Comparison of hydraulic and chemical methods for determining hydraulic conductivity and leakage rates in argillaceous aquitards

Batlle-Aguilar, Jordi; Cook, Peter G.; Harrington, Glenn A.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.11.035

Cited by 28 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 149 publications

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“…and V values of 0.3 × 10 −4 -3 × 10 −4 m/yr and 1 × 10 −3 -1 × 10 −5 m/yr, respectively, have been found in previous studies [8]. The radiogenic helium accumulation rate ( ) of 2.1 × 10 −6 ccSTP/m 3 H 2 O /yr ( * = 5.5 × 10 −7 ccSTP/m 3 aq /yr) is similar to the production rates calculated for the aquifers and aquitards of the GAB, that is, 1 × 10 −5 -4 × 10 −6 ccSTP/m 3 H 2 O /yr, reported in other studies [22,46,[87][88][89].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Aquitard properties, such as hydraulic conductivity, and their variability can be determined by fluid pressure measurements within the aquitard using in situ vibrating wire pressure transducers [6,7], although hydraulic conductivity measurements can increase with the scale of measurement [8,9]. When combined with the gradient of fluid pressure using Darcy's law, the vertical flow direction and rate can be determined.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from ⁴He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

et al. 2017

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A study of chloride and 4He profiles through an aquitard that separates the Great Artesian Basin from the underlying Arckaringa Basin in central Australia is presented. The aquitard separates two aquifers with long water residence times, due to low recharge rates in the arid climate. One-dimensional solute transport models were used to determine the advective flux of groundwater across the aquitard as well as establish any major changes in past hydrological conditions recorded by variations of the pore water composition. This in situ study showed that both diffusion and slow downward advection (vz=0.7 mm/yr) control solute transport. Numerical simulations show that an increase in chloride concentration in the upper part of the profile is due to a reduction in recharge in the upper aquifer for at least 3000 years. Groundwater extraction since 2008 has likely increased chloride and 4He concentrations in the lower aquifer by pulling up water from deeper layers; however, there has been insufficient time for upward solute transport into the pore water profile by diffusion against downward advection. The transport model of 4He and chloride provides insight into how the two aquifers interact through the aquitard and how climate change is being recorded in the aquitard profile.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from ⁴He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

et al. 2017

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“…Values of aquitard hydraulic conductivity typically range between 10 −12 and 10 −9 m/s (Batlle‐Aguilar et al ). Hydraulic fracturing pressures vary with formation properties, but reported values are mostly 35,000 to 90,000 kPa (3500 to 9000 m; Myers ; Pitkin et al ; NYDEC ).…”

Section: Inter‐aquifer Leakagementioning

confidence: 99%

Predicting Water Resource Impacts of Unconventional Gas Using Simple Analytical Equations

et al. 2016

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The rapid expansion in unconventional gas development over the past two decades has led to concerns over the potential impacts on groundwater resources. Although numerical models are invaluable for assessing likelihood of impacts at particular sites, simpler analytical models are also useful because they help develop hydrological understanding. Analytical approaches are also valuable for preliminary assessments and to determine where more complex models are warranted. In this article, we present simple analytical solutions that can be used to predict: (1) the spatial extent of drawdown from horizontal wells drilled into the gas-bearing formation, and rate of recovery after gas production ceases; (2) the potential for upward transport of contaminants from the gas-bearing formation to shallow aquifers during hydraulic fracturing operations when pressures in the gas-bearing formation are greatly increased; and (3) the potential downward leakage of water from shallow aquifers during depressurization of gas-bearing formations. In particular, we show that the recovery of pressure after production ceases from gas-bearing shale formations may take several hundred years, and we present critical hydraulic conductivity values for intervening aquitards, below which the impact on shallow aquifers will be negligible. The simplifying assumptions inherent in these solutions will limit their predictive accuracy for site-specific assessments, compared to numerical models that incorporate knowledge of spatial variations in formation properties and which may include processes not considered in the simpler solutions.

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“…Porewater profiles of natural tracers collected from clay‐rich sediments may be reliable archives of climate and paleo‐hydrological evolution (Hendry & Wassenaar, 1999; Hendry & Woodbury, 2007; Husain et al, 2004), because of low fluid flux rates and diffusion‐dominated solute transport (Batlle‐Aguilar et al, 2016; Harrington et al, 2013; Hendry & Harrington, 2014). In addition, diffusion of residual salts in porewater from such confining layers can be an important source of salts in groundwater (Hasegawa et al, 2016; Meyer et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater Salinization and Flushing During Glacial‐Interglacial Cycles: Insights From Aquitard Porewater Tracer Profiles in the North China Plain

Han

Cao

Currell

et al. 2020

Water Resources Research

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Using natural tracer profiles to study migration of porewater salinity can help determine fluid fluxes and the timescales of salinization and freshening in coastal regions. Saline groundwater associated with evaporation and transgression events is widely distributed in the North China Plain (NCP). However, the fluid flux, time scales, and importance of different salinization processes are poorly constrained, particularly in areas beyond the limit of marine influence. Chloride (Cl) and δ 18 O profiles were obtained from two boreholes: one drilled at the edge of the piedmont alluvial fan (HS borehole) and one in the coastal region (G1 borehole). Numerical simulation of Cl and δ 18 O profiles confirmed diffusion-dominated solute transport but also indicated slow upward advective flow over geological timescales. The profile modeling at HS indicated that salinization related to evaporation has occurred since the Late Pleistocene. Assessment of alternative conceptual models indicates that intensive groundwater pumping in recent decades has also caused significant downward movement of saline porewater (e.g., movement of brackish water at~0.6 m/yr), mixing modern or Holocene water with Pleistocene water. The coastal Cl profile modeling in contrast shows that porewater salinity can be primarily attributed to salt diffusion during four transgression/regression cycles since the late Middle Pleistocene. The Cl transport appears never to have reached an equilibrium state during the glacial-interglacial cycles. This suggests not only that trapped Holocene seawater is still present and leaching into adjacent sediments but also that Pleistocene water has never been entirely flushed from the deep part of the coastal sediments.

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Comparison of hydraulic and chemical methods for determining hydraulic conductivity and leakage rates in argillaceous aquitards

Cited by 28 publications

References 149 publications

Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from ⁴He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from ⁴He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

Predicting Water Resource Impacts of Unconventional Gas Using Simple Analytical Equations

Groundwater Salinization and Flushing During Glacial‐Interglacial Cycles: Insights From Aquitard Porewater Tracer Profiles in the North China Plain

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Comparison of hydraulic and chemical methods for determining hydraulic conductivity and leakage rates in argillaceous aquitards

Cited by 28 publications

References 149 publications

Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from 4He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from 4He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

Predicting Water Resource Impacts of Unconventional Gas Using Simple Analytical Equations

Groundwater Salinization and Flushing During Glacial‐Interglacial Cycles: Insights From Aquitard Porewater Tracer Profiles in the North China Plain

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Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from ⁴He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia

Palaeohydrogeology and Transport Parameters Derived from ⁴He and Cl Profiles in Aquitard Pore Waters in a Large Multilayer Aquifer System, Central Australia