Optical Image Profiler with Hydraulic Profiling Tool
OIHPT pairs a UV fluorescence camera with HPT pressure and electrical conductivity sensors — producing real-time images of petroleum contamination alongside continuous permeability and lithology data, 20 times per foot.
UV Image of LNAPL Fluorescence
Visible Image of SoilWhen to use OIHPT
How it works
Fluorescence + hydraulic profiling in one push
OIHPT combines optical fluorescence imaging with HPT pressure and EC in a single direct push tool — so every NAPL detection comes with the subsurface context needed to act on it.
Fluorescence imaging
A UV LED illuminates the formation through a sapphire window on the probe face. Petroleum hydrocarbons containing PAHs produce induced fluorescence — the camera captures this as %Fluor, the percentage of the window area showing fluorescence. A visible-light soil image is captured alongside for texture and color context. Different OIHPT variants (UV, Green, UVR) target different petroleum compound ranges.
Hydraulic context for LNAPL interpretation
HPT pressure and EC run simultaneously with fluorescence, so every detection comes with lithologic and permeability context. This tells you whether product is in a transmissive sand where it can migrate, or trapped in a tight clay where it stays put — critical for assessing LNAPL mobility and designing recovery strategies.
Sensor outputs
Fluorescence(%)
Induced fluorescence response indicating the presence and relative concentration of petroleum hydrocarbons. The camera captures an image 20 times per foot showing the spatial distribution of fluorescence across the sapphire window. Reported as %Fluor — the percentage of the window area showing fluorescence.
Electrical Conductivity(mS/m)
Differentiates fine-grained soils (high EC: clays, silts) from coarse-grained soils (low EC: sands, gravels). OIHPT uses a Dipole electrode array for EC measurement.
HPT Pressure(PSI)
Measures the pressure required to inject water into the formation — higher pressure indicates lower permeability (clays), lower pressure indicates higher permeability (sands).
Three variants, one platform
Each variant targets a different range of petroleum compounds. All share the same HPT and EC sensors.
OIHPT-UV
Ultraviolet Fluorescence
- Excitation
- 275 nm UV LED (~3 mW output)
- Target compounds
- Common petroleum NAPL — gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, motor oil, hydraulic oil, No. 2 fuel oil
- Best for
- Gas stations, fuel terminals, pipeline releases, petroleum bulk storage facilities
The go-to tool for most petroleum investigations. UV excitation causes PAH-containing compounds to fluoresce in the visible spectrum, producing a camera image of LNAPL distribution 20 times per foot.
OIHPT-G
Green Light Fluorescence
- Excitation
- 520 nm green laser diode
- Target compounds
- Heavy NAPL — creosote, coal tar, heavy crude oil, bunker fuels
- Best for
- Manufactured gas plants, wood treating facilities, coal tar sites, heavy crude releases
Heavy hydrocarbons like coal tar and creosote do not fluoresce reliably under UV. The green laser excites heavier PAHs that emit orange-red fluorescence, detected through an optical filter.
OIHPT-UVR
UV Range (Extended Detection)
- Excitation
- 275 nm UV LED + UV-range photodetector
- Target compounds
- Lighter-end NAPL — BTEX, kerosene, jet fuel (fluoresces in the UV spectrum)
- Best for
- Airfields, military bases, jet fuel release sites
Uses the same 275 nm UV LED as standard OIP-UV, but adds a photodetector sensitive to 300–400 nm UV fluorescence. This expanded detection range provides higher-confidence identification of lighter-end petroleum compounds.
Ready to add OIHPT to your investigation?
Contact us for availability, pricing, and to discuss which OIHPT variant fits your target compounds and site conditions.