Browsing by Tema "Aquifer"

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A Multidisciplinary Approach for Clarifying the Recharge Processes and Origin of Saline Water in the Semi-Arid Punata Alluvial fan in Bolivia
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2018) Andres Gonzales Amaya; Gerhard Barmen; G. Abad Muñoz
The analysis of stable isotopes assisted in identifying that groundwater in the Punata alluvial fan is mainly recharged by heavy flash floods, and the recharge from rainfall is of less importance. In addition, the hydrochemical analysis identified the Pucara River as the main source of recharge. Other streams in the north and northwest of the fan do not seem to contribute to the recharge. The hydrochemistry also shows that there is an increase of the Na+ and Cl− concentrations in the middle and distal part of the fan. The salinization of groundwater is most likely a result of the mixing of fresh water with residual saline pore water in the lacustrine deposits and/or ion exchange within these layers. Geophysical surveys assisted in describing the aquifer system layering, and indicated a fine-grained bottom layer where ion exchange might occur. This study demonstrates that the integration of several methods (e.g., hydrochemistry, hydrogeophysics, and stable isotopes) is valuable for clarifying ambiguities during the interpretation process and for characterizing hydrogeological processes in alluvial fans in general.
Alluvial aquifer thickness and bedrock structure delineation by electromagnetic methods in the highlands of Bolivia
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2019) Etzar Gómez; Måns Larsson; Torleif Dahlin; Gerhard Barmen; Jan‐Erik Rosberg
The porous aquifers in the area called Challapampa are the most important groundwater reservoirs that supply drinking water to Oruro city in the highlands of Bolivia. They consist of unconsolidated fluvial–lacustrine deposits, resting on a complex sedimentary bedrock and covered by a thin surficial clay layer. The settings of these geological units and the structures governing the flow patterns have barely been investigated, despite this reservoir having been utilized during the last 50 years. This study applied transient electromagnetic (TEM) soundings and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) in the middle part of the alluvial fan of River Paria to investigate the thickness of the porous aquifer and detect the relief of the bedrock. Likewise, some results expressed as resistivity models indicate the possible existence of geological structures below the unconsolidated sediments. The average depth of investigation reached in this study is between 200 and 250 m below the surface, for both the applied methods. The geological structures inferred have similar directions as the major faults in the vicinity, from southeast to northwest, which in turn are assumed as part of fractured aquifers underlying the porous aquifers. The geo-electrical techniques were successfully tested in the study area and the resistivity models from TEM complement very well those obtained from ERT. Therefore, extended investigations using the same techniques would help to develop a more complete description of the hydrogeological settings of the aquifer system.
Aplicación de la hidrología isotópica en la gestión de las aguas transfronterizas: Conclusión del proyecto piloto en la Cuenca Transfronteriza Tierra de los Lípez (Proyecto de cooperación técnica BOL-7005 del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia). Depósito Legal 4-1-637-2022 P.O.
(European Organization for Nuclear Research, 2022) FLORES AVILES, Gabriela Patricia
This publication presents the scientific results of the pilot study conducted in the Tierra de los Lípez Transboundary Basin, developed under the Technical Cooperation Project BOL-7005 of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The study applies advanced isotope hydrology techniques to characterize groundwater dynamics in one of South America’s most arid high-altitude basins shared by Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The research integrates stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ¹³C), radioactive isotopes (³H, ¹⁴C, ²²²Rn), hydrochemistry, hydrogeology, lithology, geophysics, topography, and GIS analyses to reconstruct the hydrodynamic functioning of the transboundary aquifer system, particularly the Laguna Colorada sub-basin. The results provide evidence on recharge mechanisms, evaporation processes, groundwater residence times, mixing patterns between shallow and deep flow systems, and discharge pathways toward the endorheic depressions of the region. The publication also establishes a conceptual hydrogeological model of the Tierra de los Lípez Transboundary Aquifer, contributing baseline scientific information essential for transboundary water governance, early cooperative frameworks, and hydrodiplomacy between neighboring countries. This document was conceptualized, led, and written by Gabriela Patricia Flores Avilés (PhD), as part of the national scientific program on isotope hydrology implemented by the Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN). It represents one of the first comprehensive applications of nuclear techniques to transboundary aquifer assessment in Bolivia.
