Soil Remediation

Hydrocarbon soil contamination is a global, environmental problem. While major oil spills from refinery explosions and pipeline leaks garner greater attention, smaller spills around production wellheads and storage tanks still require clean-up to uphold environmental safety standards expected by shareholders and local communities.

Methods to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated soil include incineration and replacement, bioremediation, and soil washing. The method chosen depends on such factors as: urgency; size of contaminated area; types of hydrocarbons present; soil properties; water availability; and overall cost to clean. Technologies that can quickly treat soils with a wide variety of hydrocarbon contamination are especially desirable.

Bioremediation is often chosen because of the non-invasive nature of treatment and its efficacy. Soil microbes can be augmented with hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria that utilize hydrocarbons as energy and nutrient sources. Indigenous plants work to decompose hydrocarbons through their root systems.