Stochastic analysis of the effect of heterogeneity and fractures on radionuclide transport in a low-permeability clay layer

Deep low-permeability clay layers are considered as safe environments for disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In Belgium, the Boom Clay is a candidate host rock for deep geological disposal. In this study, we analyze the effects of fractures and spatially variable hydraulic conductivity on radionuclide migration through the clay. Fracture geometry and properties are simulated with Monte Carlo simulation. The heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity is simulated by direct sequential co-simulation using measurements of hydraulic conductivity and four types of secondary variables. The hydraulic conductivity and fracture simulations are used as input for a transport model. Radionuclide fluxes computed with this heterogeneous model are compared with fluxes obtained with a homogeneous model. The output fluxes of the heterogeneous model differ at most 8% from the homogeneous model. The main safety function of the Boom Clay is thus not affected by the fractures and the spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity.     

Estimating aquifer thickness using multiple pumping tests

A method to estimate aquifer thickness and hydraulic conductivity has been developed, consisting of multiple pumping tests. The method requires short-duration pumping cycles on an unconfined aquifer with significant seasonal water-table fluctuations. The interpretation of several pumping tests at a site in India under various initial conditions provides information on the change in hydrodynamic parameters in relation to the initial water-table level. The transmissivity linearly decreases compared with the initial water level, suggesting a homogeneous distribution of hydraulic conductivity with depth. The hydraulic conductivity is estimated from the slope of this linear relationship. The extrapolation of the relationship between transmissivity and water level provides an estimate of the aquifer thickness that is in good agreement with geophysical investigations. The hydraulically active part of the aquifer is located in both the shallow weathered and the underlying densely fractured zones of the crystalline basement. However, no significant relationship is found between the aquifer storage coefficient and initial water level. This new method contributes to filling the methodological gap between single pumping tests and hydraulic tomography, in providing information on the variation of the global transmissivity according to depth. It can be applied to any unconfined aquifer experiencing large seasonal water-table fluctuations and short pumping cycles.     

Assessment of integrated electrical resistivity data on complex aquifer structures in NE Nuba Mountains – Sudan

Two geophysical techniques were integrated to map the groundwater aquifers on complex geological settings, in the crystalline basement terrain in northeast Nuba Mountains. The water flow is structurally controlled by the northwest–southeast extensional faults as one of several in-situ deformational patterns that are attributed to the collision of the Pan-African oceanic assemblage of the Nubian shield against the pre-Pan African continental crust to the west. The structural lineaments and drainage systems have been enhanced by the remote sensing technique. The geophysical techniques used are: vertical electrical soundings (VES) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), in addition to hydraulic conductivity measurements. These measurements were designed to overlap in order to improve the producibility of the geophysical data and to provide a better interpretation of the hydrogeological setting of the aquifer complex structure. Smooth and Block inversion schemes were attempted for the observed ERT data to study their reliability in mapping the different geometries in the complex subsurface. The VES data was conducted where ERT survey was not accessible, and inverted smoothly and merged with the ERT in the 3D resistivity grid. The hydraulic conductivity was measured for 42 water samples collected from the distributed dug wells in the study area; where extremely high saline zones were recorded and have been compared to the resistivity values in the 3D model.     

Unsaturated hydraulic properties of cemented tailings backfill that contains sodium silicate

Recycling the mine waste (tailings) into cemented tailings backfill has economical and environmental advantages for the mining industry. One of the most recent types of cemented tailings backfill is gelfill (GF), a backfill that contains sodium silicate as chemical additive. GF is typically made of tailings, water, binder and chemical additives (sodium silicate gel). It is a promising mine tailings backfill technology. From a design point of view, the environmental performance or durability of GF structures is considered as a key factor. Due to the fact that GF structures are cementitious tailings, their durability and environmental performance depend on their ability to resist the flow of aggressive elements (water and oxygen). Thus, understanding the unsaturated hydraulic properties of GF is essential for a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and durable design of GF structures. However, there is a lack of information with regards to unsaturated hydraulic properties of GF, the factors that affect them and their evolution with time. Hence, the unsaturated hydraulic properties (water retention curve (WRC) or water characteristic curve, air entry value (AEV), residual water content, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity) of GF are investigated in this paper. GF samples of various compositions and cured in room temperature for different times (3, 7, 28, and 90 days) are considered. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and microstructural tests have been conducted; WRCs are measured by using a WP4-T dewpoint potentiameter and the saline solution method. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is predicted using the van Genuchten (1980) equation. The water retention curve (WRC) is determined as the relationship between volumetric water content and suction for each GF mix and curing time. The van Genuchten (1980) equation is used to simulate the WRC to best-fit the experimental data. AEV and residual water content are also computed for each mix and curing time. Furthermore, functions are developed to predict the evolution of AEVs, residual water content and fitting parameters of the van Genuchten model with degree of hydration. Important outcomes have been achieved with regards to unsaturated hydraulic properties. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of GF was calculated to decrease when the suction, binder content, and degree of hydration increase. The effects of binder content and degree of hydration are more obvious at low suction ranges. The obtained results would contribute to a better design and assessment of the durability and environmental performance of GF structures.     

Real surface conductivity component as indicator for the hydraulic conductivity

Estimation of hydraulic conductivity from surface resistivity measurements is one of the most difficult and challenging hydrogeophysical targets. The promising side of this relation is the analogy between electric current flow and water flow, whereas the grand ambiguity is the non-dimensionality between both two quantities. Imaginary surface conductivity component is used recently to deduce the hydraulic conductivity via complex resistivity measurements. Since there are similar properties between imaginary (out-of-phase) and real (in-phase) surface conductivity components, the latter is used in this paper to predict the hydraulic conductivity. Two mathematical parameters were determined to express the electrical equivalent of hydraulic conductivity in sand and clay systems based on the mode of electrical double-layer formation in both systems. The reliability of the proposed method is tested through applying on two datasets representing sand and clay systems. The first dataset is a clean sand and gravel aquifer in the Keritis basin in Chania, Crete, Greece. The second is mostly clayey sand aquifer in Wadi El-Assuity, Egypt. Application of the present approach in these two cases resulted in promising nearly identical values with the measured hydraulic conductivity via pumping test or geometric hydraulic conductivity via grain size analysis.     

Investigating spatial variability of vertical water fluxes through the streambed in distinctive stream morphologies using temperature and head data

Investigating the interaction of groundwater and surface water is key to understanding the hyporheic processes. The vertical water fluxes through a streambed were determined using Darcian flux calculations and vertical sediment temperature profiles to assess the pattern and magnitude of groundwater/surface-water interaction in Beiluo River, China. Field measurements were taken in January 2015 at three different stream morphologies including a meander bend, an anabranching channel and a straight stream channel. Despite the differences of flux direction and magnitude, flux directions based on vertical temperature profiles are in good agreement with results from Darcian flux calculations at the anabranching channel, and the Kruskal-Wallis tests show no significant differences between the estimated upward fluxes based on the two methods at each site. Also, the upward fluxes based on the two methods show similar spatial distributions on the streambed, indicating (1) that higher water fluxes at the meander bend occur from the center of the channel towards the erosional bank, (2) that water fluxes at the anabranching channel are higher near the erosional bank and in the center of the channel, and (3) that in the straight channel, higher water fluxes appear from the center of the channel towards the depositional bank. It is noted that higher fluxes generally occur at certain locations with higher streambed vertical hydraulic conductivity (K _v) or where a higher vertical hydraulic gradient is observed. Moreover, differences of grain size, induced by stream morphology and contrasting erosional and depositional conditions, have significant effects on streambed K _v and water fluxes.     

Hydraulic In situ Testing for Mining and Engineering Design: Packer Test Procedure,Preparation, Analysis and Interpretation

Hydraulic in situ measurement of rock mass permeability by packer (Lugeon) testing is an inherent and integral element of many engineering, hydrogeological and mining investigation. This paper describes and discusses geotechnical testing in the design process from a consulting practitioner’s perspective. This study focuses on the Packer testing planning, procedure, results & interpretation. Packer test system is an optimum method for obtaining values of hydraulic conductivity in wells that are difficult to analyse using conventional slug test systems. Packer tests are carried out to assess the variability of a borehole as it intersects various hydrogeological units. It gives vertical distribution of hydraulic properties and water quality in the aquifer and usually cheaper than a nest of wells and gives more continuous record and this knowledge can often be essential for a proper design. The role, objectives, types and interpretation of testing, limitations and recommended good practices as part of the geotechnical design process are outlined through the examination of test data from a case record.     

MT法在鄂尔多斯盆地北部地热资源勘查中的应用

鄂尔多斯盆地北部地热资源埋藏深、温度高、储量大、开发潜力大,合理地选择物探方法可以很好地确定靶区,圈定热储构造,更精准地为钻探提供依据.由于MT法探测深度的优势,其反演电阻率特征能很清晰地反映出地热田导水导热构造的分布、产状等特征.本研究利用前期ER01、ER02地热井测井成果,重新标定ER03地热井物探解释参数,划分出4 000 m深度范围内的热储层在水平和纵向上的分布规律,圈定地热异常范围和空间分布特点,确定地下热水的富水部位及有利的勘探井位,提出下一步工作的建议.     

2D Self-Potential tomographies for studying groundwater flows in the Varco d''Izzo landslide (Basilicata, southern Italy)

A geoelectrical monitoring activity has been carried out to improve the geological and hydrogeological knowledge about the Varco d'Izzo landslide (Potenza, Basilicata, Southern Apennine, Italy), an active rotational–translational slide evolved in earth-flow. In this work we have focused on the Self-Potential (SP) method by applying three different SP measuring techniques and combining modern technologies for data acquisition and new methods for tomographic inversion. A SP map and three static SP tomographies have been carried out to better analyse the groundwater circulation system and to better reconstruct the geometry of the landslide body. In the accumulation zone, which is the area more exposed to the geomorphological activity, a new SP measuring strategy has been applied. This strategy, based on time-continuous 2D SP tomographies, helps identify water flow changes in subsurface by studying the time series of SP tomographic images. The analysis of time-dependent changes of water infiltration in near surface is the key to better understand the hydrogeological processes underlying the ground instability phenomena. The time-lapse analysis of tomographic images has allowed us not only to investigate the correlation between the temporal changes of SP signals and rainfall events, but also to quantify the range of these changes. The modification of the distribution of the SP source accumulation zones is associated with the dynamics of the groundwater flows. These preliminary results allow us to consider the SP tomographic method as a tool for geophysical monitoring of landslide areas and encourage to develop new measuring systems for near-real time applications.     

Application of integrated geoelectrical methods in Khenadarreh (Arak,Iran) graphite deposit exploration

This paper is devoted to application of SP, resistivity and mise-a-la-masse method in Khenadarreh (Arak, Iran) graphite deposit exploration. Mise-a-la-masse method is one of the main geophysical exploration methods used to investigate conductive bodies with outcrops on the surface or in exploratory pits. By integrating mise-a-la-masse results with other geoelectrical methods, such as self-potential and resistivity surveys, useful results can be acquired. Powerful survey design, data processing and interpretation methods can make geoelectrical surveying results more reliable. Here, we applied integrated geoelectrical methods to explore the Khenadarreh-bala graphite deposit in the Sarband region of the Markazi province, Iran. We present a new and simple method for processing and interpreting mise-a-la-masse data, which corrects for the effect of distance from the current electrode in the conductive body. After correction, the residual potential values corresponded with the SP results and the apparent resistivity pseudosections. The geophysical results were confirmed by drill holes in the study area.     

超高压变质岩物理性质的相关性对建立结晶岩区地球物理解释标尺的意义

大陆科学钻探为认识深部地壳的结构、组成、力学性质和物理状态提供了重要的基础数据。岩石物理性质的测量对于原位测井资料的校正和地表地球物理测量的解释具有重要意义,岩石物理性质和岩石学研究相结合,还能为岩石的变质作用以及变质过程中化学成分的迁移提供必要的约束。本文主要对CCSD100-3100m的综合岩石物理资料进行了相关性调查和聚类分析,并得出如下结论:(1)岩石物理性质中的地震波速度、密度、热导率之间具有强相关性,他们都受岩石中主要矿物的组成和含量所控制;(2)岩石的电阻率和磁化率受金属氧化物含量的控制,与岩性有相关性;孔隙度、渗透率与岩性没有相关性;(3)利用岩石的物理性质可以反演不同的岩性,其中地震波速度、密度和热导率对榴辉岩和片麻岩大类具有很好的分类效果,而结合磁化率和电阻率则能更好的区分出超基性岩、正片麻岩和副片麻岩。上述结论对综合地球物理解释中物理参数的选取和结晶岩区地球物理解释标尺的建立具有重要的意义。     

