An Evaluation of Methods to Determine the Thickness of Free Product in a Shallow Water Table Aquifer
Date of Award
4-1996
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Geological and Environmental Sciences
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Dr. Duane R. Hampton
Second Advisor
Dr. James Howell
Third Advisor
Dr. Michael Barcelona
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Estimates of the volume of recoverable free phase petroleum product in soils are frequently based on poorly understood empirical methods. These methods, in the form of field tests and/or equations, require simplifying assumptions and apparent product thickness to calculate the thickness or specific volume of free phase product. The purpose of this study was to compare the available methods against each other to cross validate them.
The field methods evaluated at a well with an apparent product thickness of 1.69 feet were: Yaniga's bailer test, split-spoon soil sampling, a test pit excavation and a new tool developed for direct measurement of the free phase product thickness in the soil. Equations proposed by Schiegg, Parker and Lenhard, Hall et al. and CONCAWE were also evaluated.
The results of the evaluation showed that Yaniga's bailer test, the modified CONCAWE equation, sampling soils from a test pit, and the new tool produced comparable results of approximately 0.5 feet thickness.
Recommended Citation
Wagner, Ross B., "An Evaluation of Methods to Determine the Thickness of Free Product in a Shallow Water Table Aquifer" (1996). Masters Theses. 3950.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/3950