Top

Hydrogeology Journal

Published in:

02-02-2019 | Report

Impact of groundwater flow across tectonic aquifer compartments in a Miocene sandstone aquifer: three-dimensional hydrogeological modeling of the Kasserine aquifer system in central Tunisia and northeastern Algeria

Authors: Imen Hassen, Ellen Milnes, Helen Gibson, Rachida Bouhlila

Published in: Hydrogeology Journal | Issue 4/2019

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

The Kasserine Aquifer System (KAS) is a transboundary aquifer, located in an arid region in central Tunisia and extending into northeastern Algeria. The system consists of four compartments: Oum Ali-Thelepte, Feriana-Skhirat, and the Plateau and the Plaine of Kasserine. The challenge of this study was to evaluate the influence of regional faults on groundwater flow in the different compartments of the KAS and to estimate the regional impact of current and future groundwater use. A three-dimensional saturated regional groundwater flow model for the steady state and transient conditions (1980–2015) was created and calibrated. This work was achieved using numerical flow modelling, coupled with geological modelling, using FEFLOW and GeoModeller software. The significance of regional faults as potential barriers or conduits to groundwater flow in the different aquifer compartments was evaluated by considering the different recharge rates. Two connectivity hypotheses were proposed at each major fault, and the general hydraulic relationship of units that are juxtaposed by each fault were considered. This study contributes rigorous estimates for the diffuse and concentrated recharge in the arid study region, and evaluates the groundwater behavior that shows a gradual decline in the water table over time, using a regional model. Different predicted outcomes for the KAS based on variable potential groundwater extraction scenarios for the period 2015–2050 have been developed. The results of numerical simulation provide useful information regarding the behavior of the KAS aquifers, and contribute significant knowledge to guide sustainable practice for present and future groundwater management.

previous article Study on flow regimes and seepage models through open rough-walled rock joints under high hydraulic gradient

next article Modeling groundwater contaminant transport in the presence of large heterogeneity: a case study comparing MT3D and RWhet

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Archambault J (1950) Etude hydrogéologique du synclinal de Sidi Merzoug-Sbiba [Hydrogeological study of the syncline of Sidi Merzoug-Sbida]. Technical report, Arch DTP, Tunis, Tunisia

Barthel R, Jagelke J, Götzinger J, Gaiser T, Printz A (2008) Aspects of choosing appropriate concepts for modeling groundwater resources in regional integrated water resources management: example from the Neckar (Germany) and Ouémé catchment (Benin). Phys Chem Earth 33:92–114CrossRef

Ben Chaabane R (2016) Etude hydrologique de la region Centre Ouest du gouvernorat de Kasserine [Hydrological study of the central west region of Kasserine Governorate]. Rapport projet CILIUM, Tunis, Tunisia, 58 pp

Bonomi T (2009) Database development and 3D modeling of textural variations in heterogeneous, unconsolidated aquifer media: application to the Milan plain. Comput Geosci 35:134–145CrossRef

Carrera-Hernández JJ, Carreón-Freyre D, Cerca-Martínez M, Levresse L (2016) Groundwater flow in a transboundary fault-dominated aquifer and the importance of regional modeling: the case of the city of Querétaro, Mexico. Hydrogeol J 24:373–393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-015-1363-x CrossRef

Casatny G (1947) Etude hydrologique de la region de Majel Bel Abbes (sud Feriana) [Hydrogeological study of Majel Bel Abbes region (south Feriana)]. Technical report, Arch DTP, Tunis, Tunisia

Chesnaux R, Lambert M, Walter J, Fillastre U, Hay M, Rouleau A, Daigneault R, Annie Moisan A, Germaneau D (2011) Building a geodatabase for mapping hydrogeological features and 3D modeling of groundwater systems: application to the Saguenay–Lac-St.-Jean region, Canada. Comput Geosci 37:1870–1882CrossRef

Davis KW, Putnam LD, LaBelle AR (2015) Conceptual and numerical models of groundwater flow in the Ogallala and Arikaree aquifers, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation area, South Dakota, water years 1980–2009. US Geol Surv Sci Invest Rep 2014-5241

Degalier R, Azzouz A (1948) Hydrogeologie de la region de Sbeitla [Hydrogeological study of the region of Sbeitla]. Technical report, Arch DTP, Tunis

DGRE (1980) Annuaire de l exploitation des nappes de la Tunisie [Directory of the exploitation of water resources in Tunisia]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

DGRE (2008) Annuaire de l exploitation des nappes de la Tunisie [Directory of the exploitation of water resources in Tunisia]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

DGRE (2010) Annuaire de l exploitation des nappes de la Tunisie [Directory of the exploitation of water resources in Tunisia]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

DGRE (2015) Annuaire de l exploitation des nappes de la Tunisie [Directory of the exploitation of water resources in Tunisia]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

DGRE (2016) Annuaire de l exploitation des nappes de la Tunisie [Directory of the exploitation of water resources in Tunisia]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

Diersch H-JG (2006a) FEFLOW: reference manual version 5.3. WASY, Berlin

Diersch H-JG (2006b) FEFLOW: user’s manual version 5.3. WASY, Berlin

Diersch H-JG (2014) FEFLOW: finite element modeling of flow, mass and heat transport in porous and fractured media, 1st edn. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38739-5

Diersch H-JG, Kolditz O (1998) Coupled groundwater flow and transport: 2. thermohaline and 3D convection systems. Adv Water Resour 21(5):401–425CrossRef

Ezzy TR, Cox ME, O’Rourke AJ, Huftile GJ (2006) Groundwater flow modeling within a coastal alluvial plain setting a high resolution hydrofacies approach: Bells Creek plain, Australia. Hydrogeol J 14:675–688CrossRef

Gannett MW, Wagner BJ, Lite KE (2012) Groundwater simulation and management models for the Upper Klamath basin, Oregon and California. US Geol Surv Sci Invest Rep 2012-5062

Hassen I, Bouhlila R, Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Khanfir R (2014) Hydrogeological modeling of Kasserine Aquifer System, central Tunisia. In: 10th International Hydrogeological Congress of Greece, Thessaloniki, October 2014, pp 223–230

Hassen I, Gibson H, Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Negro F, Rachid K, Bouhlila R (2016a) 3D geological modeling of the Kasserine Aquifer System, central Tunisia: new insights into aquifer-geometry and interconnections for a better assessment of groundwater resources. J Hydrol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.JournalofHydrology.2016.05.034

Hassen I, Slama F, Bouhlila R (2016b) Estimating groundwater recharge in an arid region in Central Tunisia using chloride mass balance and unsaturated modeling. 43rd IAH Congress, Montpellier, France, October 2016

Hassen I, Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Bouhlila R (2018) Establishing complex compartments-aquifers connectivity via geochemical approaches towards hydrogeochemical conceptual model: Kasserine Aquifer System, central Tunisia. J Geochem Explor 188:257–269CrossRef

Højberg AL, Refsgaard JC (2005) Model uncertainty: parameter uncertainty versus conceptual models. Water Sci Technol 52(6):177–186CrossRef

Khanfir R (1980) Contribution à l’étude hydrogéologique de la région d’Oum Ali Thelepte (Kasserine) [Contribution to the hydrogeological study of Oum Ali Thelepte (Kasserine)]. PhD Thesis, University of Pierre and Marie Curie, France

Khanfir R (1981) Etude hydrogeologique du haut plateau de kasserine [Hydrogeological study of the Upper Plateau of Kasserine]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

Khanfir R (1983) Etude hydrogeologique de synclinal de Feriana Skhirat [Hydrogeological study of the syncline of Feriana Skhirat]. Technical report, DGRE, Tunis

Kolditz O, Ratke R, Dierschb HG, Zielke W (1998) Coupled groundwater flow and transport: 1. verification of variable density flow and transport models. Adv Water Resour 21(1):27–46CrossRef

Mbarek J (1981) Contribution à l’étude hydrogéologique de la Plaine d’effondrement de Kasserine [Contribution to the hydrogeological study of the Plaine of Kasserine]. PhD Thesis, University of Bordeaux I, France

McKee PW, Clark BR (2003) Development and calibration of a ground water flow model for the Sparta aquifer of southeastern Arkansas and north central Louisiana and simulated response to withdrawals, 1998–2027. US Geol Surv Water Resour Invest Rep 03-4132

Milnes E (2007) Simulation of groundwater flow conditions in the Ezouza riverbed aquifer (Cyprus). CHYN, Neuchatel, Switzerland

Poeter E (2007) All models are wrong, how do we know which are useful? Ground Water 45(4):390–391CrossRef

Proce CJ, Ritzi RW, Dominic DF, Dai Z (2004) Modeling multiscale heterogeneity and aquifer interconnectivity. Ground Water 42(5):658–670CrossRef

Ruhaak W, Victor FB, Sass I (2014) 3D hydro-mechanically coupled groundwater flow modelling of Pleistocene glaciation effects. Comput Geosci 67:89–99CrossRef

Schoeller H (1931) Etude hydrogeologique aux environs de Sbeitla [Hydrogeological study of the region of Sbeitla]. Technical report, Arch DTP, Tunis

Schoeller H (1933) Seconde etude hydrogeologique aux environs de Sbeitla [The second hydrogeological study of the region of Sbeitla]. Technical report, Arch DTP, Tunis

Sophocleous M (1995) Groundwater recharge estimation and regionalization: the Great Bend prairie of central Kansas and its recharge statistics. J Hydrol 137:113–140CrossRef

Wycisk P, Huber T, Gossel W, Neuman CH (2009) High-resolution 3D spatial modelling of complex geological structures for an environmental risk assessment of abundant mining and industrial megasites. Comput Geosci 35:165–182CrossRef

Title: Impact of groundwater flow across tectonic aquifer compartments in a Miocene sandstone aquifer: three-dimensional hydrogeological modeling of the Kasserine aquifer system in central Tunisia and northeastern Algeria
Authors: Imen Hassen
Ellen Milnes
Helen Gibson
Rachida Bouhlila
Publication date: 02-02-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Hydrogeology Journal / Issue 4/2019
Print ISSN: 1431-2174
Electronic ISSN: 1435-0157
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-019-01931-2

Springer Professional

Abstract

Please log in to get access to your license.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Springer Professional "Technik"

Other articles of this Issue 4/2019

Modeling groundwater contaminant transport in the presence of large heterogeneity: a case study comparing MT3D and RWhet

An integrated approach for choosing suitable pumping strategies for a semi-arid region in Jordan using a groundwater model coupled with analytical hierarchy techniques

Electrical analogue for discharge versus time analysis in a pumping well

Defining hydrogeology of the Gohar-Zamin open pit mine, Iran: a case study in a hard-rock aquifer

Parametric and numerical analysis of the estimation of groundwater recharge from water-table fluctuations in heterogeneous unconfined aquifers

Simulating seawater intrusion in a complex coastal karst aquifer using an improved variable-density flow and solute transport–conduit flow process model