Remediation Technologies / Soil Vapour Extraction (SVE)

Soil vapour extraction is an established technology for the in-situ and ex-situ remediation of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in soils. The process removes soil vapour contaminated with VOC’s and generates a mass transfer of VOC’s from the soil pores to the vapour phase.

A high percentage of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminant reduction in SVE schemes is achieved by enhanced biodegradation. The introduction of oxygen to the formation can replace the depleted oxygen used by indigenous aerobic bacteria and encourage a population growth.

Optimisation of a soil vapour extraction scheme for bio-venting can result in effective remediation of less volatile compounds such as those associated with diesel, kerosene or heavier oils.

Different site conditions and contaminants will require different applications of the process. Such variables may include:

• Well spacing
• Well construction
• Extraction rate
• Applied vacuum