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.
- Inventors:
-
- Pleasanton, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870321
- Patent Number(s):
- 5495175
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- electrokinetic; phenomena; electrical; resistance; tomography; characterize; movement; subsurface; fluids; relates; remote; detections; liquid; contaminants; combination; geophysical; technique; eks; transport; enhance; ability; detect; position; contaminant; liquids; particles; images; difficult; interpret; natural; inhomogeneities; soil; composition; properties; subtracting; obtained; field; induced; contrast; image; plume; distinct; seen; applicable; characterization; including; examples; detection; liquid-saturated; plumes; associated; leaks; underground; storage; tanks; containing; hazardous; concentrated; electrolytes; soils; contaminated; organic; pollutants; droplets; gasoline; monitoring; progress; containment; clean; contamination; storage tanks; storage tank; electrical resistance; electrical properties; resistance tomography; underground contamination; underground storage; soils contaminated; organic pollutants; containing hazardous; field induced; remote detection; electrokinetic transport; liquid contaminants; subsurface fluid; subsurface contaminant; subsurface fluids; surface liquid; /324/
Citation Formats
Ramirez, Abelardo L, Cooper, John F, and Daily, William D. Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Ramirez, Abelardo L, Cooper, John F, & Daily, William D. Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids. United States.
Ramirez, Abelardo L, Cooper, John F, and Daily, William D. Mon .
"Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870321.
@article{osti_870321,
title = {Using electrokinetic phenomena and electrical resistance tomography to characterize the movement of subsurface fluids},
author = {Ramirez, Abelardo L and Cooper, John F and Daily, William 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1996},
month = {1}
}