Abstract: Methods and systems of treating an oil shale formation using an in situ thermal process are described herein. A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ includes providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from at least the portion to a selected section of the formation substantially by conduction of heat; pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section of the formation; and producing a mixture from the formation.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. Vapors produced from heating soil at one site may be used to heat contaminated soil at another site. A fluid directed to a portion of heated contaminated soil may accelerate heat transfer through the site of contaminated soil or through another site of contaminated soil. A method may include heating contaminated soil from more than one site at substantially the same time. Heating contaminated soil from more than one site at substantially the same time may include in situ and ex situ treatment at a common location.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. The method may include heating soil at a first site with a plurality of heat sources to substantially reduce contamination of the soil at the first site. Soil at a second site may be heated using a plurality of heat sources. A portion of vapors produced from the second site may be allowed to enter the substantially uncontaminated first site. Contaminants within the portion of vapors produced from the second site may be at least partially destroyed at the first site.

Abstract: An in situ soil remediation system may be used to remove or reduce levels of mercury contamination within soil. The soil remediation system may also remove or reduce levels of other contaminants within the soil. Mercury may be vaporized within the soil by a heating system. The vaporized mercury may be removed from the soil by a vacuum system. The vaporized mercury may pass through heated risers that elevate the vaporized mercury. After the vaporized mercury passes from the heated risers, the vaporized mercury may be allowed to cool, condense, and flow downward to a treatment facility. Removing mercury from the soil as a vapor may provide an economical, safe, and efficient way to remediate mercury contaminated soil.

Abstract: A method is provided to remove contaminants from contaminated soil. The method may include withdrawing vapors from a vapor extraction well, estimating the amount of water vapor removed from the contaminated soil in the vapors being withdrawn from the vapor extraction well, and applying heat to the contaminated soil from a plurality of heater wells at a rate not greater than that which would vaporize the estimated amount of water vapor. The permeability of the soil may thereby increase by the application of heat. Six or more heat injection wells may be provided for each vapor extraction well, and the heat injection wells may be placed and energized in a regular pattern around the vapor extraction well, which may include multiple rings of heaters around each vapor extraction well.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. Contaminated soil at the plurality of treatment sites may be treated with equipment in a central treatment facility. Treatment of the plurality of sites may be coordinated such that equipment in the central treatment facility operates substantially continuously as soil is delivered to, treated at, and removed from various treatment sites. The plurality of sites may be treated in a sequential manner, in which soil is delivered to one site, treated at a second site, and removed from a third site substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: Freeze wells may be used to isolate an area for soil remediation. Freeze wells may form a frozen barrier around a treatment area. The frozen barrier may inhibit fluid from entering into the treatment area. The frozen barrier may also inhibit migration of contamination out of the treatment area. The frozen barrier may be used to surround all of the perimeter of the treatment area. A frozen barrier may also be formed above or below a treatment area. Freeze wells may be activated in advance of soil remediation so that a frozen barrier is formed when soil remediation is begun. The soil remediation may be accomplished by any type of soil remediation system, including a thermal soil remediation system. Heaters of a thermal soil remediation system may be may be placed close to the frozen barrier without the barrier being broken through during remediation.

Abstract: An in situ thermal desorption system may be used to remove contamination from soil. Off-gas removed from the soil may be transported from the soil to a treatment facility by high temperature hoses and plastic piping. The use of high temperature hose and plastic pipe may reduce the capital cost, installation cost, and operating cost as compared to conventional transport systems from thermal desorption soil remediation systems. The high temperature hose and plastic pipe are highly resistant to corrosion caused by the off-gas. The treatment facility may separate the off-gas into a liquid stream and a vapor stream. The liquid stream and the vapor stream may be processed to reduce contaminants within the liquid stream and vapor stream to acceptable levels.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. Contaminated soil at the plurality of treatment sites may be treated with equipment in a central treatment facility. Treatment of the plurality of sites may be coordinated such that equipment in the central treatment facility operates substantially continuously as soil is delivered to, treated at, and removed from various treatment sites. The plurality of sites may be treated in a sequential manner, in which soil is delivered to one site, treated at a second site, and removed from a third site substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. The method may include heating soil at a first site with a plurality of heat sources to substantially reduce contamination of the soil at the first site. Soil at a second site may be heated using a plurality of heat sources. A portion of vapors produced from the second site may be allowed to enter the substantially uncontaminated first site. Contaminants within the portion of vapors produced from the second site may be at least partially destroyed at the first site.

Abstract: Methods are provided for remediating contaminated soil. The methods may include collecting contaminated soil at a plurality of treatment sites. The contaminated soil at one or more of the plurality of treatment sites may be at least partially contained. Vapors produced from heating soil at one site may be used to heat contaminated soil at another site. A fluid directed to a portion of heated contaminated soil may accelerate heat transfer through the site of contaminated soil or through another site of contaminated soil. A method may include heating contaminated soil from more than one site at substantially the same time. Heating contaminated soil from more than one site at substantially the same time may include in situ and ex situ treatment at a common location.

