Characterizing hydrogeologic heterogeneity using lithologic data
- Westinghouse Savannah River Company, Aiken, SC (United States)
- North Carolina Univ., Wilmington, NC (United States)
- Synesis Environmental, Inc., Aiken, SC (United States)
- Science Applications International Corp., Augusta, GA (United States)
Large-scale (>1 m) variability in hydraulic conductivity is usually the main influence on field-scale groundwater flow patterns and dispersive transport. Incorporating realistic hydraulic conductivity heterogeneity into flow and transport models is paramount to accurate simulations, particularly for contaminant migration. Sediment lithologic descriptions and geophysical logs typically offer finer spatial resolution, and therefore more potential information about site-scale heterogeneity, than other site characterization data. In this study, a technique for generating a heterogeneous, three- dimensional hydraulic conductivity field from sediment lithologic descriptions is presented. The approach involves creating a three-dimensional, fine-scale representation of mud (silt and clay) percentage using a stratified interpolation algorithm. Mud percentage is then translated into horizontal and vertical conductivity using direct correlations derived from measured data and inverse groundwater flow modeling. Lastly, the fine-scale conductivity fields are averaged to create a coarser grid for use in groundwater flow and transport modeling.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-89SR18035
- OSTI ID:
- 565245
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-MS-95-0497-Rev.1; ON: DE97053864
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 13 Jun 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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