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 The
hydraulic pulse interference test was initially developed for characterizing
petroleum reservoir permeability and hydraulic connection between
production wells. GeoSierra has modified and enhanced the equipment
and method for use in characterizing shallow groundwater sites and
to act as a quality assurance technology for both iron PRB and slurry
wall constructed systems. The first commercial application of the
hydraulic pulse interference test was by GeoSierra at its first
iron PRB installation at the Caldwell Superfund site in Fairfield,
NJ in 1997. Since that time the hydraulic pulse interference testing
equipment, procedures and interpretation software have been utilized
by GeoSierra at a number of iron PRB installations for both site
characterization and quality assurance testing to ensure the constructed
iron PRB does not impede groundwater flow.
The hydraulic continuity of the PRB is quantified by pulse interference
tests, with pulse source wells on one side of the wall and high
precision receiver transducers installed in wells on the opposite
side. The test involves a cyclic injection of fluid into the source
well and high precision measurement of the pressure pulse in a neighboring
well. The time delay and attenuation of the hydraulic pulse enables
the hydraulic effectiveness and continuity of the wall to be assessed.
GeoSierra’s pulse interference testing method is also ideal
for the hydraulic characterization of complex flow systems, such
as fractured bedrock, braided stream and esker deposits. Being a
transient hydraulic test, transmissivity and storativity can be
determined, and hydraulic flow regimes can be clearly delineated.
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