基于全卷积神经网络的钻孔瞬变电磁法岩层富水性预测研究

巷道掘进前方采用钻探或地球物理方法进行超前探测含水层的位置及富水性,提前做好防治水工作对煤矿安全生产至关重要。利用钻孔瞬变电磁法(BTEM)进行超前探测优势明显,目前解释方法是根据计算的电阻率进行岩层富水性的定性分析,还无法实现对含水层富水性等级进行预测。提出利用钻孔瞬变电磁法探测,采用全卷积神经网络(FCNN)方法进行钻孔外围含水层富水性等级的准确预测。首先,依据阿尔奇公式、Kozeny–Carman公式、导水系数公式和单位涌水量公式,建立砂岩含水层单位厚度的电阻率与按钻孔单位涌水量划分的含水层富水性4个等级的对应关系;其次,建立全空间条件下不同富水性岩层的地质–地球物理模型,采用三维时域有限差分法(FDTD)进行全空间瞬变电磁场数值模拟;为了接近实际情况,在正演结果中加入了5%～15%的随机噪声,提取与岩层富水性等级关联的特征参数,采用全卷积神经网络(FCNN)进行了岩层富水性等级预测的训练和仿真测试,测试集预测的富水性等级平均准确率为91.8%;最后,利用某矿煤层水力压裂后的钻孔瞬变电磁法实测数据进行煤岩层富水性等级预测,检验FCNN方法预测效果。研究结果表明:采用全卷积神经网络...     

基于分层假设的Green-Ampt模型改进

传统Green-Ampt入渗模型由于假设过于简化而限制了计算精度,针对这一问题,在分层假设的基础上对模型进行了改进:将均质入渗土壤分为饱和层、过渡层和干土层,采用Richards模型分析了不同入渗条件下各层的厚度以及各层内含水率和导水率的变化规律,结果表明,入渗条件一定时,过渡层占湿润层(包括饱和层和过渡层)比例会随湿润层厚度的增加线性减小,积水深度和土壤初始含水率分别会影响这一线性关系的纵轴截距和斜率,而土壤饱和导水率则对其没有明显影响;过渡层内土壤含水率分布为椭圆形曲线,而导水率随深度增加线性减小。在此基础上,通过引入湿润层的等效导水率并相应给出锋面吸力的计算方法,对传统Green-Ampt模型进行了改进。结果显示,改进后模型计算精度显著提高。     

In-well time-of-travel approach to evaluate optimal purge duration during low-flow sampling of monitoring wells

A common assumption with groundwater sampling is that low (<0.5 L/min) pumping rates during well purging and sampling captures primarily lateral flow from the formation through the well-screened interval at a depth coincident with the pump intake. However, if the intake is adjacent to a low hydraulic conductivity part of the screened formation, this scenario will induce vertical groundwater flow to the pump intake from parts of the screened interval with high hydraulic conductivity. Because less formation water will initially be captured during pumping, a substantial volume of water already in the well (preexisting screen water or screen storage) will be captured during this initial time until inflow from the high hydraulic conductivity part of the screened formation can travel vertically in the well to the pump intake. Therefore, the length of the time needed for adequate purging prior to sample collection (called optimal purge duration) is controlled by the in-well, vertical travel times. A preliminary, simple analytical model was used to provide information on the relation between purge duration and capture of formation water for different gross levels of heterogeneity (contrast between low and high hydraulic conductivity layers). The model was then used to compare these time–volume relations to purge data (pumping rates and drawdown) collected at several representative monitoring wells from multiple sites. Results showed that computation of time-dependent capture of formation water (as opposed to capture of preexisting screen water), which were based on vertical travel times in the well, compares favorably with the time required to achieve field parameter stabilization. If field parameter stabilization is an indicator of arrival time of formation water, which has been postulated, then in-well, vertical flow may be an important factor at wells where low-flow sampling is the sample method of choice.     

基于遗传算法-支持向量机的滑坡渗透系数反演

求解库岸边坡岩土体的渗透系数是研究滑坡渗流场及多场演化的基础,一般通过原位试验和室内试验求得,但试验成本较高且试验位置具有一定的随机性。本文以三峡库区马家沟滑坡为例,提出一种利用地下水位动态观测资料反演滑坡岩土层渗透系数的方法。具体步骤为:（1）依据滑坡的勘察资料和水位观测数据,构建滑坡数值模型;（2）利用SPSS生成不同渗透系数正交试验组合,并将渗透系数代入数值模型中计算监测井的水位,得到不同渗透系数及其对应的模拟水位数据;（3）应用遗传算法优化的支持向量机构建坡体模拟水位与渗透系数的非线性映射关系,再通过代入实际动态监测水位值求得滑坡岩土层的渗透系数;（4）将求得的渗透系数代入数值模型,用计算的模拟水位与实际观测水位进行对比验证。研究结果表明:遗传算法优化的支持向量机具有良好的学习预测效果,能准确预测渗透系数与水位的关系。该反演方法具有高效、准确的优点,反演结果的精度满足实际应用需要。     

