Archie's Law Research Articles

Experimental study of electrical complex resistivity in a 2D multiphase porous medium under non‐isothermal conditions: Application to soil remediation monitoring

AbstractIn this decade, electro‐geophysical methods are widely used in different environmental subjects. Studies on soil remediation when polluted by dense non‐aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) has become a certain need for all countries. Geoelectrical methods have shown their potential to facilitate evaluating decontamination processes. Our challenge in this study was to understand how coupled temperature and saturation changes affect electro‐geophysical parameters in a contaminated 2D sample. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficiency and potential of spectral‐induced polarization (SIP) for monitoring the recovery of DNAPLs in contaminated porous media. A set of 2D tank experiments investigated the impacts of temperature and saturation changes on the electrical complex resistivity of a saturated porous medium under non‐isothermal conditions. The measurements were made with a coal‐tar and water fluid pair in a porous medium that has been simulated by 1 mm glass beads. Hot water was circulated around the tank and an immersion heater used to heat the porous medium in the tank at different stages. The SIP technique (also called complex resistivity) was used to measure the complex electrical resistivity of a medium in the frequency domain. The experimental results for a simple drainage case were validated using numerical modelling. The complex electrical resistivity was used to obtain the saturation field before and after imbibition. For this purpose, the generalized Archie's law obtained for the same fluid pair with 1D cells (with a vertical flow) was used. Our results from electrical resistivity measurements for saturation fields are in accordance with 2D tank images and can illustrate the saturation change with pointwise resistivity measurements. The results show that saturation change has the primary role in electrical resistivity variation compared to temperature (5%–7%). We also studied the effects of temperature change on the Cole–Cole parameters, and the results confirm our previous findings with the same variation trend in these parameters. The results from varying electrical complex resistivity from the 2D tank (with vertical and horizontal flow) in the laboratory conditions will help us to understand the coupled temperature and saturation effects on complex resistivity in a real polluted site case.

Residual NAPL Morphology Effects on Electrical Resistivity: Insights From Micromodel Displacement Experiments and Pore Network Simulations

AbstractCharacterizing residual non‐aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in porous media is essential for designing contaminated site remediation strategies. The direct current resistivity method is increasingly being used at sites contaminated by NAPLs, which uses the Archie's second law to connect NAPL saturation with the resistivity of porous media. A power‐law relationship connecting the phase morphology measured by Euler characteristic with resistivity has also been observed at the pore‐scale. Because these relationships are limited for porous media with specific wettability, previous research works have demonstrated deviations from Archie's second law in both the laboratory and field experiments. To evaluate the effects of residual NAPL morphology with different wettability on bulk resistivity, we developed two 2D‐micromodels and measured their electrical resistivity and phase morphology during phase displacement under laboratory‐controlled conditions. Furthermore, pore network simulations of a variety of conditions were performed in absence of surface conduction. Results show that NAPL distributed in dead ends of the pore space has limited influence on bulk resistivity since they do not control the current path and voltage distribution. The correlations between resistivity index and Euler characteristic are determined by NAPL ganglia size and pore throat width. A power‐law relationship is found between the Archie's saturation exponent and the average size of the residual NAPL ganglia, indicating that this exponent can be interpreted as the rate of change of the pore water connectivity with saturation. These insights provide a physical framework connecting the morphology and wettability of the NAPL ganglia with the Archie's saturation exponent.

A Comparative Study on Heterogeneity of Clay Rocks Using Pore‐Scale Diffusion Simulations and Experiments

