New Mexico Bureau Geology and Mineral Resources issued the following announcement on July 17.
The Bureau of Geology’s Aquifer Mapping Program is partnering with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division (OCD) to produce three-dimensional maps of aquifer systems in the Delaware Basin in southeastern New Mexico.
“The Aquifer Mapping Program is working towards mapping all of the major aquifers in New Mexico in 3D using ArcGIS [Geographic Information Systems]. We recently completed a model of the Pecos Slope region, roughly Roswell to Artesia from north to south, and from the crest of the Sacramento Mountains to the state line from west to east,” says Aquifer Mapping Program Manager Laila Sturgis. “The new Delaware Basin model will extend that model south to the state line.”
The project will focus on the thickness, extent, and volume of the Pecos Valley Alluvial and Capitan Reef freshwater aquifers. If sufficient data can be obtained, the project may expand to include the Rustler Formation and Dewey Lake/Santa Rosa Formation Aquifers.
The geologic framework of the region serves as the base for the 3D models. The geologic model will be constructed using existing geologic reports, supplemented by analyzing approximately 1,500 new geophysical logs provided by the OCD. The initial geologic and hydrologic model development will allow Bureau scientists to pinpoint data-poor areas to target for additional data collection.
“The high density of data that the OCD well logs provide in this region allow us to troubleshoot our models and understand limitations we may face as we move into much more data poor regions of the state,” says Sturgis. “In turn we are able to provide the OCD with an excellent tool to protect groundwater.”
A multi-year field campaign will complement the existing subsurface data. New data collected will include depth-to-water measurements in approximately 100 wells and water quality measurements in 40 wells.
With these data, hydrogeologists at the Bureau can better understand long-term aquifer responses to pumping, precipitation, and evapotranspiration trends.
Current water quality data can shed light on the hydrologic cycle in the basin, namely, the locations of groundwater recharge, the age of the groundwater, flow directions, and whether there is flow between multiple aquifers. In the 3D model, water quality data can demarcate freshwater and saline water boundaries in the subsurface.
“The OCD will use our models to support their permitting process. Waste water injection permits in particular have specific rules regarding depth and distance from fresh water. The OCD also closely monitors any leaks or spills and needs access to the most current groundwater data to maximize their effectiveness,” says Sturgis. “The 3D aquifer models produced by the Bureau will support the OCD’s permitting and monitoring efforts in the basin.”
For more information, contact Aquifer Mapping Program Manager Laila Sturgis at laila.sturgis@nmt.edu
Original source can be found here.
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