云南压实黏土层对油类污染物的防渗性能实验研究

目前在压实黏土层(CCL)应用于油类污染物的防渗工程设计中,以水在CCL中的渗透系数低于10-7 cm/s为依据,该依据可能存在偏颇。文中以0#柴油和93#汽油作为典型油类污染物,在云南CCL中进行油相水相交替渗流实验。结果表明：(1)不同渗透压力下,水在云南CCL中的渗透系数为(0.41~2.52)×10-8 cm/s,云南黏土压实后可作为天然防渗衬层。(2)0#柴油和93#汽油穿透饱水的云南CCL时,存在临界水力梯度,分别为0.05和0.02 MPa;一旦突破临界水力梯度,CCL的渗透性急剧增大,0#柴油和93#汽油在CCL中的渗透系数较水在CCL中的高出1~3个数量级。(3)水相驱替0#柴油和93#汽油的过程中,CCL的渗透系数为10-7～10-6 cm/s;被油浸透过的CCL不能继续作为防渗衬层使用。(4)针对油类污染物的CCL防渗工程设计,以水在CCL中的渗透系数低于1.0×10-7 cm/s为标准是不适用的,需要提高CCL防渗的设计等级。     

Regional fracture network permeability using outcrop scale measurements

Estimating the hydraulic properties of fractured aquifers is challenging due to the complexity of structural discontinuities that can generally be measured at a small scale, either in core or in outcrop, but influence groundwater flow over a range of scales. This modeling study uses fracture scanline data obtained from surface bedrock exposures to derive estimates of permeability that can be used to represent the fractured rock matrix within regional scale flow models. The model is developed using PETREL, which traditionally benefits from high resolution data sets obtained during oil and gas exploration, including for example seismic data, and borehole logging data (both lithological and geophysical). The technique consists of interpreting scanline fracture data, and using these data to generate representative Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) models for each field set. The DFN models are then upscaled to provide an effective hydraulic conductivity tensor that represents the fractured rock matrix. For each field site, the upscaled hydraulic conductivities are compared with estimates derived from pumping tests to validate the model. A hydraulic conductivity field is generated for the study region that captures the spatial variability of fracture networks in pseudo-three dimensions from scanline data. Hydraulic conductivities estimated using this approach compare well with those estimated from pumping test data. The study results suggest that such an approach may be feasible for taking small scale fracture data and upscaling these to represent the aquifer matrix hydraulic properties needed for regional groundwater modeling.     

Estimation of hydraulic characteristics from electrical resistivity data in coastal aquifers of southern India

The applicability of geophysical techniques has been examined for evaluating aquifer properties like transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity of coastal aquifers, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. The pumping test data of 10 wells are interpreted by using forward modelling to obtain the aquifer characteristics in the study area. The available vertical electrical soundings (VES) data in the vicinity of the sites of pumping test have been interpreted; and true resistivity and thickness are determined at each site in the study area. Empirical relationships are established for estimating the hydraulic parameters from the electrical data.     

Detecting transmissive bedrock fracture zones under cover of glacial formations using residential water-well production data

Tracing fractures under glacial drift commonly involves costly and often unfeasible (in populated areas) geophysical methods or outcrop surveys, often far from the area of interest. A hypothesis is tested, that the specific capacity data for wells penetrating through glacial drift into a bedrock aquifer display two statistical populations: assuming uniform well construction, the wells with high specific capacity penetrate transmissive fracture zones, while those with low specific capacity encounter non-fractured rock characterized by primary porosity. The hypothesis was tested on 617 wells drilled into the Pennsylvanian Sharon Sandstone, Geauga County, Ohio (USA). Hydraulic conductivity, calculated using the Cooper and Jacob (1946) approximation to Theis’ non-equilibrium radial flow equation, followed quasi-log-normal distribution (geometric mean 9.88?×?10^?6 m/s). The lower values presumably correspond to primary porosity, and higher values correspond to bedrock fracture zones. The higher hydraulic conductivity followed two distinct orientations (N34°E, N44°W), corresponding with the regional fracture pattern of the Allegheny Plateau. A variogram showed that the wells within a kilometer of each other correlate and that wells penetrating the thicker glacial blanket have lower hydraulic conductivity and larger drawdown. Cooper and Jacob (1946) A generalized graphical method for evaluating formation constants and summarizing well-field history, Am. Geoph. Union Trans. 27/4:526–534.