GEO Ex-Situ Thermal Desorption for Soil and Petroleum Sludge

GEO's September 12, 2024 technical presentation describes ex-situ thermal desorption (ESTD) for excavated soil and petroleum sludge. The process places material in a prepared pile or pit containing heating and extraction pipes.

An ex-situ thermal treatment installation shown in GEO's technology overview.

The treatment sequence can combine recovery of mobile oil, heating to reduce liquid viscosity, steam-assisted removal, and higher-temperature desorption after drying. Vapor and liquid streams are collected for aboveground separation and treatment. Recoverable petroleum may be routed for reuse where its quality and receiving requirements allow.

Pile construction includes a prepared base, liquid drainage, staged placement of heating and extraction pipes, and insulation. The final design must account for the material's water and oil content, target contaminants, temperature requirements, and emissions controls.

The presentation describes multiple possible heating stages, including higher-temperature stages for some applications. Removal efficiency, pretreatment requirements, fuel use, and reuse suitability must be established for the actual material and project; they are not universal performance guarantees.

This is a technology overview, not a report of a single completed remediation project.