Contamination removal system

• US 4,600,508 A
• Filed: 02/21/1984
• Issued: 07/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Limited (John Wood Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Limited (John Wood Group PLC)
• Inventors: DeGhetto, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cintins, Ivars
• Application Number:
  US06/581,627
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 134/25.1, 134/25.5, 134/40, 134/42, 210/747, 210/805, 210/170, 210/532.2, 405/128, 405/129
• US Class Current: 210/170.07
• CPC Class Codes: B09C 1/02 Extraction using liquids, e.g. washing, leaching , flotation
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/10 Valve arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/00 Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells applicable only to water E03B
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/30 Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/18 Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets E21B7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method for removing contaminated fluid from the ground in which water is pumped through a perforated pipe system into the ground to be decontaminated. The water and the contaminants are then drawn into a second pipe system and to a treatment unit for separating the contaminants from the water before the latter is returned to the first perforated pipe system.

Claims

1. A system for removing contaminants from the ground comprising a first network of vertically extending perforated risers extending into the ground;

means for pumping water through said risers for discharging the water through said perforations and into said ground such that the water absorbs the contaminants;

a second network of vertically extending perforated risers disposed in said ground in the vicinity of said first network of risers;

vacuum means for drawing water, along with the absorbed contaminants, through the perforations of said second network of risers;

means defining at least one discharge slot at the lower end portion of each of said risers;

a valve unit disposed in each riser for controlling the flow of water through said riser and said slots, each valve unit including a pair of spaced valve seats, and a valve member moveable in said riser between said valve seats, said valve unit and said valve seats being configured to permit a relatively high velocity discharge of water from said slots of the risers connected to said pumping means to facilitate installation of said risers into said ground, and to prevent flow into said slots of the risers connected to said vaccuum means to prevent the ingress of solid materials into said risers;

means connected to said second pipe network for removing the contaminants from said water; and

means connecting the contaminant-removal means to said pumping means for recirculating said water through said first pipe network.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cross-header and two headers connected to the respective ends of said cross-header to form a substantially U-shaped configuration, said first network of risers being connected to said headers.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a cross-header, and a plurality of headers connected to said cross-header and to said risers of said first and second network of risers.

4. The system of claims 2 or 3 wherein said pumping means comprises a pump, and means connecting said pump to the cross-header associated with said first network of risers for distributing said water through the corresponding headers and risers.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a header connected to said second network of risers.

6. The system of claims 2 or 5 wherein said headers extend horizontally and rest on the upper surface of said ground.

7. The system of claims 3 or 5 wherein said vacuum means comprises a vacuum pump and means connecting said vacuum pump to the headers associated with said second network of risers for drawing said water and said contaminants into and through the corresponding risers and headers.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising storage means connected to said contaminant-removal means for receiving said water from said contaminant-removal means.