Reinterpretation of VES data (Saiss basin, Morocco) using Geostatistics and 2D electrical inversion methods

Summary A series of vertical electrical soundings (VES) carried out in Schlumberger array is revisited to produce 2D resistivity model for the north central part of the Saiss Basin (Morocco). This paper is an attempt to show how data from traditional single soundings in Schlumberger configuration can be rearranged using geostatistical tools to estimate apparent resistivity values with a format compatible with a Wenner-Schlumberger array. The result is a series of estimated pseudo-sections that respect the spatial structure (covariance model) inherent in the original data set (VES), which finally are inverted to produce a 2D resistivity model of the basin along geophysical profiles. The estimated apparent resistivity field gives also valid hints about the 2D geo-electrical structure of the basin. Applying this methodology to different parallel VES profiles along the basin a 3D resistivity model can be generated.