National Technical University of Athens

Introduction
The thermal conductivity of underground formations is particularly the measurement of their ability to heat transfer. Its determination is critical parameter in the design of several technical projects
where heat transfer in soil takes place such as shallow geothermal systems, construction of buried pipes and high voltage cables in the ground.
Several researchers (De Vries, 1963, Tarnawski, 2000) have shown that thermal conductivity of soil, k, (W/(m.K)) depends on numerous parameters such as mineralogical composition, grain size of soil and
physical properties as moisture content (w, %), dry density (pd, gr/cm3) and saturation (Sr, %). It is experimentally and theoretical shown that these parameters have an influence on the electrical resistivity
(, .m) (Archie, 1942). The fact that both thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity depend on the same parameters, indicates the possibility of their interrelation.
The objective of our research is the investigation (qualitatively and quantitatively) of the influence of the soil physical parameters on thermal conductivity (k) and electrical resistivity () and the
development of an expression that can be used to relate electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical data to produce soil thermal conductivity profiles.
In order to achieve the abovementioned goal, a series of experiments have been performed during which k and values of nine different soil types (of known mineralogical composition and grain size
distribution) were measured while varying moisture and dry density. The experimental procedure and the results are presented in this study.

Main Concept: Simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of model soil samples of known mineralogical
composition and grain size for different values of moisture [w%], dry density [pd gr/cm3] and, consequently, different Sr [%].

Soil Sample Generation

Material
Four different grain size materialcoarse, medium, fine sands and silty
clays- either plain or in predetermined
proportions - where used to generate
the soil samples.

Soil Samples Physical Properties measurements

Mixing and compaction different grain size soils, in varying

moisture values according to the standard Proctor test (ASTM).
The selected method ensures dimensions (diameter 10.1 cm height
11.6cm) and homogeneity of samples suitable for the measurement
of the thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity.
[9 soil type 79 soil samples]

1. Grain size distribution [diagram 1] (ASTM sieves, Stoke Method

for estimating clay fraction)
2. Specific weight: density meter method
3. Semi quantitative composition of soil (XRD, DTA, XRF) [table 1]
4. Moisture and Dry Density measurement of samples

Grain size distribution curve

Table 1. Semi quantitative mineral composition and specific weight of each soil model.

Percentage of Passing [% Weight]

soil type /%
mineralogy composition
Ca (Calcite)
Dol (Dolomite)
Qz (Quartz)
Fd (Feldspar)
Mi- C (Ilites, Moscovian,
Clorite, Kaolinite in case of
Kaol)
Gs

Kaol
-

CSi
53

L
60
1
20
6

SL
62
2
18
6

LS
65
2
17
6

Sf
45

25
5

SiL
55
0
23
5

95
2.53

30
13

Sm
80
5
5
0

Sc
87
3
3
3

17
2.64

16
2.64

13
2.65

12
2.66

11
2.66

12
2.66

10
2.67

4
2.67

Thermal Conductivity Measurement:

Based on the heat line source theory in infinite medium. Instrument: Anter QL 30 [ASTM D-5930 and D 5334]

Electrical Resistivity Measurement:

Wenner electrode array with 4 equidistant copper electrodes. Instrument ABEM SAS300, 0.2mA current
Grain size [mm]
[ Diagram 1. Grain size distribution curve ]

15
14
13

electrical resistivity [.m]

The measurement of resistance and consequently of resistivity is dependent on the distance of

electrodes between each other and from the walls of the sample and on the depth of the
electrode in the soil (Bristow, 2001). In order to control this dependence an additional experiment
was performed. We firstly measure resistivity applying Wenner array in a small tank (30cm
diameter and 20cm height) with water of resistivity 11.6 .m using various electrode distances (D
= 2, 3, 4 and 5cm) and depths of electrodes in the water (h= 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5cm). Then we
put a plastic tube (10cm diameter and 20cm height) in the tank to simulate the dimensions of our
samples and inside the tube we measure resistivity applying Wenner array with electrode
distances (D = 1 and 2cm) and depths of electrodes in the water (h= 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 2.5cm).
The effect of both the distance of electrodes between each other and their depth inside the
medium are shown on Diagram 2. We decided to use electrode distance, D=2cm and depth of the
electrode in the soil, h=1cm. A correction factor F=0.98 in the output of eq. 1 was also applied.

D=5cm

12

D=4cm

11
10

D=3cm

D=2cm

8
7

D=2cm-pipe

D=1cm-pipe

5
4
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

electrodes length [cm]

[ Diagram 2. Effect of electrodes length on electrical resistivity measurement ]

72nd EAGE Conference & Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2010. Barcelona, Spain, 14 - 17 June 2010

The maximum experimental values of thermal conductivity are as

follows: 2.19 W/m.K (loamy-sand-LS soil), 2.1 W/m.K (sandy-loamSL), 1.91 W/m.K (kaolinite-Kaol), 1.83 W/m.K (loam-L), 1.77 W/m.K
(sand-fine-Sf), 1.75 W/m.K, (sand-medium-Sm) , 1.6 W/m.K (sandcoarse-Sc), 1.46 W/m.K (silty-loam-SiL) and 1.34 W/m.K for the
clay-silt (CSi) soil type. The above measurements are obtained at
saturations that correspond to the maximum accomplished dry
density values according to the experimental procedure.

Thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity

measurements cover a saturation range
between approximately zero value (dry soils) and
92% (almost saturated soils). Greater saturation
values could not be achieved under the chosen
compaction method. The number of soil
samples was 79, representing nine soil type.

