DETERMINATION OF GROUND WATER POTENTIAL IN

BAGH CITY AND ITS SURROUNDINGS BY USING

RESISTIVITY METOD

Hydrology Group
Session 2014-18

Supervised By:
Dr. Abrar Niaz
(Assistant Professor)

Institute of Geology
Faculty of Sciences
University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
Contents

 Introduction
 Objectives
 Geology of the area
 Methodology
 Data processing
 Result and discussion
 Parameters
 Conclusion
INTRODUCTION

 The electrical resistivity sounding (ERS) was carried out at in Bagh city and its surroundings.
The total 27 ERS stations surveyed in projected area to delineate the subsurface geology and to
determine the groundwater potential in the study area. In the study area, Vertical Electrical
Sounding points were established using Schlumberger configuration using ABEM Terrameter
SAS 4000.

 The acquired data were processed by using IPI2WIN software and the interpretation is carried
out as a part of processing and interpretation of resistivity data, computer softwares IPI2WIN
(2008) and Surfer (11) were used for interpretation of VES curves in terms of true resistivity and
thickness of layers.

 Quantitative interpretation was based on vertical lithological columns. The aquifers mostly
comprised of top soil, clayey sand, sandstone, clays and boulder clays in different areas with
variable thickness from place to place in the study area.

 The average depth of aquifers at different locations is usually 10-30m.

 Qualitative interpretation of the VES soundings were made to generate Longitudinal
conductance map, Aquifer thickness map, Anisotropy map and Resistivity maps.
 The study therefore reveals the lithological nature of aquifers there estimated depth and
also helps in the selection for suitable site for groundwater exploration and study also
indicates that the composition is indicative of Murrree Formation and Alluvium deposits.
The study shows that the aquifers are mostly confined and unconfined type.
OBJECTIVES
 Objectives of the study are:

 To map the groundwater system and its geophysical characteristics for the selection of
suitable sites for installation of tube wells.

 To establish the relation between geo-electrical properties of the aquifers and aquifer
models of the study area and also to demarcate the subsurface aquifers.

 To delineate the depth and horizontal variations of aquifers as well as the aquifer
vulnerability of the study area.
GEOLOGY OF STUDY AREA

 The study area lies in Kashmir basin. The lithological units found in the area characterize
the top most covering sequence of Indian Plate.

 The stratigraphic formations which are exposed in the study area are post-Eocene (Murree
Formation and Alluvium) record of collision of Indian and Eurasian plate.

 The stratigraphic order of the exposed formations in the Bagh City and its surroundings is
given below in Table 2.1
Age Formation Description

Recent Alluvium Unconsolidated deposits of sand,

clay, and silt with large particles
of gravel.

Middle to Late Kamlial Formation Purple gray and dark brick red

Miocene sandstone, siltstone and contains

inter beds of hard purple shale
with the intraformational
conglomerate.

Early Miocene Murree Formation Cyclic deposits of sandstone,

shale’s, siltstone and clay stone.
Resistivities of some common rocks
Material Nominal Resistivity (~-m)
Quartz 3 × 102 – 106
Consolidated shale 20 – 2 × 103
Sandstones 200-5000
Sandstone (weathered) 50-200
Clays 1-102
Boulder clay 15-35
Clay (very dry) 50-150
Gravel (dry) 1400
Gravel (saturated) 100
Lateritic soil 120-750
Dry sandy soil 80-1050
Sandy clay/Clayey sand 30-215
Sand and Gravel (saturated) 30-225
Mudstone 20-150
Siltstone 20-150
 METHODOLOGY

REVIEW OF AVAILABLE DATA

Compilation and review of all relevant existing

Review of some Geophysical Methods
data

Geophysics, Geology and Structures,

Resistivity Method
Hydrogeology

EXECUTION OF FIELD WORK

Data collection from Government Officials Resistivity Survey of the area

Vertical Electrical Sounding Survey

DATA PROCESSING

Data Reduction/Processing Data Analysis/Integration

INTERPRETATION
DATA PROCESSING
 The field data is processed for the delineation of true resistivity values and depth of
subsurface layers. Thus, lithological interpretation of subsurface units has been carried out
on the basis of a standardized resistivity values. IPI2WIN (2008) software is used for the
processing.

