Borehole geophysical time-series logging to monitor passive ISCO treatment of residual chlorinated-ethenes in a confining bed, NAS Pensacola, Florida

Hydrology Journal
By: , and 

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Abstract

In-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is a common method to remediate chlorinated ethene contaminants in groundwater. Monitoring the effectiveness of ISCO can be hindered because of insufficient observations to assess oxidant delivery. Advantageously, potassium permanganate, one type of oxidant, provides the opportunity to use its strong electrical signal as a surrogate to track oxidant delivery using time-series borehole geophysical methods, like electromagnetic (EM) induction logging. Here we report a passive ISCO (P-ISCO) experiment, using potassium permanganate cylinders emplaced in boreholes, at a chlorinated ethene contamination site, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The contaminants are found primarily at the base of a shallow sandy aquifer in contact with an underlying silty-clay confining bed. We used results of the time-series borehole logging collected between 2017 and 2022 in 4 monitoring wells to track oxidant delivery. The EM-induction logs from the monitoring wells showed an increase in EM response primarily along the contact, likely from pooling of the oxidant, during P-ISCO treatment in 2021. Interestingly, concurrent natural gamma-ray (NGR) logging showed a decrease in NGR response at 3 of the 4 wells possibly from the formation of manganese precipitates coating sediments. The coupling of time-series logging and well-chemistry data allowed for an improved assessment of passive ISCO treatment effectiveness.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Borehole geophysical time-series logging to monitor passive ISCO treatment of residual chlorinated-ethenes in a confining bed, NAS Pensacola, Florida
Series title Hydrology Journal
DOI 10.3390/hydrology12060155
Volume 12
Issue 6
Publication Date June 18, 2025
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher MDPI
Contributing office(s) New England Water Science Center
Description 155, 21 p.
Country United States
State Florida
City Pensacola
Other Geospatial NAS Pensacola
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