Direct current (DC) resistivity has been widely investigated for non‐invasive mapping of dense non‐aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs); however, due to its difficulty in distinguishing DNAPLs from adjacent soils, the DC method is limited for static detection of DNAPLs and more often employed for monitoring DNAPL changes over time. Time‐domain induced polarization (IP) can provide complementary information to better discriminate between DNAPL, water and surrounding soils. Since highly resistive DNAPLs tend to laterally spread and pool on polarizable (chargeable) clay lenses, combined DC and IP (DCIP) has the potential to enhance static detection, and also monitoring of DNAPL source zones (SZs). The objective of this study is to assess DCIP for characterizing and monitoring DNAPL SZs at the field‐scale. A new DNAPL‐DCIP numerical model was first developed that couples a 3D multiphase flow model, which simulates DNAPL release and remediation scenarios, with a 3D DCIP model, which calculates the corresponding resistivity and chargeability response. The sensitivity of the DCIP response to key DNAPL and soil properties was then analyzed at a single subsurface location, closely matching previous theoretical and experimental observations. Finally, a field‐scale simulation of DNAPL release and remediation was conducted, with simultaneous mapping by DCIP surveys. Results demonstrate that chargeability can provide enhanced understanding of the lithological distribution that controls the variability in the DNAPL SZ, with time‐lapse resistivity being used to monitor DNAPL mass changes during SZ remediation. This numerical study suggests that combined DCIP can be valuable for site characterization and time‐lapse monitoring performance at DNAPL‐impacted sites.
In this work, we study the performance of cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography measurements by employing different electrode array configurations in plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cased and horizontally slotted observation boreholes by inserting a multi-electrode cable directly into the borehole. Preliminary cross-hole electrical resistivity tomography measurements in PVC cased boreholes related to an underground tunnel construction showed poor data quality. This was attributed to the borehole-fluid effect caused by the PVC casings. An experimental study was conducted to support this hypothesis by setting up various simulations in a water tank, using different PVC casings with various slot densities, and different electrode array configurations. We conclude that the applicability of various measurement setups depends mainly on the acquisition protocol and, to a lesser extent, on the slot density of the PVC casing. Among the different array configurations considered, the pole-dipole array with the potential measuring electrodes being placed in a separate borehole to the current electrodes provide the most robust and reliable results, even for low slot density PVC casings. Besides, denser borehole slot configurations result in better data quality, though to a different extent for the examined protocols. A minimum slot density criterion of at least six slots/electrode spacing is proposed, regardless of the electrode array. The experimental findings are finally evaluated against real field measurements associated with the construction of an underground tunnel of the new Thessaloniki Metro, verifying the pole-dipole array's superior behaviour for this type of measurement configuration. Finally, for those cases where the aspect ratio (hole depth/hole separation) is limited, we propose a modified borehole-to-surface configuration with the current electrodes placed outside the boreholes. The overall results indicate that slotted PVC cased observation boreholes (e.g., conventional piezometers), typically constructed as part of many infrastructure monitoring projects, can be efficiently employed for electrical resistivity tomography mapping, generating a new perspective for geoelectrical prospecting. This measuring approach exhibits a significant advantage. The use of pre-existing boreholes reduces the overall survey costs,
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