Containment of subsurface contaminants

Patent · Tue Sep 06 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:7079274

Corey, J C

A barrier is disclosed for reducing the spread of a plume of subsurface contaminants. The apparatus includes a well system for injecting a fluid, such as air, just outside and below the periphery of the plume. The fluid is injected at a pressure sufficient to lower the hydraulic conductivity of the soil from the point of injection to the surface thus establishing a curtain-like barrier to groundwater movement. The barrier is established upgradient of the plume to divert groundwater away, or preferably completely around the plume to reduce the flow of groundwater into or out of the plume. The barrier enables the remediation of the confined contamination and then, when the injection of the fluid is halted, the barrier quickly dissipates. 5 figs.

• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5345034; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 8-012864
• OSTI ID: 7079274
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 3 Feb 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
POLLUTANTS
CONTAINMENT
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WATER
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)