Electromagnetic inter-well scanning (EIWS): scientific foundations, geological context, and applications in uranium in-situ leaching
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51301/ejsu.2026.i2.03Keywords:
electromagnetic inter-well scanning, uranium ISL, conductivity tomography, reactive transport, permeability heterogeneity, in-situ recovery monitoringAbstract
Electromagnetic inter-well scanning (EIWS) is an advanced geophysical method that enables volumetric, time-resolved imaging of electrical conductivity within the inter-well domain of uranium in-situ leaching (ISL) systems. This article presents a comprehensive theoretical, geological, and methodological analysis of EIWS and evaluates its significance for monitoring reactive fluid transport in heterogeneous sandstone aquifers. The study highlights the method’s sensitivity to salinity, porosity, permeability evolution, geochemical reactions, and acid front migration – key factors that govern ISL efficiency, breakthrough timing, and environmental containment. Through expanded discussion of electromagnetic physics, tomographic inversion, dynamic subsurface monitoring and operational optimization, EIWS is shown to be a transformative tool for characterizing subsurface processes that were previously inaccessible. The article concludes that EIWS fundamentally enhances recovery efficiency, improves sweep uniformity, strengthens environmental oversight, and establishes a new standard for scientific control of ISL operations.
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