Effects of groundwater flow on mineral diagenesis, with emphasis on carbonate aquifers

 This article provides a critical synopsis of the effects of groundwater flow on mineral diagenesis. Emphasis is placed on those aspects and processes that change porosity and permeability in carbonate aquifers, because they are of particular importance to human societies as sources of supplies of water for human consumption (drinking, irrigation) and of crude oil and natural gas. Diagenetic settings in carbonates as well as clastics are generally ill defined. This paper proposes a new comprehensive classification of diagenetic settings into near-surface, shallow-, intermediate-, and deep-burial diagenetic settings; hydrocarbon-contaminated plumes; and fractures. These settings are defined on the basis of mineralogy, petroleum, hydrogeochemistry, and hydrogeology. This classification is applicable to all sedimentary basins. Diagenesis is governed by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors that include thermodynamic and kinetic constraints, as well as microstructural factors that may override the others. These factors govern diagenetic processes, such as dissolution, compaction, recrystallization, replacement, and sulfate–hydrocarbon redox-reactions. Processes such as cementation, dissolution, and dolomitization require significant flow of groundwater driven by an externally imposed hydraulic gradient. Other processes, such as stylolitization and thermochemical sulfate reduction, commonly take place without significant groundwater flow in hydrologically nearly or completely stagnant systems that are geochemically "closed." Two major effects of groundwater flow on mineral diagenesis are enhancement and reduction of porosity and permeability, although groundwater flow can also leave these rock properties essentially unchanged. In extreme cases, an aquifer or hydrocarbon reservoir rock can have highly enhanced porosity and permeability due to extensive mineral dissolution, or it can be plugged up due to extensive mineral precipitation. Received, April 1998 · Revised, July 1998 · Accepted, September 1998     

Variations in hydraulic conductivity with scale of measurement during aquifer tests in heterogeneous, porous carbonate rocks

 Previous studies have shown that hydraulic conductivity of an aquifer seems to increase as the portion of the aquifer tested increases. To date, such studies have all relied on different methods to determine hydraulic conductivity at each scale of interest, which raises the possibility that the observed increase in hydraulic conductivity is due to the measurement method, not to the scale. This study analyzes hydraulic conductivity with respect to scale during individual aquifer tests in porous, heterogeneous carbonate rocks in southeastern Wisconsin, USA. Results from this study indicate that hydraulic conductivity generally increases during an individual test as the volume of aquifer impacted increases, and the rate of this increase is the same as the rate of increase determined by using different measurement methods. Thus, scale dependence of hydraulic conductivity during single tests does not depend on the method of measurement. This conclusion is supported by 22 of 26 aquifer tests conducted in porous-flow-dominated carbonate units within the aquifer. Instead, scale dependency is probably caused by heterogeneities within the aquifer, a conclusion supported by digital simulation. All of the observed types of hydraulic-conductivity variations with scale during individual aquifer tests can be explained by a conceptual model of a simple heterogeneous aquifer composed of high-conductivity zones within a low-conductivity matrix. Received, January 1997 Revised, August 1997, November 1997 Accepted, November 1997     

Influence of arsenic-bearing gold deposits on water quality in Zloty Stok mining area (SW Poland)

 The Sudety Mountains contain polymetallic deposits which have been exploited since the Middle Ages. Distinct concentrations of As, Hg, F, Cr in surface water near Zloty Stok suggested that groundwater in the area could also contain elevated metal concentrations. Water samples from 15 locations including Zloty Stream, mine adit discharges, and selected springs generally show low levels of dissolved components and near-neutral pH. However, arsenic concentrations range from 0.99 mg/l to 26.16 mg/l at all 15 sample locations. Mercury concentrations were locally as high as 0.011 mg/l. These high arsenic and mercury concentrations significantly exceed water quality standards and raise concerns for using Zloty Stream for potable water. Recieved: 21 December 1998 · Accepted: 8 June 1999     

Analysis of thermal parameters of Triassic,Permian and Carboniferous sedimentary rocks in central Poland

