Predicting Vertical LNAPL Distribution in the Subsurface under the Fluctuating Water Table Effect

Lamine Boumaiza; Romain Chesnaux; Julien Walter; Robert J. Lenhard; Seyed M. Hassanizadeh; Zoi Dokou; Motasem Y.D. Alazaiza

doi:10.1111/gwmr.12497

Predicting Vertical LNAPL Distribution in the Subsurface under the Fluctuating Water Table Effect

Lamine Boumaiza
, Romain Chesnaux
, Julien Walter
, Robert J. Lenhard
, Seyed M. Hassanizadeh
, Zoi Dokou
, Motasem Y.D. Alazaiza

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
California State University Sacramento
A'Sharqiyah University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The present study proposes a methodology for predicting the vertical light nonaqueous-phase liquids (LNAPLs) distribution within an aquifer by considering the influence of water table fluctuations. The LNAPL distribution is predicted by combining (1) information on air/LNAPL and LNAPL/water interface elevations with (2) the initial elevation of the water table without LNAPL effect. Data used in the present study were collected during groundwater monitoring undertaken over a period of 4 months at a LNAPL-impacted observation well. In this study, the water table fluctuations raised the free LNAPL in the subsurface to an elevation of 206.63 m, while the lowest elevation was 205.70 m, forming a thickness of 0.93 m of LNAPL-impacted soil. Results show that the apparent LNAPL thickness in the observation well is found to be three times greater than the actual free LNAPL thickness in soil; a finding that agrees with previous studies reporting that apparent LNAPL thickness in observation wells typically exceeds the free LNAPL thickness within soil by a factor estimated to range between 2 and 10. The present study provides insights concerning the transient variation of LNAPL distribution within the subsurface and highlights the capability of the proposed methodology to mathematically predict the actual LNAPL thickness in the subsurface, without the need to conduct laborious field tests. Practitioners can use the proposed methodology to determine by how much the water table should be lowered, through pumping, to isolate the LNAPL-impacted soil within the unsaturated zone, which can then be subjected to in situ vadose zone remedial treatment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	47-58
Number of pages	12
Journal	GroundWater Monitoring and Remediation
Volume	42
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/gwmr.12497
Publication status	Published - 9 May 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN‐2020‐04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne‐Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor René Lefebvre from INRS‐ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Josée Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration. WT D LNAPL/PVC h d AN h d AW h d NW h N H N h Nt p d AN p d AW p d NW WT Z AN Z AW ZB h Nt Z PVC ZT h Nt θ ρ A ρ N ρ W σ AW σ NW

Funding Information:
The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN-2020-04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne-Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor René Lefebvre from INRS-ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Josée Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, National Ground Water Association.

Funding

The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN‐2020‐04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne‐Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor René Lefebvre from INRS‐ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Josée Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration. WT D LNAPL/PVC h d AN h d AW h d NW h N H N h Nt p d AN p d AW p d NW WT Z AN Z AW ZB h Nt Z PVC ZT h Nt θ ρ A ρ N ρ W σ AW σ NW The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN-2020-04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne-Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor René Lefebvre from INRS-ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Josée Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration.

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Groundwater Monitoring Rem - 2022 - Boumaiza - Predicting Vertical LNAPL Distribution in the Subsurface under theFinal published version, 1.92 MBLicence: Taverne

Cite this

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title = "Predicting Vertical LNAPL Distribution in the Subsurface under the Fluctuating Water Table Effect",

abstract = "The present study proposes a methodology for predicting the vertical light nonaqueous-phase liquids (LNAPLs) distribution within an aquifer by considering the influence of water table fluctuations. The LNAPL distribution is predicted by combining (1) information on air/LNAPL and LNAPL/water interface elevations with (2) the initial elevation of the water table without LNAPL effect. Data used in the present study were collected during groundwater monitoring undertaken over a period of 4 months at a LNAPL-impacted observation well. In this study, the water table fluctuations raised the free LNAPL in the subsurface to an elevation of 206.63 m, while the lowest elevation was 205.70 m, forming a thickness of 0.93 m of LNAPL-impacted soil. Results show that the apparent LNAPL thickness in the observation well is found to be three times greater than the actual free LNAPL thickness in soil; a finding that agrees with previous studies reporting that apparent LNAPL thickness in observation wells typically exceeds the free LNAPL thickness within soil by a factor estimated to range between 2 and 10. The present study provides insights concerning the transient variation of LNAPL distribution within the subsurface and highlights the capability of the proposed methodology to mathematically predict the actual LNAPL thickness in the subsurface, without the need to conduct laborious field tests. Practitioners can use the proposed methodology to determine by how much the water table should be lowered, through pumping, to isolate the LNAPL-impacted soil within the unsaturated zone, which can then be subjected to in situ vadose zone remedial treatment.",

author = "Lamine Boumaiza and Romain Chesnaux and Julien Walter and Lenhard, \{Robert J.\} and Hassanizadeh, \{Seyed M.\} and Zoi Dokou and Alazaiza, \{Motasem Y.D.\}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN‐2020‐04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne‐Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor Ren{\'e} Lefebvre from INRS‐ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Jos{\'e}e Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration. WT D LNAPL/PVC h d AN h d AW h d NW h N H N h Nt p d AN p d AW p d NW WT Z AN Z AW ZB h Nt Z PVC ZT h Nt θ ρ A ρ N ρ W σ AW σ NW Funding Information: The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN-2020-04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne-Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor Ren{\'e} Lefebvre from INRS-ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Jos{\'e}e Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, National Ground Water Association.",

year = "2022",

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doi = "10.1111/gwmr.12497",

language = "English",

volume = "42",

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AU - Chesnaux, Romain

AU - Walter, Julien

AU - Lenhard, Robert J.

