Project Title: Natural and Enhanced In Situ Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Salt Marshes: Technology Development
Principal Investigator(s): Nancy E. Kinner, Thomas P. Ballestero, Stephen H. Jones and David W. Fredriksson

Accomplishments
Scheduled Tasks:
During the period covered by this progress report (February 2002, through July 31, 2002), we had five goals: (1) finish data analysis on the four amendment plots, (2) conclude the hydraulic studies, (3) conclude the first prototype development, (4) begin testing and technology transfer of the first injection prototype, and (5) participate in the CICEET technology transfer workshop.

Progress on Tasks

1. Data Analysis
   Quality control analysis is currently being performed by graduate student Melinda Bubier on all data from the 2001 sampling season. Data from all three sampling years is also being compiled into one format to analyze the results over the entire study period.
   
   
2. Final Report
   Nancy Kinner and Melinda Bubier are compiling the final report. It is due in November 2002.
   
   
3. Hydraulic Studies
   The air amendment is being used for the final part of the hydraulic study outlined in the grant proposal. This plot was chosen because it is readily accessible and we had no problems with the horizontal wells buoying to the surface (a problem discussed in previous reports). One downfall of using wells that were already installed for the hydraulic studies was the lack of knowledge on the exact well placement. The wells were visually identified at the edge of the plot and their location within the plot was then estimated. On July 9, 2002, nests of ceramic lysimeters for sampling sediment porewater were installed in between the existing wells on a horizontal and vertical grid. Each nest consists of four lysimeters located at depths of 2, 10, 20, and 35 cm below the marsh surface. The lysimeter nests are installed midway (30.5 cm from the centerline) between the approximate location of the wells and also at 15 and 5 cm from the centerline. At the conclusion of the study, the wells will be removed and their exact location will be identified.

   The tracer test, using these wells, will be performed on August 13, 2002 to determine how the amendments disperse from the wells into the marsh sediment at high tide. The application fluid for the tracer test will be low conductivity water (much less than the conductivity of the normal saline porewater). Granulated sugar (non conductive) will be added to the water to bring its density to within 5% of that for the nitrate and nutrient amendments. Background conductivity will be taken from each lysimeter nest at low tide on August 13, 2002. Then, the application fluid solution will be added on the same day at high tide. Porewater samples will be taken in subsequent days. The final tracer tests will be performed to determine if pumping the fluid into the wells will yield better dispersion of the amendments.
   
   

4. Completion of the First Injection Prototype
   As described in the previous progress report, two TECH 797 undergraduate design projects were initiated to design a controllable, injection vessel prototype that could operate in shallow water marsh areas. In the spring of 2002, this prototype was successfully completed and tested in the Chase Ocean Engineering facility (Figure 1).

   The prototype shallow water delivery vessel consists of a double pontoon design using closed-cell polyurethane foam. The propulsion system incorporates a low speed, high torque paddle wheel arrangement that "crawls" through the marsh as described in Mazzone et al. (2002). Two side paddle wheels enable the vessel to move in multiple directions. Currently, gear motors with a 28:1 ratio and an output torque of 112 in-lbs are being used to drive the wheels. A wireless control system is also being used to allow the operator to remotely log onto the single board computer on the vessel to program waypoints and monitor position.

   A prototype injection system (injection grid), also designed to be mounted on the shallow water delivery vessel, is used to introduce the amendment into the marsh sediments (Figure 2). In the prototype, it consists of 36 pneumatically driven syringes with stainless steel needles attached to a fiberglass grid. Each syringe mechanism is fitted with a check valve arrangement that enables intake of the fluid into the barrel and subsequent injection through the stainless steel needle. The entire grid, syringe and needle assembly is driven into the marsh sediment by its weight force and removed using a motor driven winch. To prevent breakage of the needles during insertion into the sediment (e.g., if they encounter rocks or plant roots), each syringe barrel is fitted with retraction springs sized to be greater than the individual injection resistance measured to be approximately 1 lb force (McGillicuddy et al., 2002). The control of the injection system consists of a Programmable Logic Control (PLC) powered by a deep cycle marine battery. Relays are used in conjunction with the PLC to supply the appropriate current to the winch motors and an air/vacuum device for the pneumatic syringe. The PLC is connected to the single board computer that allows the PLC to act as a slave device.