 The results of electrical soundings were evaluated by the conventional curve matching
method in order to obtain the thickness and true resistivities of subsurface layers
constituting the different ground models.

 RMS stands for Root Mean Square. A default value of 2.5% is fixed by the program as the
weighted RMS error can also be adjusted according to your own choice.

 The RMS error reduction takes place continuously till the completely matching of
sounding curve with Master curve. For the better results, the RMS error is kept less than
1% for all the 27 VES stations.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 Various worth-mentioning results can be deducted on the basis of qualitative and

quantitative interpretation:
i. Contour Maps
A map formed by the combination of contour lines by using a software
Surfer (11) is called Contour Map.
i. Contour Lines
When points of equal height from a datum are joined, they constitute a line
known as contour line.
2D Contour Map of Anisotropy
 2D contour map of anisotropy
 2D contour map of anisotropy of study area in which highest values of anisotropy
are observed in the study area at VES 7, VES 13 ,VES 08, VES 14 while the
lowest value of anisotropy are observed at VES 4,5 ,9 ,10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 21, 27. The coefficient of anisotropy values (λ) ranges from 0.2 to 5.4. In
general high value of coefficient of anisotropy (λ) depicts near surface in
homogeneity of materials within the subsurface Such as the topsoil and
weathered/partially weathered layer which could not support ground water
development.
2D Contour Map of Aquifer Thickness
 2D contour map of aquifer thickness
 Aquifer thickness map shown in the Fig 4.2 helped us to rank geologic formations
because of volume of water at each VES station heavily relies on respective
aquifer thickness. Aquifer thickness high when red and yellow color shown in
map low in the area of blue color. The entire area can be classified into high and
low water potential zone. The study reveals that production water bearing zones
categorically are good potential at VES 1, 7, 5, and moderate potential zone VES
9 , 13, and low potential zones are at VES 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, to VES
27.
2D Contour Map of Transverse Resistance
2D map of transverse resistance
 Transverse resistance is the total resistance through 1m column cut perpendicular
to the plane. It is denoted by (T) and expressed in ohm/m. Fig 4.3 represents 2D
map of transverse resistance in which VES 2 , VES 3 has high value of transverse
resistance and ,VES1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and up to VES 27 have low values of
transverse resistance. High value of transverse resistance indicates low water
potential .
2D Contour Map of Longitudinal Resistivity
 2D Contour Map of Longitudinal Resistivity

 The ratio of different layers to their respective resistivity's is said to be

longitudinal conductance. Longitudinal conductance determines the properties of
a conducting layer and transverse resistance determines the properties of resisting
layer (Yungul, 1996). Fig 4.4 represents 2D Contour Map of Longitudinal
Resistivity in which VES 08, 11, 14, 12, 20, has high resistivity value and VES
1,2, 3, 4, to 7 and VES 9, 10, 13, 15, up to 19 and 21 to 27 have low resistivity
values.
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 10m Spacing
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 10m Spacing
 It represents 2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 10m Spacing. The highest
resistivity was observed in the area of VES 16,18,15,19,13 and low resistivity
value was found at VES 1 to 7 and 10 to 12 and VES 14,17, 20 to 27 .The low
resistivity value indicates good water potential .
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 20m Spacing
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 20m Spacing
 It represents 2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 20m Spacing. The highest
resistivity was observed in the area of VES 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 18, 11, 23 to 27, and
low resistivity value was found at VES 04 to 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 to 22. The low
resistivity value indicates good water potential.
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 30m Spacing
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 30m Spacing
 It represents 2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 30m Spacing. The highest
resistivity was observed in the area of VES 18, 14, 08, 11, 04, 19, 13, 02, 03, 06,
and low resistivity value was found at VES 15, 16, 20, 12, 07, 01, 05, 22 to 27.
The low resistivity value indicates good water potential.
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 40m Spacing
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 40m Spacing
 It represents 2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 40m Spacing. The highest
resistivity was observed in the area of VES 03, 02, 19, 17, 12, 16, 18, and low
resistivity value was found at VES 1, 04, 05, 06, 07, 13, 12, 08, 11, 14, 21 to 27.
The low resistivity value indicates good water potential.
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 50m Spacing
2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 50m Spacing
 It represents 2D Contour Map of Resistivity at 50m Spacing. The highest
resistivity was observed in the area of VES 01, 15, 16, 18, and low resistivity
value was found at VES 2 to 14, 17,19, 20 to 27. The resistivity value indicates
good water potential.
SUMMARY
Based on the current study following conclusions are made:

 Electrical resistivity survey with supplementary methods is helpful in achieving the

objectives of the study.

 The subsurface geology and water bearing strata is delineated by correlating the lithology
models based on resistivity data.
 The average depth of aquifer in our study area is up to 10-30 m.

 The confined and unconfined aquifers are found in the study area. Unconfined aquifers are
formed due to the presence of gravels of surficial deposits.

 In the study area, most of aquifers are confined.

 As the conductance increases, the resistivity naturally decreases pointing towards the ground
water potential aquifers. There is increase in the longitudinal conductance in the central part
of the study area indicating the groundwater potential.
 The interpreted model based on the resistivity data demarcated that the project area under
lies three to four layers in sub surface interpreted by IPI2WIN (2008) software.

 These layers are boulder clay, boulder and gravel, clay, dry sandy soil, gravel and sandstone.

 The unconfined aquifers were noted to be the points VES 10, VES 15 and VES 23.

 The water bearing strata is sand and gravel, boulder clay and sandy clay. Compact sandstone
is also demarcated in the various parts of study area with low ground water potential.
Parameters
Geo Electrical Parameters

 In order to measure the variation of resistivity due to anisotropy and in homogeneous

character of the rock, numbers of geological parameters are defined.
 These parameters show deviation of certain rocks from perfect isotopic and homogenous
behaviors. These geo-electrical parameters are briefly discussed below
Transverse Resistance (T)

 It is total resistance through lm column cut perpendicular to the plane. It is denoted by (T)
and expressed in ohm/m.

 T= hp +hp +..........hp
 Where "h" and "p" are thickness and true resistivity respectively, and "n" is the number of
layer in section.
Longitudinal Conductance (S)

 Longitudinal Conductance (S)

 It is defined as the conductance in the direction of the bedding plane through a column 1
m. It is denoted by "S" and its unit is ohm.
S= h1/ ρ! = h2/ρ2
Transverse Resistivity (T)

 It is defined as the resistivity of rock unit normal to the plane of stratification. Its units are
ohm-m and is denoted by "T"
 ρt= T

 Where "T" is transverse resistance and "H" is the total thickness of rock unit.
Longitudinal Resistivity (L)

 It is defined as the resistivity of rock unit parallel to the plane of the stratification. It is denoted by
"L" and its unit is ohm-m. Mathematically,
 ρI = H/S

 Where "H" is total thickness of the section and "s" is the longitudinal conductance.
Anisotropy (A)

 When resistivity of the rocks mass depends on the direction of current flow, the rock is said to be
anisotropic. A co-efficient of anisotropy is defined by taking the
 square root of the ratio of resistivities measure in two principle directions, i.e. mathematically,
λ = ρt/ρl
 As the effective thickness and effective resistivity are controlled by anisotropy. So, this parameter is
of great importance.
Conclusion

 Area includes several sedimentary rocks

• Clay
• Siltstone
• Sandstone
• Alluvium
 Low resistivity value shows groundwater potential
 Average depth of aquifers is usually 10-30 meters.