Estimating aquifer hydraulic properties using sinusoidal pumping at the Savannah River site,South Carolina,USA

A framework for estimating aquifer hydraulic properties using sinusoidal pumping is presented that (1) derives analytical solutions for confined, leaky, and partially penetrating conditions; (2) compares the analytical solutions with a finite element model; (3) establishes a field protocol for conducting sinusoidal aquifer tests; and (4) estimates aquifer parameters using the analytical solutions. The procedure is demonstrated in one surficial and two confined aquifers containing potentially contaminated water in coastal plain sediments at the Savannah River site, a federal nuclear facility. The analytical solutions compare favorably with finite-element solutions, except immediately adjacent to the pumping well where the assumption of zero borehole radius is not valid. Estimated aquifer properties are consistent with previous studies for the two confined aquifers, but are inconsistent for the surficial aquifer; conventional tests yielded estimates of the specific yield—consistent with an unconfined response—while the shorter-duration sinusoidal perturbations yielded estimates of the storativity—consistent with a confined, elastic response. The approach minimizes investigation-derived wastes, a significant concern where contaminated fluids must be disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner. An additional advantage is the ability to introduce a signal different from background perturbations, thus easing detection.     

A crustal-scale integrated geophysical and tectonic study of the Snake River Plain region,northwestern U.S.A.

The Pacific Northwest region of North America is a site of very complex tectonomagmatic activity. This activity is due to subduction of the Pacific plate, the associated Cascade chain of volcanoes, micro-plate interactions, and mantle plume activity to the east of the plate margin that produced the Yellowstone hotspot track along the Eastern Snake River Plain (ESRP). A number of recent geophysical and geological studies have produced new results that have drawn attention to the complex tectonic setting of the region east of the Cascade Range, and its tectonic evolution is the subject of considerable scientific interest and debate. Numerous seismic studies have specifically focused on the crustal and upper mantle structure of the ESRP and Yellowstone area. However, crustal-scale studies of the Western Snake River Plain (WSRP) are limited. We undertook an integrated analysis of new and existing geophysical data and geologic constraints to study the crustal structure of the WSRP and generated two-dimensional crustal models across it. We observed both differences and similarities in the structural and tectonic evolution of the eastern and western arms of the SRP based on our integrated analysis. From a broader perspective based on recent geological and geophysical studies in the surrounding region, the intersection of the two arms of the SRP emerges as a major element of a complex tectonic intersection that includes the High Lava Plains of eastern Oregon, the Northern Nevada rift, a southwestern extension of the ESRP into northern Nevada, as well as, faulting and volcanism extending north-westward to connect with the Columbia River basalt plateau region. Thus, the goal of this study is to advance our understanding of the tectonomagmatic evolution of the region and to encourage further studies in the region.     

The Graveyard Point Intrusion: an Example of Extreme Differentiation of Snake River Plain Basalt in a Shallow Crustal Pluton

The Graveyard Point intrusion is the only known example of awell-exposed differentiated mafic pluton associated with thelate Miocene–Pleistocene magmatism of the western SnakeRiver Plain (SRP). It is exposed in a 6 km by 4 km area adjacentto the Oregon–Idaho border, and exposures range in thicknessfrom 20 to 160 m. The thicker parts of the intrusion are stronglydifferentiated and contain a 25–60 m thick section ofwell-laminated cumulus-textured gabbros that grade upward intopegmatoidal ferrogabbro. Evolved liquids formed sheets of Fe-richsiliceous granophyre. At least two injections of magma are indicatedby abrupt discontinuities in the rock and mineral compositions,and by the lack of mass balance between the bulk intrusion andits chilled borders. The laminated gabbros are interpreted tohave formed from a tongue of augite and plagioclase crystalsthat were carried in with the second pulse of magma. Followingthe final emplacement of the intrusion, in situ differentiationproceeded through a two-stage process: the ferrogabbros areexplained as interstitial liquids forced out of the crystalmush by compaction, and the siliceous granophyres are interpretedto be residual liquids that migrated out of the partly crystallizedferrogabbros in response to the exsolution of volatiles. Becausethe geochemical trend inferred for the mafic to intermediatecomposition liquids in the Graveyard Point intrusion is similarto the trend for many western Snake River Plain lavas, the plutonmay be a good model for shallow sub-volcanic magma chamberselsewhere in the SRP. However, some western SRP lavas containanomalously high concentrations of P₂O₅ , which are best explainedby mixing within the active crustal mush column or with partialmelts of previously formed differentiated mafic intrusions. KEY WORDS: Snake River Plain; mafic intrusions; tholeiitic; sill; granophyre     

