Three-dimensional analysis of the capture of contaminated leachate by fully penetrating, partially penetrating, and horizontal wells

Abstract

The capture of a contaminated leachate by wells is examined for a fully penetrating well, a partially penetrating well, series of partially penetrating wells, and a horizontal well. The capture zones for these wells are illustrated in figures. Charts are used to analyze the minimum pumping rates required to capture a contaminated leachate over a range of aquifer parameters. It is shown that fully penetrating and partially penetrating wells have the same minimum pumping rates when the ratio of the aquifer thickness to the size of the contaminated region is <0.2; when this ratio is >0.5, a partially penetrating well has a much lower pumping rate. A horizontal well that is oriented perpendicularly to flow has the lowest pumping rate; this well can capture a contaminant with a pumping rate of ~1.5-2 times the contaminated discharge.