SOIL RESISTIVITY TESTING

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INTRODUCTION
Resistivity surveys measure the ground's capacity to pass an electrical
current. This property can be utilised for designing earthing systems for
substations or specialist plant, and for measuring the corrosion
susceptibility of buried pipelines and other steel structures. Four equidistant
electrodes are set-out in a fixed configuration; a low frequency current is
applied across the two outer electrodes with the resultant voltage
measured across the inner electrodes. The voltage reading is then
converted by standard equations into a value representing the average
resistivity of the ground between the electrodes. Resistivity depth readings
are acquired by electrical soundings using an expanding electrode array
centred on the same point. The depth penetration of the readings is directly
proportional to the spacing of the electrodes. Our firm provides a variety of
resistivity testing services for engineering infrastructure, new plant
installation and electricity substations:

Earth rod testing using a 2-electrode resistivity system

APPLICATION 1: SOIL RESISTIVITY & EARTH

TESTING
Earthing systems provide a safe connection between an electrical circuit
and the ground. They are used for the dissipation of electrical faults,
grounding lightning strikes and maintaining the correct operation of
electrical equipment. The correct design of an earthing system is
dependent upon knowledge of the local ground resistivity. This is measured
as a function of depth at a series of locations around the site, using an
expanding four electrode Wenner array (BS 7430). The procedure is known
as soil resistivity or earth resistance testing. Correct measurement is
particularly important in areas of high resistivity ground, where electrical
currents do not readily dissipate. In these conditions obtaining an earth can
be problematic, and information on ground resistivity is required to much
greater depths for successful installation of an earthing system .
The resistance of an installed earth rod can also be tested to verify an
earthing system. Using a specially adapted testing procedure, the earth rod
is connected with a two-electrode resistivity system (IEEE 81 1983). The
electrodes are configured so that the system measures the resistance of
the earth rod directly.

Soil resistivity testing using a 4-electrode Wenner array

APPLICATION 2: SOIL CORROSIVITY

INVESTIGATIONS
A knowledge of soil corrosivity is critical for the effective design of cathodic
protection measures, or predicting the effective lifetime of a steel structure
such as a tank that is to be buried within the ground. Factors such as soil
composition, moisture content, pore water chemistry, pH and redox
potential (see below) control the ground resistivity, which is the main
diagnostic factor.
Using a four-electrode resistivity system (BS 1377), specific sections of a
proposed pipeline route are targeted to measure the resistivity of each
lithology encountered, and investigate special situations such as fault
zones or infilled channels. Surveys are designed to take readings down to
pipeline depth. Deeper readings are required near water courses and other
cross-overs where the pipeline has to be embedded at greater depths. The
resultant resistivity data is converted into corrosivity factors and integrated
into the design of effective cathodic protection measures.

Soil redox testing on the side of a road cutting

APPLICATION 3: INSITU SOIL REDOX TESTING

An important component of soil corrosivity assessment involves the
measurement of soil redox potential. This measures the ability of a soil to
ionise by the transference of electrons either to or from a reference
electrode. The measurement data indicates if the soil is aerobic or
anaerobic, and whether iron oxides or nitrates in the soil have been
reduced or are present in oxidized form.
The insitu soil redox measuring system consists of a high impedance
voltmeter, a platinum test electrode and a silver or copper reference
electrode. The electrodes are inserted at a set interval into the ground
below root level and the magnitude and polarity of the potential between
the platinum and reference electrodes is measured. Results are corrected
for soil temperature and PH and converted to a hydrogen electrode
equivalent, termed the redox potential (Eh).
Phone us at: 01905 619531 or e-mail us at: info@geophysical.biz