Aplicación de la hidrología isotópica en la gestión de las aguas transfronterizas: Conclusión del proyecto piloto en la Cuenca Transfronteriza Tierra de los Lípez (Proyecto de cooperación técnica BOL-7005 del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia). Depósito Legal 4-1-637-2022 P.O.
(2022) Gabriela Patricia Flores Avilés
This publication presents the scientific results of the pilot study conducted in the Tierra de los Lípez Transboundary Basin, developed under the Technical Cooperation Project BOL-7005 of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The study applies advanced isotope hydrology techniques to characterize groundwater dynamics in one of South America’s most arid high-altitude basins shared by Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The research integrates stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, δ¹³C), radioactive isotopes (³H, ¹⁴C, ²²²Rn), hydrochemistry, hydrogeology, lithology, geophysics, topography, and GIS analyses to reconstruct the hydrodynamic functioning of the transboundary aquifer system, particularly the Laguna Colorada sub-basin. The results provide evidence on recharge mechanisms, evaporation processes, groundwater residence times, mixing patterns between shallow and deep flow systems, and discharge pathways toward the endorheic depressions of the region. The publication also establishes a conceptual hydrogeological model of the Tierra de los Lípez Transboundary Aquifer, contributing baseline scientific information essential for transboundary water governance, early cooperative frameworks, and hydrodiplomacy between neighboring countries. This document was conceptualized, led, and written by Gabriela Patricia Flores Avilés (PhD), as part of the national scientific program on isotope hydrology implemented by the Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN). It represents one of the first comprehensive applications of nuclear techniques to transboundary aquifer assessment in Bolivia.
Application of WetSpass model to estimate groundwater recharge variability in the Nile Delta aquifer
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2016) Asaad M. Armanuos; Abdelazim M. Negm; Chihiro Yoshimura; Oliver Saavedra
Arsenic and other trace elements in thermal springs and in cold waters from drinking water wells on the Bolivian Altiplano
(Elsevier BV, 2015) Mauricio Ormachea; Prosun Bhattacharya; Ondra Šráček; Oswaldo Ramos Ramos; Jorge Quintanilla Aguirre; Jochen Bundschuh; Jyoti Prakash Maity
Arsenic in Latin America: A critical overview on the geochemistry of arsenic originating from geothermal features and volcanic emissions for solving its environmental consequences
(Elsevier BV, 2019) Nury Morales-Simfors; Jochen Bundschuh; Indika Herath; Claudio Inguaggiato; Alberto Caselli; Joseline Tapia; Fredy Erlingtton Apaza Choquehuayta; M. A. Armienta; Mauricio Ormachea; Erouscilla P. Joseph
Compendio Científico en Hidrología Isotópica. Resultados Fase I Proyecto científico 'Prospección y mapeo de la disponibilidad y sostenibilidad de los recursos hídricos en zonas transfronterizas piloto de las tres regiones hidrográficas del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia mediante la aplicación de la hidrología isotópica, 2022-2025. Depósito Legal 4-1-99-2023 P.O.
(European Organization for Nuclear Research, 2023) FLORES AVILES, Gabriela Patricia
This scientific compendium presents Phase I results of Bolivia’s first National Isotope Hydrology Program (2022–2025), implemented by the Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) to strengthen hydrological monitoring, groundwater assessment, and water diplomacy in transboundary basins. The publication consolidates the baseline database of stable and radioactive isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, ³H, ²²²Rn, ¹⁴C) across the country’s three major hydrological regions: Altiplano, Amazon, and La Plata, and documents previous work performed for the installation and operation of Bolivia’s inaugural national GNIP-aligned precipitation isotope monitoring network. The report includes mapping products and field evidence generated through ABEN’s scientific missions in transboundary aquifers, particularly the Tierra de los Lípez Basin, the Amazon Aquifer System (Cobija), and the Yrendá–Tobá–Tarijeño Aquifer System (Yacuiba–Villamontes). The compendium highlights: · Spatial and temporal variability of isotope compositions. · Radon-222 surveys as indicators of subsurface connectivity. · Hydrochemical–isotopic integration for aquifer analysis · Conceptual models of groundwater recharge, flow, and mixing. · Monitoring network design and interinstitutional coordination · Applications of isotope hydrology for transboundary water governance and evidence-based policy. As the first systematic national dataset of its kind in Bolivia, this publication provides a scientific foundation for groundwater-climate analysis, water security planning, and regional cooperation, fully aligned with IAEA methodologies and national priorities.
Compendio Científico en Hidrología Isotópica. Resultados Fase I Proyecto científico 'Prospección y mapeo de la disponibilidad y sostenibilidad de los recursos hídricos en zonas transfronterizas piloto de las tres regiones hidrográficas del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia mediante la aplicación de la hidrología isotópica, 2022-2025. Depósito Legal 4-1-99-2023 P.O.
(European Organization for Nuclear Research, 2023) FLORES AVILES, Gabriela Patricia
This scientific compendium presents Phase I results of Bolivia’s first National Isotope Hydrology Program (2022–2025), implemented by the Bolivian Nuclear Energy Agency (ABEN) to strengthen hydrological monitoring, groundwater assessment, and water diplomacy in transboundary basins. The publication consolidates the baseline database of stable and radioactive isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, ³H, ²²²Rn, ¹⁴C) across the country’s three major hydrological regions: Altiplano, Amazon, and La Plata, and documents previous work performed for the installation and operation of Bolivia’s inaugural national GNIP-aligned precipitation isotope monitoring network. The report includes mapping products and field evidence generated through ABEN’s scientific missions in transboundary aquifers, particularly the Tierra de los Lípez Basin, the Amazon Aquifer System (Cobija), and the Yrendá–Tobá–Tarijeño Aquifer System (Yacuiba–Villamontes). The compendium highlights: · Spatial and temporal variability of isotope compositions. · Radon-222 surveys as indicators of subsurface connectivity. · Hydrochemical–isotopic integration for aquifer analysis · Conceptual models of groundwater recharge, flow, and mixing. · Monitoring network design and interinstitutional coordination · Applications of isotope hydrology for transboundary water governance and evidence-based policy. As the first systematic national dataset of its kind in Bolivia, this publication provides a scientific foundation for groundwater-climate analysis, water security planning, and regional cooperation, fully aligned with IAEA methodologies and national priorities.
Contrasting controls on hydrogeochemistry of arsenic-enriched groundwater in the homologous tectonic settings of Andean and Himalayan basin aquifers, Latin America and South Asia
(Elsevier BV, 2019) Poulomee Coomar; Abhijit Mukherjee; Prosun Bhattacharya; Jochen Bundschuh; Swati Verma; Alan E. Fryar; Oswaldo Eduardo Ramos Ramos; Mauricio Ormachea; Saibal Gupta; Chandan Mahanta
Delimiting a saline water zone in Quaternary fluvial–alluvial deposits using transient electromagnetic: a case study in Punata, Bolivia
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2018) Andres Gonzales Amaya; Joakim Mårdh; Torleif Dahlin
The semiarid Punata alluvial fan is located in the central part of Bolivia. The main activity of this region is the extensive agriculture, and groundwater is the main water supply. Local villagers who use groundwater reported that in some places groundwater has a salty taste. In order to investigate the origin of this problem, several TEM soundings were performed in the study area, and they were complemented with ERT surveys. The results show top layers with resistivity values ranging from 30 to 200 Ωm and a bottom layer with resistivity values ranging from 1 to 20 Ωm, which might be interpreted as the main aquifer and a layer with high clay content, respectively. Between the top and bottom layer, a transition zone with saline water has been identified, with resistivity values ranging from 0.1 to 1 Ωm. The origin of this closed-basin brine might be a product of the evaporation of paleolakes during the lower Pliocene, where saline clays were deposited. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of TEM sounding for mapping very low resistivity zones such as saline water.
