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Large-Scale Ex-Situ Thermal Desorption of Heavy Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil at the Thar Jath Oil Field, South Sudan

More than 12,000 m³ of soil contaminated by long-term oil-field operations, mainly with heavy C30–C40 hydrocarbons, was addressed through an ex-situ thermal treatment program adapted to remote-site constraints, with pilot results meeting the 1,000 mg/kg target before full-scale treatment in 2,000 m³ piles.

SITE DESCRIPTION

       Treated Volume

   12,000 m³ of contaminated soil (21,500 T)

          Thermal technology

    Ex-Situ Thermal Desorption (ESTD)  

       Main contaminant

Hydrocarbons C10–C40, mainly heavy fractions C30–C40, up to 56,000 mg/kg

        Site challenges

  Remote oil-field location requiring major design adaptations; no concrete available on site for pile construction

        Project Timeline

2023–2025



SOLUTION

          Treatment Method

  Ex-situ thermal treatment in soil piles, adapted to the constraints of the remote site

          Treatment program

100 burners with reburn technology; target temperature 220°C; 6 full-scale piles of 2,000 m³ planned

         Contaminated Vapors Management

Reburn technology with monitoring of burner combustion gases and chimney emissions

       Process control

Monitoring of soil temperature at cold points, soil pressure, burner combustion gases and chimney emissions  


RESULTS

✅           Pilot phase successfully completed, with all treated soil samples below the remediation target.

✅           C10–C40 treatment target of 1,000 mg/kg successfully achieved during the pilot phase.

✅           Successful pilot enabled the planned scale-up to six full-scale 2,000 m³ treatment piles.





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