Wells – With heating – refrigerating or heat insulating means – Electrical heater in well
Patent
1993-01-26
1994-06-07
Britts, Ramon S.
Wells
With heating, refrigerating or heat insulating means
Electrical heater in well
405128, E21B 4324
Patent
active
053181166
ABSTRACT:
An in situ method for removal of contaminants from soil imposes a vacuum on the soil through perforated heater wells that are positioned in the soil. The heater wells heat the soil to elevated temperatures by thermal conduction. The heater wells are permeable to vapors which emanate from the soil when heated and which are drawn towards the heater wells by the imposed vacuum. An impermeable flexible sheeting on the soil surface reduces the amount of air that is being pulled into the heater well from the atmosphere. A thermal insulator covers the soil surface and reduces heat losses from the soil surface. The heater wells are connected to a vacuum manifold for collection of vapors. A heat front moves away from the heater wells through the soil by thermal conduction, and the superposition of heat from a plurality of heater wells results in a more uniform temperature rise throughout the well pattern. Soil contaminants are removed by vaporization, in situ thermal decomposition, oxidation, combustion, and by steam distillation. Both the presence of water vapor and the low pressure results in vaporization of the contaminants at temperatures well below their normal boiling points. Moreover, the heater wells and the nearby soil are extremely hot and most contaminants drawn into the wells will decompose with a residence time of the order of seconds. The heater well can also be packed with a catalyst that accelerates high temperature decomposition into simpler molecules. Water vapor and remaining contaminants may be incinerated in line or may be collected in a cold trap upstream from the vacuum pump.
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Chou Charles C.
de Rouffignac Eric P.
Stegemeier George L.
Vinegar Harold J.
Britts Ramon S.
Shell Oil Company
Tsay Frank S.
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