Production Water Wells Research Articles

Multifrequency electromagnetic method for the hydrogeophysical characterization of hard-rock aquifers: the case of the upstream watershed of White Bandama (northern Ivory Coast)

In West Africa, the drinking water supply relies on the hard-rock aquifers. In Ivory Coast, the population growth along with the climate changes make drinking water resources highly vulnerable. The White Bandama upstream watershed in northern Ivory Coast is located on a fissured hard-rock aquifer and is poorly known, both in the geometry of the reservoirs and in the hydrogeological potential of the reserves it contains. Indeed, the heterogeneous subsurface in this region shows high variability in the hydraulic conductivity inducing difficulties in the hydrogeological exploration. The determination of the geometry and hydrodynamic properties of the aquifer are required for a sustainable management of this water resource and for a better choice of future well locations. This study presents a hydrogeophysical approach using the multifrequency electromagnetic device PROMIS®, as well as lithology logs and geological information of a 30 × 30 km zone in the northwestern part of the White Bandama catchment. Our geophysical data are interpreted with 1D multi-layer models consistent with the discontinuities observed in lithology logs and the geology of the site. Results allow to precise the local thicknesses of the 3 main units of our study area down to 50 m, being from top to down, saprolite (which is often indured close to the surface), fissured-rock zone and rock substratum. Between the saprolite and the fissured zone, the main aquifer unit constitutes the interesting target for productive water wells. Its thickness ranges from 15 to 30 m. A detailed knowledge of the local aquifer geometry constitutes the first and crucial step before going further into a complete hydrogeological study.

Geoelectric survey of the Granite Gravel aquifer, Llano Uplift, Central Texas, to determine locations for water wells

An electrical geophysical survey was completed within a small area of the Llano Uplift of central Texas to determine locations to install two water wells in the Granite Gravel aquifer (GGA). Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was performed along two 188-m long profiles that intersected at the approximate center of a 100-m by 100-m self-potential (SP) map. The ERT survey was completed to map two-dimensional (2D) electric resistivity distributions in the GGA and the underlying Precambrian Town Mountain Granite (TMG) bedrock, whereas SP mapping was performed to delineate apparent streaming potential anomalies at the land surface that appeared correlated to the subsurface resistivity distributions, which exhibited strong lateral heterogeneity in the upper 35 m of the weathered layer that comprises the GGA. The depth to TMG bedrock, as shown by the resistivity distributions, varied substantially over relatively small profile distances and surface areas; however, the general electrical structure showed resistivity increasing with depth, beginning with a thin electrically conductive layer at the surface characterized by resistivity in the range of about 30–100 Ω-m, followed by a resistivity increase to 300–500 Ω-m at a depth that coincided with the water-table depth observed in the installed water wells. Resistivity of the TMG bedrock was generally greater than 500 Ω-m and exceeded 1000 Ω-m in some locations of the tomograms. Electrical structure beneath the survey area, as shown by the 2D resistivity distributions beneath the ERT profiles, delineated a relatively thick weathered section of GGA that spatially aligned with a conspicuous negative anomaly observed in the SP map after electrode-drift and terrain corrections were made. The combination of ERT and SP mapping guided selection of locations for two productive water wells within the small survey area despite substantial heterogeneity in the weathering profile of the GGA beneath the survey area.

Mapping of areas with the potential to provide adequate groundwater supplies in arid regions: a case of the Isly basin (Horst Belt, northeastern Morocco)

In the Isly basin, an arid region in Morocco, access to water resources is a key factor in its socio-economic development. The purpose of the present study is to contribute to the search for areas suitable for the establishment of productive water wells by mapping areas that have the potential to provide a suitable water supply. The mapping process used a conceptual model of the factors that are controlling the distribution of groundwater in the region together with the use of remote sensing methods and a geographic information system (GIS) to cover the entire region (920 km2). Data on five parameters influencing groundwater storage (rainfall, lithology, rock fracture, slope, and drainage) were integrated into an empirical model and validated using well discharge data and the location of springs. Results show that the survey area is potentially rich in groundwater, with over 60% of the Isly basin having a “moderate” to a “very high” potential for groundwater storage. The empirical model makes up an important decision support tool since it allows suitable groundwater drilling targets to be identified.

Recharge Wells Site Selection for Artificial Groundwater Recharge in an Urban Area Using Fuzzy Logic Technique

In arid and semi-arid area, groundwater is the most important water resources. Surface runoff harvesting is the most important process in the artificial recharge of groundwater that should increase groundwater quality and quantity. Urban impervious area provides an appropriate surface to produce adequate amounts of runoff. Groundwater recharge via recharge wells is one of the successful direct sub-surface methods. As many cities around the world face issues of water scarcity due to a fast and unsustainable urbanization, identify the best locations of groundwater recharge wells is an interesting relevant topic, especially in the arid and semi-arid area. Selection of a suitable area for groundwater recharge could increase efficiency of the recharge wells. In this study, the best location of recharge wells was investigated in Urmia city located in the North-west of Iran using fuzzy logic technique. In this study, locations of the drainage channel junctions with adequate potential of surface runoff were determined using SWMM. Appropriate locations for recharge wells were determined based on different layers including distance to runoff harvesting points, distance to the production water wells and depth of groundwater table. Hydraulic condition (hydraulic conductivity and specific recharge) was also used separately. The input layers were prepared using geostatistical interpolation techniques in ArcGIS 9.3 software. Mamdani fuzzy inference system was applied to incorporate the fuzzified input layers. Finally, in each area, pixels with the highest value were proposed as suitable locations for recharge wells. Based on the results, the number of pixels with “High” priorities increased when the hydraulic conductivity was used to site selection. Comparing hydraulic conductivity layer and selected location of the recharge wells shows that the area with low hydraulic conductivity and the area closed to the production water wells has not suitable priority for recharge wells.

Investigation of Hydrogeological Structures of Paiko Region, North-Central Nigeria Using Integrated Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques

Aeromagnetic data coupled with Landsat ETM+ data and SRTM DEM have been processed in order to map regional hydrogeological structures in the basement complex region of Paiko, North Central Nigeria. Lineaments were extracted from derivative maps of aeromagnetic, Landsat ETM+ and SRTM DEM datasets. Ground geophysical investigation utilizing Radial Vertical Electrical Sounding (RVES) was established in nine transects comprised of four sounding stations which are oriented in three azimuths. Source Parameter Imaging (SPI) was employed to map average depths of structures from aeromagnetic dataset. Selected thematic layers which included lineaments density, lithologic structure, slope, drainage density and geomorphologic maps were integrated and modeled using ArcGIS to generate a groundwater potential map of the area. Groundwater zones were classified into four categories: Very good, good, moderate and poor according to their potential to yield sustainable water to drilled wells. The results from RVES survey reveal a close correlation to lineaments delineated from surface structural mapping and remotely sensed datasets. Hydrogeological significance of these orientations suggest that aeromagnetic data can be used to map relatively deep-seated fractures which are likely to be open groundwater conduits while remotely sensed lineaments and orientations delineated from the RVES survey may indicate areas of recharge. Regions with high lineament density attributable to thick regolith and highly fractured basement have better groundwater potential. Drill depths in this area should target a minimum of 80 m to ensure sufficient and sustainable supplies to drilled wells. The outcome of this study would act as information framework that would guide the siting of productive water wells while providing needed information for relevant agencies in need of data for the development of groundwater resources.

Remote Sensing and GIS Approach for Water-Well Site Selection, Southwest Iran

Research Article| November 01, 2008 Remote Sensing and GIS Approach for Water-Well Site Selection, Southwest Iran KAZEM RANGZAN; KAZEM RANGZAN 1Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ABASS CHARCHI; ABASS CHARCHI 2Department of Geology, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar EHSAN ABSHIRINI; EHSAN ABSHIRINI 3Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JAMES DINGER JAMES DINGER 4Kentucky Geological Survey and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506-0107 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information KAZEM RANGZAN 1Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran ABASS CHARCHI 2Department of Geology, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran EHSAN ABSHIRINI 3Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran JAMES DINGER 4Kentucky Geological Survey and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506-0107 Publisher: Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1558-9161 Print ISSN: 1078-7275 © 2008 Association of Engineering Geologists Environmental & Engineering Geoscience (2008) 14 (4): 315–326. https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.14.4.315 Article history First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation KAZEM RANGZAN, ABASS CHARCHI, EHSAN ABSHIRINI, JAMES DINGER; Remote Sensing and GIS Approach for Water-Well Site Selection, Southwest Iran. Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2008;; 14 (4): 315–326. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.14.4.315 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyEnvironmental & Engineering Geoscience Search Advanced Search Abstract The Pabdeh-Lali Anticline of northern Khuzestan province is located in southwestern Iran and occupies 790 km2. This structure is situated in the Zagros folded belt. As a result of well-developed karst systems in the anticlinal axis, the water supply potential is high and is drained by many peripheral springs. However, there is a scarcity of water for agriculture and population centers on the anticlinal flanks, which imposes a severe problem in terms of area development. This study combines remotely sensed (RS) data and a geographical information system (GIS) into a RSGIS technique to delineate new areas for groundwater development and specific sites for drilling productive water wells. Toward these goals, RS data were used to develop GIS layers for lithology, structural geology, topographic slope, elevation, and drainage density. Field measurements were made to create spring-location and groundwater-quality GIS layers. Subsequently, expert choice and relational methods were used in a GIS environment to conjunctively analyze all layers to delineate preferable regions and 43 individual sites in which to drill water wells. Results indicate that the most preferred areas are, in preferential order, within recent alluvial deposits, the Bakhtiyari Conglomerates, and the Aghajari Sandstone. The Asmari Limestone and other units have much lower potential for groundwater supplies. Potential usefulness of the RSGIS method was indicated when six out of nine producing wells recently drilled by the Khozestan Water and Power Authority (which had no knowledge of this study) were located in areas preferentially selected by this technique. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Hydrogeological and Hydrochemical Study of the Al-Shagaya Field-F, Kuwait

The study area, Al-Shagaya Field-F, is located at the south western part of Kuwait and includes twenty-seven production water wells, tapping the Kuwait Group aquifer. The main objectives of this study were to identify the aquifer type, determine its properties, outline the geological factors and the hydrochemical processes that control the quality of the groundwater of the study area, and to assess the water quality of the Kuwait Group aquifer. Analyses of aquifer test data revealed that the Kuwait Group aquifer acts as a semi-confined to confined aquifer, with a range of transmissivity values between 103 and 1,198 m2/day. The initial water level ranges from 70 to 146 m (M.S.L). The estimated quantity of groundwater entering the study area is about 12,950 m3/day. The chemical analyses show that the groundwater of the study area is a brackish water type, with total dissolved solids ranging from 3,586 to 5,334 mg/l. The aquifer salinity increases in the direction of regional flow towards the NE. The average pH value is 7.7 and the average electrical conductivity is 5,349 μs/cm. Groundwater is highly concentrated with Na+, Ca2+, Cl- and SO42- and is depleted in HCO3- and Mg2+ ions. It is characterized by secondary salinity, where the alkaline earths exceed the alkalies and strong acids exceed weak acids. Three groundwater chemical types are recognized: NaCl, Na2SO4 and CaCl2. The NaCl water type is the most abundant in the study area. The main genetic types of water are: MgCl2 and Na2SO4. It is found that the groundwater is oversaturated with respect to aragonite and calcite and undersaturated with respect to anhydrite, gypsum, halite and dolomite. A comparison of the hydrochemical coefficients of Na+/Cl-, SO42-/Cl- and Ca2+/Mg2+ in the study area with those of seawater and river water shows that the groundwater of the study area is a mixture of marine and continental water.

Vertical electrical soundings for groundwater investigation in northwestern Egypt: a case study in a coastal area

Vertical electrical soundings (VESs) in a coastal area of NW Egypt are used for evaluating the hydrogeological and structural characteristics of the subsurface sequence to a depth of about 200 m below the ground surface. Interpretation of these soundings indicates the presence of a shallow brackish to fresh water bearing limestone aquifer of Pleistocene age, and a deep saline water bearing sandy limestone of Miocene age. The TDS of the analyzed groundwater samples indicate invasion of the Mediterranean seawater into the Pleistocene aquifer and into the deeper aquifers which have direct contacts with it. The denser saline water penetrates inland below the fresh water body in the shallow Pleistocene aquifer. The fresh/saline water interface in this aquifer deepens southward, giving rise to an increasingly large fresh water body in this direction. However, subsurface structural (faulting) complexities are detected, which influenced the entire sedimentary section in the study area and led to strong lateral and vertical variations in the distribution of the subsurface lithological units. Recommendations concerning site-selection for drilling productive water wells are given.

RESULTS OF ACIDIZING WATER WELLS IN ARIZONA1

ABSTRACTTwo wellfields have been developed to provide water for a coal fired electric generating station in Arizona. Wellfield No. 1 penetrates the unconfined Coconino Sandstone aquifer, and wellfield No. 2 penetrates the composite Kaibab Limestone‐Coconino Sandstone aquifer where ground water occurs under confined conditions. A well in each wellfield was pumped and water level drawdown data were collected before and after acidizing. The drawdown data at the various pumping rates were analyzed to determine the potential benefits of acidizing production water wells in both wellfields. After acidizing, the specific capacity of the well in wellfield No. 1 was improved about 50 percent at water production rates ranging from about 200 to 500 gallons per minute (gpm) (13 to 32 liters per second (lps)). After acidizing, the specific capacity of the well completed in wellfield No. 2 was improved about 100 percent at pumping rates ranging from about 1,250 to 2,200 gpm (79 to 139 lps). An annual saving of approximately 11 percent in pumping costs can be realized in wellfield No. 2, and savings are approximately four percent in wellfield No. 1. Acidization is beneficial for wells that can produce more than 500 gpm (32 lps), and is of marginal value for those that produce less than that amount.