Bench-Scale Pilot Study and Feasibility Study, Puntilla Lake, Alaska

At Puntilla Lake, Brice performed a bench-scale pilot study to evaluate in-situ smoldering, known as Self-Sustaining Treatment for Active Remediation (STAR) and ISCO as remedial alternatives; results were presented in a feasibility study for this petroleum-contaminated site. We advanced test pits using an excavator in a heavily impacted area beneath former fuel tanks to collect data required for STAR and ISCO bench scale pilot studies. Soils were screened using a PID and the soil screening highest for volatile hydrocarbons was analyzed for DRO, RRO, GRO, and BTEX compounds. Soil samples were submitted to laboratories specializing in STAR and ISCO technologies to perform bench scale analyses.

Brice engineered the injection locations and depth during planning, which were field-verified. We performed soil oxidant tests to evaluate if the application rate was effective in the first treatment; and optimized the original design for the second treatment based on SOD results. We then evaluated remedial alternatives in a Feasibility Study.

We used a drone to develop a geo-referenced map of the project site. Analytical data collected were input to a Microsoft Access database, georeferenced with the collected survey data, and depicted on GIS figures included in the project reports. We performed active product recovery in a monitoring well that had over 5 feet of free product. The product was removed, containerized, and transported offsite for disposal.