When a diesel fuel release from a leaking pipeline impacted a rural Arkansas site, our client faced a familiar challenge: complex subsurface conditions and limited information for designing an effective remediation strategy.
Rather than relying solely on conventional investigation methods, we took a different approach—scan first, drill smarter.
Using Aestus’ GeoTrax Survey™, our specialty electrical resistivity imaging technology, we mapped the horizontal and vertical extent of impacted zones before extensive drilling began. The survey also revealed unexpectedly high electrical conductivity (purple in the below image) in portions of the site, indicating the potential for significant biological activity.
To test that hypothesis, we partnered with Microbial Insights Laboratory for DNA analysis. The results confirmed what the geophysical data suggested: naturally occurring hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were actively thriving in the subsurface.
By integrating geophysical imaging, targeted drilling, and microbial data, we developed a clear understanding of site conditions and demonstrated that natural biodegradation processes were already effectively reducing contamination.
The outcome? Our data-driven interpretation and presentation helped our client secure approval for Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)—the first MNA remedy ever approved in Arkansas.
Even better, the remedy was approved without amendments, redesigns, or additional investigation costs. Sometimes the best remediation strategy isn’t adding more technology—it’s understanding the science well enough to let nature do the work.
