La contamination par les hydrocarbures peut altérer les propriétés physicochimiques et biologiques du sous-sol, par conséquent le diagnostic et l’évolution des contaminants peuvent être surveillés en couplant les analyses géochimiques et les techniques géophysiques. Dans ce travail, différentes méthodes géophysiques de sub-surface telles que la tomographie de résistivité électrique, la polarisation induite, le géoradar et le potentiel spontané ont été utilisées d’une manière combinée pour localiser les zones impactées par les hydrocarbures du site de l’ancienne raffinerie de Petit Couronne. Les investigations géophysiques par la tomographie de résistivité électrique en 2D ont révélés la présence des anomalies de fortes valeurs de conductivité et chargeabilité électrique associés aux zones contaminées de l’aquifère. Les résultats obtenus avec les profils d’ERT et IP indiquent que la contamination a modifié les parties capacitives et ohmiques de la conduction électrique dans les sédiments contaminés. Cette signature très conductrice des zones contaminées est due aux processus de biodégradation des hydrocarbures qui minéralisent les eaux de l’aquifère. Les panaches d’hydrocarbures ont été identifiés sur les profils de géoradar par une forte atténuation des amplitudes de signaux électromagnétiques. Les profils de potentiel spontané ont aussi fourni une cartographie spatiale des zones contaminées par leurs signatures électriques négatives qui est associées aux processus d'oxydoréduction et biodégradation à l’interface entre la zone non saturée et saturée. Une carte de potentiel redox a été reconstruite à partir de l'inversion des données résiduelles de potentiel spontané grâce au calcul des composantes de la densité du courant électrique. La contribution redox dans l'aquifère contaminé s'explique par des dipôles verticaux répartis sur la frange capillaire juste au-dessus de la nappe phréatique, en favorisant le mécanisme de la biogéobatterie sur ce site. L’ensemble de ces résultats ont été confirmés par les mesures géochimiques menées au niveau des forages. L'étude a montré que les altérations biologiques des hydrocarbures ont modifié les propriétés chimiques de l'eau porale et que l'étendue de la contamination des eaux souterraines peut être délimitée à partir du contraste géophysique observé entre les zones contaminées et les zones non contaminées. La combinaison des différentes méthodes géophysiques avec des analyses géochimiques ponctuelles au niveau des forages ont permis de mieux comprendre les différents processus qui sont à l’origine de modifications des propriétés biogéochimiques dans les sols et les eaux souterraines. / The presence of hydrocarbon contamination in the subsurface can modify the physiochemical and biological properties of soil and groundwater. The sensitivity of geophysical methods to biogeochemical changes occurring in contaminated media can be used to monitor hydrocarbon contamination in a fast and inexpensive way. As such, geophysical methods including, electrical resistivity tomography, induced polarization, ground penetrating radar, self-potential and magnetic susceptibility were used in this work to characterize the hydrocarbon contamination and investigate its effects on the soil and groundwater geophysical and geochemical properties at a site impacted by an aged hydrocarbon plume. The geophysical response to hydrocarbon contamination varies according to factors related to the contaminant in question and to the contaminated environment. Therefore, to achieve a better interpretation, the field geophysical data were constrained by geochemical soil boring data which showed that biodegradation is occurring in the site. This was shown through observing elevated total dissolved solids concentrations, elevated groundwater electrical conductivity values, negative redox potential values and depleted terminal electron acceptors concentrations in the contaminated locations. Throughout the investigation, the geophysical measurements supported the conductive model and consistently recorded low resistivity anomalies, high chargeability values and attenuated GPR reflections in the contaminated zones. Additionally, significant negative self-potential anomalies associated with oxidation-reduction processes coupled to the biodegradation of hydrocarbons were recorded in the groundwater contaminated zone. Based on this observation, a redox potential map of the contaminated site was constructed by the inversion of the field self potential data. Throughout the process, a groundwater model was first calibrated to remove the electrokinetic component from the SP signal. Then, the obtained residual self potential data was inverted for the electrical current density by using an inversion algorithm which includes minimizing a cost function with a data misfit contribution and a regularizer. As a result, the obtained current density was used to construct a map of redox potential showing the borders and the redox front of the contaminant plume. The redox contribution was explained by vertical dipoles distributed across the capillary fringe, supporting further the mechanism of bio-geo-battery which was created due to the existence of a strong redox potential gradient between the highly reducing conditions within the plume and the oxidizing conditions outside the plume. Furthermore, elevated magnetic susceptibility values were recorded in the biologically active transition zone where bio-precipitation of iron minerals is occurring. Given these results, this study showed that biological alterations of hydrocarbons induced subtle changes in the pore water biogeochemistry, which consequently modified the geophysical properties of the contaminated sediments. The extent of groundwater contamination was delineated according to the geophysical contrast between the contaminated and clean zones. Moreover, the combination of the different geophysical methods, constrained by the geochemical point measurements, provided insight on the different processes which might have modified the soil and groundwater biogeochemical properties at the contaminated site.

Le stockage est la méthode de traitement des déchets non dangereux la plus communément utilisée dans le monde entier car elle est un moyen simple et économique pour leur élimination. Malgré une volonté nationale et européenne pour réduire le stockage de déchets biodégradables, une quantité non négligeable est encore enfouie entrainant la mise en place de modes de gestion spécifique. Autrefois exploitées comme de simples fosses de remplissage, les installations de stockage de déchets non dangereux (ISDND) sont aujourd’hui des ouvrages complexes dont l’objectif est de réduire l’impact environnemental et de valoriser énergétiquement le biogaz produit par la biodégradation de la matière organique. Afin d’accélérer les processus de biodégradation un casier de déchets peut être exploité en mode bioréacteur en réinjectant des lixiviats pour augmenter la teneur en eau des déchets. Le défi des années 2000 était de dimensionner et valider les systèmes de réinjection de lixiviat pour garantir une distribution optimale de la teneur en eau dans les massifs de déchets. Aujourd’hui, la question est de de suivre l’évolution de la biodégradation en tous points d’un massif pour notamment comprendre l’effet de ce mode de gestion. Les méthodes géophysiques en plus d’être non-destructives et spatialisantes sont utilisées depuis des années sur les ISDND et pourraient être sensibles à l’évolution de la biodégradation d’un massif de déchets, comme cela a été démontré pour la biodégradation d’autres milieux. Ainsi la problématique de cette thèse est d’évaluer la capacité de certaines méthodes géophysiques pour suivre l’évolution des paramètres bio-physico-chimiques d’un massif de déchets au cours de sa biodégradation. Un premier travail bibliographique a permis d’identifier quatre méthodes électriques parmi les méthodes géophysiques disponibles pour répondre à cette question :• La résistivité électrique• Le potentiel spontané• La polarisation provoquée• La polarisation provoquée spectraleAprès cet état de l’art, le travail de thèse a été séparé en trois parties. La première a été consacrée à la mise en place du suivi de ces quatre méthodes à l’échelle du laboratoire dans des conditions contrôlées, la seconde à analyser le suivi géophysique long terme sur le site industriel de la SAS Les Champs Jouault et la dernière a évaluée les observations à ces deux échelles. Enfin, la conclusion présente le potentiel de la méthode de mesure du potentiel provoquée comme la plus pertinente pour suivre l’évolution de la biodégradation d’un déchet non dangereux au cours du temps et aborde son utilisation dans un cadre industriel. / Storage is the most commonly used waste treatment method in the world because it is a simple and economical way to dispose of solid waste. Despite a national and European desire to reduce the storage of biodegradable waste, a significant amount is still buried, leading to the implementation of specific management methods. Formerly exploited as mere filling pits, MSWL are today complex structures whose objective is to reduce the environmental impact and energetically valorize the biogas produced by the biodegradation of organic matter. In order to accelerate biodegradation processes, a waste cell can be operated in bioreactor mode by reinjecting leachates to increase the water content of the waste. The challenge of the 2000s was to size and validate leachate re-injection systems to ensure optimal distribution of water content in the waste mass. Today, the question is to monitor evolution of the biodegradation in all points of a waste mass in particular to understand the effect of this management mode. Geophysical methods in addition to being non-destructive and spatializing have been used for years on MSWLs and could be sensitive to the evolution of a waste mass biodegradation, as has been demonstrated for the biodegradation of others environments. Thus the problematic of this thesis is to evaluate the capacity of certain geophysical methods to monitor the evolution of the bio-physicochemical parameters of a waste mass during its biodegradation. A first bibliographic work identified four electrical methods among the geophysical methods available to answer this question:• Electrical resistivity• Self potential• Time domain induced polarization• Spectral induced polarizationAfter this state of the art, the thesis work was separated into three parts. The first one was devoted to the implementation of the monitoring of these four methods at the laboratory scale under controlled conditions, the second to analyze the long-term geophysical monitoring at the industrial site of SAS Les Champs Jouault and the last one to evaluate the observations at these two scales. Finally, the conclusion presents the potential of time domain induced polarization method as the most relevant to monitor the evolution of a waste mass biodegradation over time and discusses its use in an industrial setting.

Em razão da crescente preocupação com a proteção ao meio ambiente e preservação da qualidade das águas superficiais e subterrâneas, as áreas de disposição de resíduos, tanto domésticos como industriais, têm merecido especial atenção das instituições de pesquisa ligadas à proteção ambiental. Atualmente o uso dos métodos geoelétricos vem se destacando como metodologia indireta de investigação de áreas afetadas pela disposição inadequada de resíduos sólidos urbanos e industriais pois fornecem, desde que adequadamente escolhidas as técnicas e os parâmetros de aquisição, informações importantes com respeito à localização e geometria dos depósitos de resíduos, extensão da pluma de contaminação, posição da zona saturada e sentido do fluxo subterrâneo, características litológicas e presença de estruturas geológicas. A integração de ferramentas como simulações e métodos de interpretação qualitativa e quantitativa também auxiliam na caracterização e monitoramento ambiental de áreas de disposição de resíduos sólidos. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi a avaliação de alguns parâmetros de aquisição 2D (arranjos eletródicos, espaçamento entre eletrodos e níveis de investigação) com os métodos da Eletrorresistividade e da Polarização Induzida, para caracterização e monitoramento ambiental. Esta avaliação foi realizada através do uso de modelagens diretas bidimensionais e ensaios de campo, tendo como área de estudos o antigo lixão do município de Ribeirão Preto-SP. O uso das modelagens diretas permitiu escolher os melhores parâmetros de aquisição de acordo com as respostas obtidas pelo modelo geológico-geofísico simulado. Os parâmetros de aquisição testados em campo refletiram os resultados obtidos através das modelagens diretas. O arranjo Polo-dipolo (a= 5 metros e n= 10) apresentou os melhores resultados (melhor resolução lateral e maior profundidade de investigação). Os resultados obtidos com as investigações de campo comparados com resultados anteriores (1997), mostraram que ainda há contaminação, marcada por baixos valores de resistividade elétrica (1 à 30 Ohm.m) e altos valores de cargabilidade (15 à 50 mV/V). / Due to the increasing concern with the environmental protection and preservation of the shallow water and groundwater aquifers quality, the areas of disposal of residues, have been special attention of the environmental protection agency. Currently the geoelectrical methods have been largely used as an investigation non-evasive methodology in affected areas by inadequate disposal of urban solid and industrial residues, because it provides information of the localization and geometrical characteristics of the waste disposal, contamination plume extent, saturated zone position, underground flow direction and geologic characteristic, if the techniques and the acquisition parameters are adequately chosen. The simulations and interpretation methods also assists during the characterization and environmental monitoring of landfill areas. The objective of this research was the evaluation of the acquisition field parameters (electrodes arrays, electrodes spacing and number of the investigations levels) and 2D investigations with the resistivity and induced polarization methods for characterization and environmental monitoring. This evaluation was carried through the use of 2D forward modeling and field investigations in old landfill site at Ribeirão Preto city, São Paulo, Brazil. The use of the forward modeling allowed to choose the best field acquisition parameters in accordance with the answers for the geologic-geophysical simulated model. The comparison between our results and previous results showed contamination marked for low electric resistivity values (1 ? 30 Ohm.m) and high chargeability values (15 ? 50 mV/V) and also that the tested parameters of acquisition in agreement with the results of the forward modeling. The Pole-dipole array (a= 5 meters and n= 10) show the best result (resolution image and investigation depth), forward modelling and field acquisition.

Em razão da crescente preocupação com a proteção ao meio ambiente e preservação da qualidade das águas superficiais e subterrâneas, as áreas de disposição de resíduos, tanto domésticos como industriais, têm merecido especial atenção das instituições de pesquisa ligadas à proteção ambiental. Atualmente o uso dos métodos geoelétricos vem se destacando como metodologia indireta de investigação de áreas afetadas pela disposição inadequada de resíduos sólidos urbanos e industriais pois fornecem, desde que adequadamente escolhidas as técnicas e os parâmetros de aquisição, informações importantes com respeito à localização e geometria dos depósitos de resíduos, extensão da pluma de contaminação, posição da zona saturada e sentido do fluxo subterrâneo, características litológicas e presença de estruturas geológicas. A integração de ferramentas como simulações e métodos de interpretação qualitativa e quantitativa também auxiliam na caracterização e monitoramento ambiental de áreas de disposição de resíduos sólidos. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi a avaliação de alguns parâmetros de aquisição 2D (arranjos eletródicos, espaçamento entre eletrodos e níveis de investigação) com os métodos da Eletrorresistividade e da Polarização Induzida, para caracterização e monitoramento ambiental. Esta avaliação foi realizada através do uso de modelagens diretas bidimensionais e ensaios de campo, tendo como área de estudos o antigo lixão do município de Ribeirão Preto-SP. O uso das modelagens diretas permitiu escolher os melhores parâmetros de aquisição de acordo com as respostas obtidas pelo modelo geológico-geofísico simulado. Os parâmetros de aquisição testados em campo refletiram os resultados obtidos através das modelagens diretas. O arranjo Polo-dipolo (a= 5 metros e n= 10) apresentou os melhores resultados (melhor resolução lateral e maior profundidade de investigação). Os resultados obtidos com as investigações de campo comparados com resultados anteriores (1997), mostraram que ainda há contaminação, marcada por baixos valores de resistividade elétrica (1 à 30 Ohm.m) e altos valores de cargabilidade (15 à 50 mV/V). / Due to the increasing concern with the environmental protection and preservation of the shallow water and groundwater aquifers quality, the areas of disposal of residues, have been special attention of the environmental protection agency. Currently the geoelectrical methods have been largely used as an investigation non-evasive methodology in affected areas by inadequate disposal of urban solid and industrial residues, because it provides information of the localization and geometrical characteristics of the waste disposal, contamination plume extent, saturated zone position, underground flow direction and geologic characteristic, if the techniques and the acquisition parameters are adequately chosen. The simulations and interpretation methods also assists during the characterization and environmental monitoring of landfill areas. The objective of this research was the evaluation of the acquisition field parameters (electrodes arrays, electrodes spacing and number of the investigations levels) and 2D investigations with the resistivity and induced polarization methods for characterization and environmental monitoring. This evaluation was carried through the use of 2D forward modeling and field investigations in old landfill site at Ribeirão Preto city, São Paulo, Brazil. The use of the forward modeling allowed to choose the best field acquisition parameters in accordance with the answers for the geologic-geophysical simulated model. The comparison between our results and previous results showed contamination marked for low electric resistivity values (1 ? 30 Ohm.m) and high chargeability values (15 ? 50 mV/V) and also that the tested parameters of acquisition in agreement with the results of the forward modeling. The Pole-dipole array (a= 5 meters and n= 10) show the best result (resolution image and investigation depth), forward modelling and field acquisition.

The Kaponda Prospect represents a surface of 915.8 km² located at about 10 km south of the town of Lubumbashi and 33km NW of Kasumbalesa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It lies within Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Katangan Supergroup in the Central African Copperbelt (CACB). In this province, copper mineralization occurs at different stratigraphic level with different associated alteration. Mineralization is of multistage origin from synsedimentary, diagenetic to post orogenic. Since the discovery of the CACB in the early 20th century, several exploration techniques have been used to delineate Cu deposits. A review and application of these methods including remote sensing, geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drilling, gives an insight of their effectiveness and limitation before analyzing their results from the Kaponda Prospect. The geology and structure of the Prospect is represented by a series of two NW trending disharmonic tight anticlines, locally domal, with cores occupied by either Roan Group or “Grand Conglomerat” Formation. These anticlines are separated by an open syncline made of Kundelungu rocks. Two mains direction of faults are recognized, the NW and NE trending structures. The latter direction are normal transfer faults which can serve as conduit for mineralization. They are related to the late orogenic extension of the Lufilian belt. However NE trending faults are believed to be associated to the climax of Lufilian folding or represents synsedimentary intergrowth faults. Exploration approach for sediment-hosted Cu within Kaponda Prospect, take into account the integration of all information derived from different techniques. Remote sensing is used as aid to geology. Landsat and Google earth images show lineaments that corresponds to lithostratigraphy boundary and domal anticline. Geological mapping identified reduced horizons which can potentially host mineralization, whereas analysis of structure measurements reveals the geometry of fold and direction of its axial plane and hinge. Statistical methods such as the main + 2 standard deviation, the frequency histogram and probability plot, together with experiential method are used to constrain and define Cu and Co thresholds values in soil samples. It appears that in this region, log-probability plot and histogram methods combined with spatial representation and the experience of the region, are the best practice to constrain and separate geochemical background from anomaly data. Ground and airborne magnetic, and radiometric images show specific signatures which map alteration and particularly lithostratigraphy such as “Roan” Group, “Grand Conglomerat” unit, “Nguba” cap carbonates and “Kundelungu” siliciclastic units. Analysis of faults interpreted from geophysical maps identified three major directions: E-W, NE-SW and NW-SE. The E-W faults are also interpreted as normal transfer faults such NE-SW structures, consistent with regional geological map. Although pole-dipole array of induced polarization (IP) survey was directly targeting disseminated Cu sulphide, its results suffer in responding to graphitic rocks and barren pyrite. Only relative small chargeable bodies need to be tested in drilling follow-up. A total of 15 targets have been generated through re-interpretation and integration of both geological mapping and remote sensing, geochemical and geophysical data, as well as existing drilling. Specific recommendations of follow-up works are advised for each type of target.

No description available.

Geophysical methods are essential for exploration and monitoring of subsurface formations, e.g. in carbon dioxide sequestration or enhanced geothermal energy. One of the keys to their successful application is the knowledge of how the measured physical quantities are related to the desired reservoir parameters. The work presented in this thesis shows that the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in pore space gives rise to multiple processes all of which contribute to the electrical rock conductivity variation. Basically, three mechanisms take place: (1) CO2 partially replaces the pore water, which is equivalent to a decrease in water saturation. (2) CO2 chemically interacts with the pore water by dissolution and dissociation. These processes change both the chemical composition and the pH of the pore filling fluid. (3) The low-pH environment can give rise to mineral dissolution and/or precipitation processes and changes the properties of the grain-water interface. Investigations on the pore water phase show that the reactive nature of CO2 in all physical states significantly acts on the electrical conductivity of saline pore waters. The physico-chemical interaction appears in different manifestations depending mainly on the pore water composition (salinity, ion types) but also on both temperature and pressure. The complex behaviour includes a low- and a high-salinity regime originating from the conductivity increasing effect of CO2 dissociation, which is opposed by the conductivity decreasing effect of reduced ion activity caused by the enhanced mutual impediment of all solutes. These results are fundamental since the properties of the water phase significantly act on all conduction mechanisms in porous media. In order to predict the variation of pore water conductivity, both a semi-analytical formulation and an empirical relationship for correcting the pore water conductivity, which depends on salinity, pressure and temperature, are derived. The central part of the laboratory experiments covers the spectral complex conductivity of water-bearing sand during exposure to and flow-through by CO2 at pressures up to 30MPa and temperatures up to 80°C. It is shown that the impact of CO2 on the real part of conductivity of a clean quartz sand is dominated by the low- and high-salinity regime of the pore water. The obtained data further show that chemical interaction causes a reduction of interface conductivity, which could be related to the low pH in the acidic environment. This effect is described by a correction term, which is a constant value as a first approximation. When the impact of CO2 is taken into account, a correct reconstruction of fluid saturation from electrical measurements is possible. In addition, changes of the inner surface area, which are related to mineral dissolution or precipitation processes, can be quantified. Both the knowledge gained from the laboratory experiments and a new workflow for the description and incorporation of geological geometry models enable realistic finite element simulations. Those were conducted for three different electromagnetic methods applied in the geological scenario of a fictitious carbon dioxide sequestration site. The results show that electromagnetic methods can play an important role in monitoring CO2 sequestration. Compared to other geophysical methods, electromagnetic techniques are generally very sensitive to pore fluids. The proper configuration of sources and receivers for a suitable electromagnetic method that generates the appropriate current systems is essential. Its reactive nature causes CO2 to interact with a water-bearing porous rock in a much more complex manner than non-reactive gases. Without knowledge of the specific interactions between CO2 and rock, a determination of saturation and, consequently, a successful monitoring are possible only to a limited extend. The presented work provides fundamental laboratory investigations for the understanding of the electrical properties of rocks when the reactive gas CO2 enters the rock-water system. All laboratory results are put in the context of potential monitoring applications. The transfer from petrophysical investigations to the planning of an operational monitoring design by means of close-to-reality 3D FE simulations is accomplished.

Geophysical methods are essential for exploration and monitoring of subsurface formations, e.g. in carbon dioxide sequestration or enhanced geothermal energy. One of the keys to their successful application is the knowledge of how the measured physical quantities are related to the desired reservoir parameters. The work presented in this thesis shows that the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) in pore space gives rise to multiple processes all of which contribute to the electrical rock conductivity variation. Basically, three mechanisms take place: (1) CO2 partially replaces the pore water, which is equivalent to a decrease in water saturation. (2) CO2 chemically interacts with the pore water by dissolution and dissociation. These processes change both the chemical composition and the pH of the pore filling fluid. (3) The low-pH environment can give rise to mineral dissolution and/or precipitation processes and changes the properties of the grain-water interface. Investigations on the pore water phase show that the reactive nature of CO2 in all physical states significantly acts on the electrical conductivity of saline pore waters. The physico-chemical interaction appears in different manifestations depending mainly on the pore water composition (salinity, ion types) but also on both temperature and pressure. The complex behaviour includes a low- and a high-salinity regime originating from the conductivity increasing effect of CO2 dissociation, which is opposed by the conductivity decreasing effect of reduced ion activity caused by the enhanced mutual impediment of all solutes. These results are fundamental since the properties of the water phase significantly act on all conduction mechanisms in porous media. In order to predict the variation of pore water conductivity, both a semi-analytical formulation and an empirical relationship for correcting the pore water conductivity, which depends on salinity, pressure and temperature, are derived. The central part of the laboratory experiments covers the spectral complex conductivity of water-bearing sand during exposure to and flow-through by CO2 at pressures up to 30MPa and temperatures up to 80°C. It is shown that the impact of CO2 on the real part of conductivity of a clean quartz sand is dominated by the low- and high-salinity regime of the pore water. The obtained data further show that chemical interaction causes a reduction of interface conductivity, which could be related to the low pH in the acidic environment. This effect is described by a correction term, which is a constant value as a first approximation. When the impact of CO2 is taken into account, a correct reconstruction of fluid saturation from electrical measurements is possible. In addition, changes of the inner surface area, which are related to mineral dissolution or precipitation processes, can be quantified. Both the knowledge gained from the laboratory experiments and a new workflow for the description and incorporation of geological geometry models enable realistic finite element simulations. Those were conducted for three different electromagnetic methods applied in the geological scenario of a fictitious carbon dioxide sequestration site. The results show that electromagnetic methods can play an important role in monitoring CO2 sequestration. Compared to other geophysical methods, electromagnetic techniques are generally very sensitive to pore fluids. The proper configuration of sources and receivers for a suitable electromagnetic method that generates the appropriate current systems is essential. Its reactive nature causes CO2 to interact with a water-bearing porous rock in a much more complex manner than non-reactive gases. Without knowledge of the specific interactions between CO2 and rock, a determination of saturation and, consequently, a successful monitoring are possible only to a limited extend. The presented work provides fundamental laboratory investigations for the understanding of the electrical properties of rocks when the reactive gas CO2 enters the rock-water system. All laboratory results are put in the context of potential monitoring applications. The transfer from petrophysical investigations to the planning of an operational monitoring design by means of close-to-reality 3D FE simulations is accomplished.

The parity violating weak decay of hyperons offers a valuable means of measuring their polarization, providing insight into the production of strange quarks and the matter they compose. Jefferson Lab’s CLAS collaboration has utilized this property of hyperons, publishing the most precise polarization measurements for the Λ and Σ in both photoproduction and electroproduction to date. In contrast, cascades, which contain two strange quarks, can only be produced through indirect processes and as a result, exhibit low cross sections thus remaining experimentally elusive. At present, there are two aspects in cascade physics where progress has been minimal: characterizing their production mechanism, which lacks theoretical and experimental developments, and observation of the numerous excited cascade resonances that are required to exist by flavor SU(3)F symmetry. However, CLAS data were collected in 2008 with a luminosity of 68 pb−1 using a circularly polarized photon beam with energies up to 5.45 GeV, incident on a liquid hydrogen target. This dataset is, at present, the world’s largest for meson photoproduction in its energy range and provides a unique opportunity to study cascade physics with polarization measurements. The current analysis explores hyperon production through the γp → K+K+Ξ− reaction by providing the first ever determination of spin observables P, Cx and Cz for the cascade. Three of our primary goals are to test the only cascade photoproduction model in existence, examine the underlying processes that give rise to hyperon polarization, and to stimulate future theoretical developments while providing constraints for their parameters. Our research is part of a broader program to understand the production of strange quarks and hadrons with strangeness. The remainder of this document discusses the motivation behind such research, the method of data collection, details of their analysis, and the significance of our results.