Case Study - Kerosene spill at Grade II Listed Property
Damaged copper oil pipe
Background
Following the failure of a fitting on an oil tank around 200 litres of heating oil (kerosene) was spilled next to the external wall of a Grade II Listed property.
Oracle arranged for a temporary oil tank and oil pipe to be installed by an OFTEC registered engineer.
The initial investigation found kerosene contaminated soils next to the external wall of the house and very strong kerosene vapours in the cellar.
Investigation and Remediation
Following correspondence with the local authority conservation officer and a structural engineer Oracle undertook a localised excavation of contaminated soils removing a total of 5 tonnes.
The nature of the property construction meant that not all of the contaminated soils could be addresses through excavation.
Oracle installed a series of perforated steel lances into the remaining contaminated soil and commissioned a soil vapour extraction system to remove the contamination by means of a vacuum.
Verification & Reinstatement
The excavation extents were verified by our consultants to ensure sufficient material had been removed to reduce the identified risks, with soil samples submitted to an independent UKAS accredited laboratory.
The air within the cellar was assessed on completion of the works and the vapour levels had been reduced to level below that which the instrument could detect (0.1 parts per million).