U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Open-File Report 2010-1023

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality 

of Four Wells at Rogers Mechanical (former Tate Andale) 

Property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, 

Pennsylvania, 2006–07

Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and 

Water Quality of Four Wells at Rogers 

Mechanical (former Tate Andale) Property, 

North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 

Lansdale, Pennsylvania, 2006–07

By Lisa A. Senior and Philip H. Bird

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Open-File Report 2010–1023

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, 

natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, 

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the 

U.S. Government.

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Senior, L.A., and Bird, P.H., 2010, Geophysical logs, specific capacity, and water quality of four wells at Rogers 

Mechanical (former Tate Andale) property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pennsylvania, 2006–07: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010–1023, 17 p. 
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................4

Previous Investigations........................................................................................................................4

Hydrogeologic Setting .........................................................................................................................4

Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality.......................................................................5

Borehole Geophysical and Video Logs and Drilling Logs ..............................................................5

Well Rogers 4 (MG–1795) ...........................................................................................................6

Well Rogers 5 (MG–2147) ...........................................................................................................8

Well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) .........................................................................................................10

Well Rogers 3S (MG–1601).......................................................................................................12

Specific Capacity Determined During Well Development for Wells Rogers 5 (MG–2147)

and Rogers 6 (MG–2148) ......................................................................................................14

Water Quality (Volatile Organic Compounds) ................................................................................14

Summary........................................................................................................................................................17

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................17

Figures

1. Map showing location of North Penn Area 6, and 10 identified sources of

groundwater contamination including the Rogers Mechanical (former Tate Andale) 

Property, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pa. .........................................................................2

2. Map showing location of selected wells on and near the Rogers Mechanical

(former Tate Andale) property, North Penn Area 6, Lansdale, Pa. ......................................3

3. Borehole geophysical logs for well Rogers 4 (MG–1795) near the Rogers

Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund site, Lansdale, Pa.,

April 18, 2006..................................................................................................................................7

4. Borehole geophysical logs for well Rogers 5 (MG–2147) near the Rogers Mechanical

property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund site, Lansdale, Pa., March 26, 2007.....................9

5. Borehole geophysical logs for well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) near the Rogers

Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund site, Lansdale, Pa.,

March 26, 2007 ............................................................................................................................11

6. Borehole geophysical logs for Rogers 3S well (MG–1601) on the Rogers

Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund site, Lansdale, Pa., May 12,

1997, with borehole-flow rates measured on March 26, 2007.............................................13

7. Graphs showing water levels measured during well development by pumping at 

various rates in (A) well Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and (B) well Rogers 6 (MG–2148)

on the Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund site,

Lansdale, Pa., March 27, 2007 ..................................................................................................15
iv

Tables

1. Characteristics of existing well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) and new wells, Rogers 4

(MG–1795), Rogers 5 (MG–2147), and Rogers 6 (MG–2148), drilled on and near the

Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund site, Lansdale, Pa.,

2006–07 ...........................................................................................................................................5

2. Borehole flow determined by heatpulse-flowmeter measurements in well Rogers 4

(MG–1795) under non-pumping, ambient conditions, Rogers Mechanical property,

North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., April 26, 2006.........................................6

3. Drilling log for well Rogers 5 (MG–2147), at the Rogers Mechanical property,

North Penn Area 6 Superfund site, Lansdale, Pa., March 26, 2007......................................8

4. Drilling log for well Rogers 6 (MG–2148), at the Rogers Mechanical property,

North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., March 26, 2007 ...................................10

5. Borehole flow determined by heatpulse-flowmeter measurements in well Rogers 3S 

(MG–1601) under non-pumping, ambient conditions at the Rogers Mechanical

property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., May 12, 1997 and April

24, 2006 .........................................................................................................................................12

6. Depths of passive-diffusion bag placement and concentrations of selected volatile

organic compounds in bag samples in wells Rogers 4 (MG–1795), Rogers 5

(MG–2147), Rogers 6 (MG–2148), and Rogers 3S (MG–1601), June 2006–May 2007,

and in pumped samples from well Rogers 3S (MG–1601), October 1997 and

September 2004, at the Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6, Lansdale,

Pa. ................................................................................................................................................16
v

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm)

inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm)

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2) 259.0 hectare (ha)

square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) 

Volume

gallon (gal) 3.785 liter (L) 

gallon (gal) 0.003785 cubic meter (m3) 

gallon (gal) 3.785 cubic decimeter (dm3) 

Flow rate

gallon per minute (gal/min) 0.06309 liter per second (L/s)

inch per year (in/yr) 25.4 millimeter per year (mm/yr)

Specific capacity

gallon per minute per foot 

[(gal/min)/ft)]

0.2070 liter per second per meter [(L/s)/m]

gallon per minute per foot 

[(gal/min)/ft)]

17.899 Meter squared per day (m2/d)

Mass

microgram 35.270 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

milligram 352.7 ounce, avoirdupois (oz)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 

(NAVD 88).

