Location and characterization of subsurface anomalies using a soil conductivity probe

An electrical conductivity probe, designed for use with "direct push" techn ology, has been successfully used to locate buried drums, contaminant plume s, and to precisely locate and characterize a previously installed permeabl e reactive iron wall. The conductivity probe was designed to characterize v arious soil and sediment types as it was driven through the dry and saturat ed soil matrix; however, its ability to locate and characterize subsurface anomalies may also prove to be a valuable asset. The probe uses an electric al field that works like and mimics the results from an oil-field engineeri ng tool called Wenner array. This electrical field array penetrates into th e soil matrix to measure the electrical conductivity of the soil matrix sur round the probe to a radius of about two to four inches. This tool has allo wed operating personnel to verify the location of manmade or natural subsur face anomalies with precision.