The paper shows thermal tests results (thermal conductivity, specific heat) carried out during the research project to recognize the potential of hot dry rocks for heat and electricity production in Poland. Analysis of such parameters of the rock medium has fundamental significance in search of structures for location of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). Analyses of thermal conductivity as well as specific heat determine the possibility of effective extraction of heat from hot rock formations and its efficient transfer to the land surface. Reservoir rock should be characterized by the lowest possible porosity and permeability, and the highest possible thermal conductivity. In order to recognize reservoir parameters of rocks that form potential reservoirs for EGS, 300 samples of sedimentary rocks were taken from 11 wells located in central Poland. For samples, sizes of which enabled measurement of thermal parameters, tests of thermal conductivity and specific heat were carried out. Independently, measurements of porosity were made. The porosity magnitude determines values of measured thermal parameters. Measurements of thermal conductivity of rocks were made for 24 samples collected from Triassic, Permian and Carboniferous deposits in six wells. Measurements of specific heat on rock samples were made for 20 rock samples. Among sedimentary rocks, principally sandstones and limestones with reservoir parameters favourable for this type of systems are considered to be petrogeothermal reservoirs and are often characterized by favourable thermal parameters for EGS. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlation between rock fabrics and physical properties of carbonate reservoir rocks

 Three carbonate core samples from an oil and gas reservoir of the NW German basin were chosen to study the correlation between rock fabrics and physical properties of reservoir rocks. Detailed fabric analyses and texture investigations were carried out as well as laboratory measurements of different physical properties, e.g. density, porosity, permeability, electrical conductivity, seismic compressional and shear wave velocities. Although the three core samples come from a similar depositional facies, they show great differences in the occurrence and three-dimensional distribution of the rock fabric elements. These heterogeneities are the result of various diagenetic and tectonic processes. For the correlation between the rock fabrics and the physical properties four main rock fabric types have to be considered: (a) major constituents, e.g. fossils, ooides, peloides and crystals; (b) pore space with different pore types; (c) fractures; and (d) stylolites. The results of the correlation clearly show that the values and anisotropies of the petrophysical properties are fairly related to the observed fabric elements, with their different arrangements, spatial distributions and preferred orientations. These results also provide a fundamental understanding of the petrophysical responses, such as seismics, to the different geological features (e.g. fractures) and their dynamic changes with pressure, which can be converted to different depths. The knowledge gained from such correlations may lead to an improved interpretation of geophysical data for hydrocarbon exploration and production and therefore to an advanced reservoir characterization. Received: 28 January 1999 / Accepted: 21 June 1999     

Regional characterisation of hydraulic properties of rock using air-lift data

 Hydrogeologic studies are commonly data-intense. In particular, estimations of hydraulic properties of hard rock often require large amounts of data. In many countries, large quantities of hydrogeologic data have been collected and archived over the years. Therefore, the use of existing data may provide a cost-efficient alternative to collecting new data in early stages of hydrogeologic studies, although the available data may be considered imprecise. Initially, however, the potential usefulness, i.e., the expected accuracy, of the available data in each specific case must be carefully examined. This study investigates the possibilities of obtaining estimates of transmissivity from hard-rock air-lift data in Sweden within an order of magnitude of results obtained from high-quality injection-test data. The expected accuracy of the results was examined analytically and by means of statistical methods. The results were also evaluated by comparison with injection-test data. The results indicate that air-lift data produce estimates of transmissivity within an order of magnitude compared to injection-test data in the studied examples. The study also shows that partial penetration and hydrofracturing may only affect the estimations approximately half an order of magnitude. Thus, existing data may provide a cost-efficient alternative to collection of new data in early stages of hydrogeologic studies. Received, January 1998 Revised, November 1998, December 1998 Accepted, December 1998     

Natural arsenic in Triassic rocks: A source of drinking-water contamination in Bavaria, Germany

 The aquifer system of the Upper Triassic Keuper Sandstone, an important source of drinking water in northern Bavaria, is affected by elevated arsenic concentrations. Within the study area of 8000 km², no evidence exists for any artificial source of arsenic. Data from about 500 deep water wells show that in approximately 160 wells arsenic concentrations are 10–150 μg/L. The regional distribution of arsenic in the groundwater shows that elevated arsenic concentrations are probably related to specific lithofacies of the aquifers that contain more sediments of terrestrial origin. Geochemical measurements on samples from four selected well cores show that arsenic has accumulated in the rocks. This indigenous arsenic is the source of arsenic in the groundwater of certain facies of the middle unit of the Keuper Sandstone. Received, June 1998 / Revised, January 1999, May 1999 / Accepted, June 1999     

Groundwater resources of the middle and upper Odra River basin, southwestern Poland

 The total amount of groundwater resources in the middle and upper Odra River basin is 5200×10³ m³/d, or about 7.7% of the disposable groundwater resources of Poland. The average modulus of groundwater resources is about 1.4 L/s/km². Of the 180 'Major Groundwater Basins' (MGWB) in Poland, 43 are partly or totally located within the study area. The MGWB in southwestern Poland have an average modulus of groundwater resources about 2.28 L/s/km² and thus have abundant water resources in comparison to MGWB from other parts of the country. Several types of mineral waters occur in the middle and upper Odra River basin. These waters are concentrated especially in the Sudety Mountains. Carbon-dioxide waters, with yields of 414 m³/h, are the most widespread of Sudetic mineral waters. The fresh waters of the crystalline basement have a low mineralization, commonly less than 100 mg/L; they are a HCO₃–Ca–Mg or SO₄–Ca–Mg type of water. Various hydrochemical compositions characterize the groundwater in sedimentary rocks. The shallow aquifers are under risk of atmospheric pollution and anthropogenic effects. To prevent the degradation of groundwater resources in the middle and upper Odra River basin, Critical Protection Areas have been designated within the MGWB. Received, January 1995 Revised, May 1996, August 1997 Accepted, August 1997     

Hydrogeology of deep-well disposal of liquid wastes in southwestern Florida, USA

 Deep-well injection has been used to dispose of municipal liquid wastes in southwestern Florida since 1988. The liquid wastes are injected into an extremely high-transmissivity zone of fractured dolomite in the Early Eocene Oldsmar Formation of the Floridan aquifer system; this zone is commonly referred to as the Boulder Zone. Data collected during the drilling and operational testing of southwestern Florida injection wells provide insights into the nature of the injection zone and overlying confining beds. The location of high-transmissivity zones that are capable of accepting large quantities of waste water is vertically and horizontally variable and cannot be predicted with certainty. A 40.9-m thick high-permeability interval in one injection well, for example, was absent in a well drilled only 85.4 m away. Some upward migration of low-density injected fluids has occurred, but at no site were the injected liquids detected in deep monitor wells, such as occurred at injection-well sites along the coasts of southeastern, west-central, and east-central Florida. The primary confinement of the injected liquids (i.e., deepest effective confining beds) consists of unfractured beds of low-permeability dolomite within the Oldsmar Formation, whose locations are also laterally and vertically variable. The origin and controls of the distribution of fractures in the Oldsmar Formation are poorly understood. Received, December 1997 Revised, June 1998, August 1998 Accepted, August 1998     

Digital simulation of the scale effect in hydraulic conductivity

 Measured hydraulic conductivity increases with the scale of testing, but the reason for this increase is not clear. Possibly, high-conductivity heterogeneities are more effective in raising hydraulic conductivity over the regional scale than at the local scale. Alternatively, borehole skin and storage effects, among others, can systematically bias the results of small-scale tests; thus, the increase may simply be an artifact of the test method. Radial-flow tests were simulated at various scales in digital models of fractured double-porosity media. The mean hydraulic conductivity increases until the radius of influence in the test exceeds the fracture spacing. Therefore, under radial flow, hydraulic conductivity is indeed dependent on measurement scale. The increase in hydraulic conductivity with scale is a natural consequence of heterogeneity. Over short distances, water converging toward a borehole must generally flow across heterogeneities. Therefore, small-scale tests tend to measure a weighted harmonic mean of the hydraulic-conductivity field. Over a large area, however, flow is primarily along high-conductivity heterogeneities. Therefore, large-scale tests approach a weighted arithmetic mean where high-conductivity heterogeneities have a greater influence. Received, April 1997 Revised, January 1998 Accepted, December 1997     

Application of kriging with external drift to estimate hydraulic conductivity from electrical-resistivity data in unconsolidated deposits near Montalto Uffugo, Italy

In the framework of various studies to characterize the aquifer at the groundwater experimental field near Montalto Uffugo, Italy, the present work estimates the spatial distribution of hydraulic conductivity of the unconsolidated deposits that underlie the area, by applying the geostatistical technique of kriging with external drift to electrical-resistivity and hydraulic-conductivity data. The reliability of the estimation method was tested by implementing a model, based on the method of cells, that simulates groundwater flow, with the estimated values of hydraulic conductivity. The results obtained indicate that the estimation method used has an acceptable degree of reliability.     

