Methods and systems for quantification of NAPL transmissivity

1. A method of evaluating a distribution and recovery of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in a subsurface comprising:

removing a volume of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) from the subsurface through a well and identifying a plurality of mobile non-aqueous phase liquid intervals (MNI) in the sub surface;

gauging the subsurface with at least one of a pressure transducer or an electronic interface probe to determine a transmissivity of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the subsurface; and

quantifying a recoverability of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the mobile non-aqueous phase liquid intervals (MNI),

wherein the subsurface comprises a fractured porous media or a layered arrangement of granular porous media and non-porous media.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous phase liquid comprises light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the transmissivity of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) interface comprises:

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine an apparent air NAPL interface (ANI);

calculating an elevation of the apparent air NAPL interface (ANI) in the subsurface;

recording the elevation of the apparent air NAPL interface (ANI);

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine an NAPL water interface (NWI) in the subsurface;

calculating an elevation of the NAPL water interface (NWI) in the subsurface; and

recording the elevation of the NAPL water interface (NWI).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous phase liquid comprises dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL).

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining the transmissivity of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) interface comprises:

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine an apparent NAPL water interface (NWI);

calculating an elevation of the apparent NAPL water interface (NWI) in the subsurface;

recording the elevation of the apparent NAPL water interface (NWI);

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine a base of the DNAPL and well total depth (TD) in the subsurface;

calculating an elevation of the base of the DNAPL in the subsurface; and

recording the elevation of the well TD.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying the mobile non-aqueous phase liquid intervals (MNI) comprises:

monitoring an apparent drawdown of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the well;

monitoring a discharge rate of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the well from an area of the subsurface comprising non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) near the well;

analyzing a rate of change for the discharge rate;

analyzing a rate of change for the drawdown; and

determining when the rate of change for the discharge rate and drawdown are substantially zero.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the volume of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) removed is substantially all the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) from the well at an equilibrium condition.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising correlating each identified mobile interval of non-aqueous phase liquid to a fracture within the fractured porous media or to a layer of granular porous media.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising generating a well non-aqueous phase liquid conceptual model by comparing the correlation of each identified mobile interval of non-aqueous phase liquid to a boring log for the subsurface.

10. A system for evaluating a distribution and recovery of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in a subsurface according to the method of claim 1 , the system comprising:

a first pressure transducer or electronic interface probe to gauge the subsurface to determine a transmissivity of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the subsurface; and

a second pressure transducer or electronic interface probe to gauge the subsurface to identify a plurality of mobile non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) intervals (MNI) in the sub surface.

11. A method of evaluating a distribution and a recoverability of a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) comprising:

testing a transmissivity of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), wherein the testing the transmissivity of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) comprises:

placing a first transducer in the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL);

recording a first pressure measurement from the first transducer;

calculating an elevation of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid;

placing a second transducer in a water column near the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL);

recording a second pressure measurement from the second transducer;

calculating an elevation of the water column; and

comparing the elevation of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) to the elevation of the water column to determine a thickness of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL);

determining a mobile interval definition of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), wherein the determining a mobile interval definition of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) comprises:

measuring a first specific gravity of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL);

measuring a second specific gravity of a water column; and

performing a calibration using the first and second specific gravity measurements;

integrating the definition into a conceptual site model; and

quantifying a recoverability of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL),

wherein a subsurface for recoverability comprises a fractured porous media or a layered arrangement of granular porous media and non-porous media.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein performing the calibration further comprises repeating said measurements of the specific gravity to refine the definition of the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL).

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) comprises coal tar, creosote, chlorinated solvents, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), mercury, and extra heavy crude oil, or combinations thereof.

14. A method of evaluating a distribution and recovery of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in a subsurface comprising:

identifying a plurality of mobile non-aqueous phase liquid intervals (MNI) in the subsurface, wherein the identifying comprises:

removing an amount of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) from the subsurface through a well, wherein the amount of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) removed is substantially all the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) from the well at an equilibrium condition;

monitoring an apparent drawdown of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the well;

monitoring a discharge rate of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the well from an area of the subsurface comprising non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) near the well;

analyzing a rate of change for the discharge rate;

analyzing a rate of change for the drawdown; and

determining when the rate of change for the discharge rate and drawdown are substantially zero;

determining a transmissivity of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the subsurface wherein determining comprises gauging the subsurface with at least one of a pressure transducer or an electronic interface probe; and

quantifying a recoverability of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in the mobile non-aqueous phase liquid intervals (MNI).

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the non-aqueous phase liquid comprises light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) and wherein determining the transmissivity of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) interface comprises:

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine an apparent air NAPL interface (ANI);

calculating an elevation of the apparent air NAPL interface (ANI) in the subsurface;

recording the elevation of the apparent air NAPL interface (ANI);

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine an NAPL water interface (NWI) in the subsurface;

calculating an elevation of the NAPL water interface (NWI) in the subsurface; and

recording the elevation of the NAPL water interface (NWI).

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the non-aqueous phase liquid comprises dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL), and wherein determining the transmissivity of the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) interface comprises:

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine an apparent NAPL water interface (NWI);

calculating an elevation of the apparent NAPL water interface (NWI) in the subsurface;

recording the elevation of the apparent NAPL water interface (NWI);

gauging the subsurface through a well to determine a base of the DNAPL and well total depth (TD) in the subsurface;

calculating an elevation of the base of the DNAPL in the subsurface; and

recording the elevation of the well TD.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the subsurface comprises a fractured porous media or a layered arrangement of granular porous media and non-porous media.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising correlating each identified mobile interval of non-aqueous phase liquid to a fracture within the fractured porous media or to a layer of granular porous media.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising generating a well non-aqueous phase liquid conceptual model by comparing the correlation of each identified mobile interval of non-aqueous phase liquid to a boring log for the subsurface.