Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) Imaging for the Characterization of Hydrocarbon Contaminant Plumes

Abstract

We review the application of the Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) imaging method to delineate the geometry of hydrocarbon contaminant plumes and monitor the effect of remediation measures. In the first two sections, we present a brief introduction into the SIP method and discuss the electrical properties of the rocks and soils. In the third section, we offer a detailed revision of the literature to illustrate the broad range of electrical properties of fresh and mature contaminant plumes. In the fourth and fifth section, we discuss challenges and good practices for collection, processing and interpretation of SIP imaging data, and illustrate these steps with a real-case example regarding the characterization of a benzene plume. Along this case study, we demonstrate how the occurrence of benzene in the dissolved plume and in free-phase changes the electrical conductivity and polarization properties of the contaminated subsurface materials. A second case study deals with SIP monitoring results obtained along the injection of zero-valent iron particles for the remediation of a TCE (Trichloroethylene) plume. This example illustrates the advantages of the SIP method to evidence changes in the pore-space, such as clogging and fracking, which may affect the effectivity of remediation measures.