Exploration of an alluvial aquifer in Oman by time-domain electromagnetic sounding

 One-third of the population of Oman depends upon groundwater extracted from the alluvium of the Batinah Plain, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. Deep geophysical exploration techniques were used to determine the depth and nature of the alluvium and the boundaries of the aquifer. The base and structural controls of the alluvial basin at its contact with Tertiary marine sediments and Cretaceous ophiolite were mapped with seismic reflection data, recorded originally for oil exploration. The base of the alluvium dips northward from the foothills of the Northern Oman Mountains, reaching a maximum depth of 2000 m at the coast. The varying facies of the alluvium are grossly characterised by different, overlapping ranges of electrical resistivity, depending largely on the clay content and degree of cementation. Resistivities near the coast are reduced by saline intrusion. These variations of resistivity were mapped with time-domain electromagnetic sounding along 400 km of profile, to distinguish among the three zones of the alluvial aquifer. The wedge of saline intrusion was also delineated, up to 10 km from the coast. The thickness of the saturated gravel aquifer ranges from 20–160 m in an area greater than 600 km². Received, April 1997 · Revised, January 1998 · Accepted, April 1998     

Some current methods to represent the heterogeneity of natural media in hydrogeology

We have known for a long time that the material properties of the subsurface are highly variable in space. We have learned that this variability is due to the extreme complexity and variation with time of processes responsible for the formation of the earth's crust, from plate tectonics to erosion, sediment transport, and deposition, as well as to mechanical, climatic, and diagenetic effects. As geologists, we learned how to "read" this complex history in the rocks and how to try to extrapolate in space what we have understood. As physicists, we then learned that to study flow processes in such media we must apply the laws of continuum mechanics. As mathematicians using analytical methods, we learned that we must simplify by dividing this complex continuum into a small number of units, such as aquifers and aquitards, and describe their properties by (constant) equivalent values. In recent years, as numerical modelers, we learned that we now have the freedom to "discretize" this complex reality and describe it as an ensemble of small homogeneous boxes of continuous media, each of which can have different properties. How do we use this freedom? Is there a need for it? If the answer is "yes," how can we assign different rock-property values to thousands or even millions of such little boxes in our models, to best represent reality, and include confidence levels for each selected rock property? As a tribute to Professor Eugene S. Simpson, with whom the first author of this paper often discussed these questions, we present an overview of three techniques that focus on one property, the rock permeability. We explain the motivation for describing spatial variability and illustrate how to do so by the geostatistical method, the Boolean method, and the genetic method. We discuss their advantages and disadvantages and indicate their present state of development. This is an active field of research and space is limited, so the review is certain to be incomplete, but we hope that it will encourage the development of new ideas and approaches.     

Geology and hydrogeology of the Dammam Formation in Kuwait

 The Dammam Formation of Middle Eocene age is one of the major aquifers containing useable brackish water in Kuwait. Apart from the paleokarst zone at the top, the Dammam Formation in Kuwait consists of 150–200 m of dolomitized limestone that is subdivided into three members, on the basis of lithology and biofacies. The upper member consists of friable chalky dolomicrite and dolomite. The middle member is mainly laminated biomicrite and biodolomicrite. The lower member is nummulitic limestone with interlayered shale toward the base. Geophysical markers conform to these subdivisions. Core analyses indicate that the upper member is the most porous and permeable of the three units, as confirmed by the distribution of lost-circulation zones. The quality of water in the aquifer deteriorates toward the north and east. A potentiometric-head difference exists between the Dammam Formation and the unconformably overlying Kuwait Group; this difference is maintained by the presence of an intervening aquitard. Received, February 1997 Revised, June 1997, September 1997 Accepted, January 1998     

热应力影响下干热岩水压致裂数值模拟

干热岩水压致裂过程中低温诱导热应力与注入水压共同影响裂缝的萌生与扩展。首先通过THM耦合分析了低温压裂液注入过程中注入水压与热应力的相互作用及其对裂缝萌生的影响,随后建立描述岩石细观结构的THMD耦合模型对热应力影响下高温岩石水压致裂过程进行初探。结果表明：低温压裂液注入高温岩石产生的热应力包括岩石自身温度梯度形成的热应力与岩石颗粒非均匀膨胀导致的热应力,并在井筒周围呈现为拉应力。高注入压力将抑制热应力导致的多裂缝萌生,井筒附近热应力的存在对注入压力也具有削弱作用。基岩温度升高,裂缝萌生阶段更多裂缝在井筒附近起裂,缝网沿最大地应力方向的扩展速度减慢,但改造规模增加,同时多裂缝的存在也使得裂缝延伸压力增加。     

泰国呵叻盆地二叠系碳酸盐岩元素地球化学特征与古环境意义

采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱和同位素质谱等测试方法,对泰国呵叻盆地中部二叠系浅海相碳酸盐岩进行了微量元素与碳氧同位素组成及指标分析,讨论了研究区二叠系沉积古环境及其与碳酸盐岩烃源岩发育的控制关系。通过δ~(13)C/δ~(18)O指标及Sr/Ba、V/Ni、V/(V+Ni)比值等综合判别表明,研究区二叠系帕诺考组碳酸盐岩浅水斜坡亚相以淡-微咸水为主,属弱氧化-弱还原环境。深水斜坡亚相位于浪基面以下,以半咸水-咸水为主,属于缺氧的还原环境,为有机质保存提供了有利条件,是研究区碳酸盐岩烃源岩发育的有利相带。     

Long-term simulations of thermal and hydraulic characteristics in a mountain massif: The Mont Blanc case study, French and Italian Alps

 The use of hydrothermal simulation models to improve the prediction of water inflows in underground works during drilling is tested in the Mont Blanc tunnel, French and Italian Alps. The negative thermal anomaly that was observed during the drilling of this tunnel in 1960 is reproduced by long-term, transient hydrothermal simulations. Sensitivity analysis shows the great inertia of thermal phenomena at the massif scale. At the time of tunnel drilling, the massif had not reached thermal equilibrium. Therefore, a set of simulation scenarios, beginning at the end of the last glacial period, was designed to explain the anomaly encountered in the tunnel in 1960. The continuous cooling of alpine massifs due to infiltration of waters from the surface has occurred for 12,000 years and is expected to continue for about 100,000 years. Comparisons of water-discharge rates simulated in the tunnel with those observed indicate that this hydrothermal method is a useful tool for predicting water inflows in underground works. Received, May 1998 · Revised, March 1999 · Accepted, April 1999     

西藏南羌塘坳陷昂达尔错地区侏罗系布曲组碳酸盐岩阴极发光特征与成岩阶段划分

通过岩石学特征研究和阴极发光分析,结合Fe、Mn、Sr元素特征及氧同位素资料,研究西藏南羌塘坳陷昂达尔错地区侏罗系布曲组碳酸盐岩阴极发光特征并进行成岩阶段划分。结果表明:(1)布曲组碳酸盐岩阴极发光强度总体较低,这与其较低的Fe、Mn含量有关,说明沉积期后非海源流体对碳酸盐岩的影响较小,海源流体在成岩过程中起主导作用;(2)伴随着成岩作用增强,不同岩石类型中的Mn含量逐渐增加、Sr含量逐渐降低,氧同位素值总体上向高负值方向偏移,对应的阴极发光强度逐步增加;(3)泥-微晶白云岩具有最强的阴极发光性和最高的Mn含量,在白云岩化过程中可能与近地表弱还原环境有关,蒸发泵和渗透回流作用可能是这些岩石白云石化作用的主要机理;而结晶白云岩则具有较弱的阴极发光性和较低的Mn含量,孔隙流体可能远离大气淡水,包裹体均一温度显示其白云岩化作用是在深埋藏环境中发生的;(4)布曲组碳酸盐岩经历了准同生-同生阶段的海水成岩环境→早成岩阶段的近地表-浅埋藏弱还原成岩环境→中-深成岩阶段的中-深埋藏深循环温压水和高盐度地层水成岩环境的连续改造→晚白垩世末期-古近系早期构造热事件热液改造阶段→表生成岩阶段的演化过程。     

柴达木盆地西部新生界陆相湖盆碳酸盐岩沉积环境与沉积模式*

利用野外露头、岩心、测井录井和分析化验资料,对柴达木盆地西部(简称“柴西地区”)新生界干柴沟组湖相碳酸盐岩进行了研究,划分了其沉积微相类型,研究了其分布规律,分析其形成环境和控制因素,并建立了相应沉积模式。该区湖相碳酸盐岩在垂向上与碎屑岩频繁互层,湖相碳酸盐岩包括颗粒灰岩、藻灰岩、泥晶灰岩和混积岩4大类11种,划分出了灰泥坪、颗粒滩、藻丘(礁)、浅湖湾以及(半)深湖泥灰岩相等5种沉积微相。通过分析不同碳酸盐岩及其微相时空展布特征,认为其发育主要受控于湖盆构造运动、湖平面变化、陆源碎屑注入、古气候与古水介质条件、古地貌与古水深环境,并在此基础上建立了柴西湖相碳酸盐岩的沉积模式。研究认为柴达木盆地西部干柴沟组沉积时期,湖盆为典型咸化湖盆,构造活动相对稳定,湖平面上升达到峰值。碳酸盐岩主要发育在湖侵期,高频湖平面变化形成了碳酸盐岩与碎屑岩频繁互层。在枯水期,盆地坡折处发育碎屑岩滩坝或三角洲前缘沉积;在湖侵期,盆地坡折处发育了鲕粒滩及藻灰岩,盆地洼陷区发育泥灰岩或灰质泥岩。