REMOVING A SMALL QUANTITY OF THT FROM GAS-STORAGE GROUNDWATER THROUGHAIR STRIPPING AND GAS-PHASE CARBON ADSORPTION

This paper deals with the response to a case of contaminated groundwat er located in France, The natural gas is stored during summer in porou s underground rocks. When energy requirements increase (Particularly i n winter), gas is drawn off, but water is also pumped during this oper ation. The water has a strong characteristic odour of the TetraHydroTh iophene (THT), which has been used by Gaz de France as an additive in order to detect gas leakages because of its strong odour. Unfortunatel y, the presence of THT in medium other than natural gas can be respons ible for safety problems. Gas stripping combined with adsorption on gr anular activated carbon was chosen to obtain removal of THT from the g roundwater. The gas to water ratio for stripping column is higher than usual and the gas used for strip ping was recycled in order to preven t air pollution. Carbon consumption is approximately 3 tons a year.