Evaluation and numerical modeling of seawater intrusion in the Gaza aquifer (Palestine)

A numerical assessment of seawater intrusion in Gaza, Palestine, has been achieved applying a 3-D variable density groundwater flow model. A two-stage finite difference simulation algorithm was used in steady state and transient models. SEAWAT computer code was used for simulating the spatial and temporal evolution of hydraulic heads and solute concentrations of groundwater. A regular finite difference grid with a 400 m² cell in the horizontal plane, in addition to a 12-layer model were chosen. The model has been calibrated under steady state and transient conditions. Simulation results indicate that the proposed schemes successfully simulate the intrusion mechanism. Two pumpage schemes were designed to use the calibrated model for prediction of future changes in water levels and solute concentrations in the groundwater for a planning period of 17 years. The results show that seawater intrusion would worsen in the aquifer if the current rates of groundwater pumpage continue. The alternative, to eliminate pumpage in the intruded area, to moderate pumpage rates from water supply wells far from the seashore and to increase the aquifer replenishment by encouraging the implementation of suitable solutions like artificial recharge, may limit significantly seawater intrusion and reduce the current rate of decline of the water levels.     

Geochemistry and stratigraphic correlation of basalt lavas beneath the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory

 Thirty-nine samples of basaltic core were collected from wells 121 and 123, located approximately 1.8 km apart north and south of the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Samples were collected from depths ranging from 15 to 221 m below land surface for the purpose of establishing stratigraphic correlations between these two wells. Elemental analyses indicate that the basalts consist of three principal chemical types. Two of these types are each represented by a single basalt flow in each well. The third chemical type is represented by many basalt flows and includes a broad range of chemical compositions that is distinguished from the other two types. Basalt flows within the third type were identified by hierarchical K-cluster analysis of 14 representative elements: Fe, Ca, K, Na, Sc, Co, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Yb, Hf, Ta, and Th. Cluster analyses indicate correlations of basalt flows between wells 121 and 123 at depths of approximately 38–40 m, 125–128 m, 131–137 m, 149–158 m, and 183–198 m. Probable correlations also are indicated for at least seven other depth intervals. Basalt flows in several depth intervals do not correlate on the basis of chemical compositions, thus reflecting possible flow margins in the sequence between the wells. Multi-element chemical data provide a useful method for determining stratigraphic correlations of basalt in the upper 1–2 km of the eastern Snake River Plain. Received: 16 February 1996 · Accepted: 1 April 1996     

Evaluation of the streambed leakage concept in analytical models using data from three pumping tests

Two-dimensional analytical models of pumping induced drawdown and stream depletion account for the streambed properties and stream geometry. Using data from three pumping tests performed under various hydrologic conditions, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) a partially penetrating stream at a certain distance from the pumping well can be represented by the streambed leakage term in the analytical models; (2) in the streambed leakage term, the streambed conductance coefficient λ=(WK′)/m′ accounts for the average stream width W, the streambed thickness m′, and hydraulic conductivity K′. The first hypothesis was tested by comparing results from tests under flow and no-flow stream conditions. The second hypothesis was tested by comparing results from two tests under low and high streamflow conditions. Similar estimates of the hydraulic conductivity and storativity for all tests indicate the validity of the streambed leakage term. The drawdown data of the test under low- and high-flow conditions (varying W) do not follow the predictions of the analytical models, which results in inconsistent λ estimates. Thus, for different hydrologic conditions, λ cannot be scaled solely by the stream width W. One possible explanation for this result is streambed dynamics caused by the changes in the stream stage.

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Résumé Les rabattements dans les nappes et cours d’eau générés par des modèles analytiques de pompages en deux dimensions dépendent des propriétés du lit du cours d’eau considéré et de sa géométrie. En utilisant les données de trois essais de pompages effectués en conditions hydrologiques contrastées, les hypothèses suivantes ont été testées: (1) un ruisseau à pénétration partielle situé à une certaine distance du puits de pompage peut être exprimé par le terme de drainance dans les modèles analytiques; (2) dans le terme de drainance du lit du cours d’eau, le coefficient de conductivité du lit λ=(WK′)/m′ représente la largeur moyenne du cours d’eau W, l’épaisseur du lit m′, et la perméabilité K′. La première hypothèse a été testée en comparant les résultats des tests en conditions d’assèchement et d’écoulement. Pour éprouver la seconde hypothèse, les résultats de deux tests en conditions d’étiage et de hautes eaux ont été comparés. Sur l’ensemble des tests, la concordance entre les perméabilités calculées a permis de valider le terme de drainance du cours d’eau. Les rabattements observés en conditions d’étiage et de hautes eaux (W variable) ne suivent pas les prédictions des modèles analytiques, fournissant au final des estimations discordantes de λ. Aussi, dans le cas de conditions hydrologiques différentes, la seule largeur du cours d’eau ne suffit pas à estimer λ. Une explication possible de ce résultat réside dans la dynamique du lit causée par les variations de niveau du cours d’eau.

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Resumen Modelos analíticos en dos dimensiones de descenso inducido por bombeo y de agotamiento de la corriente del río representan las propiedades del lecho del río y la geometría del mismo. Usando datos de tres ensayos de bombeo llevados a cabo bajo condiciones hidrológicas variadas, se probaron las siguientes hipótesis: (1) puede representarse un río parcialmente penetrante a una cierta distancia del pozo de bombeo por el término de goteo a través del lecho del río en los modelos analíticos; (2) en el término de goteo a través del lecho del río, el coeficiente de conductancia del lecho del río λ=(WK′)/m′ representa el ancho promedio del río W, la potencia del lecho del río m′, y la conductividad hidráulica K′. La primera hipótesis fue comprobada comparando los resultados de pruebas bajo condiciones de flujo y no flujo de corriente. La segunda hipótesis fue probada comparando los resultados de dos pruebas bajo condiciones de corriente altas y bajas. Estimaciones similares de la conductividad hidráulica y el almacenamiento para todas las pruebas apuntan hacia la validez del término de goteo a través del lecho del río. Los datos de descensos de la prueba bajo condiciones de flujo altos y bajos (variando W) no siguen las predicciones de los modelos analíticos, lo que resulta en estimaciones inconsistentes de λ. Así, para condiciones hidrológicas diferentes, λ no puede ser escalada solamente con el ancho de la corriente W. Una posible explicación para este resultado es la dinámica del lecho del río causada por los cambios en el nivel del río.

     

Inverse modelling of aquifer parameters in basaltic rock with the help of pumping test method using MODFLOW software

The origin and movement of groundwater are the fundamental questions that address both the temporal and spatial aspects of ground water run and water supply related issues in hydrological systems. As groundwater flows through an aquifer, its composition and temperature may variation dependent on the aquifer condition through which it flows. Thus, hydrologic investigations can also provide useful information about the subsurface geology of a region. But because such studies investigate processes that follow under the Earth's shallow, obtaining the information necessary to answer these questions is not continuously easy. Springs, which discharge groundwater table directly, afford to study subsurface hydrogeological processes.The present study of estimation of aquifer factors such as transmissivity (T) and storativity (S) are vital for the evaluation of groundwater resources. There are several methods to estimate the accurate aquifer parameters (i.e. hydrograph analysis, pumping test, etc.). In initial days, these parameters are projected either by means of in-situ test or execution test on aquifer well samples carried in the laboratory. The simultaneous information on the hydraulic behavior of the well (borehole) that provides on this method, the reservoir and the reservoir boundaries, are important for efficient aquifer and well data management and analysis. The most common in-situ test is pumping test performed on wells, which involves the measurement of the fall and increase of groundwater level with respect to time. The alteration in groundwater level (drawdown/recovery) is caused due to pumping of water from the well. Theis (1935) was first to propose method to evaluate aquifer parameters from the pumping test on a bore well in a confined aquifer. It is essential to know the transmissivity (T = Kb, where b is the aquifer thickness; pumping flow rate, Q = TW (dh/dl) flow through an aquifer) and storativity (confined aquifer: S = bS_s, unconfined: S = S_y), for the characterization of the aquifer parameters in an unknown area so as to predict the rate of drawdown of the groundwater table/potentiometric surface throughout the pumping test of an aquifer. The determination of aquifer's parameters is an important basis for groundwater resources evaluation, numerical simulation, development and protection as well as scientific management. For determining aquifer's parameters, pumping test is a main method. A case study shows that these techniques have been fast speed and high correctness. The results of parameter's determination are optimized so that it has important applied value for scientific research and geology engineering preparation.     

乌鲁木齐河流域北部平原地下水流模拟

本文运用数字水文地质概念模型的方法建立了乌鲁木齐河流域北部平原的地下水流模型,并用流量边界与柴窝堡盆地和河谷区的地下水流模型相接,构成一个统一的流域地下水模型,为乌鲁木齐河流域水资源整体规划利用提供了模拟分析工具。北部平原的南部倾斜平原为砂卵砾石组成的大厚度潜水含水层,北部细土平原为多层结构。地下水总体上由南向北径流,天然状态下在交界地带溢出成泉或流入沙漠。目前,地下水循环基本上由人为控制。农田灌溉回归补给量与河流和山前侧向补给量持平;而开采量已是绝对的排泄量。季节性开采造成地下水位季节性大幅度变化。水位的下降使蒸发蒸腾量减少,减轻了由于灌溉造成的土壤盐碱化问题。     

越流区开采条件下承压含水层易污染性机理研究——以单井开采为例

地下水易污染性分析是合理开发利用地下水资源、保护地下水环境的一项重要的基础性工作.长期以来针对潜水含水层易污染性的研究进行的较为深入,而对承压含水层易污染性的研究较为少见.同时,易污染性评价方法又以经验方法为主,受人为主观因素影响较大,因此需要通过对承压含水层污染机理进行研究,以减少人为主观因素对评价结果的影响.本文以单井开采承压含水层为例,通过分析承压含水层受污染的原因,以单位面积上越流补给量占开采量的比重为承压含水层易污染性指数,在建立越流区承压水向完整井稳定运动的微分方程的基础上,得到易污染性指数的解析表达式,并分析了各参数对易污染性的影响,使承压含水层易污染性评价有了一定的理论依据,对合理开发利用承压含水层有一定的指导意义.     

Evaluation of the impacts of climate changes on the coastal Chaouia aquifer, Morocco, using numerical modeling

The aquifer of the Chaouia Coast, Morocco constitutes an example of groundwater resources subjected to intensive and uncontrolled withdrawals in a semi-arid region. The analysis of the trends of precipitation and piezometric levels of the Chaouia coastal aquifer, with the use of moving averages, emphasized the impact of the climate on the groundwater resources of the system. The results showed that the periods 1977–1993 and 1996–2000 are characterized by a deficit in precipitation, although the precipitation increased slightly during the periods 1973–1977 and 1993–1996. Numerical modeling of the Chaouia aquifer showed that the groundwater resources of this system are less sensitive to the variations in precipitation. Severe degradation of the resource is related to intensive pumping during the periods of drought, which has forced abandonment of wells due to seawater intrusion.     

Numerical modeling of Forchheimer flow to a pumping well in a confined aquifer using the strong-form mesh-free method

A numerical analysis of non-Darcian flow to a pumping well in a confined aquifer using the strong-form mesh-free (MFREE) method is described. This technique is targeted at problems that use advanced numerical approaches for modeling non-Darcian flow and it supports the assumption that the non-Darcian flow follows the Forchheimer equation. Interpolation functions including the multi-quadrics (MQ) basis function (containing shape factors q and α) and the Gaussian (EXP) basis function (with shape factor ω) were found to be important defining parameters which had significant influence on the numerical results. A series of numerical experiments revealed that when q?=?2 and α?=?0.1, the mesh-free method yielded good results and the range of 10^?6?–?10^?3 might be a good choice for the shape factor ω in the EXP basis function. A comparison between the strong-form MFREE method and the finite difference method was done; the results showed that the strong-form MFREE method was very effective for solving non-Darcian flow near a pumping well in a confined aquifer, and was favorable over the finite-difference method, which could undergo oscillation and converging problems at early times.     

Development of a discontinuous approach for modeling fluid flow in heterogeneous media using the numerical manifold method

In the numerical modeling of fluid flow in heterogeneous geological media, large material contrasts associated with complexly intersected material interfaces are challenging, not only related to mesh discretization but also for the accurate realization of the corresponding boundary constraints. To address these challenges, we developed a discontinuous approach for modeling fluid flow in heterogeneous media using the numerical manifold method (NMM) and the Lagrange multiplier method (LMM) for modeling boundary constraints. The advantages of NMM include meshing efficiency with fixed mathematical grids (covers), the convenience of increasing the approximation precision, and the high integration precision provided by simplex integration. In this discontinuous approach, the elements intersected by material interfaces are divided into different elements and linked together using the LMM. We derive and compare different forms of LMMs and arrive at a new LMM that is efficient in terms of not requiring additional Lagrange multiplier topology, yet stringently derived by physical principles, and accurate in numerical performance. To demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the NMM with the developed LMM for boundary constraints, we simulate a number of verification and demonstration examples, involving a Dirichlet boundary condition and dense and intersected material interfaces. Last, we applied the developed model for modeling fluid flow in heterogeneous media with several material zones containing a fault and an opening. We show that the developed discontinuous approach is very suitable for modeling fluid flow in strongly heterogeneous media with good accuracy for large material contrasts, complex Dirichlet boundary conditions, or complexly intersected material interfaces. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.