Contaminant Plume Delineation
One of our most appreciated services is contaminant plume detection and mapping. Whether the contamination results from production water (brine) release, saltwater intrusion, light and heavy hydrocarbons, metals, or any other abject liquid expansion within the first 100 to 300 feet below ground surface (BGS), the Earth Measurement Corp. (EMC) has been conducting geophysical investigations since 1990 in an effort to characterize the nature of plume migration in the subsurface. EMC can quickly and thoroughly conduct an electromagnetic (EM) survey that will demonstrate the extent of impacted soils without disturbing the ground. As an independent geophysical contractor, we act as an unbiased source when it comes to data collection and interpretation for your project’s needs.
When your pipeline shows signs that it has failed, call our team and we’ll don our capes and rush to the scene in our heavily decorated rescue vehicle - imagine the Batmobile - and make fast an accurate and sweeping survey of the onsite conditions to help relieve and mitigate your concerns. Ok, we do exaggerate a bit, but the point is that we truly understand the gravity of your situation and we do have the resources to help you set it right - quickly!
Accurate maps indicating the extent of a produced water (brine) release provide you with valuable information for formulating a plan of attack and can help in avoiding costly surprises once remediation activities begin. EMC can conduct EM surveys using a variety of geophysical instruments that can quickly and accurately determine impacts down to a depth of 150 feet.
Over the years our team has mapped many of the chloride plumes from oil and gas production areas. Conversely, we have also been instrumental in debunking false claims of contamination through our comprehensive approach to onsite field characterization. For a hydrocarbon release event, we have the capacity to show you the extent of the release all from measuring the electrical properties of the contaminant material and thus, where the cleanup must be undertaken.
If there has been a recent or historic release, EMC can quickly and economically mobilize an experienced crew for the acquisition phase of your project. Data can be collected and processed on-site allowing for the full extent of the release to be determined prior to the crew demobilizing from the site. Although further processing of the data can add very important information and should be performed, this quick in-field examination of the data makes for the most efficient use of the crew’s time and yours.
EMC can supply the best information possible, providing unique and invaluable expertise to the remediation effort. Knowledge of the extents of a release will allow for a shortened time-line for clean-up and lower costs overall.
This type of reconnaissance surveying should be your first step in the remediation process. EMC has the experience and in-house expertise to assist you in answering your subsurface questions. Please give us a call to discuss any project that involves an unexpected contaminant release, today!
Brine Release
When production water (brine) is released through the course of operations it can be a necessarily expensive issue to resolve. Through the creative use of electromagnetic equipment our team will determine the full extent of horizontal and vertical migration and we can do it without any impact or disturbance to the survey area. As an independent geophysical contractor, you can rely on us to be an unbiased resource for the data collection and interpretation portion of the project, as we provide accurate maps for use in the remediation plan.
In the case of recent, and historic brine releases, we can quickly and efficiently mobilize an experienced crew for the first phase of investigation and provide an accurate synopsis of the onsite conditions. As data is collected, it can be reported on-site before the crew is demobilized, and you enjoy the fastest and most cost-effective survey possible
.
Our discovery process
Earth Measurement Corporation (EMC) will arrive on scene, and contingent upon the onsite conditions, deploy a unique suite of geophysical probes from which we will measure the conductivity and resistivity of the subsurface to locate the contaminants. Depending on the depth of the contaminant plume, we will employ one or more of our EM devices and record thousands of readings over the survey area to create a map and interpret the findings with extreme accuracy. For more information on the tools we use, please see the following:
