Three-Dimensional High-Precision Numerical Simulations of Free-Product DNAPL Extraction in Potential Emergency Scenarios: A Test Study in a PCE-Contaminated Alluvial Aquifer (Parma, Northern Italy)

Chlorinated organic compounds are widespread aquifer contaminants. They are known to be dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). Therefore, they are denser than water and immiscible with other fluids. Their migration into the environment in variably saturated zones can cause severe damage. For this reason, optimizing those actions that minimize the negative impact of these compounds in the subsurface is essential. This paper presented a numerical model simulating the free-product DNAPL migration and extraction through a purpose-designed pumping well in a potential emergency scenario. The numerical simulations were performed using CactusHydro, a numerical code that uses a high-resolution shock-capturing flux conservative method to resolve the non-linear coupled partial differential equations of a three-phase immiscible fluid flow recently proposed in the literature, including the contaminant extraction at the base of the aquifer. We investigated the temporal (and spatial) evolution of its migration in the Parma (Northern Italy) porous alluvial aquifer following the saturation contour profiles of the three-phase fluid flow in variably saturated zones. The results indicated that this numerical approach can simulate the contaminant migration in the subsurface and the pumping of the free-product from a well screened at the base of the aquifer system. Moreover, the simulation showed the possibility of recovering about two-thirds of the free-product, in agreement with the scientific literature.

Automated summary

This paper presents a numerical model for simulating the migration and extraction of chlorinated organic compounds in aquifers. The model accurately captures the contaminant migration in the subsurface and demonstrates the potential for recovering a significant amount of the free-product.