An Evaluation of Soil-Gas Surveying for H2S for Locating Subsurface Hydrocarbon Contamination

  1. Gary A. Robbins1,
  2. Brian E. McAninch2,
  3. Francis M. Gavas3,
  4. Patricia M. Ellis4

Article first published online: 22 FEB 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1995.tb00510.x

Issue

Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation

Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation

Volume 15, Issue 1, pages 124–132, February 1995

Additional Information

How to Cite

Robbins, G. A., McAninch, B. E., Gavas, F. M. and Ellis, P. M. (1995), An Evaluation of Soil-Gas Surveying for H2S for Locating Subsurface Hydrocarbon Contamination. Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation, 15: 124–132. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1995.tb00510.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Dr. Gary A. Robbins is a professor of hydrogeology at the University of Connecticut (Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, Box U-45, Storrs, CT 06269; (203) 486–1392, fax (203) 486–1383). He was previously employed as a senior project hydro- geologist with Woodward-Clyde Consultants, as a lecturer and assistant professor at Texas A&M University, and as a project geologist with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

  2. 2

    Brian E. McAninch is a doctoral student in hydrogeology at the University of Connecticut (Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, Box U-45, Storrs, CT 06269). He holds a B.A. in geology from Oberlin College, and an M.S. from Brown University; he was formerly employed by Kurz Associates Inc., Bridgewater, Massachusetts, as a project hydrogeologist.

  3. 3

    Francis M. Gavas is a hydrologist at the Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Underground Storage Tank Branch (715 Grantham Lane, New Castle, DE19720). He holds a B.S. in geology from the University of Delaware and was formerly employed by Lippincott Engineering Associates Inc., Riverside, New Jersey, as an environmental scientist.

  4. 4

    Dr. Patricia M. Ellis is a hydrologist with the Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Underground Storage Tank Branch. She holds a B.A. in geology from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in geology from Duke University, and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Texas. She was previously employed as a research scientist and an exploration geologist at Conoco Inc.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 FEB 2007
  2. Article first published online: 22 FEB 2007

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Abstract

A soil-gas survey was conducted at a gasoline service station and a former fire training facility to determine if surveying for hydrogen sulfide could be useful in locating nonaqueous phase hydrocarbon fuel in the subsurface. Relative; to total organic vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide distributions, detectable hydrogen sulfide concentrations were much more restricted to the suspected source vicinity at both sites. Appreciable levels of soil-gas hydrogen sulfide. up to 600 Vppb. were observed in areas characterized by anaerobic or microaerophilic conditions having bulk oxygen levels below 4 percent. Based on the hydrogen sulfide distribution, nonaqueous phase hydrocarbon fuel was located at each site. These results suggest that soil-gas surveying for hydrogen sulfide may help locale mobile or residual gasoline and other nonaqueous phase hydrocarbons in the subsurface.

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