LNAPL thickness in monitoring wells considering hysteresis and entrapment

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Ground Water

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1996.tb02021.x· OSTI ID:234129

Marinelli, F ^[1]; Durnford, D S ^[2]

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1. Fred Marinelli Consulting, Fort Collins, CO (United States)
2. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Bioresource Engineering

Case histories of LNAPL contaminated sites indicate that LNAPL thicknesses in monitoring wells exhibit certain characteristic behaviors when related to water-table fluctuations. This paper investigates these behaviors using established theories for fluid saturations in three-phase (air-LNAPL-water) porous media systems. A semianalytical model is developed to predict the LNAPL thickness in a monitoring well considering the effects of saturation hysteresis and air/LNAPL entrapment. Given the total LNAPL volume in the soil profile and the historical sequence of water-table elevations, the model predicts LNAPL thicknesses, based on the assumption of a succession of hydrostatic pressure distributions. For example simulations, the model indicates that the LNAPL thickness in a monitoring well can exhibit complex behaviors that are strongly dependent on the previous saturation history. While many of these predicted behaviors are consistent with field observations, some are not. This suggests that certain aspects of current theories pertaining to three-phase fluid saturations warrant further technical evaluation.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 234129
• Journal Information: Ground Water, Journal Name: Ground Water Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 34; ISSN GRWAAP; ISSN 0017-467X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FORECASTING
GROUND WATER
HEIGHT
LEVELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
WATER POLLUTION