Isolation of soil with a low temperature barrier prior to conductive thermal treatment of the soil

A method of forming a frozen barrier for a soil remediation system, comprising:

• forming a plurality of wellbores for freeze wells in soil along a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area;
• placing a first cryogenic fluid in the wellbores to form a frozen barrier adjacent to the wellbores that inhibits fluid flow into the wellbores from soil adjacent to the wellbores;
• expanding the frozen barrier outward;
• and
• installing a soil remediation system in the treatment area, wherein the soil remediation system is configured to heat soil in the treatment area to at least 100° C.

A system for soil remediation comprising:

• freeze wells placed in soil around a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area, the freeze wells configured to form a side frozen barrier;
• soil remediation wells placed in the treatment area, wherein the soil remediation wells are configured to heat soil in the treatment area to at least 100° C., and wherein a first portion of one or more of the soil remediation wells extends below soil contamination into a permeable soil layer;
• and
• refrigeration conduits within the first portion of at least one of the soil remediation wells, wherein the refrigerant conduits allow formation of a bottom frozen barrier in the permeable soil layer below the contaminated soil.

A method of remediating soil comprising:

• forming a frozen barrier along a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area to inhibit fluid flow into the treatment area;
• heating contaminated soil within the treatment area to at least 100° C.;
• and
• removing contamination from the contaminated soil within the treatment area.

A method of remediating soil comprising:

• installing freeze wells along a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area;
• installing water wells to a first side of the freeze wells;
• using the water wells to inhibit water flow adjacent to the freeze wells;
• forming a frozen barrier using the freeze wells;
• and
• installing a soil remediation system in the treatment area, wherein the soil remediation system is configured to heat soil in the treatment area to at least 100° C.

A method of soil contamination remediation, comprising:

• placing a plurality of freeze wells in a pattern along a perimeter of soil to be treated;
• cooling soil adjacent to the freeze wells to form a frozen barrier;
• and
• remediating the soil to be treated to reduce contaminant levels within the soil to be treated, wherein remediating the soil to be treated comprises heating the soil to be treated to at least a vaporization temperature of at least one contaminant in the soil to be treated.

A method of forming a frozen barrier for a soil remediation system, comprising:

• forming a plurality of wellbores for freeze wells in soil along a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area;
• placing a first cryogenic fluid in the wellbores to form a frozen barrier adjacent to the wellbores that inhibits fluid flow into the wellbores from soil adjacent to the wellbores;
• expanding the frozen barrier outward;
• and
• installing a soil remediation system in the treatment area, wherein the soil remediation system is configured to heat soil in the treatment area to at least a vaporization temperature of at least one contaminant in the soil in the treatment area.

A system for soil remediation comprising:

• freeze wells placed in soil around a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area, the freeze wells configured to form a side frozen barrier;
• soil remediation wells placed in the treatment area, wherein the soil remediation wells are configured to heat the soil in the treatment area to at least a vaporization temperature of at least one contaminant in the soil in the treatment area, and wherein a first portion of one or more of the soil remediation wells extends below soil contamination into a permeable soil layer;
• and
• refrigeration conduits within the first portion of at least one of the soil remediation wells, wherein the refrigerant conduits allow formation of a bottom frozen barrier in the permeable soil layer below the contaminated soil.

A method of remediating soil comprising:

• forming a frozen barrier along a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area to inhibit fluid flow into the treatment area;
• heating soil within the treatment area to at least a vaporization temperature of at least one contaminant in the treatment area;
• and
• removing contamination from the contaminated soil within the treatment area.

A method of remediating soil comprising:

• installing freeze wells along a portion of a perimeter of a treatment area;
• installing water wells to a first side of the freeze wells;
• using the water wells to inhibit water flow adjacent to the freeze wells;
• forming a frozen barrier using the freeze wells;
• and
• installing a soil remediation system in the treatment area, wherein the soil remediation system is configured to heat soil in the treatment area to at least a vaporization temperature of at least one contaminant in the treatment area.