The advantages of horizontal wells for environmental remediation are numerous. A single horizontal well may give higher performance than 20 to 70 vertical wells in the same formation.

Horizontal wells systems offer the following advantages:

• Horizontal wells can traverse an entire containment plume.
• Horizontal wells can be accurately placed at depths to optimize dissolved phase and or DNAPL or LNAPL recovery.
• Costs per foot of exposed plume are reduced significantly.
• Cross contamination between layers of groundwater is minimized by limiting penetration of impermeable layers between aquifers.
• Horizontal wellheads can be placed near site boundaries to avoid restriction of site development for future use.
• Surface impact of horizontal wells is minimum.
• High recovery rates shorten remediation time, slashing operation and maintenance costs— and the overall cost of projects.
• High recovery rates slow the spread of contaminant plumes limiting legal exposure from damage to adjacent properties.
• Installation is quick with minimum or zero impact on site activities during installation.
• Surface equipment is minimized and site security maximized.