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm at 

25 °C).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) 

or micrograms per liter (μg/L), which are approximately equivalent to parts per million (ppm) or 

parts per billion (ppb), respectively.

Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality 

of Four Wells at Rogers Mechanical (former Tate Andale) 

Property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, 

Pennsylvania, 2006–07

by Lisa A. Senior and Philip H. Bird

Abstract

As part of technical assistance to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) in the remediation of properties 

on the North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site in Lansdale, Pa., the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2006–07 collected data in 

four monitor wells at the Rogers Mechanical (former Tate Andale) property. During this period, USGS collected and analyzed 

borehole geophysical and video logs of three new monitor wells (Rogers 4, Rogers 5, and Rogers 6) ranging in depth from 80 

to 180 feet, a borehole video log and additional heatpulse-flowmeter measurements (to quantify vertical borehole flow) in one 

existing 100-foot deep well (Rogers 3S), and water-level data during development of two wells (Rogers 5 and Rogers 6) to 

determine specific capacity. USGS also summarized results of passive-diffusion bag sampling for volatile organic compounds 

(VOCs) in the four wells. These data were intended to help understand the groundwater system and the distribution of VOC 

contaminants in groundwater at the property.

Introduction

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provided technical assistance to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 

to help describe the fractured-rock groundwater system and effects of pumping on groundwater flow and associated distribution of contaminants at the North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site in Lansdale, Pa. (fig. 1). USGS assistance included, but was not 

limited to, collection of borehole geophysical logs and water-level data during the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study 

(RI/FS) from 1995 to 2000 and subsequently during remedial design activities since 2005. Groundwater at the North Penn Area 

6 Superfund Site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as the solvent trichloroethylene (TCE), from 

numerous industrial sources in the Lansdale area (Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 1999). As part of the technical assistance, 

USGS worked in conjunction with the USEPA contractor Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc. (Black & Veatch), who usually 

supervised drilling of new wells and collection of groundwater samples from 1995 through 2007.

The Rogers Mechanical (former Tate Andale) property is one of five properties currently (2009) being remediated by the 

USEPA; four of the other five properties identified as source areas are being remediated by property owners (fig. 1). During 

the RI/FS, results of sampling well water showed that groundwater at the property had elevated concentrations of TCE, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE) and carbon tetrachloride (Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 1999). 

As of 2004, known contamination in groundwater was greatest along the western side of the property (fig. 2) in monitor well 

Rogers 3S (MG–1601) and in the shallowest water-bearing intervals of the former production well (MG–1444) (Black & Veatch 

Waste Science, Inc., 1999; Senior and Goode, 1999; Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., written commun., 2004).

In 2006, the USEPA and its contractor, Black & Veatch, drilled a new well, Rogers 4 (MG–1795), on a residential property located to the west of the Rogers Mechanical property across the railroad tracks and downdip of the old production 

well (MG–1444) (fig. 2). In 2007, the USEPA and its contractor, Black & Veatch, drilled two wells, Rogers 5 and Rogers 6 

(MG–2147 and MG–2148), on the Rogers Mechanical property, located updip of the old production well MG–1444 (fig. 2). As 

part of technical assistance to USEPA in 2006–07, the USGS collected geophysical logs in the new monitor wells (Rogers 4, 

Rogers 5, and Rogers 6), collected a borehole video log in one existing well (Rogers 3S), and measured water levels during well 

development in two monitor wells (Rogers 5 and Rogers 6).
2 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

75°18' 75°17' 75°16'

40°15'

40°14'

Contaminant source identified

in North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site

under U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency remediation

Base from U.S. Geological Survey

Lansdale 1:24,000 1973; Telford 1:24,000 1980 0 0.25 0.5 1 Mile

0 0.5 1 Kilometer

LOCATION OF STUDY AREA

IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

PENNSYLVANIA

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY OF

NORTH PENN AREA 6 SUPERFUND SITE

ROGERS MECHANICAL

(FORMER TATE ANDALE)

EXPLANATION

Contaminant source identified

in North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site

under property owner remediation

Figure 1. Location of North Penn Area 6, and 10 identified sources of groundwater contamination including the Rogers 

Mechanical (former Tate Andale) Property, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pa. 
Introduction 3

APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY

OF ROGERS MECHANICAL

(FORMER TATE ANDALE)

PROPERTY

MG–1444

MG–2148

MG–2147

MG–1795

MG–1601

Geology from Lyttle and Epstein, 1987

MG–2148

Well and U.S. Geological Survey 

 well number

Base from U.S. Geological Survey

Lansdale 1:24,000 Orthophoto Quadrangle, 1999

Direction and magnitude of

 bedrock strike and dip

75°17'15" 75°17'

40°14'15"

40°14'

0 100 200 400 Feet

0 30 60 120 Meters

EXPLANATION

Geologic units

Brunswick Group (red beds)

Brunswick Group gray beds

JTrb

Trblg

JTrb

Trblg

10

10

43

43

Figure 2. Location of selected wells on and near the Rogers Mechanical (former Tate Andale) property, North 

