Parameter Determination for Engineering Applications of Pneumatic Fracturing Analysis

Abstract

Pneumatic fracturing is a new enhancement process that has been accepted and recognized as a cost-effective technology in removing contaminants from polluted sites. This paper presents the procedure of determination of three key parameters, namely, retardation factor, diffusion coefficient, and fracture geometry for contaminant removal analysis. Retardation factor and diffusion coefficient were evaluated by developed solutions for a three-phase system, and fracture geometry was attained by tilt-meters in field measurement with a numerical conversion. The value of each parameter was verified by field measurement with respect to contaminant mass removal. It is shown that the three parameters are of critical importance in predicting contaminant mass removal. The procedure developed herein and numerical examples provide the baseline information in both the pneumatic fracturing process and general site-remediation operations.