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Use of a time-domain electromagnetic method with geochemical tracers to explore the salinity anomalies in a small coastal aquifer in north-eastern Tunisia

Utilisation d’une méthode électromagnétique dans le domaine temporal et de traceurs géochimiques pour explorer les anomalies de salinité dans un petit aquifère côtier du Nord Est de la Tunisie

Uso de un método electromagnético en el dominio del tiempo con trazadores geoquímicos para explorar las anomalías de salinidad en un pequeño acuífero costero en el noreste de Túnez

利用时域电磁法与地球化学示踪剂探索突尼斯东北部一个小的沿海含水层盐分异常现象

Uso de um método eletromagnético no domínio do tempo com traçadores geoquímicos para explorar as anomalias de salinidade num pequeno aquífero costeiro no nordeste da Tunísia

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Abstract

The study area is a small coastal plain in north-eastern Tunisia. It is drained by an ephemeral stream network and is subject to several pollutant discharges such as oilfield brine coming from a neighboring oil company and wastewater from Somâa city, located in the upstream of the plain. Furthermore, a hydraulic head near the coastal part of the aquifer is below sea level, suggesting that seawater intrusion may occur. A time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) survey, based on 28 soundings, was conducted in Wadi Al Ayn and Daroufa plains to delineate the saline groundwater. Based on longitudinal and transversal resistivity two-dimensional pseudosections calibrated with boring data, the extent of saline water was identified. Geochemical tracers were combined with the resistivity dataset to differentiate the origin of groundwater salinization. In the upstream part of the plain, the infiltration of oilfield brine through the sandy bed of Wadi Al Ayn seems to have a considerable effect on groundwater salinization. However, in the coastal part of the aquifer, groundwater salinization is due to seawater intrusion and the saltwater is reaching an inland extent around 1.3 km from the shoreline. The contribution ratios of saline water bodies derived from the inverted chloride data vary for the oilfield brine from 1 to 13 % and for the seawater from 2 to 21 %.

Résumé

La zone d’étude est une petite plaine dans le Nord Est de la Tunisie. Elle est drainée par un réseau de cours d’eau éphémères et est soumise à plusieurs rejets de polluants tels que des saumures de champ pétrolier provenant d’une compagnie pétrolière voisine et d’eaux usées de la ville de Somâa, située en amont de la plaine. En outre, la charge hydraulique proche de la partie côtière de l’aquifère est située en dessous du niveau de la mer, suggérant la possible intrusion d’eau salée marine. Une prospection électromagnétique dans le domaine temporelle, basée sur 28 sondages, a été réalisée dans les plaines du Wadi Al Ayn et de Daroufa afin de délimiter les eaux souterraines salées. L’extension d’eau salée a été identifiée à partir de l’élaboration de pseudo-sections bi dimensionnelles de résistivité longitudinale et transversale, calibrées à l’aide de données de forages. Des traceurs géochimiques ont été combinés avec l’ensemble des données de résistivité pour différencier l’origine de la salinisation des eaux souterraines. Dans la partie amont de la plaine, l’infiltration des saumures des champs pétroliers au travers du lit sableux du Wadi Al Ayn semble avoir un effet considérable sur la salinisation des eaux souterraines. Cependant, dans la partie côtière de l’aquifère, la salinisation des eaux souterraines est due à l’intrusion marine et l’eau salée atteint une extension d’environ 1.3 km à l’intérieur des terres depuis le trait côtier. Les rapports de contribution d’eau salée dans les eaux souterraines déduits des données inversées de chlorure varient entre 1 et 13 % pour les saumures des champs pétroliers et entre 2 et 21 % pour l’eau de mer.

