In-situ remediation system and method for contaminated groundwater

A system for in-situ decontamination of groundwater carrying contaminants in a generally horizontal plume partially or wholly located below a water table in a saturated zone under a portion of the surface of the earth, said contaminants having an affinity for a gaseous phase, said system comprising

• a fluid means capable of volatilizing said contaminants to said gaseous phase;
• an injecting well means for injecting said fluid means below said water table on one side of said plume, said injecting well means having a pump and at least one shaft;
• an extracting well means for extracting said fluid means, said extracting well means spaced apart from said injecting well means and positioned on an opposing side of said plume so that said extracting well means draws said fluid means across said plume from said first well means thereby enabling said contaminants to volatilize to said gaseous phase and to be extracted with said fluid means, said extracting well means having a pump and at least one shaft;
• and
• a treatment means operatively connected to said extracting well means so that said treatment means receives said fluid means and said volatilized groundwater contaminants for treatment.

A process for in-situ decontamination of groundwater carrying volatile contaminants having an affinity for a gaseous phase, said contaminants being in the form of a subsurface plume, said process comprising the steps of

• pumping a fluid capable of volatilizing said contaminants into a saturated zone proximate to said plume;
• drawing said fluid across said plume so that said contaminants volatilize and can be carried with said fluid;
• pumping said fluid and said contaminants from said plume into a vadose zone;
• collecting said fluid and said contaminants;
• separating said fluid from said contaminants;
• and
• treating said contaminants.

A process for in-situ decontamination of groundwater carrying volatile contaminants having an affinity for a gaseous phase, said contaminants being in the form of a subsurface plume, said process comprising the steps of

• constructing a horizontal injection well system on one side of said plume;
• constructing a horizontal extraction well system spaced apart from said horizontal injection well system on an opposing side of said plume;
• injecting a fluid capable of volatilizing said contaminants into said injection well system;
• drawing said fluid across said plume so that said contaminants volatilize;
• extracting said fluid and said volatilized contaminants from said extraction well;
• separating said fluid from said volatilized groundwater contaminant;
• and
• treating said separated ground water contaminants.