AZIMUTHAL RESISTIVITY SOUNDINGS OVER A STEEPLY DIPPING ANISOTROPIC FORMATION. A CASE HISTORY IN CENTRAL TUNISIA

Abstract

Azimuthal Resistivity Soundings (ARS), using the so-called "Arrow-type array" as proposed by Bolshakov et al. were carried out in Central Tunisia, together with azimuthal resistivity tomography, because of the known anisotropic behaviour of the nearly vertical formations. First, the developments designed by Bolshakov et al. are reviewed: they deal with the separation between the effects of anisotropy and of heterogeneities, the design of the Arrow-type array and the introduction of the azimuthal spectral analysis. Second, the main methodological results obtained near Gouazine Lake are presented: (1) the clear effect of a quasi-vertical contact and (2) the characterisation of the anisotropic substratum below a thin superficial layer in one site close to the axis of the valley: the strike direction (α = 50°N), and a rather high anisotropy coefficient (λ ≈ 4) are determined. And lastly two directions for further developments are suggested. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.