Mapping a Brine Plume Using Surface Geophysical Methods in Conjunction with Ground Water Quality Data

Oil field brine was applied to a gravel roadbed at an instrumented study site in Newark, Ohio, to simulate the use of brine as a deicer on roads in certain areas of Ohio. Brine was applied on a weekly basis eight times during the winter of 1988 as part of the deicing simulation. Eleven wells were installed at the site prior to brine application to permit collection of ground water quality samples. Surface geophysical methods — electrical resistivity and electromagnetic conductivity — were used to map the resulting brine plume. The accuracy of the methods was evaluated by comparing geophysical and ground water quality data. The presence of brine in ground water resulted in a decrease in resistivity and an increase in conductivity. Specific conductance measured in the field was used as a general indicator of the presence of the brine plume in ground water. Chloride concentration was an indicator of brine in the ground water. Results of the surface geophysical surveys correlated best with chloride and dissolved solids concentrations, and with specific conductance in ground water. The surface geophysical methods were found to be useful for qualitative interpretations of ground water quality changes resulting from the application of brine on roads.     

Geoelectrical and hydrochemical investigations for characterizing the salt water intrusion in the Khanasser valley, northern Syria

An integrated approach of geoelectrical and hydrochemical investigation surveys was proposed for indicating contact regions between saline and fresh groundwater in the Khanasser valley region, northern Syria. The qualitative and quantitative interpretations of 34 vertical electrical soundings (VES) enable to characterize the salt water intrusion laterally and vertically. The established iso-apparent resistivity maps for different AB/2 spacings obviously indicate the presence of a lowresistivity (less than 4 Ohm·m) zone related to the salt water intrusion in the Quaternary and Paleogene deposits. The different hydrochemical and geophysical parameters, such as electrical resistivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) and major ions concentrations used to characterize the salt water intrusion gave almost similar results in locating and mapping the different boundaries of the groundwater salinity. The proposed approach is useful for mapping the interface between different groundwater qualities, and can be therefore used to successfully characterize the salt water intrusion phenomenon in other semi-arid regions. The application of such an approach is a powerful tool and can be used for water resource management in the water scarce areas.     

Electrical earth resistivity surveying for delineating the characteristics of ground water in a semi‐arid region in the Khanasser Valley,northern Syria

A resistivity survey is conducted in Khanasser Valley, a semi‐arid region in northern Syria, to delineate the characteristics of ground water affected by the salt‐water intrusion related to Al‐Jaboul Sabkha. Existing wells were used to measure salinity and conductivity of water samplings. Vertical electrical sounding was carried out near the existing wells. The combination of resistivity and hydrogeological data enables the establishment of empirical relationships between earth resistivity, water resistivity, and the amount of total dissolved solids. These relationships are then used in order to derive salinity maps for electrode spacings of 70, 100, and 150 m. The distribution of fresh, brackish and salt‐water zones and their variations in space along two longitudinal profiles (LP1 and LP2) are established through converting subsurface depth–resistivity models into different ground‐water areas. The constructed ground‐water area maps allow interfaces between different water zones to be determined. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigating changes of electrical characteristics of the saturated zone affected by hazardous organic waste

The Picillo Farm, EPA Superfund Site, in western Rhode Island was an unauthorized disposal site of hazardous organic chemicals. Predominantly organic contaminants have entered an aquifer comprised of layered glacial deposits and fractured bedrock and spread past the site boundaries with groundwater flow. Hydraulic conductivities in the glacial deposits range over two orders of magnitude and fractures and faults in the granitic bedrock further complicate the spreading of contaminants. Monitoring wells delineate two plumes that extend towards a fault-controlled valley with lakes and wetlands; one to the northwest and the other to the southwest. In this investigation we studied the electrical characteristics of both plumes.One dimensional Schlumberger depth soundings were conducted along several profile lines over the plumes and compared to those over non-contaminated sections of the site. With regard to the southwestern plume, high formation factors (ratio of bulk layer to pore water resistivity) between 12 and 45 were observed compared to values between 2.5 and 7.7 measured over the non-contaminated sections. Also, high values (> 5) of vertical electrical anisotropy (ratio of geoelectrically determined depth to high resistivity bedrock to drilled depth to bedrock) were measured over the contaminated part of the site. These values are extremely high compared to other non-contaminated sites (range: 2 to 3) in glacial stream channels of southern Rhode Island. Geoelectric measurements were affected by lateral effects. However, the consistency of high formation factors (11 to 35) and high vertical anisotropies (3 to 5) over the southwestern plume in comparison to low formation factors (3 to 8) and vertical anisotropies (1 to 1.5) over non-contaminated sites represents a marked difference between both sites. Overall, the Schlumberger depth soundings are less susceptible to near-surface lateral inhomogeneities than expected from other geoelectrical methods. Also, the disadvantage of a 1D interpretation was compensated by estimating resistivity and thickness ranges within the concept of non-uniqueness using the Dar Zarrouk parameters (Maillet, R., 1947. The fundamental equations of electrical prospecting. Geophysics, 12(4): 529–556.).The results over the northwestern plume, i.e. an area with higher contaminant concentration than the southwestern plume, were mixed and showed no consistent trends. Predominantly reducing conditions, as indicated by the presence of soluble ferric (FeII) iron hydroxides in ground water samples, increased the electrical conductivity. This is believed to have compensated the effect of high formation factors on the bulk saturated layer resistivity within the affected area.     

Geochemical processes during five years of aquifer storage recovery

A key factor in the long-term viability of aquifer storage recovery (ASR) is the extent of mineral solution interaction between two dissimilar water types and consequent impact on water quality and aquifer stability. We collected geochemical and isotopic data from three observation wells located 25, 65, and 325 m from an injection well at an experimental ASR site located in a karstic, confined carbonate aquifer in South Australia. The experiment involved five major injection cycles of a total of 2.5 x 10(5) m3 of storm water (total dissolved solids [TDS] approximately 150 mg/L) into the brackish (TDS approximately 2400 mg/L) aquifer. Approximately 60% of the mixture was pumped out during the fifth year of the experiment. The major effect on water quality within a 25 m radius of the injection well following injection of storm water was carbonate dissolution (35 +/- 6 g of CaCO3 dissolved/m3 of aquifer) and sulfide mineral oxidation (50 +/- 10 g as FeS2/m3 after one injection). < 0.005% of the total aquifer carbonate matrix was dissolved during each injection event, and approximately 0.2% of the total reduced sulfur. Increasing amounts of ambient ground water was entrained into the injected mixture during each of the storage periods. High 14C(DIC) activities and slightly more negative delta13C(DIC) values measured immediately after injection events show that substantial CO2(aq) is produced by oxidation of organic matter associated with injectant. There were no detectable geochemical reactions while pumping during the recovery phase in the fifth year of the experiment.     

GROUNDWATER EXPLORATION IN HARD-ROCK TERRAIN—A CASE HISTORY*

The utility of electrical resistivity and magnetic measurements to locate suitable wellsites in hard-rock terrains intruded by dykes is illustrated. The example is taken from a highly hilly terrain of Karnataka State situated in the Western Ghat hills of Peninsular India. Electrical resistivity profiles and soundings, S.P., and total magnetic field measurements are discussed. Of the fifteen recommended sites, nine have been drilled, eight of which are reported to yield between 6–12 m³/hr (1500 to 3000 gals./hr), which is considered satisfactory in this region.     

Correlation of vertical electrical sounding and electrical borehole log data for groundwater exploration

We have correlated the longitudinal unit conductance CL obtained from interpreted vertical electrical sounding data with the formation resistivity R_t and the formation resistivity factor F, obtained by carrying out electrical borehole logging. Interpreted geophysical data of eleven soundings and two electrical borehole log records are used for the analysis. The geophysical data used were acquired in a sedimentary basin. The study area is called Lower Maner Basin located in the province of Andhra Pradesh, India. Vertical electrical soundings were carried out using a Schlumberger configuration with half current electrode separation varying from 600–1000 m. For logging the two boreholes, a Widco logger‐model 3200 PLS was used. True formation resistivity R_t was calculated from a resistivity log. Formation resistivity factor F was also calculated at various depths using R_t values. An appreciable inverse relation exists between the correlated parameters. The borehole resistivity R_t and the formation resistivity factor F decrease with the increase in the longitudinal unit conductance CL. We have shown the use of such a relation in computing borehole resistivity R_t and formation resistivity factor F at sites that posses only vertical electrical sounding data, with a fair degree of accuracy. Validation of the correlation is satisfactory. Scope for updating the correlation is discussed. Significance and applications of the relation for exploration of groundwater, namely to update the vertical electrical sounding data interpretation by translating the vertical electrical sounding data into electrical borehole log parameters, to facilitate correlations studies and to estimate the porosity (φ), permeability (K) and water saturation S_w of water bearing zones are discussed.     

Ground Water Quality In the Aquifer of the Upper Mad River Valley 1940 to 1983

More than 40 years of ground water quality monitoring data from the aquifer of the Upper Mad River Valley have been accumulated by various agencies in Ohio. The data consist of concentrations for more than 30 chemical substances found in the ground water. Evaluation of this data using statistical analysis, tables and graphs indicates that there have been moderate increases in total dissolved solids, sulfate, fluoride, calcium, magnesium and potassium. More significant increases were discovered for chloride and sodium. Iron and zinc show a general decline in concentration. The metals arsenic, barium and lead also show increases in recent years. However, large variations in the concentrations and limited data for these metals limit the reliability of the apparent trends shown in the tabulated data.
The increases in chloride and sodium are attributed to the use of road de-icing salt. Increases in sulfate and potassium may be due to use of fertilizers in a region which is largely agricultural. The most recent data may indicate that the ground water quality is improving in terms of these two parameters. Although most of the data indicate increases in concentrations with time, inconsistencies in sampling procedures and difficulties in assessing many factors which affect ground water quality preclude the broad conclusion that urbanization and industrialization have caused regional ground water quality degradation.
The inability to interpret much of the data underlies the need for an integrated environmental monitoring program. Such a program should provide a data base for assessing factors such as air and river quality and historical land use practices so that their impact on ground water quality in the Mad River Valley can be better understood.     

Determination of aquifer geometry through geophysical methods: A case study from Quetta Valley, Pakistan

Due to increase in population and agricultural activities, the aquifer of Quetta Valley is under tremendous stress and the water table is declining at an increasing rate. This situation necessitates evaluation of the aquifer system, for which information about geometry of the aquifer is a prerequisite. However, there are no drilling-to-bedrock data available; therefore, electrical resistivity, seismic reflection and gravity methods were employed to determine geometry of the aquifer. Interpretation of vertical electrical soundings provided information about the depth-tobedrock at some specific points, whereas seismic reflection delineated bedrock topography along two lines. The depths to bedrock inferred from electrical resistivity and seismic reflection data were used as constraints in the modeling of gravity data. 2.75D gravity models were constructed along lines with a regular spacing. Map of depth-to-bedrock was prepared by contouring the depth given by the gravity models. Combination of these geophysical methods depicted the geometry of the aquifer. This example shows that in a similar geological setting proper integration of geophysical exploration methods can determine the aquifer geometry with an acceptable reliability and at an appropriate cost.     

Resolution of freshwater and saline water aquifers by composite geophysical data analysis methods

Abstract

The resolution of the freshwater and saline water aquifers in a coastal terrain (Mahanadi Basin, India) is updated. We analysed electrical borehole log data at four sites and compared the water resistivity regime of the freshwater and saline water zones obtained from electrical borehole logging, with the resistivity regime obtained by interpreting vertical electrical sounding (VES) data. The multilayer VES data interpretation is modified to a simple model, containing only the freshwater zone and the saline water zone. The composite geophysical parameters of the freshwater and saline water zones, in particular the resistivity and longitudinal unit conductance regime, are identified. The resolution obtained from the composite geophysical data analyses is very clear and convincing. The composite longitudinal unit conductance regime of the saline water zones is very high compared to that of the freshwater zones. This makes the identification of the two aquifers easy and increases its reliability. A technique which enables analysis of composite geophysical data of freshwater and saline water zones at VES sites in the vicinity of the borehole log sites is proposed. The significance of longitudinal unit conductance in resolving the freshwater and saline water aquifers is illustrated graphically. The proposed technique is validated by correlating the longitudinal unit conductance and resistivity with the total dissolved solids. The efficiency of the technique is validated by carrying out discriminant function analysis.

Citation Hodlur, G. K., Dhakate, R., Sirisha, T. & Panaskar, D. B. (2010) Resolution of freshwater and saline water aquifers by composite geophysical data analysis methods. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(3), 414–434.     

Utilization of Shallow Geophysical Sensing at Two Abandoned Municipal/Industrial Waste Landfills on the Missouri River Floodplain

In the past 30 to 40 years, floodplain areas of large rivers, such as the Missouri River, have been extensively used for large industrial and municipal landfills. Many of these sites are now causing varying degrees of ground water contamination. Rapid geophysical characterization techniques have proven useful for delineation of anomalous areas indicative of potential contaminant plumes. These methods have also resulted in a cost effective approach to the location and number of monitoring wells.
An effective technique to initially characterize ground water contamination at such landfills along the Missouri River in northwestern Missouri involved a combination of electrical resistivity and electromagnetic conductivity methods. Resistivity was used to obtain soundings of the alluvium by using a modified Wenner array and to corroborate shallow electromagnetic conductivity measurements by using short Wenner array electrode spacings.
Upon confirmation of similar measurements of the upper soils for the two methods, numerous electromagnetic conductivity traverses were made at each landfill site. The data generated from these surveys were graphed and contoured to delineate anomalous areas. Based on the geophysical study, a ground water monitoring well network was then designed for each landfill.
As a result, a minimal number of wells were required to initially characterize the ground water quality at these two sites. In general, analysis of water samples from these wells displayed good correlation with the geophysical results.     

Application of Electromagnetic Logging to Contamination Investigations in Glacial Sand-and-Gravel Aquifers

Electromagnetic (EM) logging provides an efficient method for high-resolution, vertical delineation of electrically conductive contamination in glacial sand-and-gravel aquifers. LM. gamma, and lithologic logs and specific conductance data from sand-and-gravel aquifers at five sites in the northeastern United States were analyzed to define the relation of KM conductivity to aquifer lithology and water quality. Municipal waste disposal, septic waste discharge, or highway deicing salt application at these sites has caused contaminant plumes in which the dissolved solids concentration and specific conductance of ground water exceed background levels by as much as 10 to 20 limes.
The major hydrogeologic factors that affected KM log response at the five sites were the dissolved solids concentration of the ground water and the silt and clay content in the aquifer. KM conductivity of sand and gravel with uncontaminated water ranged from less than 5 to about 10 millisiemens per meter (mS/m); that of silt and clay zones ranged from about 15 to 45 mS/m: and that of the more highly contaminated zones in sand and gravel ranged from about 10 to more than 80 mS/m. Specific conductance of water samples from screened intervals in sand and gravel at selected monitoring well installations was significantly correlated with KM conductivity.
CM logging can be used in glacial sand-and-gravel aquifer investigations to (1) determine optimum depths for the placement of monitoring well screens: (2) provide a nearly continuous vertical profile of specific conductance to complement depth-specific water quality samples; and (3) identify temporal changes in water quality through sequential logging. Detailed lithologic or gamma logs, preferably both, need to be collected along with the F.M logs to define zones in which elevated EM conductivity is caused by the presence of sill and clay beds rather than contamination.     

Ground and surface water quality along a dambo transect in Chihota smallholder farming area,Marondera district,Zimbabwe

In many smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa dambos are used for grazing and crop production especially horticultural crops. Increased use of dambos especially for crop production can result in ground and surface water pollution. Ground and surface water quality along a dambo transect in Chihota, Zimbabwe, was investigated between October 2013 and February 2014. The transect was divided into; upland (control), dambo gardens (mid-slope) and the river (valley bottom). Water samples for quality assessment were collected in October 2013 (peak of dry season) and February 2014 (peak of rainy season). The collected water samples were analysed for pH, faecal coliforms, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and some selected nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, and Cu). Water pH was 7.0, 6.4 and 6.1 for river water, garden and upland wells respectively. During the wet season total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were 233 mg/L for uplands, 242 mg/L for gardens and 141 mg/L for the river. During the dry season, TN concentrations were all below 20 mg/L, and were not significantly different among sampling stations along the dambo transect. Dry season faecal coliform units (fcu) were significantly different and were 37.2, 30.0 and 5.0 for upland wells, garden wells and river respectively. Wet season faecal coliforms were also significantly different and were 428.5, 258.0 and 479.4 fcu for upland wells, garden wells and river respectively. The other measured physico-chemical parameters also varied with sampling position along the transect. It was concluded that TN and fcu in sampled water varied with season and that wet season concentrations were significantly higher than dry season concentrations. High concentrations of faecal coliforms and total N during the wet season was attributed to increased water movement. Water from upland wells, garden wells and river was not suitable for human consumption according to WHO standards during both the dry and wet seasons.     

GEOTHERMAL PROSPECTING BY GEOELECTRIC SOUNDINGS IN NE GREECE*

In total 77 direct current resistivity soundings were carried out during a geothermal exploration survey of the Genisea, NE Greece, geothermal field. The data revealed a high electrical conductivity zone at the center of the investigated area and suggested that an anomalous heat source lay beneath the study area. This was confirmed by subsequent drilling data. Temperature measurements, from 11 boreholes, were used for the construction of isotherms that correlated very closely with the geoelectric data.     

NUMERICAL MODELLING OF STANDARD AND CONTINUOUS VERTICAL ELECTRICAL SOUNDINGS1

Analytical solutions of vertical electrical soundings (VES) have mostly been applied to groundwater exploration and monitoring groundwater quality on terrains of fairly simple geology and geomorphology on which the electrode arrays are symmetrical (e.g. Schlumberger or Wenner configurations). The sounding interpretation assumes flat topography and horizontally stratified layers. Any deviations from these simple situations may be impossible to interpret analytically. The recently developed GEA-58 geoelectrical instrument can make continuous soundings along a profile with any colinear electrode configuration. This paper describes the use of finite-difference and finite-element methods to model complex earth resistivity distributions in 2D, in order to calculate apparent resistivity responses to any colinear current electrode distribution in terrains in which the earth resistivities do not vary along the strike. The numerical model results for simple situations are compared with the analytical solutions. In addition, a pseudo-depth section of apparent resistivities measured in the field with the GEA-58 is compared with the numerical solution of a real complex resistivity distribution along a cross-section. The model results show excellent agreement with the corresponding analytical and experimental data.     

AN ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY PROFILE IN HAWAII WITH NOVEL ELEVATION CORRECTION*

In order to locate relatively optimum sites for drilling exploratory holes for fresh water, an electrical resistivity survey was conducted along the new Mahukona-Kawaihae Road on the west flank of the Kohala Mountain. Two resistivity soundings made at the same stations, using the Schlumberger electrode configuration, determined an a spacing of 275 feet for horizontal profiling with the Wenner array. The correlation coefficient of the elevation to profile data was 0.41. A procedure for removing elevation effect from observed apparent resistivity was developed. Based on the reduced resistivity profile, four relatively optimum sites for additional exploration, such as by drilling, are specified. There is no specific interpretation of the data that can definitely indicate the occurrence of large underground reservoirs of fresh water anywhere along the profile. This is because the interpretation of horizontal profiling data is essentially relative and not absolute.     

Relationships between water flow rate and geophysical measurements in an alluvial aquifer

Our study focuses on the potential usefulness of surface geophysical data to constrain the water content within an alluvial aquifer. On a study area where two wells have been drilled, we have performed several geophysical measurements, including ground penetrating radar, DC resistivity prospecting, seismic refraction survey and magnetic resonance soundings. From these data, we estimated several parameters, namely, the water height in the deposits, the effective porosity, the water content, the permeability, and the transmissivity of alluvial deposits. These physical parameters allow us to characterize the alluvial deposits in order to constrain the estimation of the potential water flow. The lithology and water flow rate known from the wells enabled us to compare geophysical results obtained in a high water flow rate zone to those in a low water flow rate zone. Correlation has been found between the water flow rate observed in both wells and the geophysical data obtained in the vicinity of these wells.     

DETERMINATION OF A SALT-WATER INTERFACE BY ELECTRIC RESISTIVITY DEPTH SOUNDINGS / Détermination d'un interface d'eau salée à l'aide des mesures verticales de résistivité électrique

Abstract

Vertical electrical resistivity soundings were measured near hydrological observation wells in order to ascertain whether geophysical means could be used to map saline water intrusion into a fresh water aquifer in Israel. The soundings showed that the low resistivity layers associated with the salt water are readily discernible. The technique was applied to the entire coastal belt and resulted in a detailed study of the saline water body and its extent. Measurements were repeated six years later and good agreement between the two sets of measurements was noted. This technique is therefore judged to be an accurate tool for the mapping of salt water intrusion in fresh-water aquifers.     

On the 3-D inversion of vertical electrical soundings: Application to the South Ismailia area—Cairo desert road, Cairo, Egypt

A code for 3-D resistivity modelling and inversion of vertical electrical soundings has been developed based on the finite-element technique and regularisation method. Synthetic data were used to test the effectiveness of the code and to examine the resolving capability of the Schlumberger array in investigating 3-D resistivity distributions. The code was applied to experimental data set constituted by 35 Schlumberger soundings collected near the Cairo city in order to study the subsurface resistivity distribution. The results have shown that valuable imaging of the subsurface resistivity distribution can be constructed even when the vertical electrical soundings are acquired in a sparse field data set.     

Enhanced Degradation of Dissolved Benzene and Toluene Using a Solid Oxygen-Releasing Compound

A field lest to evaluate the applicability of an oxygon-releasing compound (ORC) to the rernediation of ground water contaminated with benzone and toluene was conducted in the Borden Aquifer in Ontario. Canada. Benzene and toluene were injected as organic substrates to represent BTEX compounds, bromide was used as a tracer, and nitrate was added to avoid nitrate-limited conditions.
The fate of the solutes was monitored along four lines of monitoring points and wells. Two lines studied the behavior of the solutes upgradient and downgradient of two large-diameter well screens filled with briquets containing ORC and briquets without ORC. One line was used to study the solute behavior upgradient and downgradient of columns of ORC powder placed directly in the saturated zone. The remaining line was a control.
The results indicate that ORC in both briquet and powder form can release significant amounts of oxygen to conlaminated ground water passing by it. In the formulation used in this work, oxygen release persisted for at least 10 weeks. Furthemiore, the study indicates that the enhancement of the available dissolved oxygen content of at least 4 mg/L each of the ground water by ORC can support biodegradation of benzene and toluene dissolved in ground water. Such concentrations are typical of those encountered at sites contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons; therefore, these results suggest that there is promise for ORC to enhance in situ biodegradation of BTKX contaminants at such sites using passive (nonpumping) systems to contact the contaminated ground water with the oxygen source.