Comparison Of Heat-Pulse Flow Measurements And Vertical Gradients In A Fractured Limestone Aquifer

Abstract

Establishing a site-specific relationship between heat-pulse flowmeter (HPFM) data and corresponding vertical gradient data may allow prediction of potential vertical gradients through BPFM logging alone. Vertical gradient and corresponding BPFM rates were determined for 117 test intervals in a fractured limestone bedrock aquifer. From these data, it appears that HPFM data can be used in place of more labor intensive borehole packer testing to provide estimates of vertical gradients in this type of hydrogeologic system. Groundwater conditions in the fractured bedrock were investigated through testing of 66 open boreholes, as part of the hazardous waste remedial investigation at the former Loring Air Force Base (LAFB) in northern Maine, USA. Borehole geophysical logging tools, including BPFM and acoustic televiewer (ATV), in conjunction with air hammer drilling logs, were used to target specific fracture(s) to test using conventional straddle packers. HPFM and head data from 41 boreholes met general requirements for comparison purposes, and a linear correlation trend was identified.