This talk describes a seismic wave-generated electrokinetic potential method and geophysical technology for directly locating a groundwater aquifer to deduce the associated petroleum hydrocarbon reservoir fluids with high accuracy, low cost, site access, portability, and simple operational procedures in the field.

The DC-4500 Seismoelectric Ground-Flow Locator receives both a seismic signal and a seismoelectric signal generated by the same seismic source. The seismoelectric survey depth of investigation depends on the power of seismic source. We have obtained reservoir seismoelectric data up to 7000 feet deep in Louisiana with a Buffalo gun seismic source.

Over the past 3 years, more than 300 commercial ground-flow projects have been performed using the DC-4500 system around the world. The success rate of groundwater location is 90%. After data processing and interpretation, 2D and 3D models of seismoelectric ground-flow have been constructed for the accurate mapping of ground-flow distribution.