Emplacement of treatment agents using soil fracturing for remediation of subsurface environmental contamination
First Claim
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1. A method for increasing remediation of a contaminated subsurface formation, the method comprising:
- (a) fracturing the subsurface formation to result in a network of fractures in the formation; and
(b) simultaneously injecting an aqueous slurry comprising an optional proppant and a solid-phase or nonaqueous-phase treatment agent into the network of fractures.
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Abstract
A method for treating contamination in subsurface formations includes fracturing the soil to produce a network of fractures in the formation and simultaneously injecting a slurry containing an optional proppant and a solid-phase or nonaqueous-phase treatment agent into the network of fractures. The proppant is for keeping the fractures open, and the treatment agent accelerates conversion of the contaminants into immobile or less toxic forms. Chitin is an illustrative solid-phase treatment agent, which functions as an electron donor for anaerobic reductive dechlorination mediated by dechlorinating bacteria.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for increasing remediation of a contaminated subsurface formation, the method comprising:
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(a) fracturing the subsurface formation to result in a network of fractures in the formation; and (b) simultaneously injecting an aqueous slurry comprising an optional proppant and a solid-phase or nonaqueous-phase treatment agent into the network of fractures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for treating groundwater comprising a plume of contamination in a subsurface formation, the method comprising:
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(a) determining the size, depth, and direction of movement of the plume of contamination in the subsurface formation; (b) creating a treatment zone configured for intercepting the plume of contamination, comprising (1) fracturing the subsurface formation to result in a network of fractures in the formation, and (2) simultaneously injecting an aqueous slurry comprising an optional proppant and a solid-phase or nonaqueous-phase treatment agent into the network of fractures; and (c) monitoring conversion of one or more contaminants in the plume of contamination into one or more non-hazardous products. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for increasing anaerobic reductive dechlorination of a chlorinated source area in a low permeability formation comprising:
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(a) fracturing the low permeability formation to result in a network of fractures in the formation; and (b) partially filling the network of fractures with an aqueous slurry comprising a proppant and a solid phase electron donor. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification