AIR SPARGE/BIOREMEDIATION DEMONSTRATION IN FRACTURED OIL SHALE

摘要

A combined air sparge and bioremediation technology is being conducted to eliminate volatile organic contamination from a fractured oil shale aquifer at depths ranging from 65 to 95 ft (19.8 to 29.0 m). The remediation is being conducted at a site in southwest Wyoming for the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) of the U.S. Department of Energy in Morgantown, West Virginia. Site characterization indicated that a non-dissolved contaminant source existed within the fractures and micro-fractures of the oil shale. This source material is introducing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) contamination into the groundwater. Pre-demonstration concentrations in 12 monitoring wells ranged from 31 to 3,960 μg/L and averaged 1,063 μg/L. The air sparge operations as of October 24, 2000 have reduced BTEX contamination to an average of 67 μg/L. This represents an approximate BTEX reduction of 94 percent.