In-situ deep remediation injection system and method

Abstract

An improved deep remediation injection system for in-situ remediation of contaminated soil and ground water. The system includes a soil penetrating lance for injecting at least two different highly-pressurized fluids taken from the group of air, gaseous oxygen, ozone, oxygenated liquid, hydrogen peroxide, surfactant-containing liquid, catalyst-containing liquid and suspended biologicals-containing liquids, or a liquid containing other chemicals, into said contaminated soil as said soil penetrating lance is inserted for penetration therein. The soil penetrating lance has at least an upper set of injection ports, the upper set of injection ports being generally radially spaced-apart on said lance, and at least one lower set of injection ports, the lance having an average width in the vicinity of the upper set of injection ports. The lance further includes substantially fluidically-independent first and second conduits leading, respectively, to the lower set of injection ports and the upper set of injection ports so as to permit delivery of separate pressurized fluid streams to the upper and lower sets of injection ports and then into the soil. The upper and lower sets of injection ports are spaced apart from each other on said lance a distance no farther than about three times the average width of said lance in the vicinity of the upper set of injection ports.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A soil penetrating lance for high pressure deep remediation of contaminated soil and ground water capable of progressive soil penetration in both vertical and horizontal direction comprising: 
 an upper set of injection ports radially-spaced apart;    a lower set of injections ports wherein said upper and lower sets of injection ports being spaced apart from each other on said lance a distance no farther than about three times the average width of the lance in the vicinity of the upper set of injection ports; and    an independent first and second conduit leading to said upper and lower set of injection ports wherein separate pressurized fluids are delivered to said upper and lower sets of injection ports and then into the soil.    
     
     
         2 . The soil penetrating lance of  claim 1  wherein said injection ports are angled upwardly at approximately 15 degrees.  
     
     
         3 . The soil penetrating lance of  claim 1  wherein said lower set of injection ports are recessed into a first circumferential groove.  
     
     
         4 . The soil penetrating lance of  claim 1  wherein said lower set of injection ports further comprises an axial port.  
     
     
         5 . A method of deep remediation of contaminated soil and ground water comprising the steps of: 
 evaluating the soil to determine the capacity and pore spacing;    delivering a first high pressure fluid to the soil with a soil penetrating lance wherein the lance comprises an upper set of injection ports radially-spaced apart, a lower set of injections ports, the upper and lower sets of injection ports being spaced apart from each other on the lance a distance no farther than about three times the average width of the lance in the vicinity of the upper set of injection ports, and an independent first and second conduits leading to the upper and lower set of injection ports wherein the first high pressure fluid is delivered to the upper set of injection ports; and    delivering a second high pressure fluid to the soil with the soil penetrating lance wherein said second high pressure fluid is delivered to said lower set of injection ports.    
     
     
         6 . The soil penetrating lance of  claim 5  wherein said injection ports are angled upwardly at approximately 15 degrees.  
     
     
         7 . The soil penetrating lance of  claim 5  wherein said lower set of injection ports are recessed into a first circumferential groove.  
     
     
         8 . The soil penetrating lance of  claim 5  wherein said lower set of injection ports further comprises an axial port.  
     
     
         9 . A handle for a soil penetrating lance capable of delivering high pressure fluids in both vertical and horizontal directions having an upper set of injection ports radially-spaced apart, a lower set of injections ports, the upper and lower sets of injection ports being spaced apart from each other on the lance, and an independent first and second conduits leading to the upper and lower set of injection ports, respectively, the handle comprising: 
 at least two hand grips for holding the lance, at least one hand grip having a surface for receiving a driving force to assist the penetration of the contaminated soil; and    a slide channel adaptable for movement up and down the length of the soil penetrating lance and extensions thereof.    
     
     
         10 . A method of delivery of highly-pressurized fluids to soil pore spaces using an injection lance capable of progressive penetration both vertically and horizontally in soil having an upper set of injection ports and a lower set of injection ports, comprising the steps of: 
 evaluating the soil field capacity and pore spacing to determine the amount of fluid which can be added to said soil;    developing a treatment grid as to depth of treatment and as to spacing of penetration holes in the soil, and holding time for each downward penetration step;    selecting at least two highly-pressurized fluids for delivery to the soil pore spaces;    connecting a source of the first highly-pressurized fluid to one of the upper and lower sets of injection ports;    connecting a source of the second highly-pressurized fluid to the other of the upper and lower sets of injection ports, the second highly-pressurized fluid being different from the first highly-pressurized liquid;    penetrating the lance into said soil to inject the first and second fluids into it through said upper and lower sets of injection ports;    stopping the lance penetration at steps of penetration for time sufficient to deliver the determined amount of fluid to said soil;    driving the soil penetrating lance into the contaminated soil to the next stop for treatment; and    repeating the above steps for each of said stops in said treatment grid until the whole in-situ remediation site has been treated.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first highly-pressurized fluid selected from the group consisting of an oxygenating liquid taken from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, liquid containing dissolved ozone, liquid containing dissolved oxygen, liquid-containing suspended biologicals or liquid containing catalyst, or liquid containing a surfactant or liquid containing nutrients, and the second highly-pressurized fluid selected from the group consisting of an oxygenating liquid taken from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, liquid containing dissolved ozone, liquid containing dissolved oxygen, liquid-containing suspended biologicals or liquid containing catalyst, or liquid containing a surfactant or liquid containing nutrients.