AbstractAccurate modeling and simulation of radionuclide migration in clay rocks such as the Opalinus Clay (OPA) play a key role in the safety assessment of deep geological repositories for nuclear wastes. At the continuum scale, the representative elementary volume (REV) is a fundamental constraint to quantify the effective diffusivity, which is a key parameter in reactive transport (RT) models. Therefore, an accurate estimation of the REV is essential for a meaningful continuum‐scale RT simulation in heterogeneous clay rocks. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the heterogeneities of porosity and effective diffusivity in clay rocks by using the classical sampling theory and pore‐scale simulations. First, in this study, the two‐dimensional representative elementary area is correlated with the REV for porosity via a characteristic length. Next, it is shown that the REV for diffusivity is larger than the REV for porosity. Moreover, these two REVs can be correlated using Archie's law. In such a way, the REV for diffusivity can be determined by the developed correlations through analyzing two‐dimensional microstructures, thus significantly reducing the computational cost. Finally, the applicability of our approach for clay rocks is validated by experimental data on the diffusion of tritiated water in the heterogeneous sandy facies of OPA. From both the experimental data and the modeling prediction, the REV for diffusivity in the sandy facies of OPA is in the order of cubic centimeters. This study provides critical insights into the diffusion in heterogeneous clay rocks toward an enhanced predictability of radionuclide migration.

Porosity investigation of compacted bentonite using through-diffusion method and multi-porosity model

The diffusion behavior of ReO4− and HSeO3− in low-grade bentonites was firstly investigated under different compacted dry densities. The effective diffusion coefficient, the accessible porosity, and the rock capacity factor were measured by a through-diffusion method. The effective diffusion coefficient was approximately three times in Zhisin bentonite with 36.8 wt% of montmorillonite than that in GMZ bentonite with 74.5 wt% of montmorillonite. The porosity distribution of the compacted bentonite was analyzed by a multi-porosity model. The effects of the compacted dry density, the ionic strength, and the stacking number on porosities were discussed. The compacted dry density had obvious influence on the accessible porosity, the diffuse double layer porosity, and the interlayer porosity. The effects of ionic strength and stacking number were mainly on the diffuse double layer porosity, leading to the alteration of the accessible porosity and the effective diffusion coefficient. Moreover, the multi-porosity model could successfully predict the trend of effective diffusion coefficient in compacted bentonite combined with Archie law, which provides a useful tool to understand the relationship between the microstructure of montmorillonite and the diffusion of radionuclide anions.

Formation factors for a class of deterministic models of pre-fractal pore-fracture networks

The main aim of this paper is to reveal effects of fractal features on the formation factors associated with different transport processes in scale invariant pore-fracture networks. Accordingly, we explore a class of deterministic infinitely ramified networks associated with pre-fractal standard Sierpinski carpets (including Sierpinski cubes and inverse Menger sponges). The focus is placed on the effects of network ramification, connectivity, and loopiness on the transport streamline constriction and tortuosity of transmission paths. The differences between the formation factors associated with the diffusibility, electrical conductivity, and hydraulic permeability are elucidated. Explicit expressions for the constrictivity and formation factors of deterministic pre-fractal networks are derived. In this regard, we stress that the electrical formation factor obeys the Archie law only if the random walk in the pre-fractal pore-fracture network is recurrent. We also note that the Archie's exponent can be either equal to, or less than the power-law exponent characterizing the scaling behavior of diffusibility. The notion of the structural formation factor is introduced. The values of scaling exponents characterizing the formation factors associated with different transport properties of the model networks are found to be within the ranges of field observations.

Monitoring critically saturated conditions for shallow landslide occurrence using electrical resistivity tomography

AbstractSoil wetness is an important property in determining the variable disposition of hillslopes to shallow landslides. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of in situ soil wetness information for landslide early warning. However, the spatial representativeness of in situ sensors may be affected by local heterogeneities of soil properties and hydrological processes, and their installation may be destructive. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been used in the past to estimate plot‐scale soil moisture variation and may overcome these limitations. In this study, we installed and operated an automated ERT monitoring system on a landslide‐prone hillslope in the Napf region (Switzerland). The system was operational during a period of 9 mo, and measurements were conducted at high temporal resolution and under different soil hydrological conditions. Electrical resistivity was measured along two perpendicular profile lines in Wenner–Schlumberger configuration at 0.25‐m electrode spacing. Soil saturation was calculated by the Archie's law and the parameters were fitted with colocated soil moisture sensors. Comparison of ERT‐derived soil moisture with soil wetness from in situ sensors showed a good correlation, and infiltration properties critical for landslide early warning could be reliably reproduced. Further, analysis of spatial saturation variation revealed that ERT was capable to detect heterogeneities of soil hydrological process. Under highly saturated conditions, the reliability of the saturation estimation was affected by an increased number of faulty measurements and the spatial heterogeneity of the infiltration process.

