Theme: 06. Petroleum and Heavy Hydrocarbon Site Strategies

Topic Area: 6g. LNAPL Sites: Understanding and Managing Risks

Formatted Title:

Advances in the Characterization and Remediation of LNAPL-Contaminated Sites: Insights from a Collaborative Effort

Background/Objectives:

Understanding the fate and transport of petroleum light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) has improved over the years. Numerous site investigation and remediation technologies have been developed to overcome limitations associated with conventional approaches and manage LNAPL sites in a more efficient and sustainable way. Nevertheless, it often takes a long time for novel concepts and strategies to be incorporated into regulatory frameworks and the standard practice of contaminated land professionals. The authors were engaged by the imprint Springer to complete a book giving visibility to advances in the characterization and remediation of petroleum-impacted systems, as well as pertinent concepts and methods that may still be underutilized by the remediation industry internationally.

Approach/Activities:

The book, titled ‘Advances in the Characterisation and Remediation of Sites Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons’ (García-Rincón et al. 2023), was prepared as a contributed volume involving the participation of more than 100 global experts from academia, government agencies, and the private sector. It comprises 18 chapters that can be divided into three parts: chapters 1–6 analyze the fate and transport of petroleum hydrocarbons in the subsurface, chapters 7–11 focus on site characterization tools, and chapters 12–18 discuss site management strategies. Potential future lines of research and development as well as best practices that provide guidance to contaminated land practitioners are presented throughout the book. All the chapters were peer reviewed and the book was released by Springer using an open access license. An analysis of the book contents yielded general insights into the state of the art regarding the investigation and in situ remediation of LNAPL-contaminated sites.

Results/Lessons Learned:

As highlighted in several chapters, LNAPL fate and transport are controlled by multiphase mechanics intrinsically linked to natural source zone depletion (NSZD) phenomena and other biological processes as well as the spatial and temporal variability of multiple subsurface properties. Most site characterization methods presented in the book (from direct sensing technology and biogeophysics to molecular biological tools or compound specific isotope analysis), as well as the management strategies described (including monitored NSZD, bioremediation, high-energy injection of carbon-based amendments, use of foams or implementation of low-temperature thermal systems), address factors sometimes overlooked in conventional investigation and remediation projects such as: (i) the presence of residual and entrapped LNAPL, (ii) the role of biodegradation processes, and (iii) subsurface heterogeneity. Further research and adoption of up-to-date concepts and methods are encouraged to ensure best practices are implemented and LNAPL risks are managed sustainably and responsibly.

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Robert Lenhard