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Flow system of the Hutton sandstone in the northern Surat Basin, Australia

Système d’écoulement des grès de Hutton dans le nord du Bassin du Surat, Australie

Sistema de flujo de la arenisca Hutton en el norte de la Cuenca del Surat, Australia

澳大利亚Surat盆地北部Hutton砂岩的流动系统

Sistema de fluxo do Arenito Hutton no norte da Bacia Surat, Austrália

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Abstract

Newly acquired high-quality data are being used to reinterpret the Surat Basin flow systems of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) in Australia. This paper revisits and updates previous interpretations of flow in the Hutton Sandstone with detailed analysis of the Dawson River area in the northern Surat Basin. Combining analysis of high-resolution permeability measurements with hydraulic head and hydrochemistry data supports the contention that there is significant flow towards the northeast, counter to the canonical regional flow conceptualisation of the GAB. The analysis in this work better identifies the likely discharge to be in the area that the Dawson River intersects the Hutton Sandstone. Heterogeneity in physical and hydrochemical properties suggests that local flowpaths are more complex than previously thought and, at least in this part of the Hutton aquifer, very little recharge contributes to flow deeper in the basin. These results provide a firm basis on which to refine and develop numerical hydrodynamic models of the basin, at least for the Hutton aquifer.

Résumé

Des données de haute qualité nouvellement acquises ont été utilisées pour réinterpréter les systèmes d’écoulement du Bassin du Surat au sein du Grand Bassin Artésien (GBA) en Australie. Cet article revisite et met à jour les interprétations antérieures concernant l’écoulement dans les grès de Hutton avec une analyse détaillée de la région de la Rivière de Dawson dans la partie nord du Bassin du Surat. En combinant des analyses des mesures de haute résolution des conductivités hydrauliques avec des données de charge hydraulique et hydrochimiques, confirme l’affirmation selon laquelle il existe un écoulement important vers le nord-est, contrairement à la conceptualisation acceptée depuis de tout an concernant l’écoulement régional du GBA. L’analyse de ces travaux permet de mieux identifier les zones probables de décharge d’eaux souterraines dans le secteur où la rivière Dawson intercepte les grès de Hutton. L’hétérogénéité des propriétés physiques et hydrochimiques suggère que les voies locales d’écoulement sont plus complexes qu’on ne le pensait et, du moins dans cette partie de l’aquifère de Hutton, une recharge très faible contribue aux écoulements profonds dans le bassin. Ces résultats fournissent une base solide à partir de laquelle les modèles numériques hydrodynamiques du bassin pourront être affinés et développés, tout du moins pour l’aquifère de Hutton.

Resumen

Datos de alta calidad recientemente adquiridos se están utilizando para reinterpretar los sistemas de flujo de la cuenca del Surat de la Great Artesian Basin (GAB) en Australia. Este trabajo revisa y actualiza las interpretaciones previas del flujo en la Arenisca Hutton con un análisis detallado del área del Río Dawson en la cuenca del Surat del Norte. Combinando el análisis de las mediciones de permeabilidad de alta resolución con los datos de la carga hidráulica y de la hidroquímica, se apoya el argumento de que hay un flujo significativo hacia el noreste, en contra de la conceptualización del flujo regional canónico del GAB. El análisis en este trabajo identifica mejor la probable descarga en el área en la que el Río Dawson cruza la Arenisca Hutton. La heterogeneidad de las propiedades físicas e hidroquímicas sugiere que los caudales locales son más complejos de lo que se pensaba y, al menos en esta parte del acuífero Hutton, una recarga muy pequeña contribuye a que el flujo sea más profundo en la cuenca. Estos resultados proporcionan una base firme sobre la cual refinar y desarrollar modelos numéricos hidrodinámicos de la cuenca, al menos para el acuífero Hutton.

摘要

新获得的高质量数据正用于重新解释澳大利亚大自流盆地(GAB)中Surat盆地的流动系统。本文通过对Surat盆地北部的Dawson河地区的详细分析,回顾并更新了先前在Hutton砂岩中流动的解释。将高分辨率渗透率测量结果与水头和水化学数据相结合,支持了在东北方向有明显流动的结论,这与GAB的规范化的区域流动概念相反。这项工作中的分析可以更好地确定Dawson河与Hutton砂岩相交区的可能排泄区。物理和水化学性质的非均质性表明,局部的流动路径比以前认为的更复杂,至少在Hutton含水层部分,很少的补给将对盆地中深部流动有贡献。这些结果为包括Hutton含水层在内的盆地数值水动力模型的完善和发展提供了坚实的基础。

Resumo

Novos dados adquiridos com alta qualidade estão sendo utilizados para reinterpretar o sistema de fluxos da Bacia Surat Na Grande Bacia Artesiana (GBA), Austrália. Este estudo revisa e atualiza interpretações prévias do fluxo no Arenito Hutton com analises detalhadas da área do Rio Dawson no norte da Bacia Surat. A análise combinada da permeabilidade de alta resolução, medições do nível potenciométrico e dados hidroquímicos apoia a alegação de que existe um fluxo significativo para o nordeste, contrariando a conceitualizarão canônica do fluxo regional do GBA. A análise deste trabalho identifica melhor a provável descarga na área em que o Rio Dawson cruza o Arenito Hutton. A heterogeneidade nas propriedades físicas e hidroquímicas sugerem que os caminhos dos fluxos são mais complexos do que se pensava anteriormente e, pelo menos nesta parte do Aquífero Hutton, pouquíssima recarga contribui para os fluxos profundos na bacia. Esses resultados fornecem uma base sólida que refina e desenvolve modelos hidrodinâmicos numéricos da bacia, pelo menos para o Aquífero Hutton.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the Queensland Gas company for the permeability data. This work was completed with the aid of the UQ Water Atlas.

Funding

This work was supported by The University of Queensland Centre for Coal Seam Gas. The centre partners include the coal seam gas companies Queensland Gas Company, Santos, Australia Pacific LNG and Arrow Energy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Sue Vink

  2. Centre for Coal Seam Gas, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Sue Vink, Jim Underschultz, Juan Xu & Vahab Honari

  3. QGC, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia

    Sam Guiton

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  1. Sue Vink
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  2. Jim Underschultz
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Correspondence to Sue Vink.

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Published in the special issue “Advances in hydrogeologic understanding of Australia’s Great Artesian Basin”

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Vink, S., Underschultz, J., Guiton, S. et al. Flow system of the Hutton sandstone in the northern Surat Basin, Australia. Hydrogeol J 28, 89–102 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-02097-7

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