User guide : Aquifer Productivity (Scotland) GIS Datasets. Version 2

This report describes a revised version (Version 2) of the aquifer productivity (Scotland) datasets produced by the British Geological Survey (BGS). There are two maps: bedrock aquifer productivity and superficial deposits aquifer productivity. Version 1 of these datasets was produced in 2004. Version 2 uses updated geological linework and a slightly modified methodology. The aquifer productivity maps describe the potential of aquifers across Scotland to sustain various levels of borehole water supply, and the dominant groundwater flow types in each aquifer. The bedrock aquifer productivity map has five aquifer productivity classes (very high, high, moderate, low and very low); and three groundwater flow categories (significant intergranular flow; mixed fracture/intergranular flow; and fracture flow). The superficial deposits productivity map has four productivity classes (high; moderate to high; moderate; and a category to signify that a deposit is ‘not a significant aquifer’). All superficial deposits aquifers in Scotland are assumed to have primarily intergranular groundwater flow. The aquifer productivity maps are a tool to indicate the location and productivity of aquifers across Scotland. They have been used to help characterise groundwater bodies as required by the Water Framework Directive, and may have several other uses, including in policy analysis and development; to prioritise aquifer and site investigations; to inform planning decisions; and to improve awareness of groundwater in general. The complexity and heterogeneity of geological formations means that the maps are only a guide. They are designed to be used at a scale of 1:100,000, and not to assess aquifer conditions at a single point

Determination of Coefficients of Groundwater Flow in Multilayered Aquifers

It is difficult to determine the coefficients of groundwater flow from the data which were obtained from the drawdown test in a multiaquifer system. In this paper, new methods of analyzing drawdown-tests are developed and illustrated with the example to determine aquifer coefficients. In a double-layered aquifer, the analytical solution of drawdown test, in which water is discharged from both layers, is derived. And also the theoretical solution to determine the coefficient of storage by using an index of elasticity of a confined aquifer is derived. From these solutions, methods of determining the coefficient of transmissibility in a double-layered aquifer and the coefficinent of storage in a confined aquifer are got. The example analysis to determine aquifer coefficients is shown. As a result, the characteristics which were obtained by these methods are verified by the real drawdown test data

Regional geothermal aquifer architecture of the fluvial Lower Cretaceous Nieuwerkerk Formation – a palynological analysis

The primary challenge for efficient geothermal doublet design and deployment is the adequate prediction of the size, shape, lateral extent and thickness (or aquifer architecture) of aquifers. In the West Netherlands Basin, fluvial Lower Cretaceous sandstone-rich successions form the main aquifers for geothermal heat exploitation. Large variations in the thickness of these successions are recognised in currently active doublet systems that cannot be explained. This creates an uncertainty in aquifer thickness prediction, which increases the uncertainty in doublet lifetime prediction as it has an impact on net aquifer volume. The goal of this study was to improve our understanding of the thickness variations and regional aquifer architecture of the Nieuwerkerk Formation geothermal aquifers. For this purpose, new palynological data were evaluated to correlate aquifers in currently active doublet systems based on their chronostratigraphic position and regional Maximum Flooding Surfaces. Based on the palynological cuttings analysis, the fluvial interval of the Nieuwerkerk Formation was subdivided into two successions: a Late Ryazanian to Early Valanginian succession and a Valanginian succession. Within these successions trends were identified in sandstone content. In combination with seismic interpretation, maps were constructed that predict aquifer thickness and their lateral extent in the basin. The study emphasises the value of palynological analyses to reduce the uncertainty of fluvial hot sedimentary aquifer exploitation

Well design as a factor contributing to loss of water from the Floridan Aquifer, eastern Clay County, Florida

A number of wells penetrating the Floridan aquifer in eastern Clay County were found to be losing water to permeable zones above this aquifer. A differential in artesian pressure was observed in closely spaced wells of similar depth. Further investigation. revealed that the pressure differential in the wells was due to the design of the wells, of which there were four principal types. A comparison of the four types of wells in relation to the subsurface geology showed that three types of wells were open to the permeable zones above the Floridan aquifer. In such wells water of relatively high head from the Floridan aquifer moves up through the well bore and out into zones of relatively low head. The estimated water loss from poorly designed wells ranged from 32 to 180 gpm (gallons per minute). The artesian head loss in leaky wells ranged from 3 to 15 feet. A total loss of water of 39 mgd (million gallons per day) was estimated from all the leaky wells in the area. A significant decline of the piezometric surface of the Floridan aquifer was observed in eastern Clay County. Some of this decline can be attributed to the loss of water from the Floridan aquifer through these poorly designed wells. (Document has 16 pages.

The impact of boundary conditions on CO2 capacity estimation in aquifers

The boundary conditions of an aquifer determine the extent to which fluids (including formation water and CO2) and pressure can be transferred into adjacent geological formations, either laterally or vertically. Aquifer boundaries can be faults, lithological boundaries, formation pinch-outs, salt walls, or outcrop. In many cases compliance with regulations preventing CO2 storage influencing areas outside artificial boundaries defined by non-geological criteria (international boundaries; license limits) may be necessary. A bounded aquifer is not necessarily a closed aquifer. The identification of an aquifer’s boundary conditions determines how CO2 storage capacity is estimated in the earliest screening and characterization stages. There are different static capacity estimation methods in use for closed systems and open systems. The method used has a significant impact on the final capacity estimate. The recent EU Directive (2009/31/EC) stated that where more than one storage site within a single “hydraulic unit” (bounded aquifer volume) is being considered, the characterization process should account for potential pressure interactions. The pressure interplay of multiple sites (or even the pressure footprint of just one site) is heavily influenced by boundary conditions

In situ mixing of organic matter decreases hydraulic conductivity of denitrification walls in sand aquifers

