Applicability of slug interference testing of hydraulic characterization of contaminated aquifer sites
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
Aquifer test methods available for characterizing hazardous waste sites are sometimes restricted because of problems with disposal of contaminated groundwater. These problems, in part, have made slug tests a more desirable method of determining hydraulic properties at such sites. However, in higher permeability formations (i.e., transmissivities {ge} 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} m{sup 2}/s), slug test results often cannot be analyzed and give, at best, only a lower limit for transmissivity. A need clearly exists to develop test methods that can be used to characterize higher permeability aquifers without removing large amounts of contaminated groundwater. One hydrologic test method that appears to hold promise for characterizing such sites is the slug interference test. To assess the applicability of this test method for use in shallow alluvial aquifer systems, slug interference tests have been conducted, along with more traditional aquifer testing methods, at several Hanford multiple-well sites. Transmissivity values estimated from the slug interference tests were comparable (within a factor of 2 to 3) to values calculated using traditional testing methods, and made it possible to calculate the storativity or specific yield for the intervening test formation. The corroboration of test results indicates that slug interference testing is a viable hydraulic characterization method in transmissive alluvial aquifers, and may represent one of the few test methods that can be used in sensitive areas where groundwater is contaminated.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 10109480
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-SA--22393; CONF-931095--70; ON: DE94004299
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
An evaluation of slug interference tests for aquifer characterization at the Hanford Site
Applicability of slug interference tests for hydraulic characterization of unconfined aquifers. 2: Field test examples
Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000
AQUIFERS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONTAMINATION
GEOSCIENCES
GROUND WATER
HANFORD RESERVATION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
MEASURING METHODS
MITIGATION
PERFORMANCE
PERMEABILITY
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES