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Influence of fracture anisotropy and lithological heterogeneity on wellfield response in a fluvial sandstone aquifer of the Carboniferous Moncton Subbasin, Canada

Influence de l’anisotropie de fracture et de l’hétérogénéité lithologique sur la réponse des forages dans un aquifère de grès fluviaux du sous basin du Carbonifère de Moncton, Canada

Influencia de la anisotropía de fracturas y la heterogeneidad litológica sobre la respuesta de un campo de pozos en un acuífero de areniscas fluviales de la Carboniferous Moncton Subbasin, Canadá

裂隙的各向异性和岩性的非均质性对加拿大蒙克顿海盆石炭纪的河流相砂岩含水层中井场响应的影响

Influência da anisotropia da fracturação e da heterogeneidade litológica na resposta de um campo de captação num aquífero arenítico fluvial da sub-bacia carbonífera de Moncton (Canadá)

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Abstract

Pump tests and geophysical logs acquired in a fluvial sandstone aquifer within the resource-rich Moncton Subbasin of New Brunswick, Canada, have been used to characterize fracture patterns and flow directions for purposes of developing a water-wellfield protection plan. Fracture patterns consist of three high-angle sets, and a low-angle set parallel to bedding. NW-trending high-angle fractures, predominantly in fluvial sandstone units, appear to be most important in controlling groundwater flow directions. This contrasts with an earlier regional hydrogeological study that attributed most flow to sub-horizontal bedding-plane fractures. Water levels monitored during a 72-h pump test revealed drawdown extension parallel to the NW-trending fracture set. Drawdown curves indicate that the aquifer is laterally constrained—likely reflecting differences in fracturing observed between the channelized sandstone and surrounding shale units. As a result, groundwater flow induced by pumping is influenced by both fracture anisotropy and by the heterogeneity of the fluvial depositional environment. Relationships observed between fracture patterns, regional geological structure and lithology provide a basis for extrapolating the conceptual model to other nearby areas in the region, where potential impacts of geological resource development on groundwater are attracting public concern.

Résumé

Les données des essais de pompage et des diagraphies géophysiques acquises dans un aquifère de grès fluviaux au sein du sous bassin Moncton de New Brunswick (Canada) riche en ressource, ont été utilisées pour caractériser l’organisation des fractures et les directions d’écoulement avec pour objectif de développer un plan de protection de la ressource en eau au niveau de forages. L’organisation des fractures se fait selon trois familles avec un angle élevé et une famille parallèle au plan de stratification. Les fractures avec un angle élevé de direction NW, prédominantes dans les unités de grès fluviaux, apparaissent comme étant celles qui contrôlent de manière significative les directions d’écoulement souterrain. Ceci est en opposition avec une étude hydrogéologique régionale antérieure qui associait l’essentiel des écoulements souterrains aux fractures sub-horizontales dans le plan plan de stratification. Les niveaux d’eau enregistrés au cours des 72 heures, correspondant à la durée des essais de pompage, ont révélé une extension du cône de rabattement parallèle à la famille des fractures d’orientation NW. Les courbes du rabattement indiquent que l’aquifère est contraint latéralement—probablement reflétant des différences dans la fracturation observée entre le grès avec des chenaux et les unités de schistes environnantes. Par conséquent, les écoulements d’eau souterraine induits par le pompage sont influencés aussi bien par l’anisotropie des fractures que par l’hétérogénéité présente au sein de l’environnement de dépôt fluvial. Des relations observées entre l’organisation des fractures, la structure géologique régionale et la lithologie fournissent une base pour l’extrapolation du modèle conceptuel pour d’autres zones proches dans la région, où les impacts potentiels de l’exploitation de ressource géologique sur les eaux souterraines constituent des inquiétudes pour le public.

Resumen

Se han utilizado ensayos de bombeo y los perfilajes geofísicos tomados en un acuífero de areniscas fluviales dentro del valioso recurso de la Moncton Subbasin of New Brunswick, Canadá, para caracterizar los esquemas de fracturas y direcciones de flujo con el propósito de desarrollar un plan de protección de agua de un campo de pozos. Los esquemas de las fracturas consisten de tres conjuntos de ángulo alto, y un conjunto de ángulo bajo paralelo a la estratificación. Las fracturas de ángulo alto con tendencia NW, predominantes en las unidades de areniscas fluviales, aparecen como las más importantes en el control de las direcciones de flujo de agua subterránea. Esto contrasta con un estudio previo hidrogeológico regional que atribuía la mayor parte del flujo de las fracturas subhorizontales del plano de estratificación. Los niveles de agua monitoreados durante 72 horas de ensayos de bombeo revelaron la depresión en una extensión paralela al conjunto de fracturas cuya tendencia es NW. Las curvas de depresión indican que el acuífero está limitado lateralmente, muy probablemente reflejando diferencias en la fracturación observada entre la arenisca canalizada y las unidades circundantes de esquistos. Como resultado, el flujo de agua subterránea inducido por el bombeo está influenciado tanto por la anisotropía de la fractura como por la heterogeneidad del ambiente depositacional fluvial. Las relaciones observadas entre los esquemas de las fracturas, la estructura geológica regional y la litología proveen una base para extrapolar el modelo conceptual a otras áreas próximas de la región, donde los impactos potenciales del desarrollo de los recursos geológicos sobre el agua subterránea están acaparando la preocupación pública.

摘要

在加拿大新布伦兹维克省资源丰富的蒙克顿海盆河流相砂岩含水层中采用抽水试验和地球物理测井来刻画裂隙模式和地下水流向的特征,进而用于水源地保护方案的建立。断裂模式由三组高角度和一组平行于层理的低角度的断裂组成。在河流相砂岩层中占主导地位的北西向高角度断裂是控制地下水流向的最主要因素。这与早先的认为亚水平层理面断裂是主要控制因素的区域水文地质研究形成对比。在72个小时抽水试验期间监测得到的水位数据发现降深外延平行于北西向的裂隙组。降深曲线表明含水层侧向受到了约束—这可能反映了水道砂岩和周围页岩层之间断裂的差异。因此,抽水引起的地下水流受到了断裂的各向异性和河流相沉积环境的非均质性的影响。断裂模式、区域地质构造和岩性之间的关系为把这个概念模型外推到这个地区中的其它附近区域提供了依据,在这个地区,地质资源的开发对地下水的潜在影响正引起公众的关注。

Resumo

Ensaios de bombagem e perfis geofísicos obtidos num aquífero arenítico fluvial localizado na sub-bacia Moncton em New Brunswick, Canadá, rica em recursos geológicos, foram usados para caraterizar padrões de fracturação e direções de escoamento com o objetivo de desenvolver um plano de proteção de um campo de captação. Os padrões de fratura consistem em três sistemas de ângulo elevado e um sistema de baixo ângulo paralelo à estratificação. As fraturas de ângulo elevado com orientação NW, predominantemente nas unidades areníticas fluviais, parecem ser as mais importantes no controlo das direções de escoamento da água subterrânea. Esta ideia contrasta com os resultados de um estudo hidrogeológico regional anterior que atribuiu o escoamento maioritário a fraturas sub-horizontais no plano de estratificação. Os níveis da água monitorizados num ensaio de bombagem, com a duração de 72 horas, revelaram rebaixamento paralelo ao conjunto de fraturas com orientação NW. As curvas de rebaixamento indicam que o aquífero é limitado lateralmente—provavelmente refletindo diferenças de fracturação observadas entre o arenito canalizado e as unidades de xistos adjacentes. Em resultado disto, o escoamento subterrâneo induzido pela bombagem é influenciado tanto pela anisotropia da fracturação como pela heterogeneidade resultante do ambiente de sedimentação fluvial. As relações observadas entre os padrões de fracturação, a estrutura geológica regional e a litologia são uma base para a extrapolação de um modelo conceptual para outras áreas próximas onde os impactos potenciais do desenvolvimento de recursos geológicos sobre a água subterrânea estão a suscitar o interesse público.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support provided by the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, and MITACS Accelerate Internship funded jointly by NSERC and Gemtec Ltd. The authors thank Vernon Banks, formerly of Gemtec Ltd., Prof. Kerry MacQuarrie from the University of New Brunswick Civil Engineering Department, and Daryl Pupek and Annie Daigle from the New Brunswick Department of Environment for their contributions, advice and support. The paper was further improved by comments from Jean-Michel Lemieux, Roger Morin, and two anonymous reviewers.

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DesRoches, A.J., Butler, K.E. & Pelkey, S. Influence of fracture anisotropy and lithological heterogeneity on wellfield response in a fluvial sandstone aquifer of the Carboniferous Moncton Subbasin, Canada. Hydrogeol J 21, 559–572 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0931-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0931-6

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