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Experimental Work in Continuous Monitoring of Methane in Groundwater
Author(s) -
BRADSHAW K.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.1994.tb01125.x
Subject(s) - methane , groundwater , borehole , diffusion , environmental science , gaseous diffusion , water well , environmental chemistry , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental engineering , soil science , chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , physics , organic chemistry , electrode , thermodynamics
This paper details a study to investigate the feasibility of continuously monitoring dissolved methane concentrations in groundwater. Diffusion cells have previously been used to measure methane in water but only at very shallow depths, due to the limitations of calibrations at pressures greater than atmospheric. The feasibility of using diffusion cells to determine dissolved methane at greater depths within a borehole has been established by conducting a series of laboratory experiments with a pressurized ‘bomb’. The diffusion cells have been calibrated for a range of pressures, equivalent to a depth of 90 m below water level, and dissolved methane concentrations (0–100%). Further equipment is required and a suitable site has to be identified before field trials are performed. It should then be possible to determine the concentration of dissolved methane at depth within a borehole or reservoir, by (a) installing diffusion cells, (b) monitoring the carrier gas emissions, and (c) back‐calculating the data to determine in situ concentrations of dissolved methane.