Characterizing the self‐potential response to concentration gradients in heterogeneous subsurface environments

Self‐potential (SP) measurements can be used to characterize and monitor, in real‐time, fluid movement and behavior in the subsurface. The electrochemical exclusion‐diffusion (EED) potential, one component of SP, arises when concentration gradients exist in porous media. Such concentration gradients are of concern in coastal and contaminated aquifers and oil and gas reservoirs. It is essential that estimates of EED potential are made prior to conducting SP investigations in complex environments with heterogeneous geology and salinity contrasts, such as the UK Chalk coastal aquifer. Here we report repeatable laboratory estimates of the EED potential of chalk and marls using natural groundwater (GW), seawater (SW), deionized (DI) water, and 5 M NaCl. In all cases, the EED potential of chalk was positive (using a GW/SW concentration gradient the EED potential was ca. 14 to 22 mV), with an increased deviation from the diffusion limit at the higher salinity contrast. Despite the relatively small pore size of chalk (ca. 1 μm), it is dominated by the diffusion potential and has a low exclusion efficiency, even at large salinity contrasts. Marl samples have a higher exclusion efficiency which is of sufficient magnitude to reverse the polarity of the EED potential (using a GW/SW concentration gradient the EED potential was ca. −7 to −12 mV) with respect to the chalk samples. Despite the complexity of the natural samples used, the method produced repeatable results. We also show that first order estimates of the exclusion efficiency can be made using SP logs, supporting the parameterization of the model reported in Graham et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR022972), and that derived values for marls are consistent with the laboratory experiments, while values derived for hardgrounds based on field data indicate a similarly high exclusion efficiency. While this method shows promise in the absence of laboratory measurements, more rigorous estimates should be made where possible and can be conducted following the experimental methodology reported here