Electrical resistance tomography used in environmental restoration

Conference · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:7240754

Ramirez, A L; Daily, W ^[1]; LaBrecque, D ^[2]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
2. Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (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; ERT can also be used to map geologic structure. Natural processes (such as surface water infiltrating the vadose zone) and clean-up processes (such as air injection in the saturated zone, steam injection, emplacement of subsurface barriers) can create changes in a soil's electrical properties that are readily measured. We use these measurements to calculate tomographs that show the spatial distribution of the subsurface resistivities. The information derived from ERT can be used by remediation projects to: monitor the effectiveness of clean-up processes, characterize hydrologic processes affecting contaminant transport, select appropriate clean-up alternatives, demonstrate regulatory compliance, and to verify the installation and performance of subsurface barriers.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7240754
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-110356; CONF-9206184--2; ON: DE92018003
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
LIQUIDS
MAPPING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
TOMOGRAPHY