Application of Horizontal Flow Treatment Wells for in Situ Treatment of MTBE-Contaminated Groundwater

Petroleum hydrocarbon releases into the environment have resulted in widespread groundwater contamination by the gasoline oxygenate MTBE. The distribution, mobility, recalcitrance, and potential health hazards of MTBE have resulted in a significant environmental problem across the United States. This study utilized a threedimensional numerical model to evaluate the potential application of a novel in situ bioremediation technology using so-called Horizontal Flow Treatment Wells (HFTWs) to manage MTBE-contaminated groundwater. HFTWs consist of two dual-screened treatment wells. One well operates in an upflow mode, with MTBE-contaminated water extracted from an aquifer through the lower well screen and injected into the aquifer through the upper screen, while the adjacent well operates in a downflow mode, extracting water through the upper screen and injecting it through the lower.