Penn Area 6, Lansdale, Pa. Depicted geologic units dip to the northwest.
4 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Purpose and Scope

This report describes work done by the USGS during 2006–07 in four wells at the Rogers Mechanical property as part of 

technical assistance to the USEPA on the North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site from 2005 to present (2009). Work done by USGS 

at the property included collection of borehole geophysical and video logs in three new monitor wells [Rogers 4 (MG–1795), 

Rogers 5 (MG–2147), and Rogers 6 (MG–2148)], borehole video and heatpulse-flowmeter measurements in one existing well 

[Rogers 3S (MG–1601)], and water-level data during well development in two of the new monitor wells [Rogers 5 (MG–2147) 

and Rogers 6 (MG–2148)]. Discrete interval sampling data with passive-diffusion bags and whole-well sampling conducted by 

the USEPA contractor Black & Veatch in 2006–07 in these four wells on the property also are summarized.

Previous Investigations

Work done by USGS during 1995–2000 at the North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site including near or on the Rogers Mechanical property is documented in Senior and others (1998), Goode and Senior (1998, 2000), Conger (1999), and Senior and Goode 

(1999).

Hydrogeologic Setting

The sedimentary bedrock units underlying North Penn Area 6 including the Rogers Mechanical property are mapped as two 

units of the Brunswick Group. One unit consists predominantly of red beds and the other unit consists of gray beds (Lyttle and 

Epstein, 1987) (fig. 2). In the study area, the geologic units strike northeast and dip northwest. These rocks form a leaky, layered, 

fractured-rock aquifer described in more detail by Senior and Goode (1999).
Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality 5

Table 1. Characteristics of existing well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) and new wells, Rogers 4 (MG–1795), Rogers 5 (MG–2147), and Rogers 6 

(MG-2148), drilled on and near the Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., 2006–07.

[USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; DDMMSS, degrees minutes seconds; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; ft bls, feet below land surface]

Well name USGS well 

number

Latitude, in 

DDMMSS 

NAD 83

Longitude 

(DDMMSS 

NAD 83)

Date

drilled

Well depth

(ft bls)

Casing 

length

(ft bls)

Well

diameter

(inches)

Date 

logged by 

USGS

Static 

water 

level when 

logged

(ft bls)

Rogers 3S MG-1601 401409 751707 4/25/1997 100 19 6 4/4/2007 56.13

Rogers 4 MG-1795 401408 751709 4/18/2006 180 19 6 4/26/2006 57.30

Rogers 5 MG-2147 401407 751708 3/26/2007 82 18 6 4/4/2007 60.58

Rogers 6 MG-2148 401408 751706 3/26/2007 80 22 6 4/4/2007 59.13

Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality

The USGS collected drilling logs for the two wells, Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148), drilled in 2007 and 

ran geophysical and borehole video logs of all three new wells [Rogers 4 (MG–1795), Rogers 5 (MG–2147), and Rogers 6 

(MG–2148)] drilled near and on the Rogers Mechanical property in 2006–07. Well characteristics for the three new wells are 

listed in table 1. In addition, the USGS collected borehole video logs and a second set of heatpulse-flowmeter measurements 

in existing monitor well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) and collected water-level data during development of new wells Rogers 5 

(MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148). These water-level data document aquifer response to pumping and may be evaluated as 

short-duration pumping tests that provide information on potential well yields and specific capacity. Results of passive-diffusion 

bag sampling conducted by Black & Veatch in 2006–07 and whole-well sampling conducted in 1997 and 2004 also are summarized to help describe distribution of VOC contaminants at the property in relation to the groundwater system.

Borehole Geophysical and Video Logs and Drilling Logs

Results of borehole geophysical and video logging are described for each well, in approximate order of date of logging 

from April 2006 through April 2007. A suite of geophysical logs, consisting of caliper, natural-gamma, single-point resistance, 

fluid temperature, fluid resistivity, and heatpulse flowmeter (to measure vertical borehole flow), was collected on the three new 

wells and used to identify water-bearing zones, direction of vertical borehole flow, and lithologic changes. Using a diverter with 

the same diameter as the borehole, the heatpulse flowmeter is capable of measuring vertical borehole flow in the range of 0.1 

to 1.0 gal/min. Natural-gamma and single-point-resistance logs indicate lithology and may be used in conjunction with logs for 

other wells to infer stratigraphic correlation. Borehole features also were identified where possible using borehole video logs (on 

file at U.S. Geological Survey, Exton, Pa.) and pertinent observations from logs are presented. Borehole video and heatpulseflowmeter logs only were collected in well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) in April 2007, because other geophysical logs in the suite 

were collected previously in 1997 (Conger, 1999). In addition, drilling logs recorded by USGS are presented for new wells Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148).
6 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Table 2. Borehole flow determined by heatpulse-flowmeter measurements in well Rogers 4 

(MG–1795) under non-pumping, ambient conditions, Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn 

Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., April 26, 2006.

