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Surge block method for controlling well clogging and sampling sediment during bioremediation.
Wei-Min Wu1, David B Watson, Jian Luo
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4020, USA; Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4020, USA.
Water Research
|September 28, 2013
Summary
The surge block treatment effectively rehabilitates clogged wells, increasing transmissivity by 8-13 times. This method also allows for cost-effective, time-series sediment sampling during bioremediation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Biomass growth can clog wells, hindering in situ bioremediation efforts.
- Effective well rehabilitation and sediment sampling are crucial for monitoring subsurface processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the surge block treatment for well rehabilitation and sediment sampling.
- To assess the impact of surge block treatment on aquifer transmissivity.
- To demonstrate a cost-effective method for monitoring bioremediation.
Main Methods:
- A surge block treatment method involving a plunger was used for well rehabilitation.
- Time-series sediment samples were collected using the surge block method.
- Hydraulic tests were conducted to measure aquifer transmissivity before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- Surge block treatment increased apparent aquifer transmissivity by 8-13 times in a 10.16 cm inner diameter well.
- The method successfully collected fine-grained sediment samples for mineralogical, geochemical, and microbial analysis.
- Biomass-related well clogging was managed over a four-year test period.
Conclusions:
- The surge block method is a cost-effective approach for rehabilitating clogged wells.
- This technique enables frequent, in-situ sediment sampling for comprehensive subsurface analysis.
- The surge block method supports long-term monitoring of in situ bioremediation projects.
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