AU - Hassanizadeh, Seyed M.

AU - Dokou, Zoi

AU - Alazaiza, Motasem Y.D.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN‐2020‐04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne‐Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor René Lefebvre from INRS‐ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Josée Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration. WT D LNAPL/PVC h d AN h d AW h d NW h N H N h Nt p d AN p d AW p d NW WT Z AN Z AW ZB h Nt Z PVC ZT h Nt θ ρ A ρ N ρ W σ AW σ NW Funding Information: The authors thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding this project (Grant No. RGPIN-2020-04721). The authors also thank the German Research Foundation for supporting this work by funding (EXC 2075—390740016) under Germany's Excellence Strategy held to Professor Seyed M. Hassanizadeh. The authors also acknowledge the support by the Stuttgart Center for Simulation Science (SimTech). The authors thank the environmental consulting company Sanexen Services Environnementaux, Inc. (Brossard Office in Quebec, Canada) that provided the data for this case study, with particular thanks to Ms Anne-Marie Vaillancourt, Environment team leader and Contaminated sites expert. The authors also thank the owner of the studied site that authorized publication of data for this case study, with the request that its identification be kept confidential. The authors thank Ms Michelle J. Fraser, National hydrogeology technical leader from Stantec Consulting Limited (Waterloo Office in Ontario, Canada), for her helpful comments and suggestions on improving this manuscript. Professor René Lefebvre from INRS-ETE Quebec (Canada) is thanked for his valuable explanations. Ms Josée Kaufmann is thanked for editorial collaboration. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, National Ground Water Association.

PY - 2022/5/9

Y1 - 2022/5/9

N2 - The present study proposes a methodology for predicting the vertical light nonaqueous-phase liquids (LNAPLs) distribution within an aquifer by considering the influence of water table fluctuations. The LNAPL distribution is predicted by combining (1) information on air/LNAPL and LNAPL/water interface elevations with (2) the initial elevation of the water table without LNAPL effect. Data used in the present study were collected during groundwater monitoring undertaken over a period of 4 months at a LNAPL-impacted observation well. In this study, the water table fluctuations raised the free LNAPL in the subsurface to an elevation of 206.63 m, while the lowest elevation was 205.70 m, forming a thickness of 0.93 m of LNAPL-impacted soil. Results show that the apparent LNAPL thickness in the observation well is found to be three times greater than the actual free LNAPL thickness in soil; a finding that agrees with previous studies reporting that apparent LNAPL thickness in observation wells typically exceeds the free LNAPL thickness within soil by a factor estimated to range between 2 and 10. The present study provides insights concerning the transient variation of LNAPL distribution within the subsurface and highlights the capability of the proposed methodology to mathematically predict the actual LNAPL thickness in the subsurface, without the need to conduct laborious field tests. Practitioners can use the proposed methodology to determine by how much the water table should be lowered, through pumping, to isolate the LNAPL-impacted soil within the unsaturated zone, which can then be subjected to in situ vadose zone remedial treatment.

AB - The present study proposes a methodology for predicting the vertical light nonaqueous-phase liquids (LNAPLs) distribution within an aquifer by considering the influence of water table fluctuations. The LNAPL distribution is predicted by combining (1) information on air/LNAPL and LNAPL/water interface elevations with (2) the initial elevation of the water table without LNAPL effect. Data used in the present study were collected during groundwater monitoring undertaken over a period of 4 months at a LNAPL-impacted observation well. In this study, the water table fluctuations raised the free LNAPL in the subsurface to an elevation of 206.63 m, while the lowest elevation was 205.70 m, forming a thickness of 0.93 m of LNAPL-impacted soil. Results show that the apparent LNAPL thickness in the observation well is found to be three times greater than the actual free LNAPL thickness in soil; a finding that agrees with previous studies reporting that apparent LNAPL thickness in observation wells typically exceeds the free LNAPL thickness within soil by a factor estimated to range between 2 and 10. The present study provides insights concerning the transient variation of LNAPL distribution within the subsurface and highlights the capability of the proposed methodology to mathematically predict the actual LNAPL thickness in the subsurface, without the need to conduct laborious field tests. Practitioners can use the proposed methodology to determine by how much the water table should be lowered, through pumping, to isolate the LNAPL-impacted soil within the unsaturated zone, which can then be subjected to in situ vadose zone remedial treatment.

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ER -

Predicting Vertical LNAPL Distribution in the Subsurface under the Fluctuating Water Table Effect

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