Aligning Groundwater Mapping with the Scale of Regulationin the Fox Creek AreaBrian Smerdon, Lisa Atkinson, Alexandra HughesAlberta Geological Survey

WaterTech, 7 April 2016

AGS

Provincial GroundwaterInventory Program

2

Fox Creek

Edmonton-Calgary Corridor

Calgary-Lethbridge Corridor

Cold Lake

Sylvan Lake

A partnership with Alberta Environment & Parks

since 2008

Map and inventory Alberta’s groundwater resources

Establish quantity and quality at regional scale

Assist government in making informed decisions about groundwater

Assess and understand cumulative effects of development

AGS

The Challenge of Spatial Scale

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Fox Creek

Edmonton-Calgary Corridor

Calgary-Lethbridge Corridor

Cold Lake

Sylvan Lake

Must recognize:Policy and directives evaluated at a pointTransition to region assessment

Ensure geoscience is meaningful at the ‘regional’ scale:

Area-based regulationLand-use planning regions

AGS

Fox Creek Project Objectives

Advance the understanding of the near-surface hydrogeology and map groundwater conditions within deeper formations as related to source water and disposal

Outcomes will include:

• A 3D hydrostratigraphic framework model of the Quaternary, Neogene, and Upper Cretaceous formations;

• An assessment of groundwater recharge and discharge rates, as well as the interaction between surface water and groundwater;

• A conceptual model of nonsaline groundwater circulation, including a water balance; and

• Maps of salinity, potentiometric surfaces, and water driving force for saline formations.

4

AGS

Fox Creek Study Area (extent)

5

Spans Peace and Athabasca basins

Defined by sub-basin drainage

Encompasses AER PBR pilot area

22,000 km2

Paskapoo FmScollard FmWapiti Fm

AGS

Fox Creek Study Area (depth)

6

Paskapoo Fm

0

150 km

South North

1000

500

-500

Ele

vatio

n (m

asl)

0 Characterize Lea Park Formation to surfaceMap groundwater conditions within deeper formations

AGS

Conceptual Model Development

7

Numerical ModelConceptual Model

HydrostratigraphicModel

Surficial Geology

Properties

Groundwater Characterization

HydraulicData

Bedrock Geology

RechargeDischarge

January 2015 March 2016 June 2016

AGS

Hydrostratigraphic Modelling

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Data Sources:

2015 field mapping

Surficial geology field mapping

Gamma logs to ground surface

Legacy boreholes (e.g. ARC coal)

Water wells (used to infill as needed)

AGS

Hydrostratigraphic Modelling

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Process:

Revise bedrock topography to fit new data

Define Quaternary-Neogene hydro-stratigraphic units (HSU’s)

Sand slice mapping (Lea Park Fm to bedrock top)

Generate 3D block model

AGS 10

Updated Bedrock Topography

15 km

1000

900

800

Ele

vatio

n (m

asl)

0

Provincial-scale bedrock topography (MacCormack et al. 2015; AGS Map 602)

Revised bedrock topography

Quaternary-Neogene HSU’s

Fluvial, glaciofluvial sand and gravelDiamict (silt, clay)Gravel

AGS

Quaternary-Neogene HSU’s

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Broadly similar to surficial geology (Fenton et al. 2013; AGS Map 601)

3D representation of units important for water cycling

AGS

Quaternary-Neogene HSU’s

12

Broadly similar to surficial geology (Fenton et al. 2013; AGS Map 601)

3D representation of units important for water cycling

Identify key features related to groundwater recharge

Gravel-capped Bedrock Plateaus

AGS 13

Hydrostratigraphy: Next StepsSlice analysis

Lea Park Fm to bedrock top

Net-to-gross sandstone ratio from gamma ray and water well logs

Generate 3D block model

Hydraulic properties

Evaluate trends in permeability

AGS

Hydrogeological Characterization

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Data Sources:

2015 drilling and field mapping

Legacy core

Water well database

Process:

Map potentiometric surface of uppermost bedrock

2000 – 2015 period

Determine hydraulic properties

Legacy mineral core

Water well pumping tests >2hrs

AEP-AGS 2015 drilling

Sunchild aquifer Paskapoo FmScollard FmWapiti Fm

AGS

Hydraulic Properties

15Hughes et al., 2016; AGS OFR 2016-xx

Core analyses (n = 9)Permeability, porosity, mineralogy

Sun

child

aqui

fer

Laco

mbe

aqu

itard

AGS

Paskapoo Hydrogeology

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Potentiometric surface of uppermost bedrock relative to ground surface

Estimate of recharge-discharge potential

Dominance of groundwater recharge

Localized flow systems provide base flow to riversSprings

Rivers

Discharge

Recharge

AGS

Paskapoo Hydrogeology

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AGS

Paskapoo Hydrogeology

18Smerdon et al., 2016; AGS OFR 2016-02

A

A’

AGS

Environmental Tracer Sampling

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Process:

Rivers as an integrator of the groundwater circulation

Sample river water at low flow (September 2015)

Analyze for naturally occurring tracers (noble gases, 3H, SF6, 222Rn, stable isotopes)

AGS

Environmental Tracer Sampling

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0 km

170 km

Quantify proportion of baseflow at scale of geological formations

Better conceptual understanding

Incorporate new knowledge into models

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

150

175

200

225

250

Rn

-22

2 (

Bq

/L

TDS

(mg/

L)

TDS (mg/L) Rn-222 (Bq/L)

Paskapoo Scollard Wapiti

6

7

8

9

3.8E-08

4.0E-08

4.2E-08

4.4E-08

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Trit

ium

(TU

)

He

4 (

ccST

P/g

)River Distance (km)

He4 (ccSTP/g) TU

AGS

Scale and Detail:Finding the Sweet Spot

21Tyler and Finley 1991; SPE-22670-MS

AGS

Scale and Detail:Finding the Sweet Spot

22Tyler and Finley 1991; SPE-22670-MS

Provincial scale geological framework

High-resolution geophysical logs

Paskapoo Fm

Sunchild aquifer

Haynes aquifer

AGS

Aligning Groundwater Mapping with the Scale of Regulation

Anticipate the needs of regulators, industry, other users• What is the scale of development?• What level of detail will be informative?

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AGS

Aligning Groundwater Mapping with the Scale of Regulation

Anticipate the needs of regulators, industry, other users• What is the scale of development?• What level of detail will be informative?

Make strategic detailed measurements that help form the ‘big picture’• Maximize available data sources• Develop lean field programs

24

AGS

Aligning Groundwater Mapping with the Scale of Regulation

Anticipate the needs of regulators, industry, other users• What is the scale of development?• What level of detail will be informative?

Make strategic detailed measurements that help form the ‘big picture’• Maximize available data sources• Develop lean field programs

Deliver the geoscience to support cumulative effects management initiatives

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