   System Testing
   The testing of the first prototype commenced in April 2002. The system was tested in the Jere A. Chase Ocean Engineering Laboratory's Experimental Tank for: (1) control system accuracy, (2) propulsion system effectiveness, (3) vessel stability and trim, (4) power system duration, and (5) injection system mechanics. The results obtained from these tests indicated that the system prototype was robust enough for marsh testing. The first open water test was conducted in the Oyster River at Jackson's Landing Durham New Hampshire during July 2002.

   The primary purpose of this open water test was to become familiar with the device in the field including deployment and recovery. The propulsion mechanism was also tested and it was discovered that the two side paddles created too much drag when maneuvering in the forward direction. By moving the two side paddle wheels to the stern, we believe that the drag will be eliminated and the vessel will turn by counter rotating the stern wheels. The injection mechanism seemed to work well in the soft mud at a water depth of approximately 3 and 36 inches.

   A second field test will be conducted on August 8 at the same location. The purpose of this field test will be to operate the new double stern wheel configuration. Speed and maneuverability tests (in marsh grass) will be conducted at slack water (see Figures 3 and 4, respectively) in the Oyster River.

   On March 22, 2002, the principal investigators of the project participated in a technology/information transfer workshop to identify potential end users of this technology and develop an action plan to have the system considered an "accepted" device in the remediation of oil-contaminated salt marshes or mud flats. A round table discussion took place to discuss how to disseminate information to the potential response entities (i.e., state and federal regulators, oil spill response companies) for the clean up of oil-contaminated sediments. The participants included personnel from UNH (Nancy Kinner, Thomas Ballestero and David Fredriksson), CICEET (Richard Langan), NOAA (Kenneth Finkelstein) and the GBNERR (Kelle MacKenzie and Steven Miller). The group decided it was important to demonstrate the mechanical abilities of the device through a series of video presentations on CD and the CICEET website. Through the contacts of the workshop participants, the video will be distributed to state, federal and commercial entities.

   On June 20, 2002, the principal investigators (Nancy Kinner, Thomas Ballestero and David Fredriksson) and project engineer (Glenn McGillicuddy) traveled to the Region I Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Boston, MA) to present the results of the CICEET project including a video demonstration of the injection vessel at work in the Chase experimental tank. In addition to the talk given at the USEPA, Dr. David Fredriksson and Glenn McGillicuddy are working with Dimitris G. Stamos of the Office of Intellectual Property Management (OIPM) on the appropriate patent applications and are seeking a corporate partner for the Clean Cat Bioremediation Injection Vesselª. Dr. Kinner has been discussing the technology with representatives of the U.S. Navy for a possible field test in Summer 2003 at a PAH contaminated intertidal site in Narragansett Bay.

Difficulties Encountered
No difficulties were encountered in the design and manufacture of the injection vessel or data analysis.

Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives in Scheduled Project Period
At this time, we do not foresee any problems meeting our project or budget objectives by the end of the grant and submitting the final report in November 2002.

Preliminary Results
Petroleum Biodegradation
There is no new data this reporting period as the fieldwork was completed in October 2001. The concentrations of TPH were very low in all plots by the end of the study.

Clean Cat Bioremediation Injection Vessel
The tank testing revealed that the prototype injection vessel worked as anticipated and that testing in the field is necessary. The first field test of the system provided valuable insight regarding vessel design changes that will be addressed as part of the next CICEET project, funded for one year starting in September 2002. This project will focus on prototype refinement and testing.

Tasks and activities for next reporting period

Tasks for the next reporting period
Conclusion of the final report is anticipated for the next reporting period.

References Mazzone, M., M. Manning and S. Boduch, (2002). Bioremediation Vessel. Ocean Projects Final Report (TECH 797). University of New Hampshire, Durham NH.

McGillicuddy, G., J. Mulcahey, M. Levander, R. Clark and J. Tyler, (2002) Nutrient Injection System Specialists (NISS). Ocean Projects Final Report (TECH 797). University of New Hampshire, Durham NH.