A multidisciplinary-based conceptual model of a fractured sedimentary bedrock aquitard: improved prediction of aquitard integrity

Anomalous Transport in Three‐Dimensional Discrete Fracture Networks: Interplay Between Aperture Heterogeneity and Injection Modes

“…We investigated fracture networks with the orthogonal set of fractures with relatively high fracture intensity and a constant fracture size. Similar fracture networks are often observed in nature (Belayneh, 2004; Kang et al., 2019; Runkel et al., 2018), and fractured media with P 32 higher than 3 have been observed in nature (Brixel et al, 2020; Makedonska et al., 2020; Romano et al., 2020). The fracture network is also motivated by a recent study that investigated tracer transport in 2‐D fracture networks with orthogonal fracture sets (Kang et al., 2017, 2019).…”

Characterization of complex groundwater flows in the environment of singular buildings by combining hydrogeological and non‐destructive geophysical (ground‐penetrating radar) techniques: Punta Begoña Galleries (Getxo, Spain)

“…From these outcrops, it was possible to make a first determination of the materials and to obtain the basic parameters that characterized the fracture network from a hydrogeological point of view (Berkowitz, ). These characterizations involved mechanical joints and bed parallel partings (Runkel et al, ). With this aim, conventional geological mapping was carried out.…”

“…Regarding the consolidated geological materials mentioned previously, their dominantly marly nature causes their overall permeability to be low. In any case, the occasional presence of more carbonate‐rich or sandy levels, and particularly the development of secondary porosity features aligned congruent to the bedding, for example, bed partings, or related to systematic and non‐systematic fractures (Bloomfield, ; Fan, Toran, & Schlische, ; Graham Wall, ; Runkel et al, ; Worthington, ) result in local flows determining the movement of underground waters.…”

Hydrogeology and groundwater geochemistry of two glacigenic aquitard/aquifer systems in north-central and south-central Minnesota

“…Because hydraulic gradients are the driving force for groundwater flow, lower vertical hydraulic gradients generally increase groundwater travel times through aquitards (Simpkins and Bradbury 1992;Bradbury et al 2006). However, lower vertical gradients can also indicate there is less of a barrier to vertical flow in an aquitard, while higher gradients can be found to indicate that there is a lower K material present between the observation points that disrupts flow (Runkel et al 2018). At the Litchfield site, the estimated travel time to the confined aquifer through the aquitard differed between the two piezometer nests there because of the differences in estimated K values, vertical hydraulic gradients, recharge to the confined aquifers, and till thickness between the two nests, with one estimate being two years and the other 1026 years ).…”

“…Small vertical hydraulic gradients, such as the 0.01 gradient found in an upper section of the Oak Creek Formation till in Wisconsin, can be indicative of horizontal flow (Simpkins and Bradbury 1992). This may also suggest that groundwater flows vertically with less resistance between the OT-20 and OT-60 piezometers (Runkel et al 2018). Larger (downward) vertical hydraulic gradients can be observed from OT-60 through OT-175 (between 0.09 to 0.25) in the confined aquifer.…”