Rethinking Remediation Budgets

Consultants that know which technologies can save money on the remediation budgets have proven that they can provide value to their clients. Horizontal remediation wells are often thought of as a way to overcome technical challenges, however, many consultants have found that horizontal wells frequently lead to significant cost savings compared to traditional vertical wells. The two case studies below provide examples of resourceful consultants who used horizontal remediation wells to save money on remediation budgets.

Case Study 1: Park Redevelopment

A 15-acre tract of land had been fast-tracked for redevelopment into a regional park. The consultant was tasked with extracting VOCs and methane from the soil prior to redevelopment without delaying the schedule. Adding to the challenge, the SVE system would need to continue operating after the redevelopment had taken place. Based on the consultant’s original design of 34 vertical wells, this meant that the original installation of vertical wells would operate for a short time and then be abandoned to allow for heavy equipment and grading activities and then be reinstalled after redevelopment.

The consultant approached these challenges by reaching out to Directional Technologies to explore whether horizontal remediation wells would be a potential fit for their project. It was determined that horizontal remediation wells could drastically cut back on the total number of wells required and that the horizontal wells could be designed so that they could continue operating throughout the redevelopment and entirely avoid the need to abandon and reinstall the wells. Approval was received to pilot test a horizontal SVE well to verify mass removal rates.

Following a successful horizontal pilot well test demonstrating that VOC and methane mass removal rates were over two times what had been achieved by an earlier vertical pilot well test, a full-scale remedial approach consisting of seven 800-foot long horizontal multiport SVE wells was implemented. The horizontal wells were comprised of three 3-inch diameter horizontal wells within one borehole. The horizontal multiport design was used to maximize control of applied vacuum to target areas and extend the radius of influence. Mass removal rates of 405 pounds per day for VOCs and 62 pounds per day of methane were achieved by the remediation system with a measurement of 87 feet radius of influence from the wells. 

Using horizontal remediation wells designed and installed by Directional Technologies, the consultant was able to save money on the project budget by:

• Avoiding the need to reinstall a second set of wells following redevelopment
• Reducing the overall number of wells
• Reducing the overall time to reach site closure and associated O&M costs by achieving better remediation system performance

Case Study 2: Busy Bulk Fuel Terminal

A consultant was tasked with remediating petroleum contamination at a 24-hour bulk fuel terminal. The bustling fuel terminal was busy around the clock and any time that operations would need to be shut down to allow for drilling activities would have a significant financial cost to their client. The large size of the plume meant that many vertical wells would be needed and that the facility would be shut down for significant periods of time during vertical drilling activities.

While evaluating alternative approaches for the project, the consultant determined that they may be able to entirely avoid having to shut down operations at the fuel terminal by using horizontal remediation wells. Reaching out to Directional Technologies, a plan was developed to install 21 horizontal air sparge wells that were configured to allow operations at the facility to continue uninterrupted during installation and subsequent O&M. Over 13,000 feet of horizontal wells were installed beneath the terminal’s refueling racks, parking lot, roadways, and office buildings. The 21 wells were installed from three common starting points for subsequent plumbing into the remediation system.

Using horizontal remediation wells designed and installed by Directional Technologies, the consultant was able to save money on the project budget by:

• Avoiding the need to shut down the facility during drilling and subsequent O&M, saving the client from losing substantial amounts of business
• Reducing the overall number of wells
• Reducing the overall time to reach site closure and associated O&M costs by achieving better remediation system performance

Conclusions

Horizontal remediation wells are an effective way to save money for your clients and put you in a position to be their go-to consultant.

Are you evaluating your projects to see whether horizontal remediation wells can be used to make your remediation budgets more competitive? Call our horizontal remediation well experts at 1-877-788-4479 to discuss your current project needs.