Monitoring well pumps

[olarmy93]

I'm trying to design a pilot scale P&T system for removal of LNAPL (natural gas liquids). I have several feet of product floating on a confined aquifer. To start with a pump, I've looked at the ones for total fluids recovery and the ones with floating skimmer attachments.

Any recommendations on which type is better? Any specific pros and cons would be appreciated.

 

[dicksewerrat]

How are you going to float the pump? do you have a cave or a 5' shaft to the product?

 

[olarmy93]

It is in a 2" monitoring well. Screened interval is 15'; saturated zone is close to this thickness as well. We only have one so far; are planning on putting in more of them to delineate...

 

[dicksewerrat]

I'd start with a pump that will give you 50-75 gal per minute. Put the pumped water/Lp in a 10,000 gal tank. get afew of these. let the mixture settle awhile. Repump the LP with skimmer. Once you decide on the size of the LP field, call a few oil comapnies to recove the fuel. The price of the LP may be high enough to tempt one or two.

 

[4tuna]

Olarmy93 - it is difficult to make recommendations on what you have provided....

What is the depth of the aquifer? Do you have any aquifer parameters (like K) or know what the sustainable pumping rate is? Will the well be drawn down at a moderate pumping rate? When you say confined, what do you mean? If the potentiometric surface is above the top of the aquifer (upward gradient)and well screen, it may affect how liquids enter the well during pumping. In general, it is usually easier to separate liquids in-well and extract as little water as possible - less waste to handle and treat = saves money.

It also seems interesting that you are thinking of a pilot test prior to delineation. What exactly do you hope to learn from the pilot study? If you don't know the extent of contamination, how can you scale up to a full system?