[ft bls, feet below land surface; gal/min, gallon per minute; NF, no flow detected; --, no data]

Depth of measurement

(ft bls)

Measured flow

(gal/min)

Direction 

of flow

70 NF --

84 NF --

100 0.42 down

104 .58 down

112 .66 down

120 .69 down

144 .04 up

160 .04 up

175 NF --

Well Rogers 4 (MG–1795)

The caliper log indicated numerous fractures throughout the 180-ft borehole especially from 19 to 125 ft (fig. 3). Possible water-bearing fractures indicated on the caliper log and observed on the borehole video log were at 89–92, 108, 122–124, 

135, and 171 ft below land surface (bls). Static water level at the time of logging was 57.30 ft bls. The drilling log collected by 

Black & Veatch noted water production near 89, 129, and 150 ft bls (Black & Veatch, written commun., April 25, 2006). Total 

well yield was about 10 gal/min. Cumulative yields measured as the well was drilled are as follows: 3–4 gal/min at 89 ft bls, 

7–8 gal/min at 129 ft bls, and 10 gal/min at 150 ft bls. Soft zones and fractures were noted at 107–109 and 171–173 ft bls.

The natural-gamma log shows low activity throughout most of the borehole with two thin zones of elevated activity near 

136–138 and 140–142 ft bls that could be used for stratigraphic correlation. These thin zones of elevated gamma activity probably correlate with a similar zone at about 120 ft bls in the old production well MG–1444 previously logged (Conger, 1999) on 

the Rogers Mechanical property (fig. 2). Correlation of elevated natural-gamma zones in wells at the Rogers property resulted 

in an estimated bedding strike of N. 43° E. and a dip of 10° NW. (Conger, 1999). The zones of elevated natural-gamma activity 

in the well Rogers 4 (MG–1795) probably correspond to black or gray units observed on the borehole video and drilling logs. A 

sharp lithologic change to black shale was noted on the borehole video log at 135 ft bls. The drilling log records red siltstone at 

about 9–34 ft bls, red shale at 34–136 ft bls, light gray shale at 136–147 ft bls, and red shale at 147–180 ft bls (Black & Veatch, 

written commun., April 25, 2006).

The fluid-temperature log shows small inflections near 75 and 125 ft bls that may indicate water-bearing zones. The 

fluid-resistivity log is a nearly straight profile, with a change in slope at about 80 ft bls and possible minor inflections at about 

103–106, 130, and 145 ft bls, and does not strongly indicate any water-bearing zone. Under non-pumping (ambient) conditions, 

the heatpulse-flowmeter logs show that no vertical flow was detected at 70, 84, and 175 ft bls; downward flow was measured at 

100, 104, 112, and 120 ft bls; and upward flow was measured at 144 and 161 ft bls (fig. 3; table 2). The flowmeter measurements 

indicate that, at the time of logging, water entered the borehole through fractures at 89–92 and 107–109 ft bls, moved down, and 

exited the borehole through fractures at 122–124 ft bls. Additionally, a small amount of water appeared to enter the borehole 

through fractures at about 171 ft bls and move up to exit the borehole through the fracture at 122–124 ft bls. Thus, active waterbearing zones were identified at 89–92, 107–109, 122–124, and 171 ft bls. Other water-bearing zones may be present in the well 

that were not detected under non-pumping conditions.
Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality

7

, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Borehole geophysical logs for well Rogers 4 (MG–1795) near the Rogers Mechanical property Figure 3.

Lansdale, Pa., April 18, 2006. 

4 8 6

0

20406080

10 100 12 15 13 14 0 5 10 15

NF

NF

NFNF

BOREHOLE DIAMETER, IN INCHES AND

MEASURED BOREHOLE FLOW

NATURAL GAMMA ACITIVITY,

IN COUNTS PER SECOND

SINGLE-POINT RESISTANCE,

IN OHMS

FLUID RESISTIVITY, FLUID TEMPERATURE,

IN DEGREES CELSIUS IN OHM-METERS

DEPTH, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

1,000 10,000 200 400 600 800 20

EXPLANATION

0.4Flow rate in gallon per minutein downward direction0.12Flow rate in gallon per minutein upward directionNo flow detected

Static water level

0.420.580.660.690.040.04

100120140160180
8 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Table 3. Drilling log for well Rogers 5 (MG–2147), at the Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, 

Pa., March 26, 2007.

Depth

(feet below land surface) Lithology Remarks

20 red shale

25 red shale, fine

30 red shale

35 red shale

40 red shale

45 red shale

50 red shale

55 dark red shale

60 red shale

65 medium gray shale

70 yellow-brown to gray shale some water at 68–70 feet below land surface

75 gray-to-black shale graphite floating

80 gray-to-black shale total yield about 2 gallons per minute

82 medium gray shale total depth

Well Rogers 5 (MG–2147)

The caliper log shows numerous fractures throughout the 82-ft borehole, with large fractures indicated at about 22, 32, 

58–61, 68–71, and 73–77 ft bls (fig. 4). Possible water-bearing fractures indicated on the caliper log and noted on the borehole 

video log were at 67–70 and 71–75 ft bls. Static water level at the time of logging was 60.58 ft bls. The drilling log collected by 

USGS (table 3) noted possible water at 68–70 ft bls and total water production near 80 ft bls at about 2 gal/min.

