Ground water remediation control process

Details Ground water remediation control process Ground water remediation control process

1999-01-29

2001-08-21

Lillis, Eileen D (Department: 3673)

Hydraulic and earth engineering

Temperature modification or control of earthen formation

Heating

C405S130000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06276873

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to methods for removing organic contaminants from underground water formations and, specifically, to methods for controlling treatment methods used in removing contaminants from subsurface formations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The urgency of removing organic contaminants from underground water formations has become increasingly more apparent during the last three decades. This urgency has spawned a tremendous effort to improve ground water decontamination techniques.
Subsurface decontamination techniques fall into one of two broad classes, above-ground methods and in situ methods. Above-ground methods generally require the removal of contaminated soil and water from the subsurface formation, treatment of such soil and water in above-ground facilities, and re-introduction of the decontaminated soil and water into the subsurface formation. Above-ground methods have been found to be effective but extremely expensive, especially where the subsurface contamination is wide-spread.
For this reason, in situ methods are preferred whenever possible. In in situ methods, the contaminated zone within the subsurface formation is treated in situ by heating or by some other process to mobilize the contaminants. Once mobilized, the contaminants, in the form of contaminated liquids and vapors, are withdrawn from a contaminated zone via one or more extraction wells. The contaminated liquids and vapors are thereafter treated separately at above ground facilities.
One problem with such in situ methods is how to properly control the treatment process so as to maximize yields while minimizing costs. For many prior art in situ methods, the treatment process has been controlled by reference to the amount of non-soluble liquid contaminants extracted from the subsurface formation. This is especially true for in situ methods where the predominant contaminants are non-volatile heavy organic materials. The applicants have discovered, however, that such prior art control methods are based on erroneous assumptions and can lead to marked inefficiencies in the remediation process.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved subsurface remediation process having greater efficiency than processes of the prior art.
SUMMARY
The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a continuous process for removing organic contaminants from a subsurface formation comprising the steps of:
(a) treating the subsurface formation to mobilize the organic contaminants, such treating of the subsurface formation including withdrawing from the subsurface formation a liquid stream and a vapor stream, the liquid stream containing water, dissolved carbonaceous material and non-dissolved carbonaceous material;
(b) separating the liquid stream into a first liquid stream component comprised substantially of water and soluble carbonaceous material and a second liquid stream component comprised substantially of non-soluble carbonaceous material;
(c) testing the first liquid component stream to determine C
d
, where C
d
is the amount of carbonaceous material in the first liquid stream component produced per unit of time by the treating of the subsurface formation in step (a);
(d) testing the second liquid stream component to determine C
n
, where C
n
is the amount of carbonaceous material in the second liquid stream component produced per unit of time by the treating of the subsurface formation in step (a);
(e) testing the vapor stream to determine C
v
, where C
v
is the amount of carbonaceous material in the vapor stream produced per unit of time by the treating of the subsurface formation in (a);
(f) determining C
g
, where C
g
is the quantity of carbonaceous materials in the vapor stream produced per unit of time by the treating of the subsurface formation in step (a), which is attributable to carbonaceous material in the subsurface formation other than the organic contaminants;
(g) computing C
c
, where C
e
=C
d
+C
n
+C
v
−C
g
; and
(h) controlling the treating of the subsurface formation in step (a) using C
c
.
In a typical embodiment, the treating of the subsurface formation is accomplished by heating a subsurface formation by the injection of steam. In this embodiment, the controlling of the treating of the subsurface formation largely entails the controlling of the input of steam to the subsurface formation so as to maximize the efficiency of the mobilization and removal of organic contaminants from the subsurface formation.


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