Groundwater Treatment Patents (Class 210/747.7)
  • Patent number: 11014829
    Abstract: The quick response system and method for removing volatile compounds from contaminated water disclosed herein may comprise, at least, a preconditioning stage, a stripping stage, a condenser stage, a refrigeration stage, and a scrubber stage. The present invention relates to a portable system and method that can be deployed on an emergency or quick response basis to purify aqueous streams containing volatile organic compounds (VOC) and chlorinated hydrocarbons, collectively volatile compounds (VC), emitted from petroleum and chemical processing facilities. The system allows manufacturing facilities having internal cleanup issues to become compliant with environmental standards and guidelines quickly. Once the issues in the petroleum facility are fixed, this method can be demobilized and removed from the site in a short period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Harikrishnan Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 10619324
    Abstract: A method for renewing a placement area may include one or more of the following steps. A dredge barge may be disposed inside a placement area containing materials dredged from one or more other locations and disposed within the placement area. Material may be dredged from the placement area. The dredged material may be processed. Water may be added to the placement area to maintain a flotation level of the dredge barge. The dredge barge may be removed from the placement area. The water may be removed from the placement area. This process may allow a placement area to be continually renewed and may allow useful materials to be recovered from a placement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Placement Area Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Clayton Henderson, Alan Morris, Nathan Wilkes
  • Patent number: 10137486
    Abstract: Contaminant-containing soil can be remediated by subjecting the soil to microwave irradiation to heat the soil to a combustion temperature of from 150° C. to 1200° C. to initiate combustion. A target amount of the contaminant in the soil is destroyed. An oxidizer gas can be flowed through the soil using a gas blower and at least one gas injection line and controlled at a rate such that a self-sustaining smoldering combustion front is formed that moves through the soil. A microwave absorber additive can be added to the soil to accelerate the heating of the soil. At least one waveguide connected to a source of microwave energy directs microwaves into the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Roopa Kamath, Schaun Malcolm Smith, Deyuan Kong, Gunther H. Dieckmann, Cesar Ovalles
  • Patent number: 10076776
    Abstract: A dissolved phase contaminant recovery system is provided that can recover water contaminated with dissolved phase contaminants from regions of organic or coarse-grained soil. The system includes injection wells placed in the region for injecting uncontaminated water into the soil, and recovery wells placed for recovering water contaminated with dissolved phase contaminants, the recovery wells placed proximal to the injection wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc.
    Inventors: Sherree Dallyn, Murphy Calvin
  • Patent number: 9662692
    Abstract: A berm to increase capacity of an existing landfill comprises a reinforced portion and backfill material. The landfill comprises a waste-receiving recess having a surface and an outer perimeter, an edge surface peripherally adjacent at least a portion of the outer perimeter, and an existing accumulation of waste within the recess having a collective top surface. The reinforced portion has opposing inner and outer surfaces and comprises structural fill material and a plurality of reinforcing members disposed therein. The backfill material has an inner surface adjacent the inner surface of the reinforced portion. The inner surface of the reinforced portion and the adjacent inner surface of the backfill material are substantially non-planar. The backfill material is at least partially encapsulated by an impermeable membrane. At least a portion of the berm sits on at least a portion of the edge surface of the landfill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: AWT IP, LLC
    Inventors: Carlton Dudding, Carrie Pendleton
  • Patent number: 8968572
    Abstract: In a device and a process for purifying water which is contaminated with sulphate ions and heavy metal ions, the water is collected in a water reservoir and a substance having basic activity in water is fed to the water reservoir in such a manner that a precipitant having heavy metal ions is precipitated from the water, wherein at least a subquantity of water is taken off from the water reservoir and is separated into pure water which is substantially freed from sulphate ions and heavy metal ions and dirty water which is enriched with sulphate ions and heavy metal ions. The dirty water is at least in part recirculated to the water reservoir, as a result of which a concentration of sulphate ions in the water reservoir is achieved such that a precipitant having sulphate ions is precipitated from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Riebensahm
  • Patent number: 8739867
    Abstract: A remediation process that a employs improved quantitative method(s) of estimating of the volume and/or mass of contaminant in the subsurface, removal and or in situ degradation of the contamination using subsurface pulsing treatment (“SPT”) technology, and evaluation of the degree of remediation by re-applying the quantitative contaminant evaluation methods. The process uses SPT technology with the addition of a vacuum or sub-atmospheric pressure to an extraction well in order to create a push-pull effect to remove free contaminant or residual in conjunction with the pressure wave driving force created in the excitation or excitation well. The process can quantitatively measure the amount of residual contaminant, which up until now has not been possible or tractable using in situ methods, as well as measure the amount of residual that can be removed by SPT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: RemMetrik, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Panter
  • Patent number: 8663368
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture. In one embodiment water containing methane is passed through an agitation chamber with a plate at the chamber's proximal and distal ends. Both plates have orifices permitting the mixed fluid to pass into and out of the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid rotates about its axis of flow through the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid passes through a separation chamber having a plurality of baffles that promote separation of the methane from the methane/water mixture. In one embodiment, the separated methane is removed from the water in a collection chamber that facilitates gravity separation of the mixed fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Inventors: Bret Hettinger Wolz, John Mayer Kaufman
  • Patent number: 8617402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of raising the pH of a body of water having a pH of less than 4.5 by introducing neutralizing agent, the raising of the pH taking place in at least two stages thus: at pH levels below 4.5, a first neutralizing agent having a final conductivity of not more than 100 ?S/cm, and, after attainment of a pH of at least 4.5, a second neutralizing agent, having a final conductivity of more than 100 ?S/cm, is introduced into the body of water, the final conductivity of the neutralizing agents being defined as the conductivity of an aqueous suspension or solution of neutralizing agent in solution equilibrium at 25° C., having a neutralizing agent content of 0.015% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Rheinkalk GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pust, Günter Scholz, Helma Honig, Wolfgang König
  • Patent number: 8608968
    Abstract: Described herein are compounds, compositions, and methods useful for bioremediation of a contamination. In particular, described herein are compositions that include one or methyl esters of a fatty acid and one or more bioremediation reagents, and methods for their use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Carus Corporation
    Inventors: James Daniel Bryant, Keith Meyer
  • Patent number: 8580114
    Abstract: When a large-scale contaminant plume is located under a surface area with conditions that prevent placement of a network of injection and associated extraction wells, embodiments of the invention may be used to pump a specific volume of the contaminant plume to at least one remote in-situ treatment cell, comprising at least one injection well surrounded by a plurality of associated extraction wells, where each extraction well is less than 300 feet from the associated injection well, and has a treatment zone with treatment reagent between injection and associated extraction wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kleinfelder West, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Kenneth Tyler
  • Publication number: 20130292343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (1) and to a method for collecting chemical compound(s) in aggregate (S), characterized in that it comprises at least one surface on which is placed at least one geocomposite (2) comprising at least one draining layer (22) on which there are perforated mini-drains (23) each containing at least one chemical compound fixing filament (24), aggregate (S) being placed on said geocomposite (2) in such a way that a fluid (L), which becomes laden with chemical compound(s) as it passes through the aggregate (S), reaches the inside of said perforated mini-drains (23) in which said fixing filaments (24) collect the chemical compound(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: AFITEX INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: Yves Durkheim
  • Publication number: 20130248175
    Abstract: A method for recovering and treating hydrocarbon fluids using a hydraulic fracturing process wherein a fluid stream containing liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon species or both, produced water, suspended solids, and dissolved contaminants is recovered from a well. and hydrocarbon species are separated from the fluid stream to produce a second fluid stream comprising liquid water, which is then directed to a filter medium and essentially all of the second fluid stream passes through the medium to produce a permeate stream and a filter cake, and the filter cake is separated from the medium and disposed of separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: SIMON FRISK, Hyun Sung Lim, Lisa C. Bates, Peter Andrin, Basil El-Borno
  • Patent number: 8512557
    Abstract: Provided is a radon reduction apparatus for groundwater disinfection. The radon reduction apparatus includes an agitation space forming body that groundwater fed through a groundwater feed pipe passes through before inflow into the groundwater storage tank and that forms a water turbine installation space whose top portion is not filled with groundwater; a water turbine located in the water turbine installation space to be rotated by groundwater when the fed groundwater falls, is run against the bottom and scattered; an oxygen supply unit supplying oxygen to groundwater before inflow of the groundwater to the agitation space forming body; a ventilating fan rotated by receiving rotary power of the water turbine and connected to the water turbine installation space to discharge air of the water turbine installation space; and an antiseptic solution supply unit supplying antiseptic solution to be mixed with the groundwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources(KIGAM)
    Inventors: Kil Yong Lee, Kyung Seok Ko, Yoon Yeol Yoon
  • Patent number: 8480903
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for in-situ remediation of soil and groundwater having contaminants such as but not limited to organic compounds perhaps providing adsorption, chemical oxidation, and even biodegradation of contaminants with novel treatments such as but not limited to mixtures of granular activated carbon, calcium peroxide, sodium persulfate, and nitrate perhaps in various concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Jesse Clinton Taylor, III
  • Patent number: 8425776
    Abstract: A method of in situ treatment of wastewater that is contaminated with a heavy metal may include passing a flow of contaminated wastewater through a reactor vessel. The reactor vessel may contain a plurality of biofilm retaining structures. Each of the structures may at least be partially coated with a biofilm. Additionally, the biofilm may include a plurality of bacteria retained in a matrix and the matrix may include DNA, protein and carbohydrates produced by the bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Allegheny-Singer Research Institute
    Inventors: James Christopher Post, Garth David Ehrlich, John William Costerton
  • Patent number: 8409442
    Abstract: A system for treating fractionated water from an oil and gas well. The system comprising a filter system, a diffusive membrane system, a plurality of membrane sensors, and at least one membrane controller. The filter system is fluidly connected to the diffusive membrane system, wherein the filter system comprises a plurality of straining filter banks. The diffusive membrane system comprises a plurality of membrane banks each having an inlet and an outlet. The plurality of membrane sensors are positioned at the outlet of each of the plurality of membrane banks, and the plurality of membrane sensors are configured to detect the total dissolved solids level at the outlet of each of the plurality of membrane banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NG Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Booth
  • Patent number: 8398862
    Abstract: A method for extracting energy from hydrocarbons located in a geologic reservoir is presented, including the steps of: oxidizing the hydrocarbons; extracting heat generated from oxidizing the hydrocarbons, relocating oxidized gases away from the oxidizing hydrocarbons; and replenishing oxygen towards the oxidizing hydrocarbons. The extraction of heat further includes: evaporating a liquid; transferring the evaporated liquid to the surface; and recovering low-NaCl, low-precipitate water from the evaporated liquid. The replenishing of oxygen towards the oxidizing hydrocarbons further includes: generating oxygen from water; and transferring the generated oxygen toward the oxidizing hydrocarbons; and combining hydrogen derived from the generating step with surface oxygen, whereby heat and low-precipitate, pure water is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Charles Saron Knobloch
  • Patent number: 8366808
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture. In one embodiment water containing methane is passed through an agitation chamber with a plate at the chamber's proximal and distal ends. Both plates have orifices permitting the mixed fluid to pass into and out of the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid rotates about its axis of flow through the agitation chamber. In one embodiment, the mixed fluid passes through a separation chamber having a plurality of baffles that promote separation of the methane from the methane/water mixture. In one embodiment, the separated methane is removed from the water in a collection chamber that facilitates gravity separation of the mixed fluids. In one embodiment, liquid hydrocarbon is removed from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hycap Energy LLC
    Inventors: Bret Hettinger Wolz, John Mayer Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20120318747
    Abstract: When a large-scale contaminant plume is located under a surface area with conditions that prevent placement of a network of injection and associated extraction wells, embodiments of the invention may be used to pump a specific volume of the contaminant plume to at least one remote in-situ treatment cell, comprising at least one injection well surrounded by a plurality of associated extraction wells, where each extraction well is less than 300 feet from the associated injection well, and has a treatment zone with treatment reagent between injection and associated extraction wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Edward K. Tyler
  • Patent number: 8328996
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for desalinating water combined with power generation, wherein a desalination system is used for desalinating coastal seawater and is operationally related to a power generation system, wherein such dual purpose co-generation facility captures the heat vapor exhausted or a steam turbine generator's condenser is replaced by the desalination plant's heat exchanger enabling such captured heat energy to reduce the energy requirements of the desalination plant, and wherein brine solution being utilized by the desalination plant is circulated from and to the substrata sea water table via supply and return wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Girard Charles St. Germain, Richard N. Barnett
  • Patent number: 8252148
    Abstract: A mobile waste processing system and method is disclosed for processing materials in a tank, typically an underground storage tank. A mobile fluid processing module is disposed adjacent to or over the tank, and sealingly connected to the tank through a tank riser. Support equipment, which may include an electric power module, a chiller module, a heating module, and a control and monitor module, are disposed a distance from the processing module, and connected thereto. A pump and optionally a dispersal nozzle are deployed from the processing module into the tank, and effluent is extracted for processing. The processing trailer includes effluent processing equipment such as an evaporator and demister, condenser, vacuum pump, and interim storage tank. The effluent is processed, and at least a portion is removed. Some of the processed effluent may be returned to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Columbia Energy & Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Wolfe, Brian Brendel
  • Patent number: 8226832
    Abstract: A method that can be used in a portable system and apparatus to effectively and efficiently treat aqueous fluids by quickly and reliably adjusting and controlling the free residual level of disinfectants, contaminants or additives through the addition of one or more treating agents such as oxidizing chemicals and/or other special-purpose additives, and that can continuously store, log, retrieve and report the related fluid composition data and other operating parameters on a real-time basis at either the use site or a remote location. A preferred use for the subject method is managing the chemistry of disinfectant, contaminant and/or additive levels in aqueous fluids used in hydraulic fracturing operations, and controlling the free residual levels of the disinfectant or contaminants within the fluids, including fluids maintained in frac tanks during temporary cessation of a hydraulic fracturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: NCH Ecoservices, LLC
    Inventors: Jerome F. Angelilli, Patrick D. Guccione, Billy E. Pierce, Daniel Wai-tak Wong, John H. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120145648
    Abstract: A treatment system for degrading chlorinated dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) is disclosed. The treatment system comprises a solvent system and hydrophobic zero valent irons distributed in the solvent system. In addition, the method of remediation of groundwater is also disclosed by using the treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hsin-Lan Hsu, Chien-Yi Liao, Sun-Yuan Tzeng
  • Patent number: 8147694
    Abstract: The induction of reducing conditions and stimulating anaerobic process through the addition of species of seaweed (Dulse, Nori, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Kelp) to accomplish accelerated dechlorinization of soil and groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents and heavy metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Innovative Environmental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Scalzi, Jessica McGill
  • Patent number: RE43350
    Abstract: Apparatuses for removal of volatile organic compounds in a soil formation include a microporous diffuser for injecting air and gaseous ozone as bubbles into water in the soil formation. The gaseous ozone is present at concentrations to effect removal of volatile organic compounds by the gaseous ozone reacting with the volatile organic compound(s). Injection of air and gaseous ozone is controlled by a timer to allow separation of bubbles by size. In various embodiments, a plurality of microporous diffusers may be controlled by a single timer or each of the plurality of microporous diffusers may be controlled by one of a plurality of timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Think Village-Kerfoot, LLC
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot