Case Studies - NJ005 - Pneumatic Fracturing, SVE

Former Industrial Facility - Central New Jersey

Technology: Pneumatic Fracturing Enhanced Dual Phase Extraction.

Client: Industrial Company.

Project Scope/Location: Pilot Test, Design, Full-scale Construction of Pneumatic Fracturing Enhanced Dual-Phase Extraction Treatment System, Central New Jersey.

Dates: Pilot Test - July 1994; Full Scale Construction - May - August 1995; Full Scale Operation - September 1995 - present.

System Size:

  • 20 Vapor Extraction Wells
  • 500-cfm vapor treatment system
  • Area of treatment - approximately 1.5 acres
  • Depth of treatment - 30 feet
  • Total cost - $1.1 million.

Regulatory Oversight: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Contaminants: VOCs, primarily TCE.



Project Summary

In 1982, this 20-acre facility closed its operation of manufacturing HVAC components and parts. In 1984, New Jersey passed the Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act (ECRA) requiring all industrial properties to be inspected and certified "clean" prior to any transfer of ownership or cessation of operations. As a result of the RCRA regulations, an extensive investigation and characterization of the facility took place from 1987 through 1992. This investigation and characterization resulted in the following conclusions about the facility:

  • Geology beneath the site consisted of clay and weathered shale bedrock
  • Effective permeability in the impacted aquifer was 4.5 X 10-5 cm/sec
  • Zone of residual phase TCE - 10 feet to 23 feet below ground surface
  • Areal extent of dissolved phase contaminant plume - 40,000 square feet
  • Concentration of TCE in groundwater - as high as 150 ppm
  • Utilizing pneumatic fracturing enhanced soil vapor extraction the following data was concluded from the pilot test:
    • Effective de-watering from 10 to 23 feet was achieved in a 2-day period
    • Vacuum radius of influence greater than 50 feet was achieved by Pneumatic Fracturing.
Full-Scale Design, Installation and Operation

In December 1994, ARS was authorized to proceed with the design of a full-scale system incorporating the pneumatic fracturing soil vapor extraction technology. ARS’ design consisted of 20 extraction wells, one vacuum blower (expandable to two), one liquid/vapor separator, one air compressor, and (2) 1000-pound granular activated carbon treatment units. The design was approved by the client and construction was initiated in April of 1995. Within 3 months, more than 10,000 linear feet of pipe were installed below grade, tie-ins to all the extraction wells were completed, and a 1000 square feet treatment building with all the specified process equipment was placed into service by ARS’ crews. ARS installed 85% of the total system in-house (15% was installed by subcontractors) within the projected budgets and timeframe's. ARS maintained and operated the treatment system until 2001 when the TCE removal rate reached an asymptotic level. The system was shut down in favor of insitu treatment using zero-valent iron.


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