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The 11TH ANNUAL INDONESIAN GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION MEETING & CONFERENCE

Bandar Lampung 13- 14 December, 2011

CORRECTION OF STATIC SHIFT IN MAGNETOTELLURIC (MT) DATA

WITHOUT TRANSIENT EM (TEM) DATA

Hendra Grandis 1, 2 dan M. Kurniawan Alfadli 1

1) Program Magister Teknik Geofisika

2) Program Magister Teknik Panas Bumi
Fakultas Teknik Pertambangan dan Perminyakan – ITB
e-mail: grandis@earthling.net

ABSTRACT
Manetotelluric (MT) data from geothermal prospects commonly contain static effect caused by near-
surface inhomogeneities and topgraphy. The static effect of MT data is expressed as vertical shift of the
apparent resistivity sounding curve, while phase curve is unaffected. The remedy to the static shift in MT
data is the Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) data that are not sensitive to the cause of the static effect.
MT sounding curve at high frequencies usually exhibits 1-D medium at shallow depth. The effect of 2-D
medium is commonly observed at lower frequencies. This paper describes 1-D inversion modeling for
high frequency MT data affected by static shift. In addition to layers’ resistivities, the scaling factor
causing vertical shift of the apparent resistivity sounding curve is also a parameter to be estimated in the
inversion. The scaling factor obtained from inversion can be used to correct MT data at all frequencies
such that the data can be used in the 2-D modeling inversion. Therefore, TEM data are not required to
correct the static shift of the MT data.

ABSTRAK
Data magnetotellurik (MT) di daerah prospek geotermal umumnya mengandung efek statik yang
disebabkan oleh heterogenitas dekat permukaan dan topografi. Manifestasi efek statik pada data MT
berupa pergeseran vertikal kurva sounding resistivitas-semu, sementara kurva fase tidak terpengaruh.
Untuk mengkoreksi efek statik pada data MT umumnya digunakan data transient electromagnetics
(TEM) yang tidak sensitif terhadap adanya penyebab efek statik. Kurva sounding MT pada frekuensi
tinggi sering menunjukkan kecenderungan adanya medium 1-D pada kedalaman dangkal. Efek medium
2-D umumnya terdapat pada frekuensi yang lebih rendah. Makalah ini membahas pemodelan inversi 1-D
data MT frekuensi tinggi yang terpengaruh oleh efek statik. Selain resistivitas lapisan, konstanta pengali
yang menyebabkan pergeseran vertikal kurva sounding resistivitas-semu juga merupakan parameter
model yang dicari dalam proses inversi. Konstanta pengali yang diperoleh dapat digunakan untuk
mengoreksi data MT pada semua frekuensi, sehingga kemudian dapat dilakukan pemodelan 2-D. Dengan
demikian pada dasarnya pengukuran TEM tidak diperlukan untuk mengkoreksi efek statik pada data MT.

of the final model will be scaled by k and k1/2,

INTRODUCTION
respectively.
Near-surface inhomogeneities and topography
A recent preliminary study showed that the
distort the magnetotelluric (MT) data leading to a
removal of static shift seems unnecessary when
shift of apparent resistivity sounding curves by a
the modeling is done in 2-D. Inversion of shifted
scaling factor that is almost independent of the
apparent resistivity curves results in near-surface
frequency. The so-called static shift does not have
heterogeneities in addition to the “correct” deeper
any effects on the phase data. This vertical shift of
resistivity structure (Grandis, 2010). However, it
the apparent resistivity curves can lead to errors in
is clear that correction for the static effect is of
the inverted model. In 1-D layered model, if the
prime importance before any interpretation of MT
scaling factor is k, then the resistivities and depths
data.
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Various methods have been developed to
compensate for static shift. One of the approaches
to the problem is a statistical approach based on
the analysis of the MT data alone (e.g. Torres-
Verdin & Bostick, 1992; Tournerie et al, 2007).
Other approach is based on joint use of active
measurements, i.e. DC resistivity (e.g. Stephen et
al, 2003; Tripaldi et al, 2010) and Transient EM
(TEM). TEM measurement at the same site as MT
sounding is commonly used in Indonesia,
especially for MT studies for geothermal
exploration. This is based on the fact that TEM
data are less sensitive to near-surface hetero-
geneities. 1-D model resulting from inversion of
TEM data is used as the input for 1-D MT forward
modeling to infer un-distorted MT sounding curve
(Sternberg et al, 1988; Pellerin & Hohmann
1990). More practical implementation of MT
static shift correction by using TEM data is the
time shift technique (Grandis & Hendro, 1996).
The third approach involves the estimation of
static shift scaling factor in the 2-D inversion
modeling of MT data (deGroot-Hedlin, 1991;
Ogawa & Uchida, 1996). This paper follows this
approach, but instead of 2-D we use 1-D MT
modeling incorporating static shift as an
additional model parameter to be solved. The
method is motivated by the fact that the high
frequency part of the static shifted apparent
resistivity sounding curve usually exhibits 1-D
character, i.e. parallel TE and TM curves. In most
cases, splitting of TE and TM curves, i.e. 2-D or
3-D signature occurs only at lower frequencies
(larger depth).
1-D MT INVERSION MODELING
For most researchers in MT, 1-D modeling can be
considered as a “closed chapter”. The necessity
for representing more realistic resistivity image of
the sub-surface has lead to fast development of
multi-dimensional (2-D and 3-D) MT modeling in
recent years. However, the availability of
powerful personal computer has also lead to the
revisiting of 1-D MT inversion modeling using
global search approach. The later studies are
focused on the exploitation of exhaustive search
in the model space for non-uniqueness and non-
linearity related issues of the 1-D inverse problem
resolution (e.g. Grandis et al, 1999; Cerv et al,
2007).
In the Bayesian approach, the inverse problem
resolution may be regarded as problem of
determining the posterior probability of the model
(m) conditioned on the observed data (d), i.e.
Pr(d | m) Pr ( m)
Pr( m | d ) = (1)
Pr(d )
Pr(m) denotes the available prior knowledge
about the model parameters, while Pr(d | m) is the
likelihood that represents the probability of the
data given a particular model. The denominator in
equation (1) is the normalizing constant which is
naturally absorbed in the calculations from the
samples.
We have used MCMC (Markov Chain Monte
Carlo) sampling technique to simulate samples
from the posterior probability as in equation (1).
In particular, we used the sampling probability
expressed as,
 ND  d − [ F ( m =ρ )] 
2
 1 
∑  j 
i k j
Pr( mi =ρ k |d ) = C exp  − 
 2  σ  
j =1  j 
 
k = 1, 2, ..., N (2)
where m = [mi] and d = [dj] are model and data
vectors respectively with i = 1, 2, ..., M and j = 1,
2, ... ND. M is the number of model parameters
and ND is the number of data. F(m) is the forward
modeling operator. In the above equation, we
consider that each component of the data has
independent error with Gaussian distribution
around zero mean and variance σ2.
The equation (2) represents the probability of
discrete possible (prior) values ρk (k = 1, 2, ..., N)
for the i-th element of the model parameter. This
probability is used as wheight in randomly
drawing ρk (k = 1, 2, ..., N) to update the model
parameter values for mi. For fixed model
parameters in mn ≠ i, calculation of the normalizing
constant C in equation (2) involves a sum over all
possible values for the model parameters such that
it can be amenable for a reasonable number of N.
The sampling probability (2) is in fact the
transition probability of a convergent Markov
Chain.
In applying the MCMC technique for 1-D MT
inversion, the subsurface is divided into a large
number of thin layers. The thicknesses of the
layers are fixed and homogeneously distributed in
a logarithmic scale (i.e. increase with depth) to
 PROCEEDINGS
The 11TH ANNUAL INDONESIAN GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION MEETING & CONFERENCE
Bandar Lampung 13- 14 December, 2011
account for the decrease of EM resolving power
with depth. Such homogeneous parameterization
avoids a priori determination of the number of
layers. On the other hand, over-parameterization
results in unstable models due to the ambiguity or
non-uniqueness of 1-D MT, especially with thin
layers. To stabilize the results, a regularization is
introduced by penalizing resistivity variation, i.e.
smoothness constrained.
STATIC SHIFT ESTIMATION
In the same way to static shift estimation along
with 2-D MT inversion modeling, we incorporate
the scaling constant k as an additional model
parameter to be determined during 1-D MT
inversion. The a priori values for k are
logarithmically distributed discrete values in the
interval between kmin = 0.1 to kmax = 10. The
choice for kmin and kmax is to accommodate both
upward and downward shift of the apparent
resistivity sounding curves. The modified model
parameterization is therefore inhomogeneous.
To update current estimate of the scaling factor
we use similar equation to (2) with a fixed values
for model m, i.e.
 ND  d − φ [ F ( m)]
 1
∑  j
l j
Pr( k = φl ; m|d ) = C exp  −
 2  σ
j =1  j 
 
