Remediation of historically petroleum‑contaminated sites in Ventspils — the former ‘Ūdeka’ wastewater treatment plant area and the main petroleum pipeline corridor

Name: VentEko JSC
Address: Rīgas iela 22, Piņķi, LV-2107, LV
Telephone: +371 26 559 949

Remediation of the historically contaminated area in Ventspils Port, Latvia

Project structure

Challenge

The project presented a technically complex challenge due to the extensive petroleum contamination and its spread within soil and groundwater. Achieving the remediation targets within just 16 months required high engineering competence, carefully selected technical solutions, and precisely coordinated execution.
Solution

To achieve the defined remediation objectives, 351 extraction wells were installed, 7 remediation systems were set up, and a permeable reactive barrier — 302.9 m long, 600 mm wide, and installed 8 m deep (from ground surface) — was constructed parallel to the seacoast line for the capture and treatment of dissolved groundwater contamination.
Result

The Ventspils environmental remediation project successfully achieved its main results.
Publication: Ventas Balss

Client: Ventspils Free Port
Status: Completed
Industry: Railway & Ports Facilities Municipalities & Government Agencies Oil & Gas Operations
Services used: High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC)

Detailed Contamination Investigation

Oil product pumping and recovery

Chemical oxidation and reactive barriers (PRB)

Verification of remediation results and post‑remediation monitoring

8 521 m³ of petroleum‑contaminated groundwater were extracted and treated on site.
171 m³ of free‑phase petroleum hydrocarbons were recovered from the groundwater surface and transferred for certified disposal.
A permeable reactive barrier was constructed parallel to the seacoast line, measuring 302.9 m in length, 600 mm in width and installed 8 m deep (from ground surface), designed for the capture and treatment of dissolved groundwater contamination.