East Texas has a long and proud history of oil and gas production. From legacy production fields and pipeline infrastructure to terminals, tank batteries, and active facilities, petroleum releases remain an environmental challenge across the region.
When groundwater and soil become impacted by petroleum hydrocarbons, selecting the right remediation technology can significantly affect cleanup timelines and overall project costs. One technology that continues to prove effective throughout Texas is Mobile Dual Phase Extraction (MDPE).
MDPE is a remediation technology that simultaneously removes contaminated groundwater, petroleum product, and soil vapors from the subsurface using a high-vacuum extraction system. By recovering multiple contaminant phases at the same time, MDPE can remove contaminant mass much faster than many traditional remediation approaches.
Unlike permanent remediation systems that may remain on-site for years, MDPE utilizes trailer-mounted equipment that can be rapidly mobilized, perform targeted remediation events, and then move to the next location.
Many East Texas sites contain petroleum impacts associated with pipelines, terminals, production facilities, convenience stores, and historical oilfield operations. The region's sandy soils and permeable geologic formations often allow vacuum influence to extend efficiently through the subsurface, making MDPE an attractive remediation option.
MDPE is particularly effective when:
Talon/LPE has seen MDPE provide strong results on a variety of petroleum release projects, including:
At many of these sites, contamination is not confined to a single media. Hydrocarbons may be present as free product, dissolved groundwater impacts, residual soil contamination, and vapors within the vadose zone. MDPE addresses all of these areas simultaneously, which is one reason it can significantly accelerate remediation progress.
Traditional pump-and-treat systems focus primarily on groundwater recovery. While they can be effective for hydraulic control and long-term management, they often do little to remove contamination trapped within the smear zone or vadose zone.
MDPE actively removes groundwater, vapors, and recoverable petroleum product at the same time, targeting contaminant mass where it often accumulates. This can lead to faster reductions in contaminant concentrations and shorter remediation timeframes.
Additional benefits include:
Every release is different. Site geology, contaminant type, groundwater depth, and regulatory objectives all influence technology selection.
MDPE is often an excellent option when petroleum impacts exist in multiple subsurface zones and aggressive source removal is needed. Pilot testing and site-specific evaluations can help determine whether MDPE should be used as a standalone remedy or as part of a broader remediation strategy.
Talon/LPE provides Mobile Dual-Phase Extraction services throughout Texas and New Mexico. Our experienced remediation team helps clients evaluate site conditions, perform pilot studies, recover petroleum product, and develop cost-effective cleanup strategies that support regulatory closure.
If you have a petroleum release in East Texas and would like to discuss whether MDPE may be appropriate for your site, contact Talon/LPE today.