Subsurface Barrier Verification with the SEAtrace{trademark} Monitoring System. Innovative Technology Summary Report
The use of subsurface containment technologies is a cost-effective remediation alternative being proposed and implemented at a wide variety of waste sites. So that these containment technologies may gain acceptance, the emplacement and performance of these barriers must be verified and monitored. Current techniques such as construction, quality assurance, and quality control during emplacement are insufficient. Traditional monitoring techniques rely on groundwater monitoring, and thus require the contamination of groundwater for indications of containment failure. The SEAtrace{trademark} System uses a low-cost, early detection method to both verify subsurface containment emplacement and monitor long-term performance. SEAtrace{trademark} is an integrated monitoring system that can determine the size and location of leaks in subsurface barriers constructed above the water table. The system incorporates gaseous tracer injection, automated multipoint sampling, and real-time global optimization modeling to characterize the integrity of impermeable barriers. Tracer gas is injected inside the contained volume of the barrier structure (Figure 1). An automated stand-alone system collects and analyzes soil gas samples for the presence and concentration of the tracer gas (Figure 2). A unique, on-board, global optimization modeling methodology analyzes tracer concentration histories to determine both the location and size of breaches in the barrier (Figure 3). The SEAtrace{trademark} system also offers long-term monitoring of the barrier either by analyzing organic compounds contained by the barrier or by periodically injecting gaseous tracers. This document contains information on the above-mentioned technology, including description, applicability, cost, and performance data.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Dover Air Force Base, Dover, DE (US); Naval Air Station, Brunswick, ME (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science and Technology (OST) (EM-50) (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 779069
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EM-0549; OST/TMS ID 308; OST/TMS ID 308; TRN: AH200119%%74
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 1 Sep 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Subsurface barrier validation with the SEAtrace{trademark} system
Tracer verification and monitoring of containment systems