Micans performing field sampling in Kristinehamn

Some of the closed cavern facilities previously used for the state's civil emergency oil storage is now managed and being environmentally secured by the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU). Some caverns require technical solutions to not leak petroleum pollutants into groundwater and waterways. In order to assess how long it is necessary to use these technical solutions before the remaining petroleum residues are broken down, data and methods are needed for calculating the rate of degradation in the caverns. By examining the microbial and chemical environment in the caverns and by studying the potential degradation under different conditions, it is possible to make an evaluation of degradation rates.

Micans' field sampling station and equipment. Photo: Micans