The natural-gamma log shows relatively low activity throughout the borehole, with features of depressed activity about 

61 ft bls and in the interval 70–77 ft bls that might possibly be used for log correlation. The single-point resistance log shows an 

increase in resistance from 68–76 ft bls that appears to correspond with water-bearing fracture zones and relatively lower gamma 

activity that may correspond to relatively coarser-grained (sandier) sediments. The drilling log (table 3) recorded red shale at 

about 20–55 ft bls, dark-red to gray shale at 55–65 ft bls, and various shades of gray shale at 65–82 ft bls, with yellow-brown to 

gray shale at 70 ft bls and dark gray-to-black shale at 75–80 ft bls.

The fluid-temperature log shows a decrease in temperature with depth from water level at 60 ft bls to the bottom of the 

borehole at 82 ft bls, with very slight inflections near 66, 70, and 78 ft bls that may indicate water-bearing zones. The fluid-resistivity log is a nearly straight profile and does not indicate any water-bearing zone. Under non-pumping conditions, no vertical 

flow was detected at 63 ft. The suite of caliper, borehole video, temperature, and drilling logs indicates that water-bearing zones 

in the well probably are in the interval between 68 and 76 ft bls.
Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality

9

0

1020304050607080

90

NF

4 8 6 10 100 12 13 14 5 10 15

BOREHOLE DIAMETER, IN INCHES AND

MEASURED BOREHOLE FLOW

NATURAL GAMMA ACITIVITY,

IN COUNTS PER SECOND

SINGLE-POINT RESISTANCE,

IN OHMS

FLUID TEMPERATURE,

IN DEGREES CELSIUS

FLUID RESISTIVITY,

IN OHM-METERS

1,000 10,000 200 400 600 800 20

DEPTH, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

EXPLANATIONNF No flow detected

Static water level

, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Borehole geophysical logs for well Rogers 5 (MG–2147) near the Rogers Mechanical property Figure 4

Lansdale, Pa., March 26, 2007. 
10 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Table 4. Drilling log for well Rogers 6 (MG–2148), at the Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., 

March 26, 2007.

Depth

(feet below land surface) Lithology Remarks

20 red/gray shale

25 red shale

30 red shale

35 red shale

40 red shale

45 red shale

50 red/gray/brown shale

55 red/gray/brown shale

60 red/gray/brown shale

65 red/gray/brown shale

70 medium grey shale

75 yellow brown to gray shale some water; yield 1–2 gallons per minute

78 black shale graphite floating?

80 black shale total depth

Well Rogers 6 (MG–2148)

The caliper log shows numerous fractures throughout the 80-ft borehole, with large fractures indicated at about 42–44, 

57–58, and 64–70 ft bls and smaller fractures at 73–80 ft bls (fig. 5). Possible water-bearing fractures indicated on the caliper 

log and noted on the borehole video log were at 65, 68, and 73–79 ft bls. The video log also showed a fracture at 43 ft bls. 

Static water level at the time of logging was 59.13 ft bls. The drilling log collected by USGS (table 4) noted water production at 

75 ft bls of about 1–2 gal/min.

The natural-gamma log shows relatively low activity throughout the borehole, with a feature of depressed activity about 

58 ft bls that might possibly be used for log correlation. The single-point resistance log shows two intervals of increased 

resistance from 64–67 and 68–71 ft bls that appear to correspond with water-bearing fracture zones. The drilling log (table 4) 

recorded red shale at about 20–45 ft bls, red to gray-brown shale at 55–65 ft bls, gray shale at 70–74 ft bls, yellow-brown gray 

shale at 75 ft bls, and black shale at 78–80 ft bls. The thin layer of black shale at the bottom of the well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) 

appears similar to the gray-to-black shale noted at 80 ft bls in the well Rogers 5 (MG–2147).

The fluid-temperature log shows a decrease in temperature with depth from water level at 59 ft bls to the bottom of the 

borehole at 80 ft bls. The fluid-resistivity log shows an inflection at about 64 ft bls and a nearly straight profile below 64 ft bls, 

suggesting a possible water-bearing zone near the depth of inflection. Under non-pumping conditions, no vertical flow was 

detected at 61 and 71 ft bls. Flow measurements indicate that minor turbulence or possible lateral flow may be present at 

71 ft bls. The suite of logs indicate that water-bearing zones in the well most likely are in the interval between 65 and 79 ft bls.
Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality

11

0

1020304050607080

90

NFNF

NF

EXPLANATION

No flow detectedStatic water level

DEPTH, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

4 8 6 10 100 15 13 14 5 10 15

BOREHOLE DIAMETER, IN INCHES AND

MEASURED BOREHOLE FLOW

NATURAL GAMMA ACITIVITY,

IN COUNTS PER SECOND

SINGLE-POINT RESISTANCE,

IN OHMS

FLUID RESISTIVITY, FLUID TEMPERATURE,

IN DEGREES CELSIUS IN OHM-METERS

1,000 10,000 200 400 600 800 20

, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Borehole geophysical logs for well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) near the Rogers Mechanical property Figure 5.