l = 1, 2, ..., K
The method starts with a homogeneous medium
(usually the average value of the apparent
resistivity curve is chosen) and k = 1. Then, the
static shift and resistivities are updated in turn
using equations (3) and (2) respectively. The first
few iterations constitute the burn-in stage where
we discarded the results, followed by more
iterations from which estimates of model
parameters (including the scaling factor) are
drawn.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The method was tested to invert synthetic MT
data corresponding to a simple three-layered
model. The synthetic data were contaminated with
5% Gaussian noise and scaled up with k = 3 and
k = 5 also scaled down with k = 0.5 to simulate the
static shift. As a benchmark we also inverted the
un-shifted data, i.e. k = 1 to verify whether or not
the proposed technique yields artificially static
shift estimate that is not in the data.
Figure 1 shows the model resulting from inversion
of synthetic data with k = 1. The inverse model
does not fully recover to the synthetic model,
especially in the deep ascending part of the model
due to smoothness constrain introduced in the
inversion. In this case, our attempt is to recover
the scaling factor of the static shift, not the
subsurface model. Similar models were recovered
from inversions of other data and can be
considered adequate for our purpose. Therefore,
we will not present the inverse model in the
subsequent discussion.
Figure 2 presents the fitness of the model response
with regard to the synthetic data (apparent
resistivity and phase versus period). It is clear that
the recovered static shift (k = 1.1) is in good
agreement with the fact that the data contain no
static effect. Inversions of other data containing
static shift have lead to similar phase curves, since
the static effect does not affect the phase curve.
For the sake of conciseness we will not present
the fitness curve for the phase in the subsequent
discussion.
2 Figure 3 and 4 show the results of inversion for
 


