--> Abstract: Enhanced Natural Bioremediation: an Affordable and Effective Technology for Petroleum Related Contamination, by S. George and W. J. Taylor; #90932 (1998).

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Abstract: Enhanced Natural Bioremediation: an Affordable and Effective Technology for Petroleum Related Contamination

GEORGE, SHERI, and WILLIAM J. TAYLOR
A.C.T. Laboratory, Inc., Mobile, AL 36606

Recent projects where sites had both soil and groundwater contamination from historical and recent petroleum releases were remediated below regulatory action limits using affordable and economic technology without employing the use of expensive bioremediation systems. Enhancing natural bioremediation by manually introducing microbes, nutrients, and oxygen donor "socks" into the groundwater wells, kept the microbes working at optimum levels. Three sites with varying backgrounds, geology, contamination levels, and in situ levels of natural nutrients and oxygen were remediated. One site, had petroleum contamination in several wells with values in thousands of parts per billion for dissolved phase hydrocarbons over a period of 10 years. The site had a proposed Corrective Action Plan to remediate the contamination eventually for a cost in excess of a quarter million dollars! Using enhanced natural bioremediation technologies, the wells were injected for a fraction of the original cost. The site received a no further action one year after initiating bioremediation. The other two sites were treated in a similar manner obtaining the same outstanding results at minimal cost. Constant fine tuning of the process now allows a much wider application of these principles to include dry cleaning solvents and other constituents of hazardous waste.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90932©1998 GCAGS/GCS-SEPM Meeting, Corpus Christi, Texas