Advanced use of Multi-Phase Extraction – Deep Application at Goose Bay Military Base
Multiphase Vacuum Extraction (MPVE) is often used to remove free phase petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) from the subsurface, and is being used to remove PHCs at 5 Wing Goose Bay, a military base, located in central Labrador. The 5 Wing Goose Bay Remediation Project (GBRP) is a 10 year, $300 million project to remediate or risk manage legacy contamination.
The purpose of this talk is to present the MPVE technology and its application at Goose Bay. The application of the technology has required innovation to overcome some of the physical characteristics of the site, primarily depth to groundwater. In earlier applications, MPVE was believed to be limited to shallow groundwater applications, where the lift of the liquids was accomplished solely by vacuum. At Goose Bay, where depth to groundwater across much of the base ranges between 15 to 20 metres below ground surface, the lift of liquids is accomplished by entrainment of liquid droplets in the vapour stream. This allows the efficient use of the technology to recover LPH and remove petroleum hydrocarbons from the vadose zone. Details of the Site, the MPVE technology, and the project tender (Performance Based, Design / Build / Operate / Maintain / Optimize Contracts) will be presented.