Oleophilic bio-barrier for controlling NAPL migration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10112854-B2
Application number	US-201414485631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2014
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

A method for controlling petroleum hydrocarbon (NAPL) sheen releases resulting from seeps, ebullition and erosion, on water surfaces, is described. An oleophilic bio-Barrier (OBBs), which may include a composite of hydrocarbon sorptive materials through which water is readily conducted, is placed at a groundwater/surface water interface (GSI) for promoting natural aerobic degradation of the intercepted/adsorbed NAPL through natural cycling of aerobic surface water and/or atmospheric oxygen. OBBs may be protected by structural covers (i.e., sand and rock gabions, as examples).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling hydrocarbons discharged from ground water to surface water at a ground water/surface water interface, comprising:
placing an oleophilic biobarrier (OBB) in contact with the ground in the region of said ground water/surface water interface;
leaving the OBB in contact with the ground at the ground water/surface water interface such that naturally occurring microbes colonize within the OBB;
absorbing hydrocarbons discharged from the ground water to the surface water at the ground water/surface water interface at the OBB;
wherein said OBB comprises a first mat having a first mat upper surface and a first mat lower surface, with the first mat lower surface in contact with the ground; an oleophilic open structural layer having a structural layer upper surface and a structural layer lower surface, with the structural layer lower surface in contact with the first mat upper surface; a second mat having a second mat upper surface and a second mat lower surface, with the second mat lower surface in contact with the structural layer upper surface, thereby forming a sandwich structure having open ends; and a sand layer located above the second mat upper surface for, at least in part, enhancing the adsorption of said hydrocarbons; whereby the first and second mat are each comprised of an oleophilic material that is nutrient, water and air transmissive and effective for supporting growth of said naturally occurring microbes; and whereby the OBB is configured such that nutrients, water and air are able to transfer through the OBB; and
attenuating said hydrocarbons via biodegradation by the colonized naturally occurring microbes, thereby preventing release thereof from said ground water to said surface water;
wherein said biodegradation by the colonized naturally occurring microbes is facilitated by cycling from surface water and/or atmospheric oxygen through the OBB due to the placement of the OBB in contact with the ground in the region of said ground water/surface water interface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the OBB further comprises a third mat over the sand-covered second mat, wherein the third mat is nutrient, water and air transmissive.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the OBB further comprises a cover layer over the third mat, wherein the cover layer mechanically stabilizes the OBB, and limits erosion driven releases of absorbed hydrocarbons.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the open ends of the OBB are covered with textile to limit sediment invasion into the OBB, wherein the textile is nutrient, water and air transmissive.

5. A method for remediation of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) hydrocarbon sheens discharged from ground water to surface water at a ground water/surface water interface, the method comprising:
placing an oleophilic biobarrier (OBB) in contact with the ground in the region of said ground water/surface water interface
leaving the OBB in contact with the ground at the ground water/surface water interface such that naturally occurring microbes colonize within the OBB;
absorbing NAPL hydrocarbon sheens discharged from the ground water to the surface water at the ground water/surface water interface at the OBB;
wherein the OBB comprises a top mat and a bottom mat, each comprised of oleophilic material that is nutrient, water and air transmissive and effective for supporting colonization of naturally occurring microbes from the ground; an oleophilic open structural layer located between the top mat and bottom mat thereby forming a sandwich structure having open ends; and a sand layer located above the top mat for, at least in part, enhancing the adsorption of said NAPL hydrocarbon sheens; whereby the OBB is configured such that nutrients, water and air is able to transfer through the OBB; and
remediating said NAPL hydrocarbon sheets via biodegradation by the colonized naturally occurring microbes, thereby preventing release thereof from said ground water to said surface water;
wherein biodegradation by the colonized naturally occurring microbes is facilitated by cycling of surface water and/or atmospheric oxygen through the OBB due to the placement of the OBB in contact with the ground in the region of said ground water/surface water interface.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the OBB further comprises a third mat over the sand-covered top mat.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the OBB further comprises a cover layer over the third mat, wherein the cover layer over the third mat mechanically stabilizes the OBB, and limits erosion driven releases of absorbed NAPL hydrocarbon sheens.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the open ends of the OBB are covered with textile to limit sediment invasion into the OBB, wherein the textile is water and air transmissive.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado State Res Found
• Chevron Usa Inc
• Arcadis Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Zimbron Julio A
• Sale Thomas C
• Biondolillo Matthew J
• Batten Philip H
• Chalfant Marc
• Lyverse Mark

Classifications

• C02F3/02 Primary

  Aerobic processes · CPC title

• C02F2103/06

  Contaminated groundwater or leachate · CPC title

• C02F2101/32

  Hydrocarbons, e.g. oil · CPC title

• Y02W10/15

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02W10/10

  Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage · CPC title