Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method

The transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is a widely used geophysical technique for detecting subsurface electrical structures. However, its inversion results are typically limited to resistivity parameters, making it challenging to directly infer key petrophysical properties, such as water satura...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiaozhen Teng, Jianhua Yue, Kailiang Lu, Danyang Xi, Herui Zhang, Kua Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6256
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850129461949759488
author Xiaozhen Teng
Jianhua Yue
Kailiang Lu
Danyang Xi
Herui Zhang
Kua Wang
author_facet Xiaozhen Teng
Jianhua Yue
Kailiang Lu
Danyang Xi
Herui Zhang
Kua Wang
author_sort Xiaozhen Teng
collection DOAJ
description The transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is a widely used geophysical technique for detecting subsurface electrical structures. However, its inversion results are typically limited to resistivity parameters, making it challenging to directly infer key petrophysical properties, such as water saturation and porosity. This study proposes a petrophysics parameter inversion approach based on TEM data. By constructing multiple geoelectric models with varying porosities and water saturation values for numerical simulations, the results demonstrated that both the forward and inversion responses of the TEM field maintained errors within 5%. The inversion procedure begins with the reconstruction of the subsurface resistivity distribution, which reliably reflects the true geoelectric model. Based on the inverted resistivity, the water saturation and porosity parameters are subsequently estimated. The inversion results closely match the overall trend of the actual model and exhibit a clear response at the target layer. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a field test at the Tongxin Coal Mine. By integrating subsurface electrical responses with geological data, the spatial distributions of water saturation and porosity within the coal-bearing strata were delineated. This provides a scientific basis for the detailed characterization of the physical properties of coal and surrounding rock, as well as for understanding the development of pores and fractures in underground strata.
format Article
id doaj-art-787e0b6a1d254904b68d8dbb2db92ba8
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-3417
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-787e0b6a1d254904b68d8dbb2db92ba82025-08-20T02:32:57ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011511625610.3390/app15116256Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic MethodXiaozhen Teng0Jianhua Yue1Kailiang Lu2Danyang Xi3Herui Zhang4Kua Wang5College of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaCollege of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaCollege of Resources and Geosciences, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, ChinaSchool of Safety Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221008, ChinaShenhua Geological Exploration Co., Beijing 102218, ChinaThe transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is a widely used geophysical technique for detecting subsurface electrical structures. However, its inversion results are typically limited to resistivity parameters, making it challenging to directly infer key petrophysical properties, such as water saturation and porosity. This study proposes a petrophysics parameter inversion approach based on TEM data. By constructing multiple geoelectric models with varying porosities and water saturation values for numerical simulations, the results demonstrated that both the forward and inversion responses of the TEM field maintained errors within 5%. The inversion procedure begins with the reconstruction of the subsurface resistivity distribution, which reliably reflects the true geoelectric model. Based on the inverted resistivity, the water saturation and porosity parameters are subsequently estimated. The inversion results closely match the overall trend of the actual model and exhibit a clear response at the target layer. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a field test at the Tongxin Coal Mine. By integrating subsurface electrical responses with geological data, the spatial distributions of water saturation and porosity within the coal-bearing strata were delineated. This provides a scientific basis for the detailed characterization of the physical properties of coal and surrounding rock, as well as for understanding the development of pores and fractures in underground strata.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6256transient electromagnetic method (TEM)forward modelinginversion algorithmpetrophysics parameter
spellingShingle Xiaozhen Teng
Jianhua Yue
Kailiang Lu
Danyang Xi
Herui Zhang
Kua Wang
Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method
Applied Sciences
transient electromagnetic method (TEM)
forward modeling
inversion algorithm
petrophysics parameter
title Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method
title_full Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method
title_fullStr Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method
title_full_unstemmed Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method
title_short Petrophysics Parameter Inversion and Its Application Based on the Transient Electromagnetic Method
title_sort petrophysics parameter inversion and its application based on the transient electromagnetic method
topic transient electromagnetic method (TEM)
forward modeling
inversion algorithm
petrophysics parameter
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/11/6256
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaozhenteng petrophysicsparameterinversionanditsapplicationbasedonthetransientelectromagneticmethod
AT jianhuayue petrophysicsparameterinversionanditsapplicationbasedonthetransientelectromagneticmethod
AT kailianglu petrophysicsparameterinversionanditsapplicationbasedonthetransientelectromagneticmethod
AT danyangxi petrophysicsparameterinversionanditsapplicationbasedonthetransientelectromagneticmethod
AT heruizhang petrophysicsparameterinversionanditsapplicationbasedonthetransientelectromagneticmethod
AT kuawang petrophysicsparameterinversionanditsapplicationbasedonthetransientelectromagneticmethod