Wednesday, May 1, 2013: 9:20 a.m.
Regency West 4 (Hyatt Regency San Antonio)
Nicholas G. Butel, ARCADIS U.S. Inc.
David S. Lipson, Ph.D., PG, ARCADIS U.S. Inc.
Wayne E. Patterson, PG, ARCADIS U.S. Inc.
Defining the extent of a groundwater plume is an integral component of groundwater investigations. Historical approaches to investigating the nature and extent of benzene and other chemicals of concern in groundwater at upstream oil and gas sites has led to the installation and sampling of monitoring wells for plume delineation and stability monitoring. After a monitoring well is installed, it is typically sampled repeatedly in accordance with environmental policy, regardless of the value of the information obtained. Because the overall cost of environmental programs at upstream oil and gas sites is commensurate with the number of monitoring wells that are installed, a rational optimization approach is needed to minimize the number of monitoring wells used to delineate plumes and evaluate plume stability.
We have developed a rational optimization approach by analyzing data and information collected at upstream oil and gas sites in South Texas where plumes have been delineated in groundwater using monitoring wells. Using our data-mining approach at existing sites, we looked at several factors such as statistical distributions of plume lengths, number of monitoring wells required for delineation, the influence of hydrogeologic factors on plume lengths, and the influence of source conditions on plume lengths. This approach may be applicable to investigations at other upstream oil and gas sites in other regions as well.
| Nicholas G. Butel
, ARCADIS U.S. Inc.
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Nicholas Butel has more than nine years of experience as a geologist, and specializes in characterizing the geology, hydrology, and extent of environmental impacts. He has experience developing, conducting, and managing site investigations for industry and upstream oil and natural gas sites in multiple regulatory environments. Butel specializes in developing conceptual site models and creating site-specific investigation approaches for unique technical situations. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology with an emphasis in Geophysics at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
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| David S. Lipson, Ph.D., PG
, ARCADIS U.S. Inc.
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David Lipson has over 22 years of experience as a contaminant hydrogeologist with particular emphasis on chemical transport, subsurface remediation, and fractured bedrock hydrogeology. Dr. Lipson provides technical support on a wide range of groundwater contamination and remediation projects. He is well-versed at using mathematical models, engineering controls, and risk-based corrective action (RBCA) approaches at sites regulated under CERCLA, RCRA, and state-led regulatory programs. Dr. Lipson earned a Doctorate Degree in Geological Engineering at Colorado School of Mines, a Masters Degree in Hydrogeology at Syracuse University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology at the State University of New York.
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| Wayne E. Patterson, PG
, ARCADIS U.S. Inc.
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Mr. Patterson holds a B.S. and M.S. in geological sciences from Wright State University. With more than 10 years of experience in the environmental consulting industry, he is currently a Project Manager at ARCADIS U.S., Inc. in Houston, Texas where he manages a portfolio of Upstream oil and natural gas sites in South Texas. Mr. Patterson’s experience includes assessments and investigations of oil/gas sites, landfills, auto manufacturing plants, mines, chemical plants, and a wide variety of additional industrial sites. He is a registered professional geoscientist with the state of Texas.
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