayey formation (Vendian age, St. Petersburg, Russia). We compare theoretical prediction of the model with experimental data based on the well logging and labora...

We present a new electrical array designed for vertical electrical sounding (VES) with capacitive potential electrodes and grounded current electrodes. Two grounded current electrodes are at a permanent position, and two moving equal ungrounded lines are used to measure the voltage. The potential lines are moved away from the current electrodes to...

We present laboratory investigations of oil-contaminated sands inoculated with Pseudomonas indica, known as oil degrader, under aerobic conditions. Our results are based on the measurements of electrical parameters (resistivity, induced polarization and self-potential signals) and hydraulic conductivity. We also analyzed the moisture chemical compo...

The contamination of soils and groundwater by hydrocarbon, due to blow out, leakage from tank or pipe and oil spill, is a heavy environmental problem because infiltrated oil can persist in the ground for a long time. The existing methods used for the remediation of these contaminated sites are invasive, time consuming and expensive. Therefore, in t...

With a time domain (TD) technique, we measured Spectral Induced Polarization responses of 19 models of ore. The models were mixtures of calibrated sand (0.2 - 0.3 mm) with calibrated electron-conductive grains (average radii: 0.045, 0.055, 0.13, 0.20, 0.38 and 0.50 mm). The grains represent a mixture of pyrrhotite (30 %), pyrite (30 %), magnetite (...

We investigated electrical and physical–chemical properties of six sandstone samples with contrasting mineralogical characteristics and with hydraulic conductivity varying in a wide range. The electrical data were obtained from time domain spectral induced polarization (IP) measurements. We inverted the IP decays to relaxation time distributions, a...

Petergoph, a suburb of Saint-Petersburg, was historically planned as a fountain centre similar to Versailles. The Petergoph fountain water supply system consists of artificial reservoirs formed by dams. Continued supply depends on the water level in the reservoir and the integrity of the dam. We used electrical methods for monitoring the stability...

We propose an algorithm for inverting time domain induced polarization data to a relaxation time distribution. The algorithm is based on the (Tikhonov) regularized solution of the 1st kind Fredholm integral equation. We test the algorithm on synthetic data, and show its robustness for a noise level, typical of laboratory time domain measurements. W...

The main goal in use of Induced Polarization method (IP) in hydrogeophysics is to find links between parameters of the electrical polarization and lithologic (textural) parameters. Useful links between the characteristic time of the polarization (relaxation time) and characteristic sizes of textural elements (pore or throat size, grain size) have b...

We study two numerical examples of selfpotential (SP) signals produced by groundwater flow. First we briefly discuss the principle of numerical modeling of SP, which is based on (1) the solving of the diffusion equation for the hydraulic head distribution; (2) the calculation of sources of SP produced by groundwater flow; and (3) the solving of the...

This book focuses on how hydrogeophysical methods can be applied to solve problems facing environmental engineers, geophysicists, agronomists, hydrologists, soil scientists and hydrogeologists. We present applications of hydrogeophysical methods to the understanding of hydrological processes and environmental problems dealing with the flow of water...

Electrical methods [electrical profiling and sounding, induced polarization (IP), and self-potential (SP)], combined with geochemical and hydrochemical surveys, were applied to characterize shallow sediments at a site contaminated by oil-related brines. The site is located within the Romashkinskoye oil field (Tatarstan Republic, Russian Federation)...

The study of electrical signals associated with groundwater flow is a powerful method to determine, in a non-invasive way, the distribution of hydraulic heads in aquifers, hence the distribution of the hydraulic conductivity and storativity. Experimental hydraulic heads and electrical (self-potential, SP) signals associated with a pumping test in a...

[1] We consider the case of a cylindrical cored specimen of a saturated argillaceous sediment located between two reservoirs filled with an electrolyte. One of the boundaries of the sample is submitted to a sharp pressure ( or salinity change). The migration of the resulting pressure ( or saline) front through the core specimen is responsible for t...

1] An infiltration test was performed from a ditch with the purpose of monitoring the evolution of the piezometric levels using self-potential measurements made at the ground surface. We used a set of 18 piezometers and a network of 41 nonpolarizable (Pb/PbCl 2) electrodes. The variations of the self-potential signals are linearly correlated to the...

We studied the electrical induced polarization (IP) response of simple multiphase porous systems by conducting time-domain (TD) IP measurements on two different groups of sieved quartz samples: sands containing air in unsaturated pores and sands where the unsaturated pores were filled with kerosene. The analyzed chargeability vs. water content rela...

We measured the time domain (TD) induced polarization (IP) responses of six samples of blue Cambrian clay as a function of pore fluid salinity. The samples were saturated with solutions having conductivity values 0.041, 0.091, 0.16, 0.23, 0.27 and 0.85 S/m. The porosity of the samples was controlled and found to be 80%. The TD responses were measur...

Information on local directions of vertical groundwater flow between aquifers is of great importance because this direction controls vulnerability of relatively deep aquifer. We studied Streaming Potential (SP) produced by vertical flows on the basis of numerical modelling. We calculated SP on the three-layer model consisting of two horizontal aqui...

The behaviour of streaming potential is directly related to movement of groundwater. The responses for typical subsurface flows are modelled to investigate possibilities of spontaneous polarization (SP) when performing quantitative data interpretation. The physical properties of geomaterials related to streaming potential are described. A magnitude...

A theoretical model of spectral-induced polarization (IP) of sand is presented. In the proposed model, contacts of sand grains and intergrain solution-filled space are considered as electrical current passages of varying thickness, which differ in values of ion transport number. Ion-selective narrow passages are considered as active zones, large pa...

A theoretical model of Spectral Induced Polarization (IP) of sand is proposed. In this model, contacts of sand grains and inter-grain solution-filled space are considered as electrical current passages of varying thickness, which differ in values of ion transport numbers. Ion-selective narrow passages are considered active zones, large passages - p...

Numerous brine leakages from production and injection wells and pipelines were ob- served at the site of study situated in Romashkinskoye oilfield. The groundwater flow, which follows the relief, is manifested by five springs. The salinity of these springs significantly increased during 20 years of oil exploitation at the site. The subsurface consi...

The paper presents a theoretical description of induced polarization decay in ion-conductive rocks, which develops the steady-state model of Friedrichsberg - Sidorova based on the diffusion nature of induced polarization. Grain contacts and pore space filled with interstitial liquid are regarded as narrowing and broadening current conduits that are...

Gravity data is modelled from the onshore Mandawa basin, a salt basin forming an isolated arm of a Mesozoic rift system situated along the sheared continental margin of East Africa. The main purpose is to verify that the Pande high, constituting the eastern rim of the Mandawa basin, contains a sedimentary sequence thick enough to allow future hydro...

The self-potential method consists in the passive measurement of the distribution of the electrical potential at the ground surface of the Earth and in boreholes. The purpose of this method is to map the electrical potential to reveal one or several polarization mechanisms at play in the ground. In some cases, the self-potential signals are monitor...

Soils and groundwater are important natural resources that sustain life on Earth. In the last century, the enormous expansion of industrial and agricultural activities has led to an increased environmental pressure on these systems. Soils and groundwater are extremely important because they yield much of our water resources and sustain food product...