Locating underground storage tanks (USTs) without digging, probing, or drilling can be accomplished using non-destructive field surveys. The most common non-destructive methods used for locating underground storage tanks (USTs) are electromagnetic conductivity (EM) surveys and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys.

Both methods use equipment that is portable and can be easily mobilized to any location in the world. The underground storage tank location process is described below.

Electromagnetic Conductivity Survey

An electromagnetic conductivity (EM) survey is typically conducted to locate metal underground storage tanks. The EM survey is rapid and can locate metal underground storage tanks in a short time frame. Photographs of the EM-31 and EM-61 instruments in operation are shown below, along with an example of the results obtained from a metal detection survey that located a metal underground storage tank:

GeoModel, Inc. uses the new EM-61-MK2 which is twice as accurate as the standard EM-61.

Ground Penetrating Radar Survey

Another field survey method typically conducted for locating underground storage tanks is a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey. A GPR survey can be conducted over the entire site for metal, fiberglass, or plastic tanks. Or for metal tanks, the GPR is run only in those areas where the EM survey showed a response for metal.

The GPR survey produces cross sectional information in pictorial form. The picture and image below show how a GPR survey is conducted and the results that can be obtained.

GeoModel, Inc. conducts surveys in every state.

Contact us to check the availability of a crew in your state.

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