About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

Pacific Section of AAPG

Abstract


Environmental Concerns in the Petroleum Industry, 1989
Pages 1-13

Observing the Transport and Fate of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils and in Groundwater Using Flow Visualization Techniques

Stephen H. Conrad, John L. Wilson, William Mason, William Peplinski

Abstract

Two flow visualization techniques are described that aid in observing and understanding the movement and capillary trapping of organic liquids. Etched glass micromodels are two dimensional networks of three dimensional pores. In these models fluid flow can be observed at a bulk level or, through a microscope, at a pore level, and recorded on film or videotape. Styrene monomer can be used to represent a liquid phase in soil column experiments, and polymerized into a hardened, chemically resistant plastic when the experiment is to be stopped. The styrene “blob casts” can then be visually inspected through an optical or scanning electron microscope. Example applications illustrate the two techniques. These examples include organic liquid migration and capillary trapping in homogeneous aquifer material, and heterogeneous material containing either macropores or coarse stringers. Pore level microphotographs depict capillary trapped blobs below the water table and the film of organic liquid that occurs between the water and air in the vadose zone. Aquifer level behavior is illustrated by a downward migrating dense organic liquid, and by a well monitoring a floating organic liquid level in a phreatic aquifer.


Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24