Well evacuator

Abstract

The nature of the invention is the use of WELL-EVACUATOR™ to extract and convey polluted liquid and vapor from wells to the surface for separation and treatment. This technology is an alternative to use of conventional well pumps alone or in combination with soil vapor extraction or two phase extraction. Three applications are presented; circulated water supplied as prime mover to eductor(s), compressed air prime mover, and soil vapor extraction blower in combination with WELL-EVACUATOR™. All three rely on use of a prime mover such as water or air supplied to a jet to create a vacuum capable of extracting and conveying water and soil vapor under pressure from a well to separation and treatment equipment at the surface. If the well head is sealed, a vacuum is created in the subsurface enhancing removal of contaminants. These novel applications allow use of commercially available equipment.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 ) A process for extracting, conveying, separating and treatment of contaminated liquid and vapor from the subsurface which comprises: 
 a) providing extraction tube(s) in well(s) with jet eductor(s) positioned below or above ground to remove liquid, vapor or a combination thereof, over a portion or the entire length of the well(s);    b) piping, or fittings, and manifolds for supplying prime mover including but not limited to water, air, or steam to eductor(s) within well(s) and collection of liquid and vapor discharged from wells;    c)foot check valve(s) at the end of extraction tube(s) to prevent reversed flow;    d) strainers to prevent check valves from plugging;    e) piping to convey vapor and liquid from eductor to above ground equipment;    f) vessel for liquid/vapor separation;    g) vapor treatment equipment including but not limited to activated carbon, aluminum oxide, molecular sieves, biofilters, catalytic oxidation, combustion;    h) pump(s) for conveying liquid to equipment for storage and treatment;    i) tank for storage of liquid;    j) liquid treatment equipment including but not limited to activated carbon, aluminum oxide, air stripping, combustion, activated sludge, molecular sieves;    k) instrumentation for control and monitoring of process parameters;    l) pumps, boilers, air compressors for supplying prime mover(s);    m) seal(s) at well head(s), boring(s) or opening(s) with provisions for facilitating piping or tubing, so that a vacuum applied within the extraction tube will extract gases and liquids from the subsurface but not above the seal.    
     
     
         2 ) A process for extracting, conveying, separating and treatment of contaminated liquid and vapor from the subsurface which comprises: 
 a) providing extraction tube(s) in well(s) with eductor(s) positioned below ground to remove liquid over a portion or the entire length of the well(s). Vapor blower(s), fan(s), eductors or other vacuum devices attached to well head to convey vapor to surface mounted separation and treatment units.    b) piping, or fittings, and manifolds for supplying prime mover including but not limited to water, air, or steam to eductor(s) within well(s);    c)foot check valve(s) at the end of extraction tube(s) to prevent reversed flow;    d) strainers to prevent check valves from plugging;    d) piping to convey vapor and liquid from eductor to above ground equipment;    e) vessel for liquid/vapor separation;    f) vapor treatment equipment including but not limited to activated carbon, aluminum oxide, molecular sieves, biofilters, catalytic oxidation, combustion;    g) pump(s) for conveying liquid to equipment for storage and treatment;    h) tank for storage of liquid;    i) liquid treatment equipment including but not limited to activated carbon, aluminum oxide, air stripping, combustion, activated sludge, molecular sieves;    j) instumentation for control and monitoring of process parameters;    k) pumps, boilers, air compressors for supplying prime mover(s);    l) seal(s) at well head(s), boring(s) or opening(s) with provisions for facilitating piping or tubing, so that a vacuum applied within the extraction tube will extract gases and liquids from the subsurface but not above the seal.    
     
     
         3 ) A process for extracting, conveying, separating and treatment of contaminated liquid from multiple wells or openings from the subsurface which comprises: 
 a) providing extraction tubes in wells with jet eductors positioned above ground and manifolded to remove liquid, over a portion or the entire length of multiple wells    b) piping, or fittings, and manifolds for supplying liquid to eductors within wells and collection of liquid and vapor discharged from wells;    c)foot check valve(s) at the end of extraction tube(s) to prevent reversed flow;    d) strainers to prevent check valves from plugging;    e) piping to convey vapor and liquid from eductor to above ground equipment;    f) vessel for liquid/vapor separation to prevent cavitation, loss of prime and/or air locking pump;    g) liquid treatment equipment including but not limited to activated carbon, aluminum oxide, air stripping, combustion, activated sludge, molecular sieves;