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Modeling Multiphase Flow through Unsaturated Soil for Evaluation of Environmental Vulnerability of Oil Storage Tank Areas
Vitor Aderaldo Demétrio de Souza Geotechnical Engineer, Petrobras Transporte SA, Brazil Marco Aurélio Holanda de Castro Professor, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil
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ABSTRACT |
This paper presents results of analytical and experimental studies associated to the evaluation of permeability conditions of spill diversion ponds around fuel storage tanks located in a brazilian northeast industrial plant. To this purpose, a case study was developed in order to assess the environmental vulnerability of two distinct storage areas, by means of transient numerical simulations of contaminant advance in unsaturated soil due to a hypothetical large accidental hydrocarbon spill. For the development of the study, extensive geotechnical field and laboratory investigations were carried out, and numerical multiphase flow simulations were performed with the use of finite element method.
Keywords: unsaturated soil, numerical simulation, multiphase flow, hydrocarbon.
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