Assessing the Ground Structure in Drilling by Analysis of the Phase Shift in the Probing Electrical Signal

Probing electric signals may be used to assess the soil structure by analysis of the variation in phase shift in the course of drilling. Such assessment is vital in fields such as geophysics, civil engineering, and environmental science. The probing signals permit monitoring of the underground conditions in drilling. Analysis of their phase shift variation provides insight into the fine structure of the soil. The sensitivity of this method to changes in physical and electrical properties of the soil makes it suitable for contactless investigation of underground layers. An understanding of soil structure is essential to geoengineering in designing building foundations, in analyzing the stability of slopes, and in assessing overall structural integrity. In addition, in environmental science, evaluation of underground structure assists in understanding groundwater motion and the transportation of pollutants and in the analysis of environmental impact. The analysis focuses on the dynamic behavior of the electrical probing signal in the course of drilling. Analysis of the variation in the signal’s phase shift provides valuable information regarding the heterogeneity, composition, and stratification of underground geological changes.