Marine karst environment characterization using joint geophysical and geotechnical data

ABSTRACTSubmarine karstic environments are complex and challenging to study. Seismic investigations usually have difficulty getting geological information because of a lack of penetration due to the high reflectivity of the calcareous substratum. To circumvent this problem, we studied how to combine marine electrical resistivity tomography (MERT) with geotechnical data to investigate the porosity structure from the geotechnical to the geophysical scale. We applied the technique to the submarine karstic plateau of Banc de Guérande (Saint‐Nazaire, France), which is mainly composed of hard calcarenite and sandy pockets. We obtained sections of two‐dimensional resistivity models from the MERT data inversion. We used existing geotechnical data on extracted cores at several boreholes close to the MERT profiles using a multi‐sensor core logging (MSCL) bench. We used porosity proxies derived from Archie's law and porosity data from the MSCL inferred from gamma density measurements on the core to combine the data of very different scales (metre for MERT and centimetre for MSCL). The comparison between measurements showed a good similarity between in situ MERT and borehole MSCL data at depths greater than ∼10 m below the seafloor. A larger difference was observed close to the seabed, where the MERT porosity was higher than the MSCL porosity. The extraction of water‐saturated cores and the numerous core fractures could explain this difference near the surface. The results were analysed with respect to the scale difference between geophysical and geotechnical data. The conclusions suggested that the difference between MERT and MSCL porosities could be testified from the local heterogeneity of the soil and indicated whether the surrounding substratum was more porous (and thus fractured or dissolved) than the core or vice versa. The study highlighted the necessity of an excellent collocation of the data to retrieve reliable information from the comparison between geophysical and geotechnical data.

Electrical Conductivity of Clayey Rocks and Soils: A Non‐Linear Model

AbstractIt is well‐accepted that Archie's law is only applicable to “clean” rocks and soils but fails in “dirty” ones where clay minerals possess an additional component of surface conductivity. Although several models, for example, Waxman‐Smits model, were presented to account for this phenomenon, surface conductivity is always inappropriately treated as constant, which actually only holds at high salinities. The essential non‐linear characteristic differing over fluid salinities has not been physically or mathematically explained well in those models. We scrutinize the conduction mechanism of clayey rocks and soils and ascribe this non‐linear feature to (a) variation of the electrical double layer and (b) the intrinsic clay‐and‐water conduction pattern. With effective medium theory, we develop an easy‐to‐use non‐linear model that both reflects electrochemical theories and explains the measurement data well. Our model can be used to produce more accurate results for laboratory‐ and field‐scale petrophysical parameter evaluations than the previous models.

Imaging acidic contaminants in a confined aquifer using electromagnetic geophysical method constrained by hydrochemical data

Acid in-situ uranium leach mining is an effective, popular technology for extracting uranium without large uranium mill tailings. However, acid in-situ leaching causes extremely high concentrations of acidic contaminants in aquifers. To represent the migration and range of acidic contaminant pollutants in confined aquifers, this study applied the controlled source audio-frequency magnetotellurics (CSAMT) method to a uranium mining area located in the Yili Basin, Xinjiang, northwest China. We collected ten CSAMT profiles from 364 sites with an average site interval of 20 m. The electrical resistivity model of the uranium mining area was obtained via two-dimensional inversion using CSAMT data, with 23 frequencies, ranging from 8192 Hz to 4 Hz. Combined with geological, geochemical, and well log data, this resistivity model was successfully used to identify the scale and position of acid contaminant plumes beneath the uranium mining area, which appear as electrically well-defined features that closely coincide with the distribution of sulfate and uranium ions in groundwater. With uranium mining activities ceasing, the scale of acid contaminant plumes has been reduced, owing to the natural attenuation of the aquifer or the contaminants well confined in the mining site. The low-permeability sandstone surrounding the aquifer was imaged as a resistive feature, which confines the contaminant plumes to the uranium mining area and slows the downstream migration of contaminants. According to the modified Archie's law, the porosity of the sandstone bearing uranium beneath the injection well zone increases, owing to acidification, while the porosity of the sandstone beneath the production well zone decreases, owing to pore plugging.

Subsurface characterization of a construction site in Nanjing, China using ERT and CPTU methods

In geotechnical engineering, the need for efficient and economical site characterization is the main motivation for the development of new techniques. This study combines electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with piezocone penetration test (CPTU) to develop a rapid site characterization tool. The feasibility and efficiency of delineating subsurface structures, mapping the lithology, and estimating the hydraulic conductivity of subsoils are verified at a construction site. The lithologic information obtained via this rapid tool is validated using borehole data. According to CPTU results, the subsurface discontinuity exhibited in the ERT section is related to variation in the water content of silty sands. Accordingly, rapid and economical subsurface characterization can be achieved by using ERT survey to optimize the number and locations of point-based geotechnical tests, especially CPTU. We outline the applicability of using CPTU and ERT-derived resistivity data to predict the hydraulic conductivity of cohesive and sandy soils, respectively. A non-simplified Archie's law is used to relate the resistivity of sandy soils to their hydraulic conductivity, and appropriate values of this law's model parameters are proposed.

Conductivity in partially saturated porous media described by porosity, electrolyte saturation and saturation‐dependent tortuosity and constriction factor

ABSTRACTModelling the relationships among bulk conductivity, electrolyte conductivity, porosity and fractional electrolyte‐saturation continues to be based on empirical relationships such as Archie's law or the Bruggeman correlation. Several authors have attempted to connect such empirical models to first principles. This article presents a complete first principles‐based description of conductivity in partially saturated porous media. A geometrical factor is introduced which, together with porosity and saturation, describes the conductivity of partially saturated porous media. This geometrical factor is separated into two intrinsic geometrical descriptors of the electrolyte distribution accounting for tortuosity and constriction. This tortuosity and constriction factor are obtained from integration over the electrical field lines traversing the electrolyte. Bulk and saturation‐dependent conductance descriptions are illustrated using three‐dimensional pore space models and simulated fluid distributions. Describing conductance through porosity, saturation and a geometrical factor, decomposed into separate terms accounting for tortuosity and constrictivity, permits more insightful understanding of conductance in partially saturated porous media. Use and efficacy of this full conductance description is illustrated throughout this article.

Petrophysical experiment-based evaluation method for the saturation of gas hydrate

The seas around China contain abundant non-diagenetic gas hydrate deposits. The traditional logging and evaluation techniques based on conventional oil and gas no longer satisfy the evaluation requirements of offshore gas hydrate layers, and it remains difficult to calculate the hydrate saturation accurately, which seriously restricts the accurate evaluation of the resources. Petrophysical experiments are an important means to study gas hydrate. By simulating the hydrate formation conditions in sediments under natural conditions, the study of various petrophysical properties of gas hydrate is essential to the exploration and development of hydrates and the prediction of reservoir parameters. In this study, a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution, montmorillonite, and natural sea sand were selected to simulate the growth of gas hydrate based on its characteristics in the study area, and in situ CT scanning experiments were carried out at different hydrate formation stages to determine the microscopic morphologies of gas hydrates within the pore space. In addition, the acoustic wave and resistivity of hydrates with different saturations were measured. Forward modeling of a differential effective medium (DEM) model was conducted for the hydrate reservoirs with different saturations, and the gas hydrate morphology was analyzed. Thereafter, the hydrate saturation predictions based on the petrophysical experiments were analyzed. The results of these analyses indicate that the microscopic morphology of hydrates in the study area is primarily pore-filling form. Based on the saturation estimations using the Archie's law, Wood equation, time-average equation and the DEM method, and under the constraint of the acoustic and electrical measurement results of the petrophysical experiments, an electric acoustic joint model was built by integrating the resistivity and acoustic waves. The estimation results indicate that the joint electro–acoustic model is the best method for calculating the saturation in the study area. • Design of experiments to simulate gas hydrate generation with THF, montmorillonite, and natural sea sand. • Multiple hydrate saturation prediction methods based on acoustic, electrical, and petrophysical models. • Determination of microscopic morphologies of gas hydrate. • A joint acoustic and resistivity hydrate saturation prediction model based on hydrate petrophysical experiments.

Microscopic response mechanism of electrical properties and saturation model establishment in fractured carbonate rocks

Fractures are common in carbonate formations, and it is challenging to characterize electrical properties and establish saturation models for the fractured rocks by conventional petrophysical experiments. Therefore, it is necessary to study the fractures' electrical conduction and establish water saturation models by pore-scale numerical simulation and microscopic analyses. First, a multi-composition digital rock is constructed by the X-ray CT scan, Maps, and quantitative evaluation of minerals by scanning electron microscopy multi-scale supporting experiments. Next, the fractal Brown motion is used to construct the fractured digital rocks, and the lattice Boltzmann method is used to simulate the oil-water distribution. Then, the resistivities of these digital rocks are calculated by the finite element method. Finally, the microscopic response mechanism of the electrical properties is studied in detail, and new water saturation models are established. The study shows that resistivity decreases as the fracture aperture, length, or quantities increase. Still, it has different changes in three directions with the rise of the fracture dip, indicating the fractures lead to electrical anisotropy of the rock. Additionally, the resistivity index (RI) is strongly correlated to the water saturation (Sw). In the highly water-saturated region, the RI-Sw curve conforms to Archie's law. However, the RI-Sw curve bends in the lowly water-saturated region, revealing the so-called ‘non-Archie’ behavior. Hence, we established new saturation models for fractured carbonate rocks and use one of the saturation models to calculate water saturation for formation evaluation in Tahe Oilfield. The calculated results are more consistent with the oil test results, demonstrating the proposed saturation model is more applicable in the fractured formation. In summary, the pore-scale numerical simulation in fractured carbonate rocks provides a microscopic theoretical basis for electrical mechanism analysis and a water saturation model for log interpretation.

Study on gas hydrate targets in the Danube Paleo-Delta with a dual polarization controlled-source electromagnetic system

The Black Sea is known to have extensive direct and indirect indicators of methane hydrates. Since the resistivity of the seafloor increases significantly in the presence of gas hydrates or free gas, marine controlled-source electromagnetics (CSEM) is a suitable method for the investigation of hydrates. We have collected CSEM data in a channel-levee system of the Danube paleo-delta (Bulgarian sector) at water depths of about 1500 m. The working area is within the gas hydrates stability zone and seismics suggests the presence of gas hydrates. The CSEM data were acquired with stationary receivers and a novel mobile, dual polarization transmitter system, and interpreted in terms of rotational invariants by means of 1-D inversions at common midpoints (CMP) to generate pseudo 2D resistivity sections. The inversion results reveal two resistive layers at shallow depths of 60–120 mbsf and greater depths of 270–400 mbsf. A comparison with seismics shows a good correlation of the shallow layer with high amplitude reflections and a velocity anomaly. The deeper layer can be tied to the current bottom simulating reflector (BSR). The comparison to a second CSEM experiment, which was conducted by the BGR (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany) shows a good agreement of the derived sections down to a depth of about 350 m. Based on salinity and porosity models derived from boreholes in the Black Sea, we apply Archie's law to estimate potential gas hydrate saturations of up to 23% for the shallow resistor and up to 7% for the deeper layer. Differences are evident at depths greater than 450 m, where we see a conductive layer not evident in the BGR section. This deeper conductor could be evidence for increasing salinities of pore fluids at greater depths, which were previously found in DSDP drilling cores.

