SEPM Special Publication #80:

AQUIFER CHARACTERIZATION
Edited by: John S. Bridge and David W. Hyndman

The spatial variation of sedimentary aquifer properties (e.g., porosity and permeability) must be characterized in order to develop accurate models of groundwater flow and solute transport. Aquifer characterization should ideally involve the following steps: (1) analysis of borehole logs, cores, and hydraulic testing data to determine the sedimentological nature and origin of the strata, and their hydraulic properties; (2) stratigraphic correlation of borehole logs and cores in order to assess the lateral continuity of distinctive sediment types (facies) between boreholes; (3) use of geophysical profiles to assess the orientation and structural continuity of sequences of strata, and to recognize distinctive geophysical patterns that can be related to distinctive sedimentary facies; (4) modeling of the geometry and distribution of sedimentary facies in the volume between boreholes, and (5) distribution of properties such as porosity and permeability as a function of sedimentary facies. Unfortunately, hydrogeologists rarely incorporate information on the sedimentology of aquifers, and shallow geophysical methods are not routinely used for aquifer characterization. Furthermore, techniques for accurately modeling the sedimentary facies or hydrofacies in three dimensions are still under development. However, recent use of combined sedimentological and geophysical techniques (e.g., GPR, high-frequency seismic, resistivity, electrical conductivity) have helped to describe the spatial variation in the porosity and permeability of sedimentary aquifers. These advances are leading to quantitative, 3-D stratigraphic models that provide a link among spatial variation in porosity and permeability, different scales of stratification (defined mainly by variations in grain size, shape, and fabric), and variation in geophysical parameters such as the velocity or attenuation of radar and seismic waves.


The purpose of this volume was to bring together examples of the most recent research by sedimentologists, geophysicists, and hydrogeologists working on characterization of aquifer heterogeneity. The volume can be considered to be an outgrowth of SEPM Concepts in Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology Volume 1, entitled Hydrogeologic Models of Sedimentary Aquifers, which aimed to show how sedimentological information can be used in aquifer characterization and can thus help solve hydrogeologic problems. The papers in this volume demonstrate that integration of sedimentological and geophysical techniques for purposes of aquifer characterization are still in their infancy but that developments are promising.

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Item #40080 176 pages
ISBN: 1-56576-107-3
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction -- John S. Bridge and David W. Hyndman

Integration of sedimentologic and hydrogeologic properties for improved transport simulations -- S.E. Biteman, D.W. Hyndman, M.S. Phanikumar, and Gary S. Weissmann

Influence of incised-valley-fill deposits on hydrogeology of a stream-dominated alluvial fan -- Gary S. Weissmann, Y. Zhang, Graham, E. Fogg, and Jeffrey F. Mount

Sensitivity of groundwater flow patterns to parameterization of object-based fluvial aquifer models -- Sean A. McKenna and Gary Smith

Estimating parameters for hierarchical permeability correlation models -- Zhenxue Dai, Robert W. Ritzi Jr., and David F. Dominic

Relating small-scale permeability heterogeneity to lithofacies distribution -- Michael N. Gaud, Gary A. Smith, and Sean A. McKenna

High-resolution stratigraphic characterization of unconsolidated deposits using direct-push electrical conductivity logging: A floodplain margin example -- M. K. Schulmeister, J.J. Butler, Jr., E.K. Franseen, D.A. Wysocki, and J.A. Doolittle

Presence of preferential flow paths in shallow groundwater systems as indicated by tracer experiments and geophysical surveys -- Murray E. Close, David C. Nobes, and Liping Pang

Time-lapse geophysics for mapping fluid flow in near real time: results from a controlled mesoscale experiment -- Roelof Versteeg

The use of ground-penetrating radar for characterizing sediments under transient flow conditions -- Michael B. Kowalsky and Yoram Rubin, and Peter Dietrich

Characterization of heterogeneity in unsaturated sandstone using borehole logs and cross-borehole tomography  -- Andrew Binley, Giorgio Cassiani, and Peter Winship

Development of a 3-D depositional model of braided rivergGravels and sands to improve aquifer characterization -- Ian Lunt, John Bridge, and Robert Tye