Optimization of Free Product Recovery a Comparison of TWOLAY and UTCHEM

by
Michael Joseph McAdams, MSE

University of Texas at Austin, 1997
Supervisor: Randall J. Charbeneau
Co-Supervisor: Russell T. Johns

Free Product Recovery (FPR) is commonly used where Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPL's) contaminate the subsurface in large quantities (e.g., spills from refineries and leaking pipelines). Dual-phase extraction, which uses two pumps in a common well, is one of many methods used to implement FPR. One pump draws groundwater creating a "bowl" or cone of depression. This draw down puts the "floating" LNAPL in motion toward the well and ultimately the second oil pump. As the bowl deepens, maximum oil production increases. However, when the water table is drawn down, LNAPL is left behind as residual or "smeared". My thesis and research examines the balance between the positive effects of increasing water table draw down against the negative effects of smearing as well as various topics which surround FPR.

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