Lansdale, Pa., March 26, 2007.
12 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Table 5. Borehole flow determined by heatpulse-flowmeter measurements in well 

Rogers 3S (MG–1601) under non-pumping, ambient conditions at the Rogers Mechanical 

property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., May 12, 1997, and April 24, 

2006.

[ft bls, feet below land surface; gal/min, gallon per minute; NF, no flow detected; --, no data]

Depth of

measurement

(ft bls)

May 12, 1997 April 4, 2007

Measured flow

(gal/min)

Direction of 

flow

Measured flow

(gal/min)

Direction of 

flow

58 -- -- 0.9 down

65 NF -- .1 down

70 -- -- 0–.17 down

80 0.36 up NF --

92 .15 up -- --

93 -- -- NF turbulence?

97 -- -- 0–.10 down

Well Rogers 3S (MG–1601)

Results of geophysical logging of well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) on May 12, 1997, indicated that there are numerous fractures 

throughout the 100-ft borehole (Conger, 1999), with large fractures and fracture zones indicated at about 19–24, 27–30, 39–43, 

48–76, 84–90, and 95–97 ft bls (fig. 6). At the time of logging in 1997, the static water level was 55.35 ft bls. Under non-pumping conditions, upward flow was measured at 80 and 92 ft bls and no flow was measured at 65 ft bls (table 5). Interpretation of 

these logs suggested that water entered the borehole through fractures at 84–90 and 94–95 ft bls, moved upward, and exited the 

borehole at 66–77 ft bls (Conger, 1999). The low gamma activity measured near 68 ft bls (fig. 6; Conger, 1999) is a feature that 

might possibly be used for log correlation.

In April 2007, a borehole video log and a second set of heatpulse-flowmeter logs were collected. The static water level 

was 56.13 ft bls on April 4, 2007. Possible water-bearing fractures were noted at 85, 93, and 98 ft bls on the borehole video log, 

which also showed the water to be hazy above 60 ft bls and clearing below 64 ft bls. Under non-pumping conditions, downward 

flow was measured at 58, 65, 70, and 97 ft bls and no flow was measured at 80 and 93 ft bls, with possible turbulence or lateral 

flow at 93 ft bls (table 5). Unsteady flow indicated by unstable measurements at 70 and 97 ft bls may be a response to possible nearby transient pumping, although no nearby well was known to be pumping at the time of logging. Interpretation of the 

April 2007 measurements suggest that water entered the borehole through fractures near 55–58 ft bls, moved down, and exited 

through fractures near 60–70 ft bls. Additional water may enter the borehole through fractures at 93 ft bls, move down, and exit 

the borehole through fractures at 98 ft bls. This set of flow logs indicates different vertical flow conditions in 2007 (downward 

flow) compared to 1997 (upward flow).
Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality

13

0

10 0

102030405060708090

NFNF

5 8 6 10 100 12 13 14 5 10 15 20

BOREHOLE DIAMETER, IN INCHES AND

MEASURED BOREHOLE FLOW

NATURAL GAMMA ACITIVITY,

IN COUNTS PER SECOND

SINGLE-POINT RESISTANCE,

IN OHMS

FLUID RESISTIVITY, FLUID TEMPERATURE,

IN DEGREES CELSIUS IN OHM-METERS

1,000 10,000 0 500 800 25 7

DEPTH, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

EXPLANATION

Flow rate in gallon per minutein downward direction

0.4

NF No flow detected

Static water level

0.90.10−0.170−0.1

, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Borehole geophysical logs for Rogers 3S well (MG–1601) on the Rogers Mechanical property Figure 6.

Lansdale, Pa., May 12, 1997, with borehole-flow rates measured on March 26, 2007 (Conger, 1999). 
14 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Specific Capacity Determined During Well Development for Wells Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and 

Rogers 6 (MG–2148)

The wells Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148) were developed on March 27, 2007, by pumping conducted by 

the Black & Veatch drilling subcontractor. Water levels were recorded by USGS using transducers during pumping at various 

rates (fig. 7). The specific capacity for each well was estimated for one rate of pumping. For the well Rogers 5 (MG–2147), 

the specific capacity estimated at the pumping rate of 1.4 gal/min was 1.27 (gal/min)/ft. For the well Rogers 6 (MG–2148), the 

specific capacity estimated at the pumping rate of 3.5 gal/min was 1.34 (gal/min)/ft. Well-loss terms were not determined for 

drawdowns at various pumping rates because water levels stabilized for only one rate (step) of pumping.

The specific-capacity values estimated for the wells Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148) during well development are similar or somewhat higher than specific-capacity values for other wells on the Rogers Mechanical property as 

estimated from pumping and drawdown data recorded when the wells were sampled by Black & Veatch. For example, specific 

capacity was estimated to be about 0.55 (gal/min)/ft for the well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) based on a pumping rate of 6 gal/min 

and a drawdown of 11 ft when sampled in October 1997 (Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 1999).

Water Quality (Volatile Organic Compounds)

Samples of water at selected depths were collected by Black & Veatch using the passive-diffusion bag method in the well 

Rogers 4 (MG–1795) in June and November 2006 (Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 2007) and in the wells Rogers 3S 

(MG–1601), Rogers 5 (MG–2147), and Rogers 6 (MG–2148) in May 2007 (Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., written commun., 2007). The passive-diffusion bags were placed at depths determined from interpretation of geophysical logs. Samples 

were analyzed for selected VOCs. Results show that concentrations of VOC contaminants decrease with depth and generally 

were greatest in the shallowest intervals in three (Rogers 3S, Rogers 4, and Rogers 5) of the four wells (table 6). Samples from 

the well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) apparently show an increase with depth, a pattern that would need to be confirmed with additional 

sampling.

In these rounds of sampling, the highest VOC concentration measured was 240 μg/L of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (DCE) 

from the shallowest interval of Rogers 3S (MG–1601). Previous sampling of the well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) in 1997 and 

2004 was based on purging the borehole and collecting a pumped sample, which resulted in whole-well sample concentrations 

less than the those in the diffusion-bag samples. For example, cis-1,2-DCE ranged from 7 to 19 μg/L in whole-well samples 

(Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 1999; written commun., 2004) compared to a range of 24–240 μg/L for diffusion-bag 

samples (Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., written commun., 2007) (table 6). Other VOCs measured in concentrations 

greater than the maximum contaminant level (MCL) in these four wells during the 2006–07 diffusion-bag sampling were PCE, 

TCE, carbon tetrachloride, and 1-1-DCE, with maximum concentrations of 46, 69, 110, and 130 μg/L, respectively.

During development of wells Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148), volatile organic vapors released from purge 

water were screened using a photoionization detector (PID). Readings as high as 32 parts per million (ppm) were measured during well development of the well Rogers 5 (MG–2147). Readings were not above background (0.5 ppm) during well development of the well Rogers 6 (MG–2148).
Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality 15

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

60

70

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

0 20 40 60

59

68

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

A

B

Pump on,

rate unknown

Pumping

1.4 gal/min

Pumping

2.2 gal/min

Pumping

3.5 gal/min

Pump off

Pumping

2.4 gal/min

DEPTH TO WATER, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE DEPTH TO WATER, IN FEET BELOW LAND SURFACE

Pump on 

at 3.5 gal/min

Pumping

5.5 gal/min

Pumping 

7.5 gal/min

Pump off

TIME ELAPSED, IN MINUTES

80 100 120 140 160

TIME ELAPSED, IN MINUTES

Figure 7. Water levels measured during well development by pumping at various rates in

(A) well Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and (B) well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) on the Rogers Mechanical 

property, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Pa., March 27, 2007. Pumping rates are 

given in gallons per minute (gal/min). 
16 Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07

Table 6. Depths of passive-diffusion bag placement and concentrations of selected volatile organic compounds in bag samples in 

wells Rogers 4 (MG–1795), Rogers 5 (MG–2147), Rogers 6 (MG–2148), and Rogers 3S (MG–1601), June 2006–May 2007, and in pumped 

samples from well Rogers 3S (MG–1601), October 1997 and September 2004, at the Rogers Mechanical property, North Penn Area 6, 

Lansdale, Pa. [Data from Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc. (1999; written commun., 2004; 2007)].

[ft bls, feet below land surface; μg/L, micrograms per liter; PCE, tetrachloroethylene; TCE, trichloroethylene; DCE, dichloroethylene; carbon tet., carbon 

tetrachloride; TCA, trichloroethane; DCA, dichloroethane; MCL, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency maximum contaminant level in drinking water; --, no 

data; -, not detected]

Depth of

diffusion bag

(ft bls)

PCE

(μg/L)

TCE

(μg/L)

cis-1,2-DCE

(μg/L)

Carbon tet.

(μg/L)

1,1-DCE

(μg/L)

1,1,1-TCA

(μg/L)

1,1-DCA

(μg/L)

