Site Characterization
A successful remediation project hinges on how detailed the site characterization data is. The geotechnical, geological, and groundwater data collected during the investigation stage is critical to the development of a successful remedial plan. Horizontal drilling and horizontal wells can provide critical data that traditional vertical methods struggle to collect.
Site characterization in contaminant remediation projects involves collecting detailed information about the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of a contaminated site. The process aims to identify the type, concentration, and distribution of contaminants, understand the geology and hydrogeology of the area, and assess the potential impact on human health and the environment. Simply put, the remedial plan and success of the project are only as successful as the data collected through site characterization efforts.
The most critical information provided in site characterization endeavors, or perhaps better stated – not provided, are data gaps. This refers to important soil, geological, and hydrogeological data that cannot be collected from the site for various reasons, mostly due to obstructions or access issues. Many sites have contamination in the soil or groundwater that exists beneath existing facilities, such as buildings or storage tanks. Collection of the necessary data in these locations is difficult or impossible through traditional vertical methods. As a result, the site characterization is rendered incomplete, which negatively impacts the effects of the associated remediation.
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) offers a variety of techniques to fill in data gaps and provide the site characterization information necessary to complete a comprehensive remedial solution. Some of these tools include horizontal soil sampling, the use of down-hole sensing, and the installation of horizontal monitoring wells. By navigating horizontally beneath buildings, drillers can target specific zones with precision, obtaining soil samples from areas that might be missed or difficult to access using conventional techniques. This spatially detailed information is crucial for effective remediation planning and execution.
Furthermore, horizontal monitoring wells can be installed in difficult-to-reach places to collect groundwater samples. This way, not only can soil contamination be delineated in access-restricted zones, but groundwater can be monitored as well. The combination of soil and groundwater sampling abilities that HDD services can provide significantly cuts down on data gaps and helps create a comprehensive site characterization.
The use of horizontal sampling techniques provides a simple and accurate alternative to collecting subsurface soil samples from access-restricted areas. The horizontal sampling technology provided an alternative to the excessive costs and logistical feasibility associated with attempting to collect samples with vertical techniques.