South-Central Section - 54th Annual Meeting - 2020

Paper No. 22-1
Presentation Time: 8:30 AM-5:00 PM

DELINEATION OF POTENTIAL GEOHAZARDS ALONG FM 2185, CULBERSON COUNTY, TEXAS USING CAPACITIVELY-COUPLED ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY


PERKINS, Lenora Diane, Geology, Stephen F. Austin State University, 1936 North Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, BROWN, Wesley, Department of Geology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962 and STAFFORD, Kevin W., Geology, Stephen F. Austin State University, P.O. Box 13011, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962

The Delaware Basin of West Texas and New Mexico is positioned in the northern most region of the Chihuahua Desert and is the major western subdivision of the Permian Basin. The dissolution of the evaporite strata of the Castile and Rustler formations have led to the manifestation of karst geohazards including sinkholes, subsidence features, and caves. Due to an increase in traffic flow from commercial petroleum transportation, the extensive karst development poses a significant geohazard threat to infrastructure.

A 30 mile (50 kilometer) segment of Farm to Market Road 2185 (FM 2185) was investigated using capacitively-coupled resistivity methods to characterize and delineate karst features that pose potential geohazard concerns. Data was acquired with the Geometrics OhmMapper G-858 resistivity system, which uses a dipole-dipole configuration composed of five receivers connected by 2.5 meter coaxial cables and a transmitter offset of 2.5 meters. In combination with the medium analyzed, this geometric configuration enabled resistivity readings up to 5 meters deep. Data was processed using AGI’s (Advanced Geometrics Inc.) EarthImager 2D software and used delineate karst related cavities and voids for improved roadway design.