Joint Inversion for Mapping Subsurface Hydrological Parameters

Ki Ha Lee and Hung-Wen Tseng

Contact: Ki Ha Lee, 510/486-7468, KHLee@lbl.gov

Research Objectives
One of the main objectives of geophysical inversion is to describe various subsurface processes involving fluid flow. Hydrological properties such as fluid electrical conductivity and rock porosity cannot be directly obtained with conventional inversion techniques. The electromagnetic (EM) field propagating in the subsurface is a function of bulk conductivity, which in turn may be empirically related to porosity , pore-fluid conductivity , saturation, and occasionally the temperature . Similarly, the amplitude, phase, and velocity of seismic waves depend on several factors (such as porosity, density, elastic constants, temperature, and pressure). The objective of this study was to develop methodologies for directly mapping hydrological parameters using joint analysis of different geophysical data, along with the empirical relationships between geophysical and hydrological parameters.

To continue reading more about this project, view the 1-page pdf here.