Iron Sulfides and Anomalous Electrical Resistivity in Cratonic Environments

AbstractThe interpretation of low‐resistivity anomalies in the lithospheric mantle of several cratonic regions has invoked hydrogen, or connected networks of graphite with iron‐rich silicates, and/or metal sulfides. Electrical laboratory measurements are a powerful approach for exploring these alternatives. We report electrical measurements of two xenoliths (pyroxenite and dunite) from Tanzania; two metal sulfides (FeS and Fe‐S‐Ni); and several mixtures of metal sulfides (3.4–18.2 vol.%) with xenolith. A multi‐anvil press was employed to maintain a 2 GPa pressure and temperatures up to 1,627 K. The addition of 3.4 vol.% FeS to the pyroxenite or dunite matrix has little effect on bulk resistivity, particularly for T > 800 K. However, the resistivity drops dramatically–by factors of up to 1,000, depending on temperature–upon addition of 6.5 vol.% FeS in the dunite. Addition of 18.2% FeS causes a further decrease of the same magnitude relative to the 6.5% sample. Scanning electron microscope images do not reveal the formation of a connected FeS network as part of the decreased resistivity. Possible explanations for the apparently conflicting results include connections of the sulfide that are not imaged in the back‐scattered images, either because of limited resolution, or perhaps the inherent limitations of the 2‐D perspective. The complete data set (xenoliths, metal sulfides, and mixtures) was modeled with a modified version of Archie's law, and we find satisfactory agreement over a truncated temperature range. We conclude that the low‐resistivity anomalies in Tanzania, Kaapvaal, and Gawler cratons can be explained by the presence of a few vol.% of solid sulfide.

Simple holistic solution to Archie's-law puzzle in porous media.

In this paper, we account for the many critical exponents derived from the studies of the electrical conductivity in porous media by applying analysis of the well-known relation known as Archie's law. In spite of its seeming simplicity this law is considered to be "poorly understood," and the question that was and still is debated in the literature is whether there is some "hidden physics" in this law, or if it is "strictly a parametrization use for curve fitting with a priori no physical meaning." Our solution to the corresponding long-debated 78 years old puzzle is based on the classical percolation theory, but it also involves a principle that is based on continuum percolation. This principle is that the electrical properties of a percolation system are determined by the interplay between the connectivity of the conducting objects in that system, and the connectivity of the intersections between pairs of them. We thus propose a general concept that we call an electrically affected connectivity, and we predict the corresponding evolvement of the conductivity critical exponent with the increase of the content of the electrically conducting phase. Then, we show that the zerolike threshold that characterizes Archie's law is what enables the observation of this evolution. Combining the above principle and the latter feature, we provide a holistic, yet simple, solution to the longstanding controversy surrounding this law and its practical applications. In contrast with many previous claims that Archie's law lacks a physical basis, and the commonly suggested experiential explanations for it, we provide a solution that is physically based and thus elucidates Archie's law by showing clearly that it represents a bona fide phase transition phenomenon. This conclusion and its generality are strongly supported by the fact that it also explains the behavior of the electrical conductivity exponents in nonporous systems such as composite materials. The predicted ability to extract the long sought microgeometrical information from Archie's-law data, within the framework of the percolation phase transition, is expected to open a new direction in the understanding and the applications of this law.

Evaluation of soil moisture by electrical resistivity in Oxisols of the central Brazilian savanna

The determination of the spatial distribution of soil moisture in the field is relevant for many purposes in agriculture and engineering, but it is still a challenge, since standard determination methods have limitations and problems of representativeness. Electrical resistivity may be used with this finality, but this method is still poorly studied for highly weathered tropical soils, which present structural and textural peculiarities. This work aims to present the calibration of the moisture/electrical resistivity relationships for a typical tropical soil, and to evaluate its robustness as a soil moisture prediction method. A highly weathered clay soil (Oxisol), representative of the Brazilian savanna (“Cerrado”), was sampled and the resistivity tests of the A, Bw and C horizons were conducted in a four-electrode cell array. The A and Bw horizons of clay Oxisols usually present resistivity values greater than temperate soils counterparts, which can be attributed to the lower content of highly active clays and higher macroporosity. The soil electrical resistivity/volumetric moisture relationship present a nonlinear and inverse trend and the generalized form of Archie's law has the potential to be applied to determine the water content of these soils. The electrical resistivity/volumetric soil moisture semi-log plot showed a two-step pattern, with a remarkable change in the behavior around the moisture associated to the wilting point. The field validation shows that the use of the electrical resistivity is possible for the measurement of soil moisture and for the subsurface mapping of its horizons.

A novel method to improve Electrical Resistance Tomography measurements on slurries containing clays

Electrical Resistance Tomography (ERT) is a robust and proven technique for slurry flow measurements. The presence of surface-active clays in mineral tailings makes it difficult to make accurate solids concentration measurements using ERT. To evaluate ERT performance under such conditions, measurements on pipeline flows of concentrated clay/water/sand mixtures were performed using ERT. Traversing gamma-ray densitometry and Gamma-Ray Tomography (GRT) systems installed on the pipe loop were used as reference instruments. The results showed that ERT performance is sensitive to clay concentration and is more accurate at lower clay and higher coarse solids (sand) concentrations. A concentration correction model based on a modified Archie's law was developed to compensate for the effect of clay on ERT measurements. The implementation of the correction model was found to significantly improve the accuracy of the ERT measurements on slurries containing clays.

Permittivity and electrical resistivity measurements and estimations during the recovery of DNAPL in saturated porous media: 2D tank experiments

Pumping experiments were performed in a 2D tank in order to estimate the recovery yield and rate of pure heavy chlorinated organic compounds (DNAPL; dense non-aqueous phase liquids). Several operating configurations were considered: permeability of the saturated zone, pumping flow rates, addition of surfactant (to reduce capillary effects), and thermal treatment (to reduce DNAPL viscosity). The experiments were monitored with permittivity (ε) and electrical resistivity (ρ) measurements. The experiments were also monitored with photography allowing, based on image interpretation, to accurately convert optical densities into water saturations (Sw) and to validate the geophysical data collected. Average Sw were determined in all detection areas from permittivities and electrical resistivities. These average Sw were used to calculate theoretical permittivities using the complex refractive index model (CRIM) and theoretical electrical resistivities using Archie's law. We found a good correlation between measured permittivities and the estimated permittivities with image. Conversely, the correlation was less accurate between measured and estimated electrical resistivities except for low electrical resistivities (i.e. high Sw). It is therefore not possible to accurately quantify water saturations using electrical resistivity monitoring alone. However, the accuracy is sufficient (especially for high values of Sw) to highlight differences between the three considered treatment technologies (i.e. without enhancement, with chemical and/or thermal enhancements). A combination of monitored electrical resistivity (which provides an integrated vision of the cone of depression) and monitored permittivity (which provides accurate but spatially limited information), and imaging allows a more accurate calibration of the relationship between resistivities and Sw and quantification of remediation rates and yields.

Electrical resistivity methods to characterize the moisture content in Brazilian sanitary landfill.

The moisture content of the municipal solid waste (MSW) is a physical characteristic that plays a fundamental role in the stability and settlement of landfills. However, this physical index is difficult to monitor within the mass of landfilled MSW because it undergoes great variation due, mainly, to the heterogeneity and biodegradation of the waste. Brazilian MSW generally has a large amount of organic matter, that when biodegraded, generates a considerable volume of gases and fluids, aggravated by climatic conditions, such as high rainfall and temperatures. Hence, the importance of obtaining and evaluating the distribution of moisture content in the MSW mass over time. Currently, the electrical resistivity properties have been presented as an interesting approach to obtain the moisture content in landfills indirectly. This study aimed to apply geoelectrical methods as a tool to obtain and evaluate the moisture content distribution in an experimental cell of a sanitary landfill using Archie's law, which correlates the volumetric moisture content and electrical resistivity. Moisture content values were obtained in laboratory tests with MSW samples collected in two vertical holes and electrical resistivity measurements by means of vertical electrical sounding. The moisture content and the resistivity values of the samples were used to calculate the parameters a and m of Archie's law. This allowed to convert the resistivity tomography to moisture content tomography. The good correlation achieved between the moisture content calculated by Archie's law and that obtained from samples indicates that the use of electrical resistivity methods is useful to assess and monitor quantitativelythe moisture content in landfills using Archie's law.