The effectiveness of azimuthal apparent-resistivity measurements as a method for determining fracture strike orientations

Azimuthal apparent-resistivity measurements are made for the purpose of determining the strike direction of subvertical fracture sets. Data are collected about a common centre, with an electrode array expanded along a sufficient number of azimuths to define the variation of apparent resistivity with orientation. The apparent resistivities for any one electrode spacing are then plotted in a polar diagram. If the data form an ellipse, this is often interpreted as reflecting aligned, subvertical fracturing. However, it is also possible for heterogeneity within the rockmass to manifest itself, at the scale of the measurement, as a variation of apparent resistivity with azimuth. It is recommended that the offset Wenner array is used for all measurements and that a parameter is introduced, the homogeneity index, which defines whether the variations due to homogeneous anisotropy, such as subvertical fracturing, are greater than those due to inhomogeneity. This simple parameter, which is the quotient of two standard deviations, is valid for both single-peaked and multiple-peaked ellipses. A four-stage scheme for the interpretation of azimuthal data is suggested and a consistent set of quantitative measures is recommended. These will allow data, collected by different workers over different lithologies, to be compared. There are a number of geological situations which can give rise to anisotropy within the rockmass and great care is needed when interpreting azimuthal data in terms of aligned fracturing. Numerical modelling of the response to a buried channel of a rotated offset Wenner array demonstrates that elliptical data are generated by such a linear feature. Depending on the location of the array with respect to the channel, these data are either indistinguishable from those generated by aligned fracturing, or can be recognized by application of the homogeneity index. In the case where the response can be identified as being due to a channel, diagnostic information can be derived on the location and strike of the channel.