Determination of the natural potential groundwater recharge in the Valle Alto basin, Bolivia, through a soil water balance
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2022) Cristian J. Apaza-Coria; Inti E. Rodriguez-Levy; Mirko Delfín Soruco; Marijke Huysmans
Development and Application of a Methodology for the Identification of Potential Groundwater Recharge Zones: A Case Study in the Virvini Micro-Basin, Tiraque, Bolivia
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2023) Inti E. Rodriguez-Levy; Miguel A. Centellas-Levy; Wanderley J. Ferreira; Syed Mustafa; Lilian Rivera-Rodriguez; Andres Gonzales Amaya; Marijke Huysmans
Groundwater plays a vital role in human consumption and irrigation in many parts of Bolivia; yet, the absence of policies to regulate its extraction and protect groundwater recharge areas has led to a decline in water tables and threatened food security. Some municipal initiatives have been implemented to develop regulations, but the lack of reliable hydrogeological data (such as aquifer geometry, groundwater level data, location of potential groundwater recharge zones, and flow dynamics) hinders their effective implementation. The case study presented herein focuses on a municipal policy in Tiraque, Bolivia, aimed at protecting groundwater recharge zones, in addition to the need for a reliable methodology for their technical identification. The EARLI approach (an acronym for “Enhanced Algorithm for Recharge based on the Rainfall and Land cover Inclusion”) is suggested as a participatory-simplified multi-criteria decision method to address the absence of hydrogeological data. This approach was adjusted to the basin’s specific conditions, including local vegetation communities and their influence on infiltration, and was applied as a pilot study in the Virvini micro-basin. The EARLI model emphasizes the spatial distribution of rainfall as an input indicator for potential recharge in addition to the biophysical characteristics of the catchment area. The methodology successfully mapped the degree of groundwater recharge potential and was validated by traditional hydrogeological models, field infiltration measurements, and the local community’s application of the tool. Therefore, the results of this study provide the necessary technical bases for groundwater-integrated management in Tiraque.
Drivers of peatland water table dynamics in the central Andes, Bolivia and Peru
(Wiley, 2019) David J. Cooper; Jeremy Sueltenfuss; Eduardo Oyague; Karina Yager; D. A. Slayback; E. Marcelo Cabero Caballero; Jaime Argollo; Bryan G. Mark
Abstract Cushion plant dominated peatlands are key ecosystems in tropical alpine regions of the Andes in South America. The cushion plants have formed peat bodies over thousands of years that fill many valley bottoms, and the forage produced by the plants is critical for native and nonnative domesticated mammals. The sources and flow paths of water supporting these peatlands remain largely unknown. Some studies have suggested that glacier meltwater streams support some peatlands, and that the ongoing loss of glaciers and their meltwaters could lead to the loss or diminishment of peatlands. We analysed the hydrologic regime of 10 peatlands in four mountain regions of Bolivia and Peru using groundwater monitoring. Groundwater levels in peatlands were relatively stable and within 20 cm of the ground surface during the rainy season, and many sites had water tables 40–90 cm below the ground surface in the dry season. Topographic and groundwater elevations in the peatlands demonstrated that the water source of all 10 peatlands was hillslope groundwater flowing from lateral moraines, talus, colluvium, or bedrock aquifers into the peatlands. There was little to no input from streams, whether derived from glacier melt or other sources, and glacier melt could not have recharged the hillslope aquifers supporting peatlands. We measured the stable water isotopes in water samples taken during different seasons, distributed throughout the catchments, and the values are consistent with this interpretation. Our findings indicate that peatlands in the study region are recharged by hillslope groundwater discharge rather than stream water and may not be as vulnerable to glacial decline as other studies have indicated. However, both glaciers and peatlands are susceptible to changing thermal and precipitation regimes that could affect the persistence of peatlands.
Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Induced Polarization for Mapping the Subsurface of Alluvial Fans: A Case Study in Punata (Bolivia)
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2016) Andres Gonzales Amaya; Torleif Dahlin; Gerhard Barmen; Jan‐Erik Rosberg
Conceptual models of aquifer systems can be refined and complemented with geophysical data, and they can assist in understanding hydrogeological properties such as groundwater storage capacity. This research attempts to use geoelectrical methods, Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Induced Polarization parameters, for mapping the subsurface in alluvial fans and to demonstrate its applicability; the Punata alluvial fan was used as a case study. The resistivity measurements proved to be a good tool for mapping the subsurface in the fan, especially when used in combination with Induced Polarization parameters (i.e., Normalized Chargeability). The Punata alluvial fan characterization indicated that the top part of the subsurface is composed of boulders in a matrix of finer particles and that the grain size decreases with depth; the electrical resistivity of these deposits ranged from 200 to 1000 Ωm, while the values of normalized chargeability were lower than 0.05 mS/m. The bottom of the aquifer system consisted of a layer with high clay content, and the resistivity ranged from 10 to 100 Ωm, while the normalized chargeability is higher than 0.07 mS/m. With the integration of these results and lithological information, a refined conceptual model is proposed; this model gives a more detailed description of the local aquifer system. It can be concluded that geoelectrical methods are useful for mapping aquifer systems in alluvial fans.
Erratum to: Application of WetSpass model to estimate groundwater recharge variability in the Nile Delta aquifer
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2016) Asaad M. Armanuos; Abdelazim M. Negm; Chihiro Yoshimura; Oliver Saavedra
Estimación del flujo subterráneo de la cuenca del rio Motatan en el punto de control Agua Viva, estado Trujillo
(2009) Jesús E Mejías; Luis Eduardo Mora M.; Roberto Aurelio Duque Colmenares; Hervé Jegat; Oswaldo Peña
El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como objetivo estimar el flujo subterráneo efluente de la cuenca del río Motatán, justo a la entrada del embalse “Agua Viva”, lugar donde se miden periódicamente evaporación y la escorrentía superficial que entra al mencionado embalse. Estimación que resulta de gran relevancia debido a que es el flujo más importante en cantidad que podría estar alimentando el acuífero de la zona baja del estado Trujillo, sector donde se desarrollan grandes superficies con sistemas de producción agrícola vegetal y animal, así como agroindustriales y en los últimos años el desarrollo petrolero ubicado en el Distrito Tomoporo; todos con el uso del recurso hídrico subterráneo. El flujo subterráneo efluente de la cuenca del río Motatán, a la entrada del embalse “Agua Viva”, se ha determinó a través de la calibración del programa SIHIM, creado por Duque (1991), para un período de calibración de 16 años (1955-1970), con registros de dieciocho estaciones climatológicas medidoras de precipitación y una de evaporación, se determinó que es de 1562,91 Mm3, que equivale a 3,08 m3/s, con una diferencia entre escorrentía observada y simulada del 0,22 % y un coeficiente de correlación lineal de 0,94. La simulación de la escorrentía se hizo para un período de 26 años (1971-1996), obteniéndose un flujo subterráneo efluente promedio de 3,31 m3/s.
Estimating porosity and permeability in the Springbok Sandstone, Surat Basin (Queensland), using new wireline log-based workflow
(American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 2021) Katarzyna Sobczak; Heinz-Gerd Holl; Andrew Garnett
The Upper Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures of the Surat Basin (Queensland) host some of the most prominent coal seam gas (CSG) resources in Australia. The Walloon Coal Measures are directly overlain by the Springbok Sandstone formation, historically referred to as a regional aquifer. An increasing number of studies and industry models suggest relatively limited hydraulic connectivity within the formation and between it and the underlying coal measures, due to extreme lithological heterogeneity. Accurate evaluation of the permeability, as well as lateral and vertical continuity of the lithological units within the Springbok Sandstone, is critical in reservoir models that form the basis of reasonable aquifer protection practices and impact prediction. This study presents a wireline log-based workflow applied to identify permeable zones within the Springbok Sandstone in 31 CSG wells across the Surat Basin that allows robust estimations of porosities and Klinkenberg permeabilities. The workflow primarily utilises spontaneous potential, density, neutron and resistivity logs, and was developed by integrating current industry practices implemented by operators on a local scale to identify risk (permeable) zones in the vicinity of targeted coal seams. The results of this case study indicate that permeable zones within the interval are volumetrically minor (on average 25% N/G) and likely isolated, with Klinkenberg permeabilities rarely exceeding 10–20 mD. This evidence for low hydraulic connectivity, as well as significant local variations in the character of the Springbok Sandstone, suggests that the definition of the formation as a regional, continuous aquifer and the way it is modelled needs to be revised.
Estimation of OGIP in a Water-Drive Gas Reservoir Coupling Dynamic Material Balance and Fetkovich Aquifer Model
(2018) S.. Zavaleta; P. M. Adrian; Michel Michel
Abstract Although various novel techniques were developed in reservoir engineering for estimation of hydrocarbons initially in place (HCIIP), conventional material balance still remains as one of the most reliable. Average reservoir pressure is critical input data for material balance, which is usually obtained by well shut-in. Nevertheless, this operation might be restricted due to economic and operational restrictions such as water production in gas wells. In contrast, daily production data is commonly available and can be used to calculate the HCIIP by applying any production data analysis techniques such as the Dynamic Material Balance (DMB) method. The application of such methods to volumetric gas reservoirs and naturally fractured reservoirs resulted in accurate and reliable estimations. However, for water drive gas reservoirs, where the water influx term should be introduced into the iterative process, research and field case applications are limited. This paper presents an extension to the DMB technique to water-drive gas reservoirs. A simultaneous estimation of the Original Gas-in-place (OGIP) and the water influx term is achieved by coupling the DMB technique with the Fetkovich aquifer model. Average reservoir pressure estimation can also be attained as a result of the coupled method. Results were validated by means of numerical simulation on a synthetic model and a field study case. Synthetic production data was generated by a commercial simulator and then analized with the coupled method. The calculated OGIP, water influx volumes and average reservoir pressure resulted comparable to simulator output as they presented a low relative error. Furthermore, application of the coupled method to the field study case yielded comparable results to those obtained by volumetric method.
Evaluación de un acuífero y sus reservas con fines de explotación agrícola. (Caso: Porción del acuífero ubicado en la finca “El Puerto” en Santa Cruz del Zulia-Venezuela)
(2008) Igle Coromoto Umbría Nuñez; Hervé Jacques Jegat Nicolo
The objective of this work was to evaluate the availability of ground water in order to establish a series of policies of exploitation for agricultural use. An examination of the characteristics of the aquifer and its response to different strategies of management is provided. The available information about the study area was gathered and analyzed, considering a non-steady-state regime. The modeling of the aquifer considered the presence of two pumping wells. Five strategies of the unconfined aquifer exploitation were simulated using the model “WINFLOW”. Several scenarios of exploitation of the aquifer were simulated considering a period of time of 20 years, and different values of extraction. The values of extracted water ranged from those needed to satisfy the evapotranspiration demand of the crops in the area to those that involve additional uses. With regard to the recharge of the aquifer, the contributions from both precipitation and a river were considered. The model simulated that discharges over 50 m3/d will produce excessive drawdown. The strategies recommended were to consider pumping rates ranging from 20 to 50 m3/d to assure a sustainable use of the aquifer.