What is EGB?
Environmental Geochemistry/Biotechnology (EGB) is an approach evolved from exploration geochemistry and the vast field of biotechnology. Many procedures routinely used in geochemistry and in biotechnology as a rapidly advancing discipline can also be applied – directly or indirectly – in environmental studies. The premise and concept of principles in geochemical exploration applied to environmental problem solving is based on the view of made-made contamination sites in the near-surface as analogs to natural deposits in the deep subsurface. When is comes to tracer studies or remediation efforts, a number of biotechnical procedures can be applied as well, often in combination with geochemical procedures.
At CTI/CTE (About CTI) and its associated partners we are less concerned with the remediation efforts, but rather focus on the forensic approach, i.e. providing data evidence and solid conclusions for disputes on the sources and origin of contamination with the mandate to identify offenders of the environment.
A large number of environmental spillages are concerned with fuel spillage (hydrocarbons, HC) and spillage of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons (CHC). In contrast to environmental dumping of solid, chemically inert waste material (ForGeo SM), fuel spillage and CHC contaminations are mobile phases originating from a point or site of origin, followed by mass transport and subsequent spreading and dispersion according to local or regional environmental and groundwater conditions.
Oil and gas deposits in the subsurface follow – in principle – similar rules as the development of a contamination site. Oil and gas originate in the subsurface, and as these hydrocarbons are subject to single phase flow, or transport in formation waters in multiple phase flow, a commercial deposit may eventually form, where the reservoir content is preserved over geological times.
Most of these deposits experience some form of alteration (ForGeo HC) through geologic time: degradation, leakage of volatiles, transformations and reactions to prevailing pT conditions etc. may affect the oil and gas deposit.
The task of exploration geochemistry is to develop and apply geochemical data and procedures that contribute to predictions to locate commercial deposits from geological, seismic and geochemical data (e.g. SGE, BEL, SSGE). Thus, the drilling risk for oil and gas is minimized. Environmental Geochemistry takes a similar approach by applying geochemical data and principals to assess contamination sites beyond the level of standard procedures. Here, the question of the offender is addressed, following the "Polluter Pay Principle" (ForGeo HC, ForGeo CHC, ForGeo SM).
Over the last decades enormous efforts have made to develop exploration geochemistry as a significant element in the search process for oil and gas. These procedures can – in principle – be applied to help find and assess contamination, specifically the source of contamination. From the first application of exploration geochemistry in environmental case studies in California, U.S.A., and the experience gained from these studies to calibrate and tailor geochemical principles to environment issues, Environmental Geochemistry has evolved as Forensic Geochemistry, a new discipline in geo-technology and geosciences.
Forensic Geochemistry/Biotechnology may involve a number a methods and procedures. It may include isotope geochemistry as well as biotechnology such as Genetic Coding. The latter is used, e.g., to trace the origin and movement of commodities. Thus, Forensic Geo- and Biosciences are not limited to environmental concerns, but also to straight forward legal matters: If smart crime thinks to evenly distribute and dilute highly toxic PCB across the vast Canadian landscape by mixing these PCB's in low dosage to gasoline in vehicles – instead of costly, regulated destruction – it is the task of Forensic Sciences to develop programs for the evidence of this criminal act leading to the arrest of the offender(s).
Further applications are under construction for future up-dates, and you may Contact Us for additional Education on the subject.
Web site developed and maintained by Spiderling Inc.