Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aquifer structure identification through geostatistical integration of geological parameters: case of the Triassic sandstone aquifer system (SE Tunisia)

  • AGIC 2017
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents an integrated modeling approach for constructing a geometric model of an Early to Middle Triassic sandstone aquifer system, commonly referred to as the Sahel El Ababsa aquifer, in southeastern Tunisia. The approach combines thorough interpretations derived from geological data along with various geostatistical methods to create accurate representations of the faulted bounding surfaces. The resulting architectural model was used to define the main aquifer system compartments and explain the nature of the hydraulic relations and communications within and beyond the aquifer system. A database was constructed based on multiple and various data sources, including water boreholes, exploration-petroleum wells, and seismic sections. These features were georeferenced and linked to the database used to build a stratigraphic framework of the area. The geological correlations based on wells information allowed a valuable observation on the structural trends and fault network as well as the lateral facies variation of the aquifer system. The derived interpreted faults were displayed on a georeferenced map which was later converted into a vertex database needed for the next modeling steps. A proper architectural modeling approach of the Early to Middle Triassic sandstone aquifer system was then performed using geostatistical methods that provide a variety of calculation techniques to model the reservoir bounding surfaces, through kriging methods including ordinary kriging and kriging with inequalities. The latter method was used to deal with the lack of data as it can retrieve information from the end of the boreholes that do not reach the surface to be calculated and integrate them in the modeling procedures. This enabled us to build the first architectural model with an accurate description of the bounding surfaces of the Early to Middle Triassic rocks. In fact, although it has been the center of geological and hydrogeological studies, the Upper Permian surface has not previously been the focus of an integrated geomodeling study. The generated models were analyzed, verified through kriging variance maps, then compared with the outcomes of the geological study. The results depict a new structural scheme of the Sahel El Ababsa area and provide an in-depth characterization of the complex compartmentalization affecting the aquifer system that allowed the definition and grouping of the hydrostratigraphic units. Therefore, this work is the first attempt through which an integrated architectural modeling approach is used to characterize and identify the Sahel El Ababsa aquifer system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abellan A, Noetinger B (2010) Optimizing subsurface field data acquisition using information theory. Math Geosci 42(6):603–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11004-010-9285-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bazzanna L, Ruffo P, Renard D (1995) Estimation de cartes de profondeur conditionnées par des inégalités. Cahier de Géostatistique, Ecole des Mines de Paris, Paris, pp 23–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Ayed N (1986) Evolution tectonique de l’avant pays de la chaine alpine de Tunisie du début du Mésozoïque à l’Actuel. Thèse Doc. Etat, Univ. Paris-Sud, 328 P

  • Ben Ferjani A, Burrolet PF, Mejri F (1990) Petroleum geology of Tunisia. Mem. E.T.A.P., V. 1, Tunis, ETAP, 194 P

  • Bouaziz S (1990) Carte géologique de Médenine au 1/100000 N.92. Édit. Service Géologique de l'Office National des Mines

  • Bouaziz S, Turki MM, Zouari H, Barrier E (1996) Tectonique en extension et failles de transfert jurassiques dans la region du Tebaga de Medenine (Tunisie Meridionale). Ann Soc Géol Du Nord T.4 (2ème série), pp. 65–69

  • Bouaziz S, Barrier E, Angelier J, Turki M.M (1994) Paleostress in the southern Tunisian platform. In: Roure F (Ed) Peri-Tethyan platforms. Editions Technip, pp. 179–196

  • Bouaziz S, Barrier E, Soussi M, Turki MM, Zouari H (2002) Tectonic evolution of the northern African margin in Tunisia from paleostress data and sedimentary record. Tectonophysics 357:227–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodin S, Petitpierrea L, Wooda J, Elkanouni I, Redfern J (2010) Timing of early to mid-cretaceous tectonic phases along North Africa: new insights from the Jeffara escarpment (Libya, Tunisia). J Afr Earth Sci 58(3):489–506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burrolet PF, Desforges G (1982) Dynamique des bassins néocrétacés en Tunisie. Livre Jublaire Gabriel Lucas. Mem Geol, Vol 7, Univ Dijon, pp. 381–389

  • Busson G (1967) Le mésozoïque saharien, 1ère partie: l’extrême Sud tunisien. Edit CNRS Paris Sér Geol 8, 194 P

  • Busson G (1970) Le Mésozoïque saharien. 2ème partie: Essai de synthèse des données des sondages algéro-tunisiens. Edit CNRS Paris Geol no 11(2), 810 P

  • Castany G (1954) L’accident Sud-tunisien, son âge et ses relations avec l’accident sud-atlasique -d’Algérie. Note H. Devaux, Bull. de la Soc. Fr. de Phys., Paris, 182, 184 P

  • Chihi H, Marsily GD, Bourges M, Sbeaa M (2016) A constrained geostatistical approach for efficient multilevel aquifer system characterization. J Water Resourc Hyd Eng 5(3):80–95. https://doi.org/10.5963/JWRHE0503002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chihi H, Belayouni H, Marsily G, Yahyaoui H (2015) Relationship between tectonic structures and hydrogeochemical compartmentalization in aquifers: example of The “Jeffara de Medenine” System, Southeast Tunisia. J Hydraul Reg Stud N°4:410–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Chihi H, Jeannée N, Yahyaoui H, Belayouni H, Bedir M (2014) Geostatistical optimization of water reservoir characterization case of the “Jeffra de Medenine” aquifer system (SE Tunisia). Desalin Water Treat 2(10–12):2009–2016. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2013.812988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chihi H, Bedir M, Belayouni H (2013) Variogram identification aided by a structural framework for improved geometric modeling of faulted reservoirs: Jeffara Basin, Southeastern Tunisia. Nat Resourc Res 22(2):139–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11053-013-9201-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chihi H, Tesson M, Galli A, Marsily GD, Ravenne C (2007) Modélisation géostatistique (3D) des surfaces enveloppe d’unités stratigraphique à partir de profils sismiques: exemple de la partie médiane (Languedoc) de la plate-forme continentale du Golfe du Lion. Bull de la soc Géol de Fr 1:25–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chihi H, Galli A, Ravenne C, Tesson M, Ghislain de GD (2000) Estimating the depth of stratigraphic units from marine seismic profiles using non stationary geostatistics. Nat Resourc Res 9(1):77–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiles JP, Delfiner D (2012) Geostatistics: modelling spatial uncertainty. Wiley, New-York, pp 29–292

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • ESRI (2010) ArcGIS Desktop: Release 10. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands

  • Gabtni H, Alyahyaoui S, Jallouli C, Hasni W, Mickus KL (2012) Gravity and seismic reflection imaging of a deep aquifer in an arid region: case history from the Jeffara basin, southeastern Tunisia. J Afr Earth Sci 66-67:85–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2012.03.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabtni H, Jallouli C, Mickus KL, Zouari H, Turki MM (2005) Geophysical constraints on the location and nature of north Saharan flexure in southern Tunisia. Pure Appl Geophys 162:2051–2069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaubi E (1995) Synthèse hydrologique sur la nappe des Grés du Trias (gouvernorats de Médenine et Tataouine). DGRE, Tunis 44 P

    Google Scholar 

  • Geovariances ISATIS (2012) Technical references. Fontainebleau, France

    Google Scholar 

  • Gemanand S, Geman D (1984) Stochastic relaxation, Gibbs distribution and the Bayesian restoration of images. IEEE Trans Pattern Anal Mach Intell 6:721–741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genin D, Guillaume H, Ouessar M, Ouled Belgacem A, Romagny B, Sghaier M, Taamallah H (2006) Between desertifcation and development: the Tunisian Jeffara. Cérès, Tunis: IRA-IRD, pp 1–351

    Google Scholar 

  • Gharbi M, Bellier O, Masrouhi A, Esprut N (2014) Recent spatial and temporal changes in the stress regime along the southern Tunisian Atlas front and the Gulf of Gabes: new insight from fault kinematics analysis and seismic profiles. Tectonophysics 626:120–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.04.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gringarten E, Deutsch CV (1999) Methodology for variogram interpretation and modeling for improved reservoir characterization. Society of Petroleum Engineers, 13P. https://doi.org/10.2118/56654-MS.

  • Hammami MA, Chihi H, Marsily G (2018) Building constrained (3D) geostatistical models case of the Triassic Sandstone Aquifer System (SE Tunisia). Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions. EMCEI 2017. Adv Sci Tech Innov. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70548-4_192

  • Kallel M (2006) Etude hydrogéologique, hydrochimique et isotopique du système aquifère de la Jeffara de Medenine et de Tataouine. Master de Géologie Appliquée aux Ressource et Environnement Naturel. Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, 81 P

  • Khallili B (1991) Etude Hydrogéologique de la Nappe des Grès du Trias dans la Zone de Médenine Bir Lahmar. DGRE Tunis, Internal report, 24 P

  • Khallili B (1986) Nappe de Grès du Trias de Médenine. Résultat de la campagne des forages. Internal report. DGRE, Tunis

  • Khallili B (1984) Ressources en Eau du Gouvernorat de Médenine. DGRE Tunis, Internal report, 8 P

  • Khouni R, Arfaoui MS, Dridi S, Zargouni F (2018) Polyphasic evolution of the Jeffara basin in the southern Tunisia, influence of Halokinesis on the passive margin structuration in the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. Arab J Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-017-3363-8

