Scientia Africana, Vol. 7 (No.

2), December 2008, pp 73-80

Faclt! of Science, "ni#er$it! of %ort &arcort. %rinte' in Ni(eria. )SSN ***8 + *,3*
APPLICATION OF SEISMIC REFRACTION METHOD IN GROUNDWATER
STUDIES IN CALABAR SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA.
Ugwu,S.A. and Nwankwoala,H.O
Department of -eolo(!,"ni#er$it! of %ort &arcort,
%.../ 0323, 12oba, %ort &arcort,Ni(eria.
Received: March, 2008
Accepted:July, 2008
Abstract
Calabar, the Cross River State capital, is underlain by Benin Foration! "he #oration is partly
arine, partly deltaic and partly #luviolacustrine in ori$in! Seisic re#raction surveys in the area
sho% that the a&ui#erous 'one has seisic %ave velocity o# (00)800s %hile the non a&ui#erous
'one has velocity ran$in$ #ro *00)+00s! "he velocity is lar$er in the a&ui#erous 'one because
the density in the %ater bearin$ sand is hi$her! ,ertical electric soundin$ con#irs the
hydro$eolo$ic boundaries bet%een these 'ones established by the seisic re#raction survey!
Key words: Seisic Re#raction, -round%ater, ,elocity, ,ertical .lectrical Soundin$, A&ui#er!
In!odu"#on
No (eop2!$ical met2o' 2a$ !et $rpa$$e' t2e
electrical re$i$ti#it! met2o'$ in (ron'3ater
$t'ie$ $o far. &ere in Ni(eria, t2ere i$ a
'eart2 of $cientific e4ipment e$peciall!
(eop2!$ical e4ipment. )n $ome area$, t2e
e4ipment$ are not in e5i$tence 32ile in ot2er
ca$e$, t2e! are eit2er ot of $e or ot-'ate'.
For t2e$e rea$on$ 3e 'eci'e' to tr! ot2er
met2o'$, ot2er t2an re$i$ti#it!, to pro$pect for
(ron'3ater in or en#ironment.
Sei$mic refraction met2o' 2a$ been
e5ten$i#el! $e' in petrolem, mineral an'
en(ineerin( in#e$ti(ation$ an' $ometime$ in
2!'rolo(ic application$ in t2e pa$t. A'#ance$
in e4ipment, $on' $orce$ an' compter
interpretation 2a#e ma'e $eimic refraction
application effecti#e an' economical for
obtainin( 'ata for (ron'3ater mo'elin(
$t'ie$ (&aeni, *,86). Sei$mic refraction
$2ol' be one of t2e met2o'$ to be con$i'ere'
e$peciall! in plannin( $ta(e$ of (ron'3ater
$t'ie$ an' col' be $e' a$ a tool b! a
2!'ro(eolo(i$t to $ol#e problem$ a$$ociate'
3it2 pmp te$t$, $imlation mo'el$, te$t 2ole$,
(eolo(ic map$ etc (&aeni, *,86). 72e $e of
$ei$mic refraction col' re'ce to t2e beare$t
minimm t2e e5pen'itre on bore2ole 'rillin(
an' (ron'3ater $t'ie$.
.an! te5t boo8$ (Dobrin,*,769 7elfor' et al
*,,0) an' :ornal article$ (Ac8erman et al
*,86, ;a! an' <allace, *,,09 )#ano# et al
2000a, 2000b9 =ia et al 2000) pre$ent t2e
'etail$ of $ei$mic refraction t2eor!, problem$
an' limitation$.
B!#$% G$olog& o% '$ Coa(al a!$a o%
Sou'$a($!n N#g$!#a
72e area n'er $t'! (Fi(.*) i$ n'erlain b!
