LiORA Midstream Spill Site Depletion Monitoring - Case Study
Executive Summary
LiORA`s comprehensive sensor network successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of natural attenuation at a large midstream crude oil and condensate facility, providing regulators with definitive evidence of plume stability and depletion. Through the deployment of 17 sensors, LiORA collected over 23 million data points in one year, quantifying an annual depletion rate of 4,490 L/year (benzene equivalents) and confirming the stability of the LNAPL plume. The project delivered $748,680 in cost savings compared to excavation, while eliminating safety hazards and environmental impacts associated with traditional sampling methods.
Project Background Site Overview
A midstream facility for storage and distribution of crude oil and natural gas condensate required a comprehensive assessment of natural attenuation processes following numerous historical spills.
Contamination Scope
- Multiple crude oil and condensate spills over the operational history
- Primary contaminants: benzene and light-end hydrocarbons
- Dissolved benzene covering approximately 25,000 m2
- Initial plume area: 19,844 m2
- Original impacted soil volume: 26,924 m3 Regulatory Objectives
- Characterize degradation rates and plume dynamics
- Track plume stability and persistence for regulatory reporting
- Collect 365 days of baseline data demonstrating natural depletion
- Reduce safety hazards and environmental impacts of traditional sampling
LiORA Solution
Comprehensive Sensor Network
LiORA deployed 17 Soil Sensors with the following strategic placements:
- 1 Background sensor for reference conditions6 In-plume sensors for source zone monitoring
- 10 Plume fringe sensors for migration assessment
- Sensors installed at 1.5, 2, and 2.5 meters below ground surface
Data Collection Strategy
The monitoring network provided unprecedented temporal resolution:
- 365 days of continuous monitoring
- Over 23 million data points collected
- Real-time assessment of natural attenuation processes
- Comprehensive plume behavior characterization
Conclusion
LiORA`s comprehensive monitoring at this midstream facility successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of natural attenuation at scale, providing regulators with definitive evidence of plume stability and quantified depletion rates. The project`s collection of over 23 million data points over 365 days established an unprecedented baseline for assessing natural attenuation.
The quantified annual depletion rate of 4,490 L/year (benzene equivalents) provides regulators with the scientific evidence necessary to support natural attenuation as a viable remediation strategy. Combined with $748,680 in cost savings and substantial environmental benefits, the project demonstrates the value of continuous monitoring for large-scale contamination management.
This case study establishes LiORA as the definitive solution for natural attenuation assessment at complex industrial sites, providing the data quality and regulatory confidence necessary for successful risk-based management approaches.