Real-time prediction and assessment of hydrogeological conditions in pit wall rock mass using advanced computer technologies

Abstract

For the feasibility study of preventive drainage, it is often required to evaluate groundwater inflows in specific pit areas, to identify seepage height in pit wall, and to determine hydrodynamic parameters of flow in the existing geological and hydrogeological conditions. The authors have identified methodological approaches, technological methods and schemes, and combinations of software tools that allow automation of evaluating and predictive studies of hydrogeological conditions in certain areas of open pits using 3D models and finite element methodbased calculations. To solve these tasks, we have tested the dynamic geological simulation software system Leapfrog Geo (Seequent) in combination with the dedicated calculation module Slide2 (Rocscience Inc.). A promising area of joint application of Leapfrog Geo and Slide software is real-time permeation calculations in areas of complex geological and hydrogeological conditions, where grapho-analytical methods provide very approximate and rough results, whereas 3D software products (like MODFLOW or FEFLOW) require too much time and labor input, or even are inapplicable due to lack of modeling source data. The water inflow estimation procedure included determination of specific water inflow in the profile which passed through the center of the flow path, and multiplication of the result by the width of the pit wall intake area with regard to nonuniform permeability of rocks.