/enin Formation, one of t2e 7ertiar!->ecent
$e'iment$ of t2e Ni(er Delta. 72i$ formation
2a' earlier been referre' to a$ t2e coa$tal plain
$an'$ (Simp$on, *,00) an' 3a$ rename' t2e
/enin Formation (>e!ment, *,60). 72e
73
Ugwu ) Nwankwoala, Application o# Seisic Re#raction Methods in -round%ater ..
formation i$ an e5ten$i#e $trati(rap2ic nit in
t2e $ot2ern Ni(eria Se'imentar! /a$in.
72e $trati(rap2ic 'e#elopment of t2e area
'rin( t2e .iocene a$ a re$lt of N<-S?
riftin( 3a$ 'ominate' b! #ertical tectonic$ of
falt bloc8$ an' b! e$tatic $ea le#el c2an(e$.
72e ma:or tectonic e#ent$ of t2e area incl'e
t2e )8an( tro(2 32ic2 i$ a mobile 'epre$$ion
an' t2e )t8 2i(2 32ic2 i$ a $table mobile
$bmarine ri'(e$. 72e terrain i$ c2aracteri@e'
b! nearl! flat topo(rap2!. 72e (ron' le#el
2o3e#er $lope$ (entl! from t2e 2i(2er (ron'
to3ar'$ t2e Ni(er floo' plain$ bein( 'i$$ecte'
mainl! b! t2e 1ro$$ >i#er, )mo, A3a, an' t2e
Sombreiro ri#er$ S!$tem$ (Bffo'ile, 2000).

Vario$ $trctral nit$ $c2 a$ point bar$,
c2annel fill$, natral le#ee$, bac8 $3amp
'epo$it$ an' B5-bo3 fill$ are i'entifiable
3it2in t2e formation in'icatin( t2e #ariabilit!
7C
Scientia Africana, Vol. 7 (No.2), December 2008, pp 73-80
Faclt! of Science, "ni#er$it! of %ort &arcort. %rinte' in Ni(eria. )SSN ***8 + *,3*
of t2e 'ept2 of $2allo3 3ater 'epo$itional
me'im (A$$ee@, *,76). 72e ot2er3i$e
contino$ bo'! of t2e /enin Formation i$
interrpte' b! t2e Afam 1la! member 32ic2
con$i$t$ mainl! of cla! 3it2 fe3 intercalation$
of $an'$tone bo'ie$. 72e Formation con$i$t$
(enerall! of lenticlar ncon$oli'ate', friable,
coar$e (raine', poorl! $orte' $an'$ 3it2
intercalation$ of $2ale$. )t i$ partl! 'eltaic,
partl! e$tarine, partl! la(oonal an'
fl#iolac$trine in ori(in (>e!ment, *,60).
Di$trbe' lamination$ $c2 a$ reporte' in
A:ali $an'$tone (&o4e an' ?@epe, *,77) are
al$o common in t2e /enin Formation.
B!#$% H&d!og$olog& o% '$ "oa(al a!$a o%
Sou'$a($!n N#g$!#a
/enin Formation i$ one of t2e ma:or
a4ifero$ formation in )mo + A3a )boe >i#er
/a$in$ (Bffo'ile, 2000). )n t2e $ot23ar' part,
t2e /enin Formation appear$ to be in
2!r'ro(eolo(ical contact 3it2 t2e Ame8i an'
t2e all#ial 'epo$it$ of t2e Ni(er >i#er an'
2ence pro#i'e combine' a4ifero$ 2ori@on$
(Bffo'ile, 2000). 72e Formation otcrop$ in
t2e nort2ea$t of t2e coa$tal belt an' 'ip$ at t2e
lo3 an(le, in t2e $ot2ea$t. 72e $e'iment$
con$i$t (enerall! of lenticlar, ncon$oli'ate'
'ominantl! $an'! formation$. %ebble be'$
occr in place$ an' 2a#e (i#en ri$e to 2i(2
!iel'in( bore2ole$ e.( in %ort &arcort. 72e
$an' +$2ale intercalation$ in t2e formation
$((e$t a mlti-a4ifer $!$tem. 72e fir$t
a4ifer i$ nconfine' an' (enerall! e5i$t$
almo$t t2ro(2ot t2e coa$tal area. Dept2 to
3ater table ran(e$ from 2-*0m. ;enticlar
cla!$ an' $2ale$ occr particlarl! in t2e
ea$tern area$ 32ere t2e! compri$e $mall bt
mo'eratel! 2i(2 !iel'in( a4ifer$ e.( 1alabar,
"!o an' $ome of t2em (a#e ri$e to arti$an
3ell$. >ec2ar(e i$ in mo$t ca$e$ 'irect b!
