Experimental und Numerical Sensitivity Analyses on Push Pull Tracer Tests

Single-well tracer tests, especially push pull tracer tests, are more effective to estimate hydraulic parameters and microbial metabolic activities in terms of duration and cost compared to multi-well tracer tests. However, there are some drawbacks in accuracy, complicated data analysis and uniqueness. These shortages are thought to be derived from the applied conditions which affect mass recovery curve and breakthrough curve. Factors such as extraction rate, resting period, hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient are considered as the major factors determining the mass recovery rate and shape of the breakthrough curve. The results of the sensitivity analysis are summarized as follows: 1) the significant change in concentration of breakthrough curve is obtained when the extraction rate increases. This effect would also be much higher if the hydraulic conductivity is lower; 2) the mass recovery rate decreases with the increase of resting time, and the difference of mass recovery rates for different resting times is inversely proportional to the hydraulic conductivity; 3) the sensitivity values decrease with time. The hydraulic conductivity affects not only the early period, but the later period of the breakthrough curves; 4) The influence of the hydraulic gradient on the breakthrough curves is greater at earlier stage than at later stage. The mass recovery rate is inversely proportional to the hydraulic gradient.