Resumen

El área de estudio es una pequeña planicie costera en el noreste de Túnez. Está drenada por una red de cursos efímeros y sujeta a varias descargas de contaminantes tales como salmuera proveniente de un campo petrolífero vecino y de aguas residuales de la ciudad de Somâa, situada agua arriba de la planicie. Además, la carga hidráulica próxima a la parte costera del acuífero está por debajo del nivel del mar, lo que sugiere que puede ocurrir la intrusión de agua de mar. Se llevó a cabo un relevamiento electromagnético en el dominio del tiempo (TDEM), basado en 28 sondeos, en las planicies de Wadi Al Ayn y Daroufa para delimitar el agua salada. Basándose en pseudosecciones bidimensionales longitudinales y transversales de resistividad calibradas con datos de perforaciones, se identificó la extensión del agua salina. Los trazadores geoquímicos fueron combinados con los conjuntos de datos de resistividad para diferenciar el origen de la salinización del agua subterránea. Agua arriba de la planicie, la infiltración de salmuera del yacimiento petrolífero a través de la capa de arena de Wadi Al Ayn parece tener un considerable efecto en la salinización del agua subterránea. Sin embargo, en la parte costera del acuífero, la salinización del agua subterránea es debida a la intrusión de agua de mar y el agua salada está alcanzando un extensión tierra adentro de alrededor de 1.3 km desde la línea de costa. La relación de contribución de los cuerpos de agua salina derivados de los datos invertidos de cloruro varía para la salmuera del yacimiento petrolífero de 1 a 13 % y para el agua de mar de 2 a 21 %.

摘要

研究区为突尼斯东北部一个小的沿海平原。这个平原分布有很多季节性河流,有几条河流排放污染物,如附近石油公司排放的油田卤水及位于平原上游的Somâa市排放的污水。此外,含水层沿海部分附近的水头低于海平面,表明会发生海水入侵。在Wadi Al Ayn平原和Daroufa平原进行了基于28水深点的时域电磁勘查,以深入了解地下咸水。根据经过钻孔资料校准的纵向和横向电阻率二维视剖面,确定了咸水的范围。地球化学示踪剂与电阻率资料集相结合以区分地下水盐化的起因。在平原的上游,油田卤水通过Wadi Al Ayn平原砂质层入渗似乎对地下水的盐化有很大的影响。然而,在含水层的沿海部分,地下水的盐化归于海水入侵,咸水已经入侵到距海岸线大约1.3千米的地方。根据反向氯化物资料得到的咸水体贡献率油田卤水为1-13 %,海水为2-21 %。

Resumo

A área de estudo é uma pequena planície costeira no nordeste da Tunísia. É drenada por uma rede de fluxo efémero e está sujeita a diversas descargas de poluentes, tais como a salmoura de um campo petrolífero vindo de uma empresa de petróleo vizinha e de águas residuais da cidade de Somâa, localizada a montante da planície. Além disso, o nível piezométrico perto da parte costeira do aquífero está abaixo do nível do mar, o que sugere que a intrusão de água do mar pode ocorrer. Para delinear a água subterrânea salina, foi realizada nas planícies de Wadi Al Ayn e Daroufa uma pesquisa eletromagnética no domínio do tempo (TDEM), com base em 28 sondagens. A extensão de água salina foi identificada com base na resistividade de pseudo-secções bidimensionais longitudinais e transversais, calibradas com dados de furos. Traçadores geoquímicos foram combinados com o conjunto de dados de resistividade, para diferenciar a origem da salinização das águas subterrâneas. Na parte montante da planície, a infiltração de água salgada do campo petrolífero através do leito de areia de Wadi Al Ayn parece ter um efeito considerável sobre a salinização das águas subterrâneas. No entanto, na parte costeira do aquífero, a salinização da água subterrânea é devida à intrusão salina e a água salgada está a atingir uma extensão de cerca de 1.3 km para o interior da linha de costa. As taxas de contribuição de massas de água salina derivadas a partir dos dados de cloreto invertidos variam para a salmoura do campo petrolífero de 1 a 13 % e para a água do mar de 2 a 21 %.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program, funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Researches and Technologies Center, Borj Cedria Technopark, Route Touristique de Soliman BP 273, Soliman, 8020, Tunisia

    Anis Chekirbane & Fethi Lachaal

  2. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Maki Tsujimura

  3. Alliance of Research of North Africa (ARENA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Atsushi Kawachi & Hiroko Isoda

  4. National Agronomical Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle 1082, Tunis, Mahrajène, Tunisia

    Jamila Tarhouni

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  1. Anis Chekirbane
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Chekirbane, A., Tsujimura, M., Kawachi, A. et al. Use of a time-domain electromagnetic method with geochemical tracers to explore the salinity anomalies in a small coastal aquifer in north-eastern Tunisia. Hydrogeol J 22, 1777–1794 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1180-7

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