A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Aaron Davis, Tim Munday, Jacqueline Frizenschaf and Nara Somaratne

CESRE/ WATER FOR A HEALTHY COUNTRY

Purpose of study
Use hydrogeophysics to refine the model for Uley South Lens
Better define aquifer thickness, geometry and hydraulic properties in areas where little information exists. Determine the depth to groundwater, aquifer porosity an hydraulic conductivity Determine whether aquifer bounds could be revised in GW model

Trial non-invasive approach to examine as a pre-cursor to drilling

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Approach
Employ surface Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (sNMR) and Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) soundings in the SW corner of Uley South Lens

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Why use NMR?

The only geophysical technique that allows for direct detection of water in the subsurface
Non-invasive Minimal environmental footprint Less expensive than exploratory drilling Estimate

Water content
Aquifer porosity Hydraulic conductivity

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Eyre Peninsula and Uley South

Only few aquifers provide potable water to Eyre Peninsula Uley South is most important one Supports Port Lincoln and east coast of the Eyre 2007-2008 water allocation was ~7200 Ml
A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

100 km

Uley South groundwater lenses

Coffin Bay A
Coffin Bay Coffin Bay National Park

Uley Wanilla Uley East

Port Lincoln

Uley South

25 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Eyre Peninsula and Uley South

6028-00754

Quaternary limestone aquifers in the very near surface Rainfall dependent for recharge (~500 mm/a)

Begin of extraction

Water levels had been dropping from beginning of production until 2008

Reduction of pumping

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Uley South lens recharge

Recharge is generally through sinkholes directly into the Quaternary Bridgewater formation

Water age can be as little as 60 days

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Conceptual hydrogeological model

Source: EPNRM

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Previous work: TEMPEST AEM

Fitzpatrick et al, 2009 Tempest AEM survey Basin and aquifer geometry Possible connection between Coffin Bay A and Uley South

Thickness and extent of Uley South and Coffin Bay A freshwater lenses
Confirmed seawater intrusion to extent of ~700 m in Uley South

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Theres water in the hills: Elevation

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Magnetics - basement geometry

10 km

Basement highs

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Interval Conductivity -23 mAHD

10 km

Basement highs

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Planning of soundings
Inferred directions of groundwater flow (Quaternary Limestone)

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Planning of soundings

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR & TEM Soundings

Vista-Clara GMR
Single-turn 72.5 m loop Aligned with magnetic North (-67.4 inclination, ~59000 nT) ~2530 Hz Depth of penetration/resolution ~60 m

NanoTEM
Operating at 32Hz 40 m loop Depth of penetration ~80 m

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site 3

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site 3 Sounding data

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site 3 Inversion

ULE098 is 460 m away from Site 3

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site 6

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site 6 Inversion

No cutting returns

ULE208 is 240 m away from Site 6

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site ULE193

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Site ULE193 Inversion

~450 m/day

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR: Comparisons
6 3

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR Sections (with AEM)

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR Sections (with AEM)

N S

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

sNMR Sections (with AEM)

N S

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Conclusion
Detected water in:
Quaternary aquifer (Bridgewater Formation) FREE WILLY, porosity ~20%, HIGH k VALUES? Partially constrained by Uley Formation Tertiary aquifer (Wanilla Formation) Mainly mobile, partly bound, porosity ~20% More saline than Bridgewater

AEM and sNMR assist in hydrogeological interpretation

Produce a section that shows extent of formations

Refined conceptual understanding of aquifer system and variation in aquifer characteristics, which provide opportunity to update GW models and management options.

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Future planning of soundings

10 km

A surface NMR study for groundwater resource assessment in the Uley Basin, South Australia

Thank you
EM Applications Dr Aaron Davis Senior Research Geophysicist t +61 8 6436 8951 e aaron.davis@csiro.au w www.csiro.au
WATER FOR A HEALTHY COUNTRY