Method and apparatus for heating subsurface soil for decontamination

摘要

A technique for in situ decontamination of an earth formation. High gas temperatures can be achieved at subsurface formations by supplying a fuel at a subsurface location, such as at the bottom of a wellbore. Pressurized air or gas preheated to a temperature of about 700 DEG F.-1200 DEG F. is supplied to the wellbore to ignite the fuel. The combustion heat produced by the fuel further heats the preheated gas to temperatures in the range of 1200 DEG F.-4500 DEG , which heated gases are forced out of the borehole into the contaminated formation. Contaminants are thereby volatilized or oxidized and removed from the formation to the surface.