Groundwater Oil-Lens Simulation with FEATool Multiphysics

How far will an oil lens spread through shallow groundwater? Our latest FEATool Multiphysics showcase explores a study of hydrocarbon contamination in Rey, Iran, where researchers used a two-dimensional finite element model to track free-phase oil over two years. The simulations showed limited lateral migration, with thick oil zones remaining localized near their sources.



Slow movement does not mean rapid cleanup. The findings informed the authors’ recommendation to focus remediation on the source zones, while the model tracked oil redistribution without simulating dissolution or biodegradation. Read the article for the modeling approach, field comparison, results, and remediation implications:

https://featool.com/model-showcase/2026-09-24-Groundwater-Hydrocarbon-Plume-Dynamics/