precipitation t2ro(2 t2e (enerall! copio$
permeable $an'$ of t2e /enin Formation.
M$'odolog&
Daa A"*u#(##on
72e e4ipment $e' in t2e ac4i$ition of
$ei$mic refraction 'ata in t2e area incl'eD
(eop2one$, $tri8eplate, tape, cable$, $le'(e
2ammer an' $ei$mo(rap2. 72e 00m-tape 3a$
$e' to mea$re (eop2one 'i$tance$ from eac2
ot2er an' t2e (eop2one$ 3ere plante' at 0m
inter#al$. 72e$e (eop2one$ 3ere connecte' b!
t2e cable$ to t2e $ei$mo(rap2. 72e $tri8e plate
3a$ place' be$i'e t2e tri((er (eop2one.
?ner(! 3a$ (enerate' b! $tri8in( t2e $tri8e
plate 3it2 t2e $le'(e 2ammer.
Data 3ere ac4ire' from t2ree
location$ (Fi(.2) 3it2in t2e 1alabar capital
territor! namel!D A'iabo 7inapa9 t2e 'irection
of t2e tra#er$e i$ *7C
0
S? /an(a, t2e 'irection
of tran#er$e i$ 302
0
N< an' )8ot N8ebre-*,6
0
S<. )n all t2e location$, bot2 for3ar' an'
re#er$e tran$#er$e 3ere ta8en an' t2e
tran$#er$e line$ 3ere 60m eac2. Al$o in all t2e
location$, t2e profile line$ 3ere arran(e' to be
$fficientl! lon( to en$re t2at refracte'
arri#al$ from tar(et la!er 3ere recor'e' a$
fir$t arri#al$.
R$(ul(
Daa R$du"#on+In$!,!$a#on
From a $erie$ of (eop2one$ plante' on t2e
(ron', t2e $ei$mic arri#al time(m$) #er$$ t2e
$2ot to 'etector 'i$tance$ (m) 3ere plotte' to
(i#e a time-'i$tance cr#e (Fi(.3). 72i$ fi(re
al$o $2o3$ t2at at 'i$tance$ le$$ t2an t2e cro$$
o#er 'i$tance, t2e $on' 2a$ tra#ele' 'irectl!
from t2e $on' $orce to (eop2one$. At t2e
cro$$o#er 'i$tance, t2e $on' 3a#e t2at 2a$
tra#ele' t2ro(2 la!er one, t2en alon( t2e
interface of t2e 2i(2-$pee' la!er (la!er t3o)
t2en bac8 p to t2e $rface t2ro(2 la!er one,
arri#e$ before t2e 3a#e t2at 2a$ been in t2e
$lo3er la!er. All fir$t compre$$ional 3a#e
arri#al$ at (eop2one 3it2 'i$tance$ lar(er t2an
t2e cro$$ o#er 'i$tance 3ill be refracte' 3a#e$
from la!er t3o. A t3o la!er mo'el (Fi(.3) 3a$
70
Ugwu ) Nwankwoala, Application o# Seisic Re#raction Methods in -round%ater ..
