Simulations of Two‐Well Tracer Tests in Stratified Aquifers at the Chalk River and the Mobile Sites

Abstract

A simulation study of two‐well injection‐withdrawal tracer tests in stratified granular aquifers at two widely separated sites is presented. The first site is located near the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories in Canada, and the second site is located in Mobile, Alabama. Field data and test conditions at these sites are substantially different in terms of vertical distributions of hydraulic conductivity, well spacings, flow rates, test durations, and tracer travel distances. Furthermore, the test at the Chalk River site was conducted in a recirculating mode, whereas the test at the Mobile site was conducted in a nonrecirculating mode. Simulations of these tests were performed in three dimensions using the curvilinear finite element model developed in the previous paper of this series. The simulations incorporated measured vertical variations in relative hydraulic conductivity and local dispersivity values that are small fractions (between 1/1000 and 1/100) of the spacing between the injection and the withdrawal wells. The local dispersivities are used to account for local hydrodynamic dispersion and are chosen independently so that they are not affected by the scales of the tests. Simulation results obtained from the model are presented. Interpretation of these results is made in conjunction with measured breakthrough curves at the withdrawal well and multilevel observation wells. For the Chalk River site, predicted and measured breakthrough curves at the withdrawal well are in good agreement over the earlier part of the test duration. Deviation of the field data from the model prediction occurs over the second part, where the predicted breakthrough curves show a declining trend but the field data plot does not. For the Mobile site, predicted and measured breakthrough curves at the withdrawal well show similar trends throughout the entire test duration and are in good agreement overall. Model predictions of the effect of hydraulic conductivity stratification on temporal distributions of concentration are generally consistent with data from multilevel observation wells at both sites. The model results also show interesting effects of stratification on spatial distributions of concentration, and on the evolution and spreading pattern of tracer plumes. These effects have not been fully assessed in the field measurement and should be investigated further.