Chapter 32
Tool III: Fracturing for Enhanced Delivery
of In Situ Remediation Substances
in Contaminated Sediments
Jan Kukačka and Petr Kvapil
Abstract This chapter summarises the basic information on methods for fracturing
the geological environment for the purposes of permeability increase and thus
aquifer remediation enhancement. The technology allows to increase the infiltration
of remediation substances into contaminated geological environment showing low
permeability that can be hardly remediated without fracturing.
Keywords Hydraulic fracturing · Pneumatic fracturing · Aquifer remediation ·
Fracture propagation
32.1 Introduction
Treatment of contaminated geological environments with increasing permeability
employing fracturing techniques may be regarded as a promising method for
enhancing the efficiency of in situ remediation of aquifers. These techniques are
based on creating a network of artificially made cracks in the profile of sedimentary
rocks, which subsequently facilitate the pumping of the contaminants out of the
aquifer and injecting reactive substances into the soil with the purpose of supporting
in situ decomposition of the contaminants. Hydraulic and pneumatic fracturing
methods are verified in the long run. These methods have already been used for
more than 50 years for various purposes, especially in oil mining and water
industries.
Currently, various fracturing methods are available for groundwater and soil
remediation, used both in saturated and unsaturated zones. Pneumatic fracturing
enables creation of cracks in the soil profile by means of controlled impulses of high
J. Kukačka (*)
DEKONTA a.s., Stehelčeves, Czech Republic
e-mail: kukacka@dekonta.cz
P. Kvapil
Photon Water Technology s.r.o., Liberec, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_32
625
Tool III: Fracturing for Enhanced Delivery
of In Situ Remediation Substances
in Contaminated Sediments
Jan Kukačka and Petr Kvapil
Abstract This chapter summarises the basic information on methods for fracturing
the geological environment for the purposes of permeability increase and thus
aquifer remediation enhancement. The technology allows to increase the infiltration
of remediation substances into contaminated geological environment showing low
permeability that can be hardly remediated without fracturing.
Keywords Hydraulic fracturing · Pneumatic fracturing · Aquifer remediation ·
Fracture propagation
32.1 Introduction
Treatment of contaminated geological environments with increasing permeability
employing fracturing techniques may be regarded as a promising method for
enhancing the efficiency of in situ remediation of aquifers. These techniques are
based on creating a network of artificially made cracks in the profile of sedimentary
rocks, which subsequently facilitate the pumping of the contaminants out of the
aquifer and injecting reactive substances into the soil with the purpose of supporting
in situ decomposition of the contaminants. Hydraulic and pneumatic fracturing
methods are verified in the long run. These methods have already been used for
more than 50 years for various purposes, especially in oil mining and water
industries.
Currently, various fracturing methods are available for groundwater and soil
remediation, used both in saturated and unsaturated zones. Pneumatic fracturing
enables creation of cracks in the soil profile by means of controlled impulses of high
J. Kukačka (*)
DEKONTA a.s., Stehelčeves, Czech Republic
e-mail: kukacka@dekonta.cz
P. Kvapil
Photon Water Technology s.r.o., Liberec, Czech Republic
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_32
625