US 12,411,123 B2
Methods and systems for stimulating and detecting the biological degradation of hydrocarbons and biogeochemical cycles in contaminated soils
Steven Douglas Siciliano, Saskatoon (CA); John Derek Peak, Saskatoon (CA); Paolo Giuseppe Mussone, Edmonton (CA); and Curtis Senger, Edmonton (CA)
Assigned to Environmental Material Science Inc., Edmonton (CA)
Filed by Environmental Material Science Inc., Edmonton (CA)
Filed on Apr. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/230,869.
Claims priority of application No. 3098187 (CA), filed on Nov. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0356450 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 33/24 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/241 (2013.01) 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of long term in situ biogeochemical carbon monitoring of underground soil at a site, the method comprising:
monitoring, over an extended period, levels of carbon-containing compounds in the underground soil, using plural depletion sensor wells that are arranged within the underground soil below a ground surface at the site and that remain in the underground soil over the extended period, each of the plural depletion sensor wells having a plurality of sensor modules located at two or more isolated depth zones along the depletion sensor well, with the two or more isolated depth zones being separated by bore wall sealing parts between the plurality of sensor modules;
in which monitoring further comprises using a controller connected to the plural depletion sensor wells, the controller configured to one or more of:
collect data continuously or at intervals;
store the data locally; and
transmit the data;
in which the underground soil is hydrocarbon contaminated soil;
in which monitoring comprises monitoring a microbial degradation process by using the plural depletion sensor wells to measure individual levels of each of the following: carbon dioxide, methane, hydrocarbons, and nitrous oxide, in the underground soil; and
in which monitoring further comprises using a processor to analyze data, from the plural depletion sensor wells and including depth positions of each of the plurality of sensor modules, to determine natural source zone depletion (NSZD) rates of hydrocarbons in the underground soil at the site.