Thermal Conductivity vs Saturation

Thermal Conductivity vs Saturation

Thermal conductivity increases until a certain value of saturation

that differs with the granular range of the sample. The rate of
increase is high until saturation values of 20-30% and then it
becomes lower up to a certain saturation where thermal
conductivity values seem to be stabilized. As the grain size
decreases, the value of saturation with the highest thermal
conductivity increases. [Figure 1]

Thermal Conductivity vs Saturation

Comparing changes for Kaolinite and CSi, though the samples that
have similar granular composition and maximum thermal
conductivity in the same saturation value, we observe different
values of k in the whole range of Sr, mainly because of the different
mineral composition. [Figure 1- diagram 1]

3)

2)

1)
Saturation [%]

Saturation [%]

Saturation [%]

Clay-silty soil sample provide the lower electrical

resistivity value (8.35 .m) under a saturation of
approximately 80%. In the maximum saturation for
each type of soil the minimum resistivity values are:
11.7 .m for silty-loam (Si-L), 19.6 .m for sandy-loam
(SL), 23 .m for loamy-sand (LS) and kaolinite (Kaol), 30
.m for Sand F and Sand M and 127 .m for Sand C.

[ Figure 1. Variation of thermal conductivity of soils vs Saturation ]

Electrical Resistivity vs Saturation

Electrical Resistivity vs Saturation

Electrical Resistivity vs Saturation

The Figure 2 shows an inverse shape of the electrical resistivity

curves. The value of saturation where resistivity stabilizes is identical
to that of thermal conductivity and it also depends on soil type.

The stabilized resistivity in fine grains (C-Si, Si-L) becomes 8-11.m

[Fig 2- Diagram 1], in Kaol 23.m, in mixed grains (SL, LS, L) 19-22
.m [Fig 2- Diagram 2], in sand fine and sand medium 30.m and in
sand coarse >100 .m [Fig 2- Diagram 3]
1)

2)

Saturation [%]

3)

Saturation [%]

Saturation [%]

[Figure 2. Variation of electrical resistivity of soils vs Saturation]

Generally we can observe a similarity among thermal and electrical conductivity (inverse of resistivity, )
with increasing saturation which can be interpreted by the increasing presence of water over the air in the
pore space that facilitates thermal and current transportation.

Loamy Sand
100

Saturation [%]

80
70
60

kexp-vs-Sr

0.5

kexp-vs-

0.4

50

0.3

w/meas

0.6

90

Furthermore it was found that thermal conductivity of soil, has similar variation either versus saturation or
dimensionless values of w/meas [Figure 3]. Consequently, if the thermal conductivity can be expressed as
function of saturation, it can be expressed as function of w/meas as well.

40
0.2

30
20

0.1

10
0

According to the above observations a correlation between the variation of thermal conductivity and
electrical resistivity can be established.

0
0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

Thermal conductivity [W/m.K]

[Figure3. Variation of Thermal Conductivity of Loam vs Saturation (yellow
line) and w/meas (blue line) ]

correlation of k and

correlation of k and

1.9

1.7
1.5
1.3
1.1

Si-C

0.9

SiL

1.00

w/meas

1.5
1.3

Loam

1.1

Loamy Sand

1.7
1.5
1.3
1.1

SandF
SandC
SandM

0.9

Sandy Loam
0.7

0.7
0.50

1.7

0.9

Kaol
0.00

1.9

exp(kexp/ks . w /meas)

1.9

exp(kexp/ks . w /meas)

exp(kexp/ks . w /meas)

Correlation of k and

1.50

0.7
0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

w/meas
[Figure 4. Correlation of thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of soils]

0.00

0.10

0.20

0.30

w/meas

0.40

0.50

A relation between electrical resistivity and thermal

conductivity of soil was examined using the
correlation between the dimensionless values of
exp[(kexp.w)/(ks.meas)] and (w/meas), where kexp is the
measured thermal conductivity of soil, ks is the thermal
conductivity of solid minerals, w and meas the
measured electrical resistivity of water and soil
respectively [Figure 4]. The values of thermal
conductivity of solid minerals, ks, have been calculated
by using characteristic values ksi for each i mineral, as
proposed by Tarnawski et al. (2000), as well as the semi
quantitative mineral composition of soil, as represented
on Table 1. All plots (Figure 3, Diagram 1,2,3) lead to a
general semi-empirical correlation between kexp and
meas for saturation greater than 15% [eq. 1], where
and b are constant parameters dependent on
size, shape and other physical properties of grains
which are known for the type of soils we have
examined.

At the present time, it is a subject of further research exploring various models of k and , in order to refine the above relation for the
development of robust model for the prediction of thermal conductivity of soils from electrical resistivity values.

References
De-Vries. (1963). Thermal Properties of soil. In V. W. Wijk (Ed.), In Physics of Plant Enviroment. Amsterdam: North Holland Publishing Company, 210-235.
Tarnawski, V., Gori, F., Wagner, B., & Buchan, G. (2000). Modelling approaches to predicting thermal conductivtiy of soil at high temperature. International J Energy Res (24), 403-423.
Archie, G.E. (1942). The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoir characteristics. Petroleum Transactions American Institute of Mining. Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers 146, 5462.
Cook H. et al. (1980). Deep Sea drilling project. Initial Reports. University of California.
Bristow, K. L., Kluitenberg, G. J., Goding, C. J, Fitzgerald, T. S. (2001). A small multi-needle probe for measuring soil thermal properties, water content and electrical conductivity. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 265-280.

72nd EAGE Conference & Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2010. Barcelona, Spain, 14 - 17 June 2010