obtaine' in t2e time-'i$tance cr#e 3it2 V
*
e4al to in#er$e $lope of t2e plotte' line
V* E F5(m)
GGGGGGGGGGGGG
F!(m$)
<2ere V
*
E t2e #elocit! of $on' in la!er )
F5 E c2an(e in 'i$tance (m)
F! E c2an(e in time (m$)
72e 'ept2 to t2e $econ' la!er or
t2e t2ic8ne$$ of t2e fir$t la!er i$
* 2
* 2
2 , ,
, , /c
d
+

=
<2ere =c E cro$$o#er 'i$tance
V
*
E #elocit! of $on' in la!er one
V
2
E #elocit! of $on' in la!er t3o
72e re$lt$ of t2e $r#e! are tablate' belo3D
76
Scientia Africana, Vol. 7 (No.2), December 2008, pp 73-80
Faclt! of Science, "ni#er$it! of %ort &arcort. %rinte' in Ni(eria. )SSN ***8 + *,3*
Ta-l$ . R$(ul o% '$ Su!/$&
;ocation V
*
(m$) V
2
(m$) Dept2 (m)
* C00 800 7.C7
2 C00 600 3.07
3 C00 700 ,.*

Ta-l$ 01 E(a-l#('$d (anda!d P 2 wa/$ 3$lo"##$(
Ro"k T&,$ Stan'ar' %-<a#e Velocit! (m$0
-ranite 0020 + 060C0
San'$tone *C00 + C300
;ime$tone *700 + C200
1la! **00 + C200
;oo$e $an' *800
1oar$e $an' (3et) **00 + *670
San' 3it2 (ra#el (3et) 6,0 + **00
San' 3it2 (ra#el ('r!) C,0 + 6,0
San'! cla! 360 - C30
0A#ter 1blyth and Freitas, 23(34
72e re$lt$ of t2e $r#e! (7able *) are
compare' 3it2 t2e e$tabli$2e' $tan'ar' p +
3a#e #elocit! in 'ifferent roc8 t!pe$ (7able
2). From t2e fir$t table t2e #elocit! in t2e fir$t
la!er in all t2e location$ i$ C00m$ an' fall$
3it2in t2e ran(e 360 + C30m$ an' t2e roc8
t!pe i$ $an'! cla!. 72e $econ' la!er in
location one 2a$ a #elocit! of 800m$ (7able *)
an' fall$ 3it2in t2e ran(e 6,0 + **00m$
(7able 2) 32ic2 i$ 3et $an' 3it2 (ra#el. )n
location$ t3o t2e #elocit! in la!er t3o i$
600m$ 32ic2 fall$ in t2e ran(e of C,0 +
6,0m$ in'icati#e of 'r! $an' 3it2 (ra#el at a
'ept2 of 3.07m. 72e la$t location $2o3e' t2at
la!er t3o 2a$ a #elocit! of 700m$ an' fall$
3it2in t2e ran(e 6,0-**00m$ in'icatin( t2e
roc8 t!pe a$ 3et $an' an' (ra#el.
A$ a c2ec8, #ertical electrical $on'in($
(V?S) $in( t2e poplar Sc2lmber(er
met2o' 3ere carrie' ot alon( t2e $ame
tran$#er$e$ in t2e t2ree location$. 72e 'ata
3ere interprete' $in( Bffi5 an' )%*23in
compter $oft3are. /ot2 t2e (eolo(! an'
bore2ole 'ata 3ere incorporate' in arri#in( at
t2e abo#e re$lt$.
77
Ugwu ) Nwankwoala, Application o# Seisic Re#raction Methods in -round%ater ..
Ta-l$ 4. ;ocation *
La&$! A,,a!$n
R$(#(#/#& 567
T'#"kn$((
567
D$,' 567 Ro"k &,$
* ,27 0.0* 0.0* 7op $an'
2 *0878 0.,2 *.C3 Dr! SS
3 2**200 0.80 7.28 Dr! SS
C C8* - - Satrate' SS
Ta-l$ 8 Lo"a#on 0
La&$! A,,a!$n
R$(#(#/#& 567
T'#"kn$((
567
D$,' 567 Ro"k &,$
* 22CC 0.,2 0.,2 Dr! top $oil
2 67C 2.C2 3.3C Satrate' SS
3 *0*60 *.,7 0.3* Dr! SS
C 330 *0.08 *0.8, SiltH1la!
0 23*3 - - Dr! SS
Ta-l$ 9 lo"a#on 4
La&$! A,,a!$n
R$(#(#/#& 567
T'#"kn$((
567
D$,' 567 Ro"k &,$
* C07.00 0.67 0.67 7op 3et $an'
2 C06C.36 0.,, *.66 Dr! SS
3 367.0, 2.63 C.2, Silt!Hcla!
C *232.C8 C.63 8.,C Dr! SS
0 C,*.68 - - Satrate' SS
A loo8 at 7able$ 3-0 one $2ol' notice $ome
near a(reement in t2e fi(re$. )n 7able *, t2e
'ept2 to t2e $atrate' @one in location * i$
7.C7m an' in 7able 3 t2e 'ept2 to t2e $ame
$atrate' @one i$ 7.28m an' t2e t2ic8ne$$ of
t2i$ @one i$ n'efine'. )n location t3o, 7able *
$2o3$ t2at t2e 'ept2 to t2e 'r! $an' i$ from
3.07m an' it correlate$ 3ell 3it2 7able C
32ic2 $2o3$ t2e 'ept2 to t2e 'r! @one a$
0.3*m. )n t2e la$t location, 7able * in'icate$
t2at t2e 'ept2 to t2e $atrate' @one i$ ,.*m.
72e 'ept2 to t2e $ame 2ori@on in 7able 0 i$
8.,Cm. )t i$ $een t2at t2e 'ifference bet3een
$ei$mic refraction re$lt$ an' re$i$ti#it! re$lt$
are in$i(nificant.
78
Scientia Africana, Vol. 7 (No.2), December 2008, pp 73-80
Faclt! of Science, "ni#er$it! of %ort &arcort. %rinte' in Ni(eria. )SSN ***8 + *,3*
D#("u((#on
A t3o la!er mo'el (Fi(. 3) $ei$mic refraction
$2o3e' t3o a4ifero$ 2ori@on$ in location *
an' 3 an' 'r! 2ori@on in location 2, t2o(2 at
'ifferent 'ept2$. 72e #elocit! in t2e a4ifero$
@one$ (700 + 800m$) are lar(er t2an t2o$e in
t2e non a4iferio$ re(ion$ beca$e t2e
'en$it! in t2e 3ater bearin( $an' i$ 2i(2er.
72e re$lt i$ confirme' b! t2e #ertical
electrical $on'in( (V?S) re$lt$ (7able$ 3 +
0). 72e 2i(2 re$i$ti#itie$ of t2e n$atrate'
@one an' compact non-poro$ roc8 $all!
2a#e a 'i$tin(i$2able contra$t 3it2 t2e
interme'iate re$i$ti#it! of t2e $atrate' @one
an' t2e #er! lo3 re$i$ti#itie$ of le$$ permeable
$ilt$ an' relati#el! imper#io$ cla!$.
Depen'in( on t2e ratio of la!er re$i$iti#itie$
an' t2ic8ne$$e$ in a #ertical profile, la!er
parameter$ are non ni4e to a 'e(ree 'e to
t2e principle of e4i#alence (Fro2lic2 an'
Aell!, *,87). 1on$i'erin( t2e $mall t2ic8ne$$
in 7able$ 3-0 t2e V?S re$lt$ can be re'ce'
to t3o la!er mo'el9 t2erefore t2e re$lt$ of t2e
(eop2!$ical met2o'$ are t2e $ame.
