Janet L. Castle
PG, President
Eagle Synergistic Optimizing Technologies
Golden, CO
jcastle@eaglesynergistic.com
Presentation Date: September 14, 2023
For challenging sites with potential co-mingled plumes, there is a growing acceptance for the application of new technologies, such as High-Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) subsurface imaging since it has been shown to increase the efficiency and accuracy of CSMs.
On the majority of commercial, DOD, and state sites, there are not only co-mingled plumes containing non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents, but also PFAS concerns. Several HRSC case studies have been highly successful in distinguishing between multiple releases within the same area of interest. Not only free phase, DNAPLs, VOCs, but also polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are detected and delineated in an efficient process. With the escalating concerns of PFAS, there is currently an upgraded method of locating the migratory pathways for this highly mobile compound.
Additionally, case studies will highlight another upgraded and efficient method of running lab grade data in the field, along with targeted samples from the HRSC log data, to help speciate in near real time. This added optimizing technology on site for further correlation, a second miniature portable gas chromatograph with columns, is utilized to correlate the HRSC signatures, which provides targeted, quantitative analysis of impacted intervals identified by HRSC subsurface imaging data. Since contaminants are speciated in real time in the field, comingled plumes are delineated efficiently, both vertically and laterally, while noting the intervals of plume migration.
BIO:
Janet Castle is a PG with over 20 years of experience as a geologist, geophysicist and petrophysicist. She has developed optimized strategies for various types of sites, including Superfund, EPA, O&G, and DOD sites. She is actively engaged in the rapidly evolving world of PFAS science and regulations. Education is in geophysics and petroleum geology at University of Houston and Colorado School of Mines. Her company’s focus is to assist with optimizing subsurface data utilizing cutting edge scientific technologies.