  • Lazzez M, Zouaghi T, Youssef MB (2008) Austrian phase on the northern African margin inferred from sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary records in southern Tunisia (Chotts and Djeffara areas). Comptes Rendus Geosci 340:543–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasmar RB, Guellala R, Zouhri L, Noualil S (2016) Hydrogeological study of the Triassic series in the Jeffara-Dahar region (Southern part of Tunisia): Contribution of well logs data and seismic reflection. Estud Geol 72(1):e. 044. https://doi.org/10.3989/egeol.42114.373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Long AE, Myers DE (1997) A new form of the cokriging equations. Math Geol 29:685–703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malherbe L, Rouïl L (2003) Méthodes de Représentation de La Qualité de L’air. Guide d’utilisation des Méthodes de la Géostatistique Linéaire, Unité Modélisation et Analyse Economique pour la Gestion des Risques (MECO), 70 P

  • Marsily GD, Bertrand J (2011) La distribution d’eau potable : la situation dans les pays en développement. Responsabilité & Environnement (Les Annales des Mines), No. 63 July 2011, pp. 24–33

  • Matheron G (1970) La Théorie des Variables Régionalisées, et ses Applications. Les Cahiers du Centre de Morphologie Mathématique de Fontainebleau, Fascicule 5. ENSMP, France, 212 P

  • Matheron G (1982) Pour une analyse krigeante des données régionalisées. Technical Report N-732, Centre de Geostatistique, Fontainebleau, France

  • Myers M (1997) Qualitative research in information systems. MIS Q 21(2):241–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olea RA (1994) Fundamentals of semi-variogram estimation, modeling, and usage. In: Yarus J, Chambers RL (eds) Stochastic modeling and geostatistics principles, methods and case studies. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bull, Tulsa, pp 27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Raulin C, Lamotte DF, Bouaziz S, Khomsi S, Mouchot N, Ruiz G, Guillocheau F (2011) Late Triassic–early Jurassic block tilting along E–W faults, in southern Tunisia: New interpretation of the Tebaga of Medenine. J Afr Earth Sci 41(1):94–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2011.05.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romagny B, Guillaume G (2004) L’accès à l’eau portable dans la Jeffara Tunisienne: Contradictions et nouvelles perspectives. IRD Montpellier, La Houille Blanche, pp. 52–59

  • Romagny B, Cudennec C (2006) Gestion de l’eau en milieu aride: considérations politiques et sociales pour l’identification des territoires pertinents dans le sud-est Tunisien. Développement durable et territoires, dossier 6 : les territoires de l’eau, 19P

  • Soussi M, Niedźwiedzki G, Tałanda M, Dróżdż D, Sulej T, Boukhalfa K, Mermer J, Błażejowski B (2017) Middle Triassic (Anisian-Ladinian) Tejra red beds and Late Triassic (Carnian) carbonate sedimentary records of southern Tunisia, Saharan Platform: Biostratigraphy, sedimentology and implication on regional stratigraphic correlations. Mar Pet Geol 79:222–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.10.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yahyaoui H (1996) Etude hydrogéologique des aquifères du Piémont Oriental et du flanc Occidental du Dhahar (Régions de Remada et de Déhibat). Doctoral Thesis, Faculty of sciences of Tunis, University el Manar, pp. 34–62

  • Yahyaoui H (2001) Nappe des Grès du Trias de Sahel El Ababsa-Aspects Hydrogéologiques et mobilisation des ressources. DGRE, Tunis 5P

    Google Scholar 

  • Yahyaoui H (2007) Nappe des Grès du Trias de Sahel El Ababsa de Médenine : Aspects Hydrogéologiques et Proposition d’une Gestion Durable. DGRE, Tunis, pp 3–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Yarus JM, Kramer K (2006) Practical geostatistics: an armchair overview for petroleum reservoir engineers. J Pet Technol 58:78–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y (2009) Introduction to geostatistics: course notes. Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie

    Google Scholar 

  • Zouari H, Kamoun Y, Regaya K, Ben Youssef M, Biely A (1987) Carte Géologique de la région de Matmata 1/100000. N. 91, Édit. Service Géologique de l'Office National des Mines

Download references

Acknowledgements

We also thank Professor Mohamed Soussi who courteously provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the research.

Funding

This research was supported by the Regional Commissary for Agricultural Development of Medenine, the General Department of Water Resources and the Tunisian National Oil Company that provided us with the well data and other invaluable documents.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georesources Laboratory, Center for Water Research and Technologies, Soliman, Tunisia

    Mohamed Amine Hammami & Hayet Chihi

  2. Mineral Resources and Environment Laboratory, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Abdallah Ben Mammou

  3. Regional Commissary for Agricultural Development of Medenine, Medenine, Tunisia

    Houcine Yahyaoui

Authors
  1. Mohamed Amine Hammami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hayet Chihi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdallah Ben Mammou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Houcine Yahyaoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Amine Hammami.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geology of North Africa and Mediterranean Regions

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hammami, M.A., Chihi, H., Mammou, A.B. et al. Aquifer structure identification through geostatistical integration of geological parameters: case of the Triassic sandstone aquifer system (SE Tunisia). Arab J Geosci 11, 248 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3591-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3591-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation