Applications of electrical resistance tomography to subsurface environmental restoration

Conference · Tue Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:145988

Ramirez, A L ^[1]; Daily, W D

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

We are developing a new imaging technique, Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT), to map subsurface liquids as flow occurs during natural or clean-up processes and to map geologic structure. Natural processes (such as surface water infiltrating the vadose zone) and man-induced processes (such as tank leaks and clean-up processes such as steam injection), can create changes in a soil`s electrical properties that are readily measured. We have conducted laboratory and a variety of field experiments to investigate the capabilities and limitations of ERT for imaging underground structures and processes. In the last four years we have used ERT to successfully monitor several field processes including: a subsurface steam injection process (for VOC removal), an air injection process (below the water table) for VOC removal, water infiltration through the vadose zone, radio-frequency heating, ohmic heating, and tank and pond leaks. The information derived from ERT can be used by remediation projects to: detect and locate leaks, determine the effectiveness of clean-up processes, select appropriate clean-up alternatives, and to verify the installation and performance of subsurface barriers.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 145988
• Report Number(s): CONF-9411140--Absts.; ON: DE95017252
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND WATER
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
TOMOGRAPHY