Permeability testing with oil

[DMcGrath]

Does anyone have an idea of what (if any) correlation can be drawn between permeability testing of soil (ASTM D2434 or D5084) with water vs. oil? I would think the predominant factor would be viscosity, so could a correlation be made based on the viscosity ratio of water to oil?

The reason I ask is regards to testing the permeability of an oil tank contaiment berm (soil) in the event of an oil spill.

 

[Ron]

I doubt there's a good correlation for this. While there is a relationship between viscosity and head loss, there is no accounting for the changes in surface tension, flow friction or other parameters that can be grossly different between oil and water.

 

[oldestguy]

An interesting side issue is the viscosity of different oils. They tell me that at auto engine operating temperatures all engine oils have the same viscosity. Makes me wonder why I have to use 0W-20 in my new truck.

What will your oil temperature be when the break occurs? I suppose you will really have to run the test with oil, not water. Now you got a problem as to temp of the oil to test.

 

[fattdad]

You could use oil as your permeant and obtain a direct laboratory value.

f-d

¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

 

[DMcGrath]

Good points to consider. I have already talked with our lab and they have done this testing before using motor oil. The oil in question is heavy fuel oil, kept at about 150 degrees F in the tank. We could obtain the viscosity and select an appropriate weight of motor oil to use in the lab. However, one of the problems of using oil in the lab is that it contaminates the apparatus for future tests with water, so each test must include the cost of the apparatus. Probably what I will do is run side-by side tests with water and oil on the same soil and see what happens in the first couple of tests and then decide from there whether to continue using the oil.

 

[dgillette]

Curious about how it comes out, so please let us know how the results compare once you have them.