Con"lu(#on
Sei$mic refraction tec2ni4e$ can be $e'
effecti#el! in (ron'3ater $t'ie$ e$peciall!
in t2e /enin Formation. A4ifer$ in t2e /enin
Formation 2a#e $ei$mic #elocit! of abot 700
+ 800m$ an' contra$t at ma:or 2!'ro(eolo(ic
bon'arie$. 72e re$lt $o far confirm$ t2at
$ei$mic refraction tec2ni4e can compete
fa#orabll! 3ell 3it2 re$i$ti#it! met2o'$.
R$%$!$n"$(
Ac5eran, 6!7!, 8an5rat', 9!:, and
7ansereau, 7! *,86. >e$oltion of
Ambi4itie$ of Sei$mic refraction tra#el
time cr#e$. -eophysics 02D 223-230.
Assee', 9!;! 23(+! >e#ie3 of t2e Strati(rap2!,
Se'imentation an' Strctre of t2e Ni(er
Delta. )nD 1.A. Ao(be (e'.) -eolo(! of
Ni(eria, ?li@abet2an %bli$2in( 1o.,
;a(o$, C36pp.
7obrin, M!B., *,76. )ntro'ction to
-eop2!$ical %ro$pectin(, .c-ra3-&ill
/oo8 1o. ;on'on.
Frohlich, R!<!, and <elly, :!.!, *,88.
?$timate of Specific Iiel' 3it2 t2e
-eoelectric >e$i$ti#it! .et2o' in -lacial
A4ifer$. Journal o# 6ydrolo$y, Vol. ,7,
pp 33 + CC.
6aeni, F! 8!,*,86. Application of Sei$mic
>efraction .et2o' in -ron'3ater
.o'ellin( St'ie$ in Ne3
?n(lan'.-eophysics,Vol.0*,No.2, pp236-
2C,.
6o&ue, M! and .'epue, M!C., *,77. %etrolo(!
an' %aleo(eo(rap2! of t2e A:ali
San'$tone. J..in. -eol. *C.pp*6-22.
=vanov, J!, Miller, R!7!, /ia, J!, Steeples, 7!
and 8ar5, C!B!, 2000a. 72e in#er$e
problem of refraction tra#el time$. %art *D
7!pe$ of (eop2!$ical non-ni4ene$$
tro(2 minimi@ation9 %re an' Applie'
-eop2!$ic$, Vol. *62, ppCC7 + C0,.
=vanov, J!, Miller, R!7!, /ia, J!, Steeples, 7!
and 8ar5, C!B!, 2000b. 72e in#er$e
problem of refraction tra#el time$.%art**D
Kantif!in( refraction non-ni4ene$$
$in( a t2ree la!er mo'el. %re an'
Applie' -eop2!$ic$.Vol.*62,ppC6*-C77.
9ay, "! and :allace,"!,*,,0. .o'ern -lobal
Sei$molo(!D Aca'emic %re$$ )nc.;on'on.
;##odile, M! .!, 2000.-ron'3ater St'! an'
De#elopment in Ni(eria.2
n'
(e'.) .econ
%bli$2in( 1o. ;t'., Jo$, Ni(eria.
7,
Ugwu ) Nwankwoala, Application o# Seisic Re#raction Methods in -round%ater ..
Reyent, R! A., *,60. A$pect$ of t2e -eolo(!
of Ni(eria. )ba'an "ni#er$it! %re$$,
Ni(eria.pp*C0
"el#ord, :! M!, -eldart, 9! 8!, Sheri##, R! .!,
and <eys, 7! A! *,,0. Applie'
-eop2!$ic$, 1ambri'(e "ni#er$it!
%re$$,;on'on.
/ia, J!, Chen, C!, "ian, -!, Miller, R! 7!, and
=vanov,J.2000. >e$oltion of 2i(2
fre4enc! >alei(2-3a#e 'ata. Jornal of
?n#ironmental an' ?n(ineerin(
-eop2!$ic$, Vol. *0, pp,,-**0.
1blyth, F! - and Freitas, M! 6! *,7,. -eolo(!
for ?n(ineer$. ?'3ar' Arnol' %bli$2in(,
;on'on.
80