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Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment

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30-09-2021 | Original Paper

Estimation of hydraulic properties of evaporitic rocks in southern Saskatchewan, Canada

Authors: Maki Ito, Shahid Azam

Published in: Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment | Issue 11/2021

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Abstract

The main purpose of this research was to determine the hydraulic properties of evaporitic rocks using geotechnical engineering concepts. A detailed characterization protocol was enacted to understand fluid retention and migration under saturated–unsaturated states using representative samples of Midale evaporites from southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Evolved from geological setting and environmental conditions, the investigated samples comprised low-porosity anhydrites and high-porosity dolomites. Generally, the air entry value measured 1000 kPa and the residual suction value ranged from 6000 to 8000 kPa. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (based on Ito and Azam (Q J Eng Geo 51: 49–62, 2017) and Lebron (Water Resour Res, 35:3149–3158, 1999)) was estimated to be from 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ to 8 × 10⁻¹⁰ m/s for anhydrites and from 1 × 10⁻⁸ to 5 × 10⁻⁸ m/s for dolomites. The well-established fitting equations for hydraulic conductivity function closely matched up to 10⁻¹¹ m/s. The fit from van Genuchten (Soil Sci Soc Am J 44: 892–898, 1980) became asymptotic around 10⁻²⁰ m/s whereas that from Fredlund et al. (Can Geotech J 31:533–546, 1994) showed a lower rate of decrease with suction increase and exhibited a better correlation with vapour flow.

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Title: Estimation of hydraulic properties of evaporitic rocks in southern Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: Maki Ito
Shahid Azam
Publication date: 30-09-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment / Issue 11/2021
Print ISSN: 1435-9529
Electronic ISSN: 1435-9537
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02404-1

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