Patent ID: 8321160

Claim:
A system for collecting resistivity data from a subsurface media comprising: a power distribution unit distributing an injection current, an operating power source and an operating ground to a set of serially interconnected voltage control units; the power distribution unit further comprising a high voltage source, and a high voltage sink; a reference electrode in contact with a geological surface, connected to the power distribution unit for defining a high voltage reference; a current source connected to the power distribution unit; a data collection unit connected to the power distribution unit; an array of electrodes in contact with the geological surface, having at least three electrodes; the set of serially interconnected voltage control units connected to the array of electrodes to form a serially ordered chain of electrodes; the set of serially interconnected voltage control units in data communication with the power distribution unit, the set of serially interconnected voltage control units programmed to dispense the injection current into the array of electrodes in a predetermined pattern; and the set of serially interconnected voltage control units including a means to measure a set of differential voltages between electrode pairs in the serially ordered chain of electrodes and to send a first signal to the power distribution unit related to measured differential voltages.