Biosparge Well Installation Project

Biosparge wells are a specialized component of in-situ bioremediation systems that deliver compressed air or oxygen into the saturated zone to stimulate aerobic biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and other contaminants. The sparging process strips volatile contaminants from groundwater into the vadose zone (where soil vapor extraction can capture them) while simultaneously introducing oxygen that stimulates indigenous aerobic bacteria to degrade residual contamination. This 20-well biosparge network represents a significant remediation system installation for active long-term treatment.

For this Seymour Johnson AFB project, IET installed 20 biosparge wells (2-inch diameter) totaling 274 feet of drilling over a 5-day field program with a 4-man crew. The 20 well vault installations provide subsurface protective enclosures for each wellhead, ensuring the sparge system can operate continuously without surface interference. The 23 drums of IDW (investigation-derived waste) containerized during the project reflect the scale of the drilling operations and the regulatory requirements for waste management on federal military installations.

The flush surface completions ensure the biosparge wells do not interfere with surface operations at the military base while remaining accessible for system operation and maintenance. The 5-day installation timeline for 20 wells demonstrates IET's high-production drilling capability for large-scale remediation system installations — a critical advantage for remediation programs where system startup timelines are time-sensitive.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is located in Wayne County, North Carolina, within the Coastal Plain physiographic province. The shallow geology consists of Quaternary-age alluvial and marine deposits — predominantly sand, silt, and clay — overlying Tertiary-age marine sediments. The sandy, high-permeability soils in this area are ideal for biosparge systems, as the sparge air can effectively distribute through the porous sand matrix to deliver oxygen to the contaminated zone.

Environmental work on active military installations requires compliance with DoD environmental restoration program (DERP) protocols, base security coordination, and military-specific safety and waste management requirements. The 23 drums of IDW containerized during this project reflect the comprehensive waste management protocols required on federal installations — all drill cuttings, decontamination fluids, and PPE must be containerized, labeled, and managed per RCRA and base-specific requirements. Client Bhate Environmental Associates coordinated the project, with IET's 4-man crew completing the 20-well installation over 5 days (October 3, 2025) in the sensitive military installation environment.