Date of Award
4-1998
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Dr. Duane R. Hampton
Second Advisor
Dr. William Sauck
Third Advisor
Dr. Estella Atekwana
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
In many contamination sites where hydrocarbon is involved an accurate thickness of the contaminant can not be achieved through the most commonly used methods. The purpose of this study is to find an alternate method of determining a precise thickness and monitor the contaminant movement in conjunction with the current methods. Vertical resistivity electrode arrays were tested in a lab environment on singular probes and between probes. The arrays tested were the Wenner, dipole dipole, gradient, parallel and down-hole 3-arrays. Electrode pipes were constructed and placed into a sand tank where the hydrocarbon thickness and the water level could be controlled. Four configurations with different water levels and/or kerosene thickness' were used. The results show that the electrode arrays all have the ability to detect resistivity changes from the presence of hydrocarbon in the sand, depending upon several variables. The variables that caused the greatest change in resolution were the spacing of the electrodes, thickness of the kerosene and the electrode array used. As each electrode in an array crosses a resistivity boundary it forms a cusp. These cusps are different for each array, but remain similar for an individual array. There were many arrays that detected the kerosene.
Recommended Citation
Elliott, Kirt, "Vertical Resistivity Electrode Arrays for Detecting Hydrocarbon Movement and Content in Sands" (1998). Masters Theses. 4426.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4426