Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration ISSN:1229-1064(Print) 2384-051X(Online) 지구물리와 물리탐사

Streaming potential (SP) arises from fluid flow through effectively connected pores. From this potential, formation water information as well as fluid flow properties can be estimated. As micro particles being located in boundary between subsurface porous media and fluid are charged to form electrical double layer, fluid flow caused by several reasons generates SP, one of electrokinetic phenomena. Occurrence mechanism of SP is complex and signal strength is relatively weak compared to noise. However, application of self potential survey using SP to monitoring of formation fluid is expanding because of its’ convenience of exploration without artificial source and repetitiveness of signal. This paper accounts for the occurrence mechanism of SP studied before, including governing equations and analyzes previous various case studies of SP according to the change of physical properties of materials. It helps to increase understanding about SP and also lays the foundations of the application of SP to fields.