Earth’s Cryosphere, 2017, Vol. XXI, No. 6, p. 116-120

FAST ESTIMATION OF UNFROZEN WATER CONTENT IN FROZEN SOILS

V.A. Istomin1, E.M. Chuvilin2,3, B.A. Bukhanov2

1 JSC Gazprom VNIIGAZ, 15/1, Proektiruemiy passage # 5537, Razvilka Village,
Moscow region, Leninskiy district, 142717, Russia; vlistomin@yandex.ru

2 Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Center for Hydrocarbon Recovery,
3, Nobel str., IC Skolkovo, Moscow, 143026, Russia
3 Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geology, 1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia

A new method is suggested for fast estimation of unfrozen water contents in frozen soils and sediments within a wide range of negative temperatures (up to –15 °C). The method consists in measuring pore water potential (or water activity) at positive Celsius temperatures, with subsequent thermodynamic calculations of unfrozen water contents using the measured data. The method was used to estimate the amount of unfrozen water in frozen kaolinite and polymineral clay samples. The results showed good agreement with direct measurements by the contact method.

Frozen soil, unfrozen water, clay, pore water activity, contact method