Modeling tracer injection and well-aquifer interactions: A new mathematical and numerical approach

[1] A new mathematical and numerical approach is presented to model solute exchange between a well and the surrounding aquifer for the interpretation of field tracer tests. On the basis of water and tracer mass balance equations integrated over the volume of water in the well, the approach allows for finite volumes of tracer fluid and water flush. It deals with tracer mixing and capturing in the well bore, local distortion of the flow field around the well, and possible tracer back-migration into the well. A numerical solution, implemented in the three-dimensional finite element groundwater flow and transport simulator SUFT3D, is proposed that allows for modeling nonuniform distributions of tracer mass fluxes along the well screens related to variations in aquifer hydraulic conductivity. Showing its ability to reproduce concentration evolutions monitored in a well during field tracer experiments, considering various injection conditions, validates the approach.