the data containing upward-shifted apparent
 
resistivity curves with k = 3.3 and k = 5.1 (for true
k = 3 and k = 5) respectively. The inversion of the
(3) data containing a downward-shifted apparent
resistivity curve with k = 0.5 also give satisfactory
result, i.e. k = 0.52 (Figure 5).
CONCLUSION
Our attempt to estimate the scaling factor
representing the static shift of MT data using 1-D
inversion has lead to promising results. It is still in
a preliminary stage, i.e. inversions have been
performed only to synthetic data. However,
extension to real data is relatively straightforward.
Inversion of the high frequency part of an MT
sounding data (both TE and TM modes) would
give estimates of the scaling factors. These scaling
factors can then be used to scale-down or scale-up
(or both) the TE and TM apparent resistivity
curves for all frequencies. Subsequently, the
regular 2-D MT inversion can be applied to the
static-corrected data.
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The 11TH ANNUAL INDONESIAN GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION MEETING & CONFERENCE
Bandar Lampung 13- 14 December, 2011
In the current state-of-the-art of MT inter-
pretation, static-shift treatment is still a matter of
debate. Our method will add to several analysis
and modeling schemes already exist in this matter.
REFERENCES
deGroot-Hedlin, C., 1991, Removal of static shift
in two-dimensions by regularized inversion,
Geophysics, 56, 2102-2106.
Grandis, H., M. Menvielle, M.Roussignol, 1999,
Bayesian inversion with Markov chains – I.
The magnetotelluric one-dimensioal case.
Geophysical Journal International, 138, 757-
768.
Grandis, H., M. Menvielle, M.Roussignol, 2002,
Thin-sheet electromagnetic inversion model-
ing using Monte Carlo Markov Chain
(MCMC) algorithm, Earth Planets Space, 54,
511-521.
Grandis, H., 2010, Studi efek statik pada data
magnetotellurik (MT) menggunakan pemodel-
an inversi 2-D, Prosiding Seminar Nasional
Energi, Univ. Padjadjaran.
Hendro, A., H. Grandis, 1996, Koreksi efek statik
pada data magnetotellurik menggunakan data
elektromagnetik transien, Prosiding PIT
HAGI ke-21.
Ogawa, Y., T. Uchida, 1996, A two-dimensional
magnetotelluric inversion assuming Gaussian
static shift, Geophysical Journal Interna-
tional, 126, 69-76.
Pellerin, L., Hohmann, G.W., 1990, Transient
electromagnetic inversion: a remedy for
magnetotelluric static shifts, Geophysics, 55,
1242-1250.
Stephen, J., S.G. Gokarn, C. Manoj S.B. Singh,
2003, Effects of galvanic distortions on
magnetotelluric data: Interpretation and its
correction using deep electrical data, Proc.
Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), 112.
Sternberg, B.K., Washburne, J.C., Pellerin, L.,
1988, Correction for the static shift in
magnetotellurics using transient electro-
magnetic soundings, Geophysics, 53, 1459-
1468.
Torres-Verdín, C., F.X. Bostick, 1992, Principles
of spatial surface electric field filtering in
magnetotellurics: Electromagnetic array
profiling_EMAP, Geophysics, 57, 603-622.
Tripaldi, S., A. Siniscalchi, K. Spitzer, 2010, A
method to determine the magnetotelluric static
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practice, Geophysics, 75, F23-F32.
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The 11TH ANNUAL INDONESIAN GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION MEETING & CONFERENCE
Bandar Lampung 13- 14 December, 2011

10000 10000

1000

app. resistivity (Ohm.m)

1000
resistivity (Ohm.m)

100

100

10

10
1

1 0.1
100 1000 10000 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000

depth (m) period (sec.)

90
Figure 1. Inversion result (continuous line)
compared to synthetic model (dash) for the
original synthetic data with k = 1. 75

60
phase (deg.)

45

30

15

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
period (sec.)
Figure 2. Apparent resistivity sounding curve
(top) and phase (bottom), the inverse model
response (continuous line) compared to synthetic
data (circle).
 PROCEEDINGS
The 11TH ANNUAL INDONESIAN GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION MEETING & CONFERENCE
Bandar Lampung 13- 14 December, 2011

10000 10000

1000 1000
app. resistivity (Ohm.m)

app. resistivity (Ohm.m)

100 100

10 10

1 1

0.1 0.1
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
period (sec.) period (sec.)
Figure 3. Apparent resistivity sounding curve, i.e. Figure 5. Apparent resistivity sounding curve, i.e.
inverse model response (continuous line) inverse model response (continuous line)
compared to synthetic data (circle) with estimated compared to synthetic data (circle) with estimated
k = 3.3 (true k = 3). k = 0.52 (true k = 0.5).

10000

1000
app. resistivity (Ohm.m)

100

10

0.1
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
period (sec.)
Figure 4. Apparent resistivity sounding curve, i.e.
inverse model response (continuous line)
compared to synthetic data (circle) with estimated
k = 5.1 (true k = 5).