Acoustic detection of Immiscible Liquids in Sand

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1999 · Geophysical Research Letters

OSTI ID:760296

Geller, Jil T ^[1]; Kowalsky, Michael B; Seifert, Patricia K; Nihei, Kurt T

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1. LBNL Library

Laboratory cross-well P-wave transmission at 90 kHz was measured in a 61 cm diameter by 76 cm tall water-saturated sand pack, before and after introducing a non-aqueous phase organic liquid (NAPL) (n-dodecane). In one experiment NAPL was introduced to form a lens trapped by a low permeability layer; a second experiment considered NAPL residual trapped behind the front of flowing NAPL. The NAPL caused significant changes in the travel time and amplitude of first arrivals, as well as the generation of diffracted waves arriving after the direct wave. The spatial variations in NAPL saturation obtained from excavation at the end of the experiment correlated well with the observed variations in the P-wave amplitudes and travel times. NAPL residual saturation changes from NAPL flow channels of 3 to 4% were detectable and the 40 to 80% NAPL saturation in the NAPL lens was clearly visible at acoustic frequencies. The results of these experiments demonstrate that small NAPL saturations may be more easily detected with amplitude rather than travel time data, but that the relationships between the amplitude changes and NAPL saturation maybe more complex than those for velocity.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US) (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director, Office of Science (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 760296
• Report Number(s): LBNL--42791; ISSN 0094-8276
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 27
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACOUSTIC DETECTION
DODECANE
MEASURING METHODS
OIL SPILLS
PERMEABILITY
SAND
SEISMIC P WAVES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
WATER SATURATION