Electrochemical effects in rocks: petroleum exploration and engineering–geological applications

The use of electrochemical effects in petroleum exploration and engineering–geological applications is discussed with reference to the Zhirnovsky oil and gas field where mobile forms of metals are 1.5–2 times above the background. Electrochemical stiffening applied to Maastrichtian shales, which are sliding planes of landslides in the Lower Volga area, increased their stiffness by a factor of 2 or more.