method and device for detecting the removal of the hydrocarbons in water in a liquid state, on the ground or in the soil layers below the top layer of soil

摘要

A method for the detection of the discharge of hydrocarbons in liquid form at normal ambient temperature, in water, on the ground or in the subsurface is based on the detection of an alteration in one or more physical parameters which characterize a material which demonstrates high selective absorption of liquid hydrocarbons relative to water. In the method this material is used as an absorbent body provided in a detector device. The detector is arranged to detect respectively an alteration in the absorbent body's ultrasound transmissivity, an alteration in the absorbent body's optical reflectance, an alteration in the absorbent body's dielectric constant and an alteration in the absorbent body's buoyancy in water, either separately or in combination. The method and the detector device for execution of the method are particularly well suited to the detection of oil spillage on water or in ground water.