Contaminant advection and spreading in a fractured permeable formation: Part 1. Parametric evaluation and analytical solution

Birkhölzer, Jens; Rubin, Hillel; Daniels, H.; Rouve, G.

doi:10.1016/0022-1694(93)90163-4

Cited by 30 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The above quantitative and qualitative results are corroborated by a recent theoretical study focused on contaminant advection and spreading in fractured permeable formations (Birkholzer et al, 1993). These investigators showed that, in such formations, the solute exchange between fractures and rock is dominated by advective transport rather than by molecular diffusion, so that the contaminant spreads mainly due to the mixing-advection process and its transport and spreading is governed by the mobility number and the characteristic frequency of the domain.…”

Section:   :    supporting

confidence: 76%

The “Short Cut” Approach for the Reality of Enhanced Groundwater Contamination

Goldenberg

Melloul

Zoller

1996

Journal of Environmental Management

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Section:   :    supporting

confidence: 76%

The “Short Cut” Approach for the Reality of Enhanced Groundwater Contamination

Goldenberg

Melloul

Zoller

1996

Journal of Environmental Management

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“…Our study aims at demonstrating that the CTRW framework not only can substitute for dual‐continuum approaches, but is generally applicable to fractured porous formations over a wide range of matrix permeabilities. We do this by first conducting numerical tracer experiments in discrete fracture‐matrix systems [ Berkowitz et al , 1988; Birkholzer et al , 1993a, 1993b; Birkholzer and Rouve , 1994; Rubin et al , 1996]. These simulations are assumed to represent the “correct” system behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continuous time random walk analysis of solute transport in fractured porous media

Cortis

Birkhölzer

2008

Water Resources Research

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[1] The objective of this work is to discuss solute transport phenomena in fractured porous media, where the macroscopic transport of contaminants in the highly permeable inter-connected fractures can be strongly affected by solute exchange with the porous rock matrix. We are interested in a wide range of rock types, with matrix hydraulic conductivities varying from almost impermeable (e.g., granites) to somewhat permeable (e.g., porous sandstones). In the first case, molecular diffusion is the only transport process causing the transfer of contaminants between the fractures and the matrix blocks. In the second case, additional solute transfer occurs as a result of a combination of advective and dispersive transport mechanisms, with considerable impact on the macroscopic transport behavior. We start our study by conducting numerical tracer experiments employing a discrete (microscopic) representation of fractures and matrix. Using the discrete simulations as a surrogate for the ''correct'' transport behavior, we then evaluate the accuracy of macroscopic (continuum) approaches in comparison with the discrete results. However, instead of using dual-continuum models, which are quite often used to account for this type of heterogeneity, we develop a macroscopic model based on the Continuous Time Random Walk (CTRW) framework, which characterizes the interaction between the fractured and porous rock domains by using a probability distribution function of residence times. A parametric study of how CTRW parameters evolve is presented, describing transport as a function of the hydraulic conductivity ratio between fractured and porous domains.

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“…Although these insights should be confirmed by the implementation of other tracer tests during contrasted hydrological situations, they suggest that an optimal protection of volcanic aquifers should require the mapping of the relative proportion (for example in thickness) of massive lava flow versus scoriaceous material at the watershed scale. Such a strategy is reminiscent of Bulkhölzer et al´s insights [82] that recommend classifying dual porosity formations according to the value of the mobility number (the ratio of the aquifer flow rate carried out through the porous block of the aquifer to the discharge carried out by through the fracture network). However in a volcanic context, such as in the studied area which mainly featured a'a flows, a preliminary classification according to the ratio of massive lava flow versus scoriaceous layer thicknesses could provide a useful management tooland may highlight specific areas that require prioritized protection.…”

Section: Supply Of Argnat Basin Springs and Implication For The Long-mentioning

confidence: 99%

Contaminant transfer and hydrodispersiveparameters in basaltic lava flows: artificial tracertest and implications for long-term management

et al. 2015

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Abstract:The aim of this paper is to evaluate the vulnerability after point source contamination and characterize water circulations in volcanic flows located in the Argnat basin volcanic system (Chaîne des Puys, French Massif Central) using a tracer test performed by injecting a iodide solution. The analysis of breakthrough curves allowed the hydrodispersive characteristics of the massive lava flows to be determined. Large Peclet numbers indicated a dominant advective transport. The multimodal feature of breakthrough curves combined with high values of mean velocity and low longitudinal dispersion coefficients indicated that water flows in an environment analogous to a fissure system, and only slightly interacts with a low porosity matrix (ne < 1%). Combining this information with lava flow stratigraphy provided by several drillings allowed a conceptual scheme of potential contaminant behaviour to be designed. Although lava flows are vulnerable to point source pollution due to the rapid transfer of water within fractures, the saturated scoriaceous layers located between massive rocks should suffice to strongly buffer the transit of pollution through dilution and longer transit times. This was consistent with the low recovery rate of the presented tracer test.

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Contaminant advection and spreading in a fractured permeable formation: Part 1. Parametric evaluation and analytical solution

Cited by 30 publications

References 17 publications

The “Short Cut” Approach for the Reality of Enhanced Groundwater Contamination

The “Short Cut” Approach for the Reality of Enhanced Groundwater Contamination

Continuous time random walk analysis of solute transport in fractured porous media

Contaminant transfer and hydrodispersiveparameters in basaltic lava flows: artificial tracertest and implications for long-term management

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