Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

A physical model experiment with GPR and 3-D resisitivity survey were conducted to investigate the geoelectrical response of hydrocarbon-impacted zone, so called smeared zone, on the geophysical data. The results from the experiment show that GPR signals were enhanced when LNAPL was present as a res...

A physical model experiment with GPR and 3-D resisitivity survey were conducted to investigate the geoelectrical response of hydrocarbon-impacted zone, so called smeared zone, on the geophysical data. The results from the experiment show that GPR signals were enhanced when LNAPL was present as a residual saturation in the water saturated system (${\varepsilon}_r$ = 21) due to less attenuation of the electromagnetic energy through the medium, compared to when the medium was saturated with only water (${\varepsilon}_r$ = 21). 3-D resistivity data obtained from the former gas station site demonstrate that the highly contaminated zones could be imaged with low resistivities attributed to the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons at the aged, hydrocarbon-impacted sites. The study results also show that the geophysical methods, as a non-invasive sounding technique, can be a very useful tool for mapping hydrocarbon-contaminated zones.