Abstract: A method is provided to remove contaminants from contaminated soil. The method may include withdrawing vapors from a vapor extraction well, estimating the amount of water vapor removed from the contaminated soil in the vapors being withdrawn from the vapor extraction well, and applying heat to the contaminated soil from a plurality of heater wells at a rate not greater than that which would vaporize the estimated amount of water vapor. The permeability of the soil may thereby increase by the application of heat. Six or more heat injection wells may be provided for each vapor extraction well, and the heat injection wells may be placed and energized in a regular pattern around the vapor extraction well, which may include multiple rings of heaters around each vapor extraction well.

Abstract: An in situ soil remediation system may be used to remove or reduce levels of mercury contamination within soil. The soil remediation system may also remove or reduce levels of other contaminants within the soil. Mercury may be vaporized within the soil by a heating system. The vaporized mercury may be removed from the soil by a vacuum system. The vaporized mercury may pass through heated risers that elevate the vaporized mercury. After the vaporized mercury passes from the heated risers, the vaporized mercury may be allowed to cool, condense, and flow downward to a treatment facility. Removing mercury from the soil as a vapor may provide an economical, safe, and efficient way to remediate mercury contaminated soil.

Abstract: Freeze wells may be used to isolate an area for soil remediation. Freeze wells may form a frozen barrier around a treatment area. The frozen barrier may inhibit fluid from entering into the treatment area. The frozen barrier may also inhibit migration of contamination out of the treatment area. The frozen barrier may be used to surround all of the perimeter of the treatment area. A frozen barrier may also be formed above or below a treatment area. Freeze wells may be activated in advance of soil remediation so that a frozen barrier is formed when soil remediation is begun. The soil remediation may be accomplished by any type of soil remediation system, including a thermal soil remediation system. Heaters of a thermal soil remediation system may be may be placed close to the frozen barrier without the barrier being broken through during remediation.

Abstract: An in situ thermal desorption (ISTD) soil remediation system may be used to remove or reduce contamination within soil. Heat may be transferred to the soil from resistively heated, bare metal heater elements. The heater elements may be placed directly within the soil. Alternately, the heater elements may be suspended within casings. The heater elements may be conductive heaters, or the heater elements may be radiative heater elements. The ISTD soil remediation system may include temperature-resistant, chemical resistant, flexible conduits that transport off-gas removed from the ground to a treatment facility. A residence time of off-gas within the conduits may be sufficient to allow the off-gas to cool so that the off-gas may pass to a treatment facility through a manifold and piping made of polymeric material.

Abstract: A soil remediation system, such as an in situ thermal desorption system, may be used to treat contaminated soil in a treatment area with an arcuate obstruction in the treatment area. A pattern of wells may be positioned to avoid placing a well in a wall of the obstruction. The well pattern may be oriented based upon the center of the obstruction. A well of the well pattern may be placed at the center of the obstruction. Alternatively, the center of the obstruction may be positioned at a centroid of a unit of the well pattern, or at the midpoint of a side of a unit of the well pattern. The well pattern may be a regular pattern that is positioned so that the arcuate obstruction is placed within a large gap between adjacent orbitals (or rings) of the regular well pattern.

Abstract: A perforated casing may be placed within contaminated soil. Perforations within the casing may be covered during insertion of the casing into the ground. Covering the perforations may inhibit plugging of the perforations during installation. Covering the perforations may also inhibit worker exposure to contaminant dust or vapors during insertion of the casing into the ground. The covering for the perforations in a casing may be plugs that are placed or formed in the casing perforations. Alternately, the covering for the perforations may be a sleeve placed adjacent to the perforations. After installation of the casing, heating or chemically treating the perforation coverings may remove the coverings and allow insertion or removal of fluids and vapor through the casing.

Abstract: An in situ thermal desorption soil remediation system may be used to remove contamination from soil. Heat may be applied to the soil by metallic strip heaters that have large cross sectional areas as compared to conventional heater elements. The strip heaters may be made of stainless steel. Large cross sectional areas of the strip heaters allow for large areas of thermal contact between the strip heaters and the soil being treated. Casings may not be needed between the strip heaters and the soil. The operating temperature of the strip heaters is self-regulating. As the temperature of a strip heater increases, the electrical resistance of the strip heater also increases. The increase in resistance causes a decrease in the power dissipation of the strip heater. The decrease in power dissipation as temperature increases allows a steady state heater strip temperature to be attained during use.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The formation to be treated may be selected based on initial moisture content of the formation.

Abstract: An in situ thermal desorption (ISTD) soil remediation system may be used to remove or reduce contamination within soil. Heat may be transferred to the soil from resistively heated, bare metal heater elements. The heater elements may be placed directly within the soil. Alternately, the heater elements may be suspended within casings. The heater elements may be conductive heaters, or the heater elements may be radiative heater elements. The ISTD soil remediation system may include temperature-resistant, chemical resistant, flexible conduits that transport off-gas removed from the ground to a treatment facility. A residence time of off-gas within the conduits may be sufficient to allow the off-gas to cool so that the off-gas may pass to a treatment facility through a manifold and piping made of polymeric material.