Hydrocarbon Spill Site Characterization by Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Ground Penetrating Radar Methods - a Review

Abstract

Assessment of the source and geometry of contaminated soils by hydrocarbon spills is the first step towards designing an effective remediation programme. Electrical Resistivity Tomorgraphy and Ground Penetrating Radar are shown in this review to easily delineate spills under certain conditions. On a 2D-geoelctric profile of the subsurface, recent hydrocarbons spills are reflected as highly resistive anomalous zones, as biodegradation occurs spills become more conductive and may be masked by conductive soil. On a radargram fresh hydrocarbon spills are observed in zones of saturation where resistive fresh hydrocarbon spills displaces conductive water in pore spaces creating anomalous zones. Accurate interpretation of geoelectric profiles and radargrams in the Niger Delta requires knowledge of the lithology of the site of contamination which could easily be obtained by shallow drilling or pitting. Mini-review Article

Capacitive Resistivity Method Applied to the Environmental Diagnosis and Management of Contaminated Area of Gas Station

“…Regarding the highest electrical resistivity values detected in the environment by Oyinkuro & Wariebi (2017) and Moreira et al (2017), this would be the behavior predicted by the fuel in relatively recent events, as it is a nonpolar compound and has high electrical resistivity, as already pointed out.…”

“…In general, the influence of the presence of fuels on changes in the electrical properties of the environment resulting from chemical interactions with the geological material depend on their concentrations, residence time and local hydrogeological conditions. Thus, their effects on subsurface electrical resistivity measurements can present two distinct behaviors that are identified with the methods that measure electrical resistivity: higher resistivity anomalies, such as those observed in the work of Oyinkuro & Wariebi (2017) and Moreira et al (2017), and also low anomalous values, as seen in the articles by Blondel et al (2014) and Pellerin & Groom (2003), the latter using Capacitive…”

“…It is important to highlight that in the article on the application of geophysical methods by Blondel et al (2014), as well as in the work of geochemical evaluation of fuels by Bennett et al (1993) and Baedecker et al (1993), the evaluations refer to the dissolved phase of the product, at low concentration levels, therefore, and which can be biodegraded by natural soil microorganisms. On the other hand, their analyzes and conclusions do not address the product-free phase, as mentioned by the authors, whose high concentrations are extremely toxic for this biological community, not allowing its biodegradation and which must provide high electrical resistivities to the environment, as verified in the measurements of Oyinkuro & Wariebi (2017) and Moreira et al (2017).…”

Soil and groundwater contamination by crude oil spillage: A review and implications for remediation projects in Nigeria

“…According to Che-Alota et al (2009), for electrical resistivity to image the pollutant distribution, the apparent bulk electrical conductivity of the saturated zone plume must be three to five times higher than the background values. As biodegradation occurs, contaminated zones become more conductive and may be masked by conductive soil (Oyinkuro and Wariebi, 2017).…”