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A new simple statistical method for the unsupervised clustering of the hydrodynamic behavior at different boreholes: analysis of the obtained clusters in relation to geological knowledge

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Abstract

Karst aquifers are complex and related to numerous management issues, especially concerning flood risks or the availability of water resource. Given the stakes involved, it is necessary to obtain the best possible knowledge of the hydrodynamic behavior of these aquifers. In this context, this article presents two methodological advances concerning the hydrodynamic behavior of the water level within a borehole, based on the analysis of cumulative frequency curve of groundwater levels. First of all, a new simple semi-automated unsupervised method of borehole clustering, and second, an interpretation table of the hydrodynamic properties of these boreholes are proposed. These two advances are applied to the Cadarache site of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) in south-eastern France, which is prone to rapid groundwater floods. This study, conducted on 75 boreholes, allows identifying several clusters of boreholes. Three of them appear to be representative of specific areas and show a relevant relation between each cluster and its geological structure. A punctual validation of the proposed approach is made on the cores available for a specific drilling. Thereby, the obtained clusters on the Cadarache site are consistent with the role of lineaments, NW–SE and NE–SW oriented, previously identified by regional tectonic or structural studies as preferential groundwater flow paths.

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Data availability

The data used in this article are the property of CEA Cadarache. They are not associated with this article.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Mr. Patrick Lachassagne and Mr. David Labat for their contributions to some very interesting discussions. They would also like to extend their warmest thanks to the reviewers who helped to significantly improve the article.

Funding

Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission, France and IMT Mines Alès, France.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HydroSciences Montpellier (Univ. Montpellier, IMT Mines Alès, IRD, CNRS), 6 av. de Clavières, 30100, Alès, France

    Manon Erguy, Guillaume Artigue & Anne Johannet

  2. Nuclear Technology Department, CEA, DES, IRESNE, Cadarache, 13108, Saint Paul les Durance, France

    Manon Erguy, Sébastien Morilhat & Julien Trincal

  3. HSM, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, IMT, IRD, 163 rue Auguste Broussonnet, 34090, Montpellier, France

    Séverin Pistre

Authors
  1. Manon Erguy
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  2. Sébastien Morilhat
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  3. Guillaume Artigue
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  4. Julien Trincal
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  5. Anne Johannet
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  6. Séverin Pistre
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by ME, AJ, SP, SM, JT and GA. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ME and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”

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Correspondence to Anne Johannet.

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Partial financial support was received from CEA.The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

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Erguy, M., Morilhat, S., Artigue, G. et al. A new simple statistical method for the unsupervised clustering of the hydrodynamic behavior at different boreholes: analysis of the obtained clusters in relation to geological knowledge. Environ Earth Sci 82, 451 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11066-z

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