Optimized Enhanced Bioremediation Through Four-Dimensional Geophysical Monitoring and Autonomous Data Collection, Processing, and Analysis
ER-200717
Objective
The success of enhanced bioremediation is heavily dependent on correct emplacement of either amendments or barriers. Currently, site managers have limited tools allowing them to obtain near-real-time information on emplacement success, which severely impacts the field applicability of engineered remediation as an effective treatment technology at Department of Defense (DoD) sites. This project will demonstrate and validate an autonomous hydrogeophysical performance monitoring system (HPMS) that will provide site managers with actionable timely information on engineered remediation. Toward this end, investigators will automatically and in near-real-time (1) map time-lapse geophysical data into the spatial distribution of injected amendments and (2) estimate changes in relevant geochemical parameters, especially redox, associated with bioremediation. Results will be calibrated and validated using direct sampling.
Technology Description
Automated, autonomous time-lapse electrical geophysical acquisition coupled with automated processing and web-based result delivery will be used to monitor enhanced bioremediation. The HPMS to be demonstrated will automatically record electrical-resistivity (ER), self potential (SP), and induced polarization (IP) data as well as conventional hydrological data. Automated analysis of the geophysical data will produce time-lapse three- and four-dimensional images of subsurface electrical properties in near-real-time. Changes between images will reveal the spatiotemporal distribution of amendments, altered redox zonation, and areas of precipitation/dissolution. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of the approach, validate it against direct measurements, and assess its cost-benefit for deployment at diverse DoD sites.
Benefits
Current technologies for assessing the success of emplacement rely primarily on direct measurements in wells. Such measurements are expensive and time-consuming, and they provide only limited spatial and temporal information. HPMS provides two main benefits—first, far fewer wells will be required for understanding amendment distributions, leading to significant cost savings (20 to 50% or greater per site), and second, rapid identification of missed target zones will enable optimal amendment application and thus increase efficiency. Overall, it will provide low-cost, near-real-time, volumetric information that will reduce overall monitoring cost and increase monitoring performance. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2010)
Points of Contact
Principal Investigator
Mr. Bill Major
NFESC
Phone: 805-982-1808
Fax: 805-982-4304
Document Types
- Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
- Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
- Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
- Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
- Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
- Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
- Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
- Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
- Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.