Method and system for remediation of groundwater contamination

A method of remediating a hydrocarbon-contaminated subterranean static plume of groundwater to destroy or reduce the initial concentration levels of hydrocarbon contaminants, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a plurality of mutually spaced wells intersecting said static plume groundwater;
• (b) measuring the change in water depth at each of said wells following atmospheric precipitation, to determine by common depth changes the likelihood of said plume;
• (c) confirming the existence of the static plume by generating a test flow of a solution of hydrogen peroxide or acetic acid from one of said wells and monitoring the absence of pH changes at each other of said wells as a function of time;
• and
• (d) providing a treating flow of solutions of acetic acid, of ferrous ion, and of hydrogen peroxide from each of said wells to establish a radial sweep about each said well, the total volumes and respective concentrations of treating solutions being effective to bring about a Fenton-like reaction generating hydroxyl free radicals for oxidizing said contaminants.

A method for remediating a hydrocarbon-contaminated region of a subterranean body of groundwater to destroy or reduce the initial concentration levels of hydrocarbon contaminants, comprising:

• establishing acidic conditions at said groundwater region;
• and
• introducing flows of aqueous solutions of ferrous ion and of hydrogen peroxide into said groundwater region, for mixing with said acidified groundwater;
• said hydrogen peroxide undergoing a Fenton-like reaction in the presence of said acidic conditions and said ferrous ion to generate hydroxyl free radicals for oxidizing said contaminants.