Modeling solute/contaminant transport in heterogeneous aquifers. 2015

Ibrahim Kocabas, and Mahmut Bulbul
Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Department, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey, ibrahim.kocabas@ikc.edu.tr.

A fissured aquifer may be considered as a dense network of fissures separated by low permeability matrix blocks. A conceptual modeling of such a system consists of an infinite number of parallel fractures separated by constant width matrix slabs. While the fissures are assumed to be main flow conduits, the fluid in the porous matrix blocks are considered to be virtually immobile. The mathematical model of the transport of a solute and/or contaminant which assumes a purely convective flow in fissures and diffusion into the matrix blocks consists of two coupled differential equations. An analytical solution of this model for the case of solute entering into the system at a constant concentration has been presented by Skopp and Warrick in Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 38:545-550, 1974. Note however, Skopp and Warrick (Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 38:545-550, 1974) have not considered the additional processes of adsorption and radioactive decay. Unfortunately, their solution had computational limitations as it involved numerical integration of a quite complex expression. Therefore, one had to turn to employing numerical Laplace transform inverters to compute the solutions. This work presents simple real space analytical solutions for the contaminant transport model described above including the adsorption and radioactive decay. The real space solutions have been developed using the method of double Laplace transform and binomial series approximation. An accurate approximate solution has also been presented which converges to the exact solution only after computing three terms in the series full solution. The developed model has been used for 1) assessment of the efficiency of numerical Laplace transform algorithms and 2) investigation of the degree and scale of contamination, and 3) designing remediation schemes for the already contaminated aquifers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008962 Models, Theoretical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D000327 Adsorption The adhesion of gases, liquids, or dissolved solids onto a surface. It includes adsorptive phenomena of bacteria and viruses onto surfaces as well. ABSORPTION into the substance may follow but not necessarily. Adsorptions
D000465 Algorithms A procedure consisting of a sequence of algebraic formulas and/or logical steps to calculate or determine a given task. Algorithm
D014874 Water Pollutants, Chemical Chemical compounds which pollute the water of rivers, streams, lakes, the sea, reservoirs, or other bodies of water. Chemical Water Pollutants,Landfill Leachate,Leachate, Landfill,Pollutants, Chemical Water
D016062 Porosity Condition of having pores or open spaces. This often refers to bones, bone implants, or bone cements, but can refer to the porous state of any solid substance. Porosities
D060587 Groundwater Liquid water present beneath the surface of the earth. Aquifers,Ground Water,Ground-Water,Subterranean Lakes,Underground Lakes,Underground Streams,Underground Water,Water Table,Aquifer,Ground Waters,Ground-Waters,Groundwaters,Lake, Subterranean,Lake, Underground,Lakes, Subterranean,Lakes, Underground,Stream, Underground,Streams, Underground,Subterranean Lake,Table, Water,Tables, Water,Underground Lake,Underground Stream,Underground Waters,Water Tables,Water, Underground,Waters, Underground

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