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TerraTherm Goes
International
December 2005. ISTD Pilot Test Completed at a Fractured
Rock Site in the UK
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TerraTherm's John Bierschenk and Gorm Heron
stand inside the freight container bound for TerraTherm's first
international project site - UK Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell
site in England. |
TerraTherm's first demonstration in fractured rock was completed
at the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell site in England, where
disposal pits above a chalk layer have led to serious DNAPL
contamination. Remediation of fractured rock sites impacted by
non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) such as chlorinated solvents and
oils presents a unique challenge because the source zone can
contain both residual and pooled NAPL in open fractures, as well
as aqueous phase contaminants that have diffused into the rock
matrix. The Harwell pilot test was completed by AIG and TerraTherm
in December 2005, with promising results. TerraTherm is in the
process of performing further data evaluation of this site. |
TerraTherm's ISTD technology is ideally suited for treatment of
non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) located in fractured rock
settings. Since the heating is not dependent on permeability
pathways, essentially complete heating is achieved at every site.
Using a specially designed borehole, every rock penetration can be
used for extraction of fluids. This ensures that NAPL and
contaminants released from fractures, and from the matrix, are
swept along the paths of least resistance towards the nearby
heater wells for recovery. This feature reduces the need for
detailed understanding of interconnections between boreholes, and
provides for a robust thermal application where the risk of
spreading contaminants outside of the treatment area, or below the
treatment zone, is minimized.
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