Apparent resistivity curves in controlled‐source electromagnetic sounding directly reflecting true resistivities in a layered earth

Abstract

Conversion of the measured voltages in direct current resistivity sounding methods into apparent resistivity [Formula: see text] is a useful step since [Formula: see text] data provide information about the subsurface resistivity variations with depth. This resistivity information then helps select a model for inverting the sounding data. In the controlled‐source electromagnetic method (CSEM), conversion of the measured electric and magnetic fields into apparent resistivity values has not been popular. This attitude may be attributed to the difficulties in the inversion of the resistivity of a half‐space from the electromagnetic (EM) field components as well as to the nonunique nature of the inversion giving two resistivity values for a single measurement. Two measured components—the vertical magnetic field [Formula: see text] and the tangential electric field [Formula: see text] as a result of a vertical magnetic dipole source—are combined to derive an exact apparent resistivity in a way similar to that used in direct current resistivity methods. Conversion of the measured [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] field components into apparent resistivity is found to be simple and can be carried out on a programmable pocket calculator. Theoretical apparent resistivity curves for frequency‐domain electromagnetic sounding show features similar to magnetotelluric (MT) and direct current dipole‐dipole apparent resistivity curves.