Horizontal wells can lower costs of remediating soil, groundwater

Journal Article · Mon Nov 29 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Oil and Gas Journal; (United States)

OSTI ID:5697249

Conventional approaches to soil and groundwater remediation make extensive use of vertical wells that penetrate the various contamination phases--liquid, adsorbed, dissolved, and vapor. But advances in horizontal drilling have added a new dimension to the remediation of hazardous soils and groundwater. Whereas conventionally drilled wells are perpendicular to the central axis of hazardous waste, horizontal wells can travel parallel to the axis. Dual wells can flank entire plumes for aggressive treatment, and sparge points can become sparge barriers--boundaries against migration of the contaminants. Under the right conditions, a single horizontal well can treat areas that previously required as many as 10 vertical wells. This not only reduces drilling costs, but also eliminates redundant hardware for groundwater pumping or soil vapor extraction. The paper briefly describes five applications and discusses limitations to the use of the technology.

• OSTI ID: 5697249
• Journal Information: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 91:48; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
CLEANING
COST
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LAND RECLAMATION
MANAGEMENT
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM REFINERIES
PIPELINES
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SOILS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER