The basic principle of operation of magnetic resonance sounding, hitherto known as surface proton magnetic resonance (PMR), is similar to that of the proton magnetometer. They both assume records of the magnetic resonance signal from a proton-containing liquid (for example, water or hydrocarbons). However, in the proton magnetometer, a special sample of liquid is placed into the receiving coil and only the signal frequency is a matter of interest. In MRS, a wire loop 100 m in diameter is used as a transmitting/receiving antenna to probe water in the subsurface. Thus, the main advantage of the MRS method, compared with other geophysical methods, is that the surface measurement of the PMR signal from water molecules ensures that this method only responds to the subsurface water.
A typical MRS survey is conducted in three stages. First, the ambient electromagnetic (EM) noise is measured. Then, a pulse of electrical current is transmitted through a cable on the surface of the ground, applying an external EM field to the subsurface. Finally, the external EM field is terminated, and the magnetic resonance signal is measured.[4]
Three parameters of the measured MRS signal are:
- Amplitude (E0), which depends on the number of protons and hence on the quantity of water.
- Decay time (T*2), which generally correlates with the mean size of the pores in water-saturated rocks. This is important for aquifer characterization.
- Phase (j0), which is measured in the field and is used for a qualitative estimation of the electrical conductivity of rocks.[4]
As with many other geophysical methods, MRS is site-dependent. Modeling results show that MRS performance depends on the magnitude of the natural geomagnetic field, the electrical conductivity of rocks, the electromagnetic noise and other factors