Abstract
Geostatistical simulation techniques, both Gaussian as well as indicator simulation are practical tools to generate spatial realizations of aquifer parameters such as hydraulic conductivity for further use in deterministic groundwater-flow and — transport models. The application of simulation methods require modeling of the spatial variability of the considered parameter, i.e. the variogram and pdf models must be derived a priori. In actual cases of groundwater contamination generally only sparse information on hydraulic parameters is available. Their spatial structure is often completely unknown. The main scope of our work is to describe the spatial structure of hydraulic conductivity for some typical aquifers and scales in order to use this information in geologically comparable cases.
Different test sites in Northern Germany have been chosen to measure hydraulic conductivity. The measurements were performed with different methods depending on first the scale and second the orientation of the sampling pattern (horizontal, vertical). Large scale aquifers are represented by conductivity values derived from pumping tests in a horizontal plane whereas the spatial distribution of conductivity in smaller cross-sections is described by values derived from grainsize-curves. The extension of the test fields range from a few meters up to kilometers.
The test sites are mainly situated in pleistocene glaciofluvial loose sands. Additionally the spatial structure of grain-size distribution parameters and hydraulic conductivity along a cross-section through a poorly consolidated Triassic Soiling sandstone as well as fluviatil sands in Canada are analyzed.
The large amount of data for some of the fields (100 to 200 samples) allows an exhaustive geostatistical study of the spatial variability of hydraulic conductivity of typical aquifer materials. Effects of sampling pattern on the evaluation of spatial structures and small-scale variability (nugget-effect) are analyzed as well as the so called scale-effect.
Additionally a brief example of modeling tracer-transport in an heterogeneous aquifer using indicator-simulation for generating the conductivity fields is presented. This example demonstrates quite clearly the effects of spatial variability of aquifer properties on transport behaviour.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Binsariti, A.A.: Statistical analysis stochastic modeling of the Cortaro aquifer in Southern Arizona.— Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Hydrology and Water Resources, Univ of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 1980.
Dagan, G.: Statistical theory of groundwater flow and transport: Pore to laboratory, laboratory to formation and formation to regional scale.— Water Resources Research 22(9), pp. 120S–134S, 1986.
De Fouquet, C, H. Beucher, A. Galli, C. Ravenne: Conditional simulation of random sets. Application to an argilaceous sandstone reservoir.— In: M. Armstrong (ed.): Geostatistics, 2, pp. 517–530, Kluwer Acad. Press, 1989.
Delhomme, J.P.: Spatial variability and uncertainty in groundwater flow parameters: a geostatistical approach.— Water Resour. Res., 15(2), pp. 269–280, 1979.
Dimitrakopoulos, R.: Characterization of petroleum reservoirs using geostatistics.— In: M. Armstrong (ed.): Geostatistics, 2, p. 1010, Kluwer Acad. Press, 1989.
Gelhar, L.W.: Stochastic subsurface hydrology from theory to application.-Water Resources Research 22(9), pp. 135S–145S, 1986.
Gelhar, L.W. & Axness, C.L.: Three-dimensional stochastic analysis of macrodispersion in aquifers.— Water-Resour. Res. 19(1), pp. 161–180, 1983.
Gomez-Hernandez, J.J. & R.M. Srivastava: ISIM3D: An ANSI-C three-dimensional multiple indicator conditional simulation program.— Computer & Geosciences, Vol. 16, No. 4, S. 395–440, 1990.
Hoeksema, R.J. & P.K. Kitanidis: Analysis of the spatial structure of properties of selected aquifers.— Water Resources Research 21(4), pp. 563–572, 1985.
Matheron, G.: The intrinsic random functions and their applications.— Adv. Appl. Prob. 5, pp 438–468, 1973.
Moltyaner, G.L. & R.W.D. Killey: Twin Lake tracer tests: Longitudinal dispersion.—Water Resour. Res., 24(10), pp. 1613–1627, 1988a.
Moltyaner, G.L. & R.W.D. Killey: Twin Lake tracer tests: Transverse dispersion.— Water Resour. Res., 24(10), pp. 1628–1637, 1988b.
Neuman, S.P.: Role of geostatistics in subsurface hydrology.— In “Geostatistics for nature resources characterization.” Proc. NATO-ASI, Verly, G., David, M., Journel, A.G., Maréchal, A. (eds.), Part 1, pp. 787–816, Reidel, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1984.
Schafmeister, M.-Th. & A. Pekdeger: Influence of spatial variability of aquifer properties on groundwater flow and dispersion.— In: H.E. Kobus & W. Kinzelbach (eds.): Contaminant Transport in Groundwater, pp. 215–220, Balkema, Rotterdam 1989
Schafmeister, M.-Th. & H. Burger: Spatial simulation of hydraulic parameters for fluid flow and transport models.— In: M. Armstrong (ed.): Geostatistics, 2, pp. 629–638, Kluwer Acad. Press, 1989.
Schafmeister, M.-Th.: Geostatistische Simulationstechniken als Grundlage der Modellierung von Grundwasserströmung und Stofftransport in heterogenen Aquifersystemen.— Ph.D. dissertation, Schelzky & Jeep (Publisher), 143 p., Berlin 1990.
Smith, L. & F.W. Schwartz: Mass transport. 1. A stochastic analysis of macrodispersion.-Water Resour. Res. 16(2), pp. 303–313, 1980.
Smith, L. & F.W. Schwartz: Mass transport. 2. Analysisi of uncertainty in prediction.-Water Resour. Res. 17(2), pp. 351–369, 1981a.
Smith, L. & F.W. Schwartz: Mass transport. 3. Role of hydraulic conductivity data in prediction.— Water Resour. Res. 17(5), pp. 1462–1479, 1981b.
Smith, L. & R.A. Freeze: Stochastic analysis of steady-state groundwater flow in a bounded domain. 1. One-dimensional simulations.— Water Resour. Res. 15(3), pp. 521–528, 1979a.
Smith, L. & R.A. Freeze: Stochastic analysis of steady-state groundwater flow in a bounded domain. 2. Two-dimensional simulations.— Water Resour. Res. 15(6), pp. 1543–1559, 1979b.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schafmeister, MT., Pekdeger, A. (1993). Spatial structure of hydraulic conductivity in various porous media — problems and experiences. In: Soares, A. (eds) Geostatistics Tróia ’92. Quantitative Geology and Geostatistics, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1739-5_58
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1739-5_58
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-2157-6
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-1739-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive