Detection and monitoring of chlorinated solvent contamination by thermal neutron logging
1996
Endres, A.L. | Greenhouse, J.P.
Thermal neutron logging is used to determine water content by measuring the elastic scattering due to hydrogen present in rocks and soils. The response of a thermal neutron device is also affected by the radiative capture of thermal neutrons by all elements. Chlorine has a large capture cross section in comparison to other elements usually found in aquifers; therefore, theory predicts that thermal neutron devices should respond to the presence of chlorinated solvents. Thermal neutron logging performed during a controlled release of perchloroethylene (PCE) confirmed that these methods can be used successfully to detect and monitor chlorinated solvents in the subsurface. To quantify the field results, a series of laboratory tests assessed the response of a neutron moisture probe used in the field experiments. These tests show that this device is very sensitive to the presence of chlorine and provide a basis for converting its response into an apparent PCE saturation. These saturation values compare favorably with PCE saturations obtained from core samples.
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