Client: Major Pipeline Company
Location: Southeastern U.S.
Contract Amount: Confidential
A major pipeline experienced a pipeline break in a limestone Karstic landscape typified by sinkholes, and caves. An estimated 60,000 gallons of diesel fuel burst through the ground and migrated over soil and entered the groundwater. Approximately one acre of soil (characterized as sandy CLAY loam) was saturated with fuel from three (3) to eight (8) foot depths.
Remtech Engineers, Marietta, Ga., was engaged to manage the soil remediation at this site. Alternate technologies including, onsite incineration, offsite incineration, offsite biodegradation, and onsite biodegradation were evaluated. Onsite bioremediation using HC-2000 was selected since it was the most cost-effective alternative (50% of other remedial costs).
A multi-layered horizontal aeration injection/extraction manifold was selected with an integrated water/enzyme application system to treat soils in place. Heated injection air from the heat of compression of regenerative blowers alternating between positive and negative pressure modes was used to supply oxygen to the native microbes.
The functional groundwater treatment design consisted of using the soil treatment system as an infiltration gallery for enzymes and water to treat vadose zone soils and attack free product trapped in rock caverns, fractures, and other geological anomalies. Air and enzyme injection through an existing free product monitoring well network (over 100 wells) accelerated bioremediation of the saturated zone.
Soil Bioremediation Area
Figure 2: TPH Diesel Groundwater Degradation Data
Groundwater Treatment Area