Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids
Abstract
This invention relates generally to the remote detections of subsurface liquid contaminants using in combination a geophysical technique known as ERT and an EKS. Electrokinetic transport is used to enhance the ability of electrical resistance tomography (ERT) to detect position and movement of subsurface contaminant liquids, particles or ions. ERT images alone are difficult to interpret because of natural inhomogeneities in soil composition and electrical properties. By subtracting two or more ERT images obtained before and after field induced movement, a high contrast image of a plume of distinct electrokinetic properties can be seen. The invention is applicable to important subsurface characterization problems including, as examples, (1) detection of liquid-saturated plumes of contaminants such as those associated with leaks from underground storage tanks containing hazardous concentrated electrolytes, (2) detection and characterization of soils contaminated with organic pollutants such as droplets of gasoline; and (3) monitoring the progress of electrokinetic containment or clean up of underground contamination. 1 fig.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of California (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 201499
- Patent Number(s):
- 5495175
- Application Number:
- PAN: 8-129,733
- Assignee:
- Univ. of California, Oakland, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 27 Feb 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY; PERFORMANCE; IMAGE PROCESSING; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; DETECTION; LIQUID WASTES; PLUMES; SOILS; LEAKS; STORAGE FACILITIES; OIL SPILLS; REMEDIAL ACTION; MEASURING METHODS
Citation Formats
Ramirez, A L, Cooper, J F, and Daily, W D. Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Ramirez, A L, Cooper, J F, & Daily, W D. Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids. United States.
Ramirez, A L, Cooper, J F, and Daily, W D. Tue .
"Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids". United States.
@article{osti_201499,
title = {Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids},
author = {Ramirez, A L and Cooper, J F and Daily, W D},
abstractNote = {This invention relates generally to the remote detections of subsurface liquid contaminants using in combination a geophysical technique known as ERT and an EKS. Electrokinetic transport is used to enhance the ability of electrical resistance tomography (ERT) to detect position and movement of subsurface contaminant liquids, particles or ions. ERT images alone are difficult to interpret because of natural inhomogeneities in soil composition and electrical properties. By subtracting two or more ERT images obtained before and after field induced movement, a high contrast image of a plume of distinct electrokinetic properties can be seen. The invention is applicable to important subsurface characterization problems including, as examples, (1) detection of liquid-saturated plumes of contaminants such as those associated with leaks from underground storage tanks containing hazardous concentrated electrolytes, (2) detection and characterization of soils contaminated with organic pollutants such as droplets of gasoline; and (3) monitoring the progress of electrokinetic containment or clean up of underground contamination. 1 fig.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 27 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Tue Feb 27 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}