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Characterization Short Cuts in Fractured Rock Aquifers
Citation:
Fields, J., D. Beak, R. Ross, L. Rhea, Ken Forshay, R. Neill, J. Oliveira, E. Stallings, AND C. Kennemur. Characterization Short Cuts in Fractured Rock Aquifers. 2023 Governor's Water Conference and Research Symposium, Oklahoma City, OK, November 29 - 30, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
This case study highlights the characterization techniques utilized at an Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR) site within the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer in South-Central Oklahoma and demonstrates potential short cuts to geologic characterization for regulators and industry professionals.
Description:
Fractured rock aquifers consist of carbonate, evaporite, and volcanic bedrocks, covering broad swaths of the United States. Karst aquifers alone account for 40 % of US groundwater drinking water supplies and cover 20 % of the land surface in the U.S (USGS, 2021). While storage volume depends on porosity and permeability of the grains, flow is dominated by fractures within these aquifers. Fractured rock aquifers are some of the most complex groundwater flow systems and characterization is paramount for targeted monitoring efforts. Improper characterization can waste years of time and hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as remain ineffective in monitoring the aquifer. This case study highlights the characterization techniques utilized at an Enhanced Aquifer Recharge (EAR) site within the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer in South-Central Oklahoma and demonstrates potential short cuts to geologic characterization for regulators and industry professionals. Some regulatory bodies focus on broad site coverage for monitoring purposes and others only indicate one upgradient and/or downgradient monitoring well is necessary – the problem is neither are guided by the subsurface characteristics (i.e., geology, hydrogeology). The EAR site undergoes extensive monitoring to determine impact to groundwater quality and quantity. Older wells were initially installed without prior investigation and recent wells were installed following use of electrical resistivity imaging (ERI). Previous work at this EAR study site utilized ERI to identify flow zones beneath the site to determine where connections exist between shallow and deep groundwater.