Analysis and numerical simulation of a single-well tracer test in homogeneous, layered and slightly tilted formations

Abstract

Simulation of a field tracer experiment from an injection well in an axially symmetrical flow field in homogenous, stratified and slightly tilted aquifers is presented. The simulation has been verified by analytical solutions of the evolution of the first and second radial spatial moments of the tracer displacements derived in the current study under pure advective transport in case of layered formation. The study focused also on the discrepancies in the transport mechanisms between uniform (linear) and axially symmetrical radial flow fields in homogenous, layered and slightly tilted formations. Excellent agreement exists between analytical solution and the numerical simulation for the case of pure advection in both first and second moments supporting the validity of the numerical simulations. A subdiffusive dispersion regime in case of transport by advection and dispersion in homogeneous aquifer is observed due to the decline of the velocity field. N K;) is the representative effective medium of the layered aquifer in case of pure advection under axially symmetrical flow field.