Elsevier

Journal of Applied Geophysics

Volume 86, November 2012, Pages 17-28
Journal of Applied Geophysics

Dyke leakage localization and hydraulic permeability estimation through self-potential and hydro-acoustic measurements: Self-potential ‘abacus’ diagram for hydraulic permeability estimation and uncertainty computation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2012.07.007Get rights and content

Abstract

In the present study, we propose the combination of two geophysical techniques, which we have applied to a dyke located in southeastern France that has a visible downstream flood area: the self-potential (SP) and hydro-acoustic methods. These methods are sensitive to two different types of signals: electric signals and water–soil pressure disturbances, respectively. The advantages of the SP technique lie in the high rate of data acquisition, which allows assessment of long dykes, and direct diagnosis in terms of leakage area delimitation and quantification. Coupled with punctual hydro-acoustic cartography, a leakage position can be precisely located, therefore allowing specific remediation decisions with regard to the results of the geophysical investigation. Here, the precise localization of leakage from an earth dyke has been identified using SP and hydro-acoustic signals, with the permeability of the preferential fluid flow area estimated by forward SP modeling. Moreover, we propose a general ‘abacus’ diagram for the estimation of hydraulic permeability of dyke leakage according to the magnitude of over water SP anomalies and the associated uncertainty.

Highlights

► We propose a self-potential and acoustic data analysis for leakage characterization. ► Low self-potential anomaly magnitude induced by a leakage can be detected. ► Hydro-acoustic measurements are able to delimit an inflow surface area. ► A leakage hydraulic permeability with associated uncertainty is performed. ► ‘Abacus’ diagram of self-potential anomaly versus leakage permeability is proposed.

Introduction

The over water self-potential (SP) profile technique offers a cost-effective solution for rapid overviews of the state of hydraulic structures, in terms of leakage detection (AlSaigh et al., 1994, Bolève et al., 2009, Minsley et al., 2011, Rozycki, 2009, Rozycki et al., 2006, Sheffer, 2007). In the present study, we propose to implement this technique to an earth dyke located in southeastern France that has a visible downstream flood area that originates from a specific leakage zone. The aim of this SP investigation was to locate the inflow position on the water reservoir side, and to estimate the associated hydraulic permeability, in order to assist in the development of potential remediation efforts. Here, we propose the original complementation of the SP method with hydro-acoustic measurements, to check the use of acoustic methods to detect noise produced directly or indirectly by water inflow. After a brief overview of the study site in 2 Site description, 3 Self-potential describes the SP methodology in terms of the theoretical background and the over water SP acquisition results. Section 4 then describes the hydro-acoustic methods applied along the dyke, in terms of acquisition and processing. As the estimation of hydraulic leakage permeability is a major issue for all geophysical dyke investigations, through an SP forward parametric test, Section 5 proposes an estimation of the leakage hydraulic permeability, as well as the associated uncertainty estimations.

Section snippets

Site description

The dyke studied is located in southeastern France and it is 2 km long, 10 m high, and approximately 45 m wide. This dyke is made of alluvium (sand and gravel) with a clay core, to ensure hydraulic impermeability. Rock blocks of a few meters in size cover the water side of the dyke, to avoid erosion (see Fig. 1). To collect potential outflow and to avoid a downstream flood area, the base of the dyke is equipped with a ditch that is 3 m wide and 1 m deep. The functions of the dyke are to create a

Theoretical background

The SP method consists of passively measuring at the ground surface, over water or in boreholes, the electrical potential distributions that are naturally generated by chemical and physical processes in the ground. Different kinds of processes can generate passive electrical currents in the ground. In dam and dyke environments, SP signals can be generated either by oxidation–reduction phenomena (i.e. an electro-redox source) or by preferential fluid flow in a porous media (i.e. an

Acoustic measurements and treatments

In addition to the SP survey, and with the aim to detect the upstream leakages acoustically, we performed mapping of the hydro-acoustic ambient noise level through punctual hydro-acoustic measurements. The mapping area was around 150 m long by 40 m wide, centered on the A1 SP anomaly that lies between 580 m and 600 m on the profile shown in Fig. 2. We carried out 120 acoustic recordings of approximately 15 s each using a hydrophone (International Transducer Corporation) coupled with an H2 handy

Leakage permeability estimation

In this section, we propose to estimate the permeability (and the associated uncertainty) of the leakage zone producing by the A1 negative SP anomaly, through 3-D SP forward modeling. Because the A1 negative SP anomaly is located at the center of the main hydro-acoustic anomaly, we assume that the magnitude of − 5.5 mV corresponds, in a first approximation, to the maximum negative SP anomaly at this section of the dyke. We used the finite element code COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5 (Comsol, 2007)

Concluding statements

Over water and on land SP measurements can provide important information regarding the presence of leakage areas in hydraulic installations. However, depending on the electrical resistivity distribution, the hydraulic pressure gradient, the Reynolds number, and the inflow surface area, it appears that the SP signal associated with preferential fluid flow can be under the detectability threshold. Beyond the hydraulic permeability estimation proposed here for this specific case, on the one hand,

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Electricite de France (EdF) company for access to their site, for fruitful discussions, and for the documentation associated with the study site.

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