This project relates to the remediation (or removal) of methane gas that had accumulated underground due to years of “dumping” and other actions at a U.S. Department of Energy site in Idaho operated by the Idaho National Engineering Lab (INEL).
Objective: The primary objective was to determine if methane could be removed by pumping and, if so, to find the optimum number of pumps, their ideal locations, and the best pumping rate to ensure maximum efficiency and feasibility of removal.
Solution: Various pumping scenarios were studied with PORFLOW®, adjusting pump locations, number of pumps, and pumping rates to determine an optimal solution based on time required and feasibility. It was also possible to arrive at the cost of the project to see how these costs compared with other means of remediation such as flow barriers.
