Flow and Distribution of Non aqueous Phase Liquids

In many situations, fluids other than groundwater such as non‑aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) are present in the subsurface, many of which are hazardous industrial chemicals. NAPLs include liquids lighter than water (LNAPLs)—for example, gasoline and diesel fuel—and liquids denser than water (DNAPLs)—including chlorinated solvents and coal tar. This book is an introduction to the fundamentals of NAPL flow in porous media, and presents properties and concepts that dictate how NAPLs are distributed in porous media, including the importance of interfacial tension, wettability, and capillary pressure. Further, the authors describe the relationships among capillary pressure, relative permeability, and fluid saturation, and include more detailed discussions of LNAPL and DNAPL distribution. This book provides the reader with a foundation for understanding conceptual and numerical models of groundwater contamination as well as strategies for the investigation and remediation of NAPL‑affected sites.