MCL 5 5 70 5 7 200 --

Rogers 4

June 19, 2006

69–71 7.9 67 5.1 15 9.4 1.3 1.4

81–83 6.7 69 6.4 10 10 1.4 1.2

99–101 .56 11 .96 1.1 - - -

115–117 .54 11 .82 1.0 .67 - -

139–141 .53 6.4 .54 .62 - - -

159–161 - 5 - .52 - - -

Rogers 4

November 7, 2006

69–71 13 32 2.1 110 2.9 .46 .55

81–83 9.9 46 3.6 77 5.4 .88 1

99–101 .56 9.9 1.2 1.5 .61 .19 .15

115–117 .74 9.9 1.2 1.5 .63 .19 .14

139–141 .77 7.3 .92 1.1 .53 .16 .11

159–161 .75 6.9 .86 1.1 .5 .15 .11

Rogers 5

May 2, 2007

67–69 .56 43 1.2 - - - -

71–73 .4 26 .90 - - - -

Rogers 6

May 2, 2007

64–66 .44 - - - -

67–69 5.7 0.52 - - - -

76–78 42 6.1 - - - -

Rogers 3S

May 2, 2007

57–59 33 31 240 - 130 22 31

64–66 31 32 210 - 120 19 26

83–85 46 38 150 .85 54 24 20

92–94 10 8.4 23 1.1 10 4.7 3.7

96–98 11 9.8 24 1.4 11 5.4 4.1

Rogers 3S

October 1997

whole well pumped 3.4 16.7 7 2.6 1.3 2.4 -

Rogers 3S

September 2004

whole well pumped 13 8.8 19 1.1 5.9 3.3 -
References Cited 17

Summary

In 2006–07, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected borehole geophysical logs, video logs, and water-level data 

as part of technical assistance to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) at the Rogers Mechanical (former Tate 

Andale) property on the North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale Pa. On the basis of data collected through 2004, groundwater contamination with VOCs was thought to be highest on the western side of the property in monitor well Rogers 3S 

(MG–1601) and in the shallowest water-bearing intervals of the former production well (MG–1444). The geophysical logs were 

used to identify water-bearing fractures and direction of borehole flow. These data were later used by the USEPA contractor to 

set the depths of passive-diffusion bags to collect samples at various depths to determine the vertical distribution of contamination in selected wells on the property.

 In 2006, USGS collected borehole geophysical and video logs in a 180-ft deep new monitor well, Rogers 4 (MG–1795). 

Borehole flow under non-pumping conditions was downward in the upper part of the well and upward in the lower part of 

the well. In 2007, USGS collected drilling logs and borehole geophysical and video logs in two new monitor wells, Rogers 

5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 (MG–2148), that were 82 and 80 ft deep, respectively. No borehole flow was measured in either 

new well under non-pumping conditions. Static water levels in wells Rogers 4 (MG–1795), Rogers 5 (MG–2147), and Rogers 

6 (MG–2148) at the time of logging in 2006–07 ranged from about 57.3 to 60.6 ft below land surface. In 2007, borehole flow 

was re-measured in the well Rogers 3S (MG–1601), a well that was previously logged by USGS in 1997, and was shown to be 

predominantly downward in 2007 compared to largely upward in 1997. The static water level in the well Rogers 3S (MG–1601) 

at the time of logging was about 56.1 ft bls in 2007 and 55.4 ft bls in 1997.

Water levels were measured during development of the two new monitor wells, Rogers 5 (MG–2147) and Rogers 6 

(MG–2148), and used to estimate well specific capacities of 1.27 and 1.34 (gal/min)/ft, respectively.

Results of samples collected from passive-diffusion bags set at depths determined from the geophysical logs showed that 

concentrations of VOC contaminants decreased with depth and generally were greatest in the shallowest intervals in three (Rogers 3S, Rogers 4, and Rogers 5) of the four wells tested. Samples from the well Rogers 6 (MG–2148) showed a slight increase in 

VOC concentrations with depth, a pattern that would need to be confirmed with additional sampling.

References Cited

Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 1999, Remedial Investigation Feasibility Study Report North Penn Area 6 Site Groundwater Operable Unit (OU3), Lansdale, Pennsylvania: Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Work assignment 

no. 004-RICO03W9, contract no. 68-S8-3002, August 1999.

Black & Veatch Waste Science, Inc., 2007, Data Evaluation Report, Diffusion bag sampling, pump test sampling and groundwater level measurements, North Penn Area 6 OU3 Phase 2 RD, Lansdale, Montgomery County Pennsylvania: Prepared for 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, work assignment 056-RDRD03W9, Black & Veatch project no. 047127.01.26, January 2007.

Conger, R.W., 1999, Analysis of geophysical logs, at North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-271A, 149 p.

Goode, D.J., and Senior, L.A., 1998, Review of aquifer tests for the Lansdale area, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 98–294, 70 p.

Goode, D.J., and Senior, L.A., 2000, Simulation of aquifer tests and ground-water flowpaths at the local scale in fractured shales 

and sandstones of the Brunswick Group and Lockatong Formation, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00–97, 46 p.

Lyttle, P.Y., and Epstein, J.B., 1987, Geologic map of the Newark 1° × 2° quadrangle, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York: 

U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1715, scale 1:250,000.

Senior, L.A., and Goode, D.J., 1999, Ground-water system, estimation of aquifer hydraulic properties, and effects of pumping 

on ground-water flow in Triassic sedimentary rocks in and near Lansdale, Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey WaterResources Investigations Report 99–4228, 112 p.

Senior, L.A., Rowland, C.J., and Prieto, D.A., 1998, Altitude and configuration of the potentiometric surface in Lansdale and 

vicinity, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, August 22-23, 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-253, 1 plate, 

scale 1:24,000.


Senior and Bird—Geophysical Logs, Specific Capacity, and Water Quality of Four Wells, North Penn Area 6 Superfund Site, 2006–07—Open-File Report 2010-1023