Evidence for preferential flow through sandstone aquifers in Southern Wisconsin

Swanson, Susan; Bahr, Jean M.; Bradbury, Kenneth R.; Anderson, Kristin M.

doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2005.11.008

Cited by 75 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…10D). Bedding plane fractures at contacts between contrasting lithologies or related to parting along laminae, are common in sedimentary rocks (Moores et al, 1968;Swanson et al, 2006, and references therein). They may be referable to 'fissility' by some authors but in the present study are termed fractures because they offer potential pathways for flow, following the use of the term in much of the hydrogeological literature (e.g.…”

Section: Micro-fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They may be referable to 'fissility' by some authors but in the present study are termed fractures because they offer potential pathways for flow, following the use of the term in much of the hydrogeological literature (e.g. Swanson et al, 2006, and references therein). These fractures are probably due to elastic responses of rocks to the release of overburden stress caused by uplift or due to transfer of cores from the sub-surface to surface.…”

Section: Micro-fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shale oil occurring between salt intervals in the Dongpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Wang

Sherwood

et al. 2015

International Journal of Coal Geology

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Section: Micro-fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Micro-fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shale oil occurring between salt intervals in the Dongpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Wang

Sherwood

et al. 2015

International Journal of Coal Geology

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“…Recent work (described subsequently) has emphasized that ground water flow through sedimentary rock is controlled by fractures that are themselves constrained by mechanical stratigraphic properties of sedimentary layers. Observational evidence for preferential flow along subhorizontal bedding‐plane fractures has been used to construct conceptual and numerical models for wellhead protection (Muldoon et al 2001; Rayne et al 2001), as well as understanding contaminant transport and ground water flow (Peffer 1991; Michalski and Britton 1997; Maguire 1998) and the origin of springflow (Swanson et al 2006). Extensive study of the Paleozoic sedimentary sequence in Minnesota has caused a complete revision of the regional hydrostratigraphy (Runkel et al 2003; Tipping et al 2006), resulting in delineation of new hydrostratigraphic units based on fracturing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fracture Control of Ground Water Flow and Water Chemistry in a Rock Aquitard

Eaton

Anderson

Bradbury³

2007

Groundwater

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There are few studies on the hydrogeology of sedimentary rock aquitards although they are important controls in regional ground water flow systems. We formulate and test a three-dimensional (3D) conceptual model of ground water flow and hydrochemistry in a fractured sedimentary rock aquitard to show that flow dynamics within the aquitard are more complex than previously believed. Similar conceptual models, based on regional observations and recently emerging principles of mechanical stratigraphy in heterogeneous sedimentary rocks, have previously been applied only to aquifers, but we show that they are potentially applicable to aquitards. The major elements of this conceptual model, which is based on detailed information from two sites in the Maquoketa Formation in southeastern Wisconsin, include orders of magnitude contrast between hydraulic diffusivity (K/S(s)) of fractured zones and relatively intact aquitard rock matrix, laterally extensive bedding-plane fracture zones extending over distances of over 10 km, very low vertical hydraulic conductivity of thick shale-rich intervals of the aquitard, and a vertical hydraulic head profile controlled by a lateral boundary at the aquitard subcrop, where numerous surface water bodies dominate the shallow aquifer system. Results from a 3D numerical flow model based on this conceptual model are consistent with field observations, which did not fit the typical conceptual model of strictly vertical flow through an aquitard. The 3D flow through an aquitard has implications for predicting ground water flow and for planning and protecting water supplies.

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“…Siliciclastic deposits of continental origin can serve as important hosts for hydrocarbon, geothermal, and groundwater resources (Aldinucci, Gandin, & Sandrelli, ; Cassidy et al, ; McKie & Williams, ; Tellam & Barker, ). Mesozoic sedimentary successions of mixed fluvial and aeolian origin host major groundwater aquifers in Europe, as well as in North America (Olivarius et al, ; Swanson, Bahr, Bradbury, & Anderson, ; Tellam, ). A review of their hydrogeological properties, where successions have not been subjected to significant groundwater alteration, is useful to provide information for reservoir characterization at depths ≳1 km (Medici, West, & Mountney, , ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary flow heterogeneities in the Triassic U.K. Sherwood Sandstone Group: Insights for hydrocarbon exploration

2018

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Fluvial and aeolian sedimentary successions host important hydrocarbon resources as well as major groundwater aquifers. This review of the lithological characteristics of Triassic fluvio‐aeolian successions of the Sherwood Sandstone Group (United Kingdom) demonstrates how distance from a fluvial sediment source and rate of rift‐related tectonic subsidence play important roles in governing reservoir quality in continental successions. Increasing distance from the fluvial sediment source area results in increased porosity and permeability in deposits of mixed fluvial and aeolian reservoir successions that accumulated in arid and semiarid settings. Indeed, successions of the U.K. Sherwood Sandstone Group reveal an increase in the proportion of highly permeable deposits of aeolian origin with increasing distance from the principal uplands, represented by the Armorican Massif in northern France, which formed the main source for delivery of fluvial sediment to a series of rift basins. A progressive reduction in the discharge of fluvial systems entering and passing through a series of interlinked rift basins encouraged aeolian accumulation in more distal basins. Extensional tectonics enabled preservation of highly permeable aeolian facies in basins subject to high rates (≳100 m/Myr) of tectonic subsidence by rapidly placing such deposits below the water table. However, successions exclusively characterized by fluvial lithofacies record decreases in both porosity and permeability with increasing distance (~250–750 km) from the sediment source due to the coupling of porosity reduction and increasing clay content.

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Evidence for preferential flow through sandstone aquifers in Southern Wisconsin

Cited by 75 publications

References 17 publications

Shale oil occurring between salt intervals in the Dongpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Shale oil occurring between salt intervals in the Dongpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China

Fracture Control of Ground Water Flow and Water Chemistry in a Rock Aquitard

Sedimentary flow heterogeneities in the Triassic U.K. Sherwood Sandstone Group: Insights for hydrocarbon exploration

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