VELOCITY CONTROL AS A TOOL FOR OPTIMAL PLUME CONTAINMENT IN THE EQUUS BEDS AQUIFER, KANSAS¹

Abstract

A ground-water-management model was developed to investigate the best management options for the containment of an oil-field-brine plume in the Equus Beds aquifer in south-central Kansas.The main purpose of the management model was to fmd the optimal locations and minimum rates of pumpage of a set of plume-interception wells, to successfully reverse the velocity vectors at observation wells located along the plume front, and also to satisfy freshwater demands from supply wells. The effects of the calculated minimum withdrawals from the interception wells on the migration of contaminants throughout the ground-water system were evaluated utilizing a solute-transport model. This latter analysis was carried out to ensure the containment of the plume. Whereas application of the management model to the study area achieves the management objectives, the implementation of the results is believed to be impractical and expensive. This is because a considerable amount of water must be pumped out to reverse the velocity vectors in the vicinity of the plume. In general, the proposed technique of pollutant containment may be effective when applied to aquifers having low hydraulic gradients and/or to aquifers with hazardous plumes whose containment is not subject to economic constraints.