In a previous study, a denitrification wall was constructed in a sand aquifer using sawdust as the carbon substrate. Ground water bypassed around this sawdust wall due to reduced hydraulic conductivity. We investigated potential reasons for this by testing two new walls and conducting laboratory studies. The first wall was constructed by mixing aquifer material in situ without substrate addition to investigate the effects of the construction technique (mixed wall). A second, biochip wall, was constructed using coarse wood chips to determine the effect of size of the particles in the amendment on hydraulic conductivity. The aquifer hydraulic conductivity was 35.4 m/d, while in the mixed wall it was 2.8 m/d and in the biochip wall 3.4 m/d. This indicated that the mixing of the aquifer sands below the water table allowed the particles to re-sort themselves into a matrix with a significantly lower hydraulic conductivity than the process that originally formed the aquifer. The addition of a coarser substrate in the biochip wall significantly increased total porosity and decreased bulk density, but hydraulic conductivity remained low compared to the aquifer. Laboratory cores of aquifer sand mixed under dry and wet conditions mimicked the reduction in hydraulic conductivity observed in the field within the mixed wall. The addition of sawdust to the laboratory cores resulted in a significantly higher hydraulic conductivity when mixed dry compared to cores mixed wet. This reduction in the hydraulic conductivity of the sand/sawdust cores mixed under saturated conditions repeated what occurred in the field in the original sawdust wall. This indicated that laboratory investigations can be a useful tool to highlight potential reductions in field hydraulic conductivities that may occur when differing materials are mixed under field conditions

Preliminary Investigation of the Ground-Water Resources of Baxter, Fulton, Izard and Sharp Counties, Arkansas

One hundred and seventy-seven drillers\u27 well reports were used to investigate the groundwater resources of Baxter, Fulton, Izard, and Sharp counties. The most widely utilized aquifer zone is composed of the Cotter and Jefferson City dolomites. The well depths range from 30 to 740 ft. with a mean and median of 264 and 225 ft., respectively. The drillers\u27 yield estimates range from 1 to 50 gpm with a mean of 12.0 gpm and a median of 10 gpm. The piezometric surface has an average hydraulic gradient of 9 ft./mile with groundwater discharge occurring along the Spring and White Rivers. Overlying the Cotter-Jefferson City aquifer is the Powell Dolomite aquifer. Well depths range from 43 to 275 ft. with a mean and median of 137 and 114 ft., respectively. Driller estimated yields range from 7 to 40 gpm with a mean and median of 18 and 15 gpm, respectively. The Everton Aquifer is composed of a complex series of interfingering sandstones and carbonate layers that may act collectively or Individually as aquifers. Well depths in this aquifer range from 8 to 812 ft. with a mean of 338 ft. and a median of 500 ft. Yields range from 1 to 40 gpm with a mean and median of 11 and 7 gpm, respectively. The least productive and least utilized, but shallowest aquifer is the St. Peter Sandstone aquifer which has a depth range of 55 to 113 ft. with a mean and median of 80 and 85 ft., respectively. The yield ranges from 1 to 20 gpm with a mean and median of 9 and 5 gpm, respectively. The Spearman Rank Correlation procedure was used to compare well yields (gpm), well depth, regolith thickness, depth to water, and piezometric surface elevation of the Cotter-Jefferson City aquifer. At ∝ = 0.1, the following relationships were established: 1) greater yield at shallow well depths, 2) greater yield where the water table is closer to the surface, 3) thicker regolith in deeper wells, and thicker regolith with increased depth to water. These correlations indicate the strong control on water movement by fractures in the aquifer, and closing off of fractures at depth, and the control of regolith thickness by depth to water rather than fracture proximity

Groundwater pollution in quaternary aquifer of Vitoria - Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain)

As a result of diverse changes in land use and in water-resource management in the high basin of the Zadorra River (Basque Country), an important loss of water resources and an intense contamination by nitrogen compounds has taken place. The purpose of this paper is to detail the land transformations that have taken place on the aquifer since the 1950s: increase of drainage network, change from dry to irrigated farming, and diversion of rivers at the aquifer unit inlet. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of these transformations on the hydrodynamics and water quality of this aquifer system

Preliminary Investigation of the Ground-Water Resources of Northern Searcy County, Arkansas

Two aquifers are extensively used by residents of small communities and rural areas in northern Searcy County, Arkansas. The Mississippian Boone-St. Joe aquifer is generally the less productive and the shallower of the two. Ground-water yields for the Boone-St. Joe range from 0.5 to 75 gpm with a median yield of 5 and a mean of 9.8 gpm. Well depths range from 100 to 754 feet with a median depth of 350 feet and a mean of 360 feet. Confined conditions are indicated by the greater depths, whereas the Boone-St. Joe aquifer is unconfined when exposed at the surface. Underlying the Boone-St. Joe aquifer is an aquifer zone composed of sands, sandy limestones, and/or dolomitic limestones below the Chattanooga Shale and above and including the Everton Formation. This aquifer can be composed of one or more of the following units: upper Everton, St. Peter, Clifty, Sylamore, Lafferty, St. Clair and/or Plattin. The range in yields for this aquifer is 1 to 80 gpm with a median yield of 9 and a mean of 17 gpm. Well depths range from 200 to 875 feet with a median and mean depth of 570 feet. A statistical correlation was found among well yields (gpm), regolith thickness, depth of well, and cave intersection by the well. The results indicate that greater yields can be obtained in areas of thicker regolith. Cave presence was also found to enhance yields. A strong relationship between cave presence and deeper regolith was observed. These three relationships demonstrate increased weathering, and thus water flow along fractures. The effect of joints closing off at depth produced a strong relationship between shallower wells and greater yields within the Boone-St. Joe aquifer