Hydrothermal Estimation of Vertical Ground‐Water Flow, Cañutillo, Texas

Abstract

The vertical component of specific discharge was estimated across several depth zones in the aquifer system at Cañutillo, Texas. The specific discharge was estimated using temperature and thermal conductivity data from four observation wells bottoming near the base of the aquifer system. Specific discharge was first calculated (using a steady‐state model) from the slopes of conductive heat flow versus temperature plots. The heat flow plots for all four wells suggested a zone of downward ground‐water flow from ∼ 70 to ∼ 220 feet depth and one or two zones of upward flow from ∼ 800 to ∼ 220 feet depth. Head data from observation wells did support the conclusion of an upper zone of downflow as indicated by the temperature data; however, the head data suggested that ground water should presently be moving downward from ∼ 220 to ∼ 800 feet. A computer model was developed to determine if the temperatures may be remanent and therefore reflect prepumping ground‐water flow, particularly in the deep flow zone. Computer model estimates were made of during‐pumping downflow in the upper flow zone. For the deep flow zone computer model estimates were made of prepumping upflow. The computer model estimates and steady‐state vertical specific discharge estimates were similar for the upper zone having downward flow. In the deep zone prepumping upflow estimates modeled on the computer were the same order of magnitude as steady‐state heat flow specific discharge estimates. Hence, present temperature data may demonstrate a significant remanent groundwater flow component and therefore might be used to estimate past vertical ground‐water flow.

Heat as a Ground Water Tracer

“…In an application of the Mansure and Reiter (1979) method, Dapaah-Siakwan and Kayane (1995) calculated leakage rates beneath Tokyo, Japan, using temperature profiles in 30 wells (Figure 3). Applications of the Reiter et al (1989) method were reported by Reiter et al (1989), Wade andReiter (1994), andMcCord et al (1992). Reiter (2001) extended the method to estimate both vertical and horizontal ground water fluxes from vertical and horizontal temperature gradients, and Ferguson et al (2003) used the method to calculate leakage to an aquifer in Manitoba, Canada.…”

Using precision temperature logs to estimate horizontal and vertical groundwater flow components

“…The Cafiutillo site is located in the southern Rio Grande rift, between Las Cruces, New Mexico, and E1 Paso, Texas. The temperature logs were done by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the data were analyzed by Wade and Reiter [1994]. The site is located in the basin fill aquifer along the Rio Grande, which shows a constant thermal conductivity with depth [Wade and Reiter, 1994].…”

“…The temperature logs were done by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the data were analyzed by Wade and Reiter [1994]. The site is located in the basin fill aquifer along the Rio Grande, which shows a constant thermal conductivity with depth [Wade and Reiter, 1994]. Figure 16 shows the digitized temperature log for one of the wells in the Cafiutillo well field (digitization interval 3.05 m), and Figure 17 shows the vertical temperature gradient Fz versus depth.…”

Tectonic controls on the hydrogeology of the Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico

“…The Rio Grande Rift, like many continental rifts, is characterized by high heat flow [Reiter et al, 1975;Morgan et al, 1981;Witcher, 1988;Barroll and Reiter, 1990;Wade and Reiter, 1994].…”