# US 11,442,192 B2 · Methods and systems for quantification of NAPL transmissivity > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,192 B2 - Document ID: US11442192B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/346,238 - Filed: 2017-11-03 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-03 - Assignees: GEI Consultants, Inc. - Applicants: Gei Consultants, Inc. - Inventors: John Michael Hawthorne; Lisa Allison Reyenga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442192B2 ## CPC - E21B 49/08: Obtaining fluid samples or testing fluids, in boreholes or wells - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 49/008: {by injection test; by analysing pressure variations in an injection or production test, e.g. for estimating the skin factor (measuring pressure E21B47/06)} - E21B 49/088: {combined with sampling} - G01N 21/59: Transmissivity (G01N21/25 takes precedence) - G01V 1/50: Analysing data - B09C 1/00: Reclamation of contaminated soil - G01V 2210/663: Modeling production-induced effects - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - B09C: RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL (gatherers for removing stone or the like from the soil A01B43/00; sterilising soil by steam A01G11/00; removing undesirable matter, e.g. rubbish, from the land E01H15/00) ## Abstract Methods and systems for evaluating a distribution and recoverability of a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) or a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in fractured substrate are provided. Also provided are methods and systems for evaluating a distribution and recoverability of a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) or a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in other substrates, including a layered porous media substrate. Also provided are methods and systems for calibrations related to DNAPL transmissivity. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the non-aqueous phase liquid comprises light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) 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). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the non-aqueous phase liquid comprises dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) 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). ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 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). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) 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). ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) 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.