Groundwater flow characterization in a fractured bedrock aquifer using active DTS tests in sealed boreholes

Coleman, Thomas I.; Parker, Beth L.; Maldaner, Carlos H.; Mondanos, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.06.061

Groundwater flow characterization in a fractured bedrock aquifer using active DTS tests in sealed boreholes

Journal Article · Thu Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Hydrology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.06.061· OSTI ID:1638783

Coleman, Thomas I. ^[1]; Parker, Beth L. ^[2]; Maldaner, Carlos H. ^[2]; Mondanos, Michael J. ^[3]

Univ. of Guelph, ON (Canada); Silixa Ltd. (United Kingdom); University of Wisconsin-Madison
Univ. of Guelph, ON (Canada)
Silixa Ltd. (United Kingdom)

In recent years, wireline temperature profiling methods have evolved to offer new insight into fractured rock hydrogeology. Important advances in wireline temperature logging in boreholes make use of active line source heating alone and then in combination with temporary borehole sealing with flexible impervious fabric liners to eliminate the effects of borehole cross-connection and recreate natural flow conditions. Here, a characterization technique was developed based on combining fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (DTS) with active heating within boreholes sealed with flexible borehole liners. DTS systems provide a temperature profiling method that offers significantly enhanced temporal resolution when compared with conventional wireline trolling-based techniques that obtain a temperature–depth profile every few hours. The ability to rapidly and continuously collect temperature profiles can better our understanding of transient processes, allowing for improved identification of hydraulically active fractures and determination of relative rates of groundwater flow. Here, the advantage of a sealed borehole environment for DTS-based investigations is demonstrated through a comparison of DTS data from open and lined conditions for the same borehole. Evidence for many depth-discrete active groundwater flow features under natural gradient conditions using active DTS heat pulse testing is presented along with high resolution geologic and geophysical logging and hydraulic datasets. Implications for field implementation are discussed.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0006760

OSTI ID:: 1638783

Journal Information:: Journal of Hydrology, Journal Name: Journal of Hydrology Journal Issue: C Vol. 528; ISSN 0022-1694

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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