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Multiphase Extraction of Light Non-aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) Using Prefabricated Vertical Wells

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Abstract

Work in this paper describes the results of a field and modeling study conducted to investigate the extraction of LNAPL (jet propellant 4, i.e., JP-4, jet fuel) using Prefabricated Vertical Wells (PVWs) at a former air force base. Field testing consisted of 185 operating hours on 25 rows, each consisting of 7 or 8 PVWs. A total of 133 L of free-phase liquid is removed from the subsurface in addition to 467 kg of organics in the vapor phase as a result of volatilization due to the application of vacuum heads exceeding the JP-4 vapor pressure. Monitored field data are used to calibrate a numerical model for investigating the effect of irreducible water content, LNAPL, and gas contents on system performance. Analysis results show that increasing the irreducible water content from 5 % to 20 % decreases the free-LNAPL specific volume from 0.08 m to 0.067 m, which led to reduction in removal efficiency. Under a continuous saturation condition, more wetting fluid (water), traps the nonwetting fluid (LNAPL) in the soil pores, and reduces its mobility, which eventually impedes the LNAPL recovery. Given the model parameters that simulate field conditions, the PVWs show best removal rates in the gas phase. The model results indicated that 292 L of JP-4 can be recovered in 19.5 days (based on 8 h of operation per day) with an effective rate of 1.87 L/h. At the end of 4.25 years of system operation, the maximum benzene concentration is 0.002 ppm. At a gas extraction rate of 10,273 L/min, a maximum concentration of 0.38 ppm in the vapor phase is achieved after 2.5 years of vapor extraction.

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Acknowledgments

Many individuals and organizations contributed to this project’s overall accomplishments. The Principal Investigators wish to thank US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District, Nashville District, Huntington District, for their programmatic support. We are deeply grateful to the late Mr. John Sneberger, Environmental Support Services, who was the field technician for the project. This paper is dedicated to his memory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7908, USA

    M. A. Gabr

  2. Consultant, Water Resources and Climate Change Unit, World Bank, E-32, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    N. Sharmin

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    J. D. Quaranta

Authors
  1. M. A. Gabr
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  2. N. Sharmin
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  3. J. D. Quaranta
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Correspondence to M. A. Gabr.

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Gabr, M.A., Sharmin, N. & Quaranta, J.D. Multiphase Extraction of Light Non-aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) Using Prefabricated Vertical Wells. Geotech Geol Eng 31, 103–118 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9567-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-012-9567-5

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