22 Geophysical Methods and Application (Posters)

Tuesday, 10 March 2020
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Ballroom B

DELINEATION OF POTENTIAL GEOHAZARDS ALONG FM 2185, CULBERSON COUNTY, TEXAS USING CAPACITIVELY-COUPLED ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY

Paper number: 22-1
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

The Delaware Basin of West Texas and New Mexico is positioned in the northern most region of the Chihuahua Desert and is the major western subdivision of the Permian Basin. The dissolution of the evaporite strata of the Castile and Rustler formations have led to the manifestation of karst geohazards including sinkholes, subsidence features, and caves. Due to an increase in traffic flow from commercial petroleum transportation, the extensive karst development poses a significant geohazard threat to infrastructure.

A 30 mile (50 kilometer) segment of Farm to Market Road 2185 (FM 2185) was investigated using capacitively-coupled resistivity methods to characterize and delineate karst features that pose potential geohazard concerns. Data was acquired with the Geometrics OhmMapper G-858 resistivity system, which uses a dipole-dipole configuration composed of five receivers connected by 2.5 meter coaxial cables and a transmitter offset of 2.5 meters. In combination with the medium analyzed, this geometric configuration enabled resistivity readings up to 5 meters deep. Data was processed using AGI’s (Advanced Geometrics Inc.) EarthImager 2D software and used delineate karst related cavities and voids for improved roadway design.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 52, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SC-343675

© Copyright 2020 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.