Soil Vapour Extraction

Soil Vapour Extraction (SVE) is an in situ unsaturated (vadose) zone soil remediation technology in which a vacuum is applied to the soil to induce the controlled flow of air and remove volatile and some semi-volatile contaminants.

Vertical extraction wells are typically used at depths of 1.5 metres or more; horizontal extraction wells (e.g. installed in trenches) can also be used and is dependent upon contaminant zone geometry and drilling rig access. Abstracted gas leaving the soil may be treated to recover or destroy the contaminant, depending on local and regulatory air discharge regulations.

SVE removes volatile contaminants from the ground and additionally promotes the in situ biodegradation of low-volatility organic compounds that may be present. SVE is effective in treating volatile organic compounds, petrol, chlorinated solvents (TCE, PCE) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes).