Advances in Transient Electromagnetic Methods for Field Investigation of Oil Pollution: A Comprehensive Review

Authors

  • Gaimin Li

    Henan Province First Geological Exploration Institute Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou 450000, China
  • Faqi Shao

    Ankang Agricultural Science Research Institute, Ankang 725000, China
  • Xiaoya Wang

    School of Mathematics and Statistics, Ankang College, Ankang 725000, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i2.13061
Received: 28 December 2025 | Revised: 6 February 2026 | Accepted: 9 February 2026 | Published Online: 13 February 2026

Abstract

Transient electromagnetic methods are increasingly adopted for field investigation of oil pollution because they provide rapid, non-invasive imaging of subsurface electrical conductivity across depths relevant to vadose-zone impacts, groundwater plumes, and coastal transition zones. This review synthesizes recent advances that have expanded TEM (Transient Electromagnetic Method)'s environmental applicability, including higher dynamic range receivers, multi-moment acquisition that improves shallow-to-deep sensitivity, and diversified deployment platforms spanning ground, mobile/towed, airborne, and coastal/marine configurations, with emerging UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) options for constrained access. We emphasize the electrical and geochemical basis of hydrocarbon-related signatures, showing why fresh releases may appear resistive through NAPL (Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid) displacement of conductive pore water, whereas aged contamination often produces conductive responses driven by biodegradation, redox evolution, and elevated ionic strength. Because these responses are non-unique and can be confounded by clay-rich lithology, salinity gradients, temperature variability, and cultural infrastructure, contemporary interpretation has shifted toward process-consistent conceptual site models and uncertainty-aware products that communicate depth of investigation and resolution limits. A thematic synthesis of field applications indicates TEM is most reliable for mapping hydrogeological architecture, delineating plausible plume corridors, prioritizing intrusive sampling, and supporting monitoring where repeatability and background variability are controlled. The review concludes that TEM delivers the greatest decision value when integrated in a weight-of-evidence framework with hydrogeology, geochemistry, and targeted ground truth, and it highlights future needs in standardized reporting, robust time-lapse appraisal, and stronger petrophysical links to hydrocarbon transformation.

Keywords:

Transient Electromagnetics; Oil Pollution; Conductivity Imaging; Biodegradation; Environmental Geophysics

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How to Cite

Li, G., Shao, F., & Wang, X. (2026). Advances in Transient Electromagnetic Methods for Field Investigation of Oil Pollution: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 8(2), 229–246. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i2.13061

Issue

Vol. 8 , Iss. 2 (February 2026)

Article Type

Review

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Copyright © 2026 Gaimin Li, Faqi Shao, Xiaoya Wang

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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