Hi Mary, The problem seems ...
Published by Alexandros Stefanakis, Constructed Wetlands Specialist
Hi Mary,
The problem seems rather complicated. First, as I understand there is both (underground) water and soil contamination with hydrocarbons. This means that water treatment is not enough if soil remediation is not also included.
For contaminated groundwater, the treatment process depends on the concentration levels of hydrocarbons. A typical scheme we usually apply, includes upstream oil recovery and treatment of the remaining water with residual hydrocarbons via a constructed wetland (a green and cost-effective technology with minimum energy consumption). But we need more info to suggest the optimal treatment train.
2 Comments
Hi Mary
I agree with Russell Donnelly and Jean Marius, first fix the problem by getting the local environmental authorities involved, because no matter what you do now to clean up the aquifer, that rotten pipe from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company will continue spilling oil into the ground.
After you fix the source of the problem only then you can start to do the cleanup, there are many technologies that you can be used to separate oil from water, you have to be very careful on which technology you will use, it depends on a number of things such as: is the oil emulsified?, depth of the well, ppm of oil in the water and the most important one, capex and opex, one thing for sure, as Russell and Jean Marius said, it will not be easy or cheap.
Published by Luis Inarejo, Process Engineer at Designh2o Incorporated
Hi Mary
In this case the treatment process depends on the analyses of samples in advance, I think it is a question of precautionary principles to take in order to minimise the inmpact firstly, after that an adequate treatment process will resolve this problem.
Published by NEJI HAMMOUDA, Program manager at Ministry of agriculture and water resources