Assessment of Groundwater Stability Using Corrosion and Scaling Tendency Indices on Selected Springs in the Manga Region in Nyamira County, Kenya

We present the result of groundwater stability assessment on three major springs in the Manga region in Nyamira County found in Kenya in 2018. These springs are Kiangoso (SP1), Kerongo (SP2) and Tetema (SP3). The corrosion and scaling tendency indices were obtained using the Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar stability index (RSI), and Puckorius scaling index (PSI). The LSI values obtained for SP1, SP2, and SP3 are −3.93, −4.71, and −4.17, respectively, while using RSI, the values obtained for SP1, SP2, and SP3 are 14.15, 14.53, and 13.74, respectively. Using PSI, the values of SP1, SP2, and SP3 are 5.58, 5.45, and 5.58, respectively. From the interpretation of the indices, the groundwater from the three springs in the Manga region using LSI and RSI showed intolerable corrosion;hence, it is unlikely to scale as obtained from PSI.

Darcy's Law Expressed by Chemical Index

The Darcy's formula expressed by chemical indexes (ion activity a and saturation index β) is derived with the aid of the kinetics of multi-mineral dissolution. The implication of the formula and the relationship between the formula and the original Darcy's law expressed by hydraulic index (hydraulic gradient, Ⅰ) are discussed here. An analytic expression is established in this paper for the determination of the residence time of groundwater by chemical indexes, whose equivalence to isotopic age is studied. The formulas are derived from the calculation of permeability coefficient (K), conductivity coefficient (T) and actual velocity of groundwater (U). Finally, this paper introduces hydrogeological chemical kinetics constant (k j) and its determination method, differential and integral equations for chemical kinetics of groundwater in three-dimensional space.

Saturation evaluation of microporous low resistivity carbonate oil pays in Rub Al Khali Basin in the Middle East

To solve the problem that it is difficult to identify carbonate low resistivity pays(LRPs) by conventional logging methods in the Rub Al Khali Basin, the Middle East, the variation of fluid distribution and rock conductivity during displacement were analyzed by displacement resistivity experiments simulating the process of reservoir formation and production, together with the data from thin sections, mercury injection and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. In combination with geological understandings, the genetic mechanisms of LRPs were revealed, then the saturation interpretation model was selected, the variation laws and distribution range of the model parameters were defined, and finally an updated comprehensive saturation interpretation technique for the LRPs has been proposed. In the study area, the LRPs have resistivity values of less than 1 Ω·m, similar to or even slightly lower than that of the water layers. Geological research reveals that the LRPs were developed in low-energy depositional environment and their reservoir spaces are controlled by micro-scale pore throats, with an average radius of less than 0.7 μm, so they are typical microporous LRPs. Different from LRPs of sandstone and mudstone, they have less tortuous conductive paths than conventional reservoirs, and thus lower resistivity value under the same saturation. Archie’s formula is applicable to the saturation interpretation of LRPs with a cementation index value of 1.77-1.93 and a saturation index value of 1.82-2.03 that are 0.2-0.4 lower than conventional reservoirs respectively. By using interpretation parameters determined by classification statistics of petrophysical groups(PGs), oil saturations of the LRPs were calculated at bout 30%-50%,15% higher than the results by conventional methods, and basically consistent with the data of Dean Stark, RST, oil testing and production. The 15 wells of oil testing and production proved that the coincidence rate of saturation interpretation is over 90%and the feasibility of this method has been further verified.

THE STUDY OF AN ALLOWABLE CALCITE SUPERSATURATION IN LOW TEMPERATURE GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS

Two geothermal fields with calcite scaling in some wells in Iceland were selected for the study of calcite scaling potential. An allowable supersaturation was found by comparing the degree of calcite supersaturation and actual scaling status in the selected wells.The saturation index,0.37～ 0.48, was the boundary between calcite scaling and no scaling. The information about changes in chloride concentration shows that mixing different waters is the main cause to form calcite scaling in the geothermal wells selected in this study.In this case, the content of chloride can be used as an index of scaling.

Evaluation of hydro-chemistry in a phreatic aquifer in the Vindhyan Region, India, using entropy weighted approach and geochemical modelling

Groundwater quality monitoring and geochemical characterization in the phreatic aquifer are critical for ensuring universal and equitable access to clean,reliable,and inexpensive drinking water for all.This research was intended to investigate the hydrogeochemical attributes and mechanisms regulating the chemistry of groundwater as well as to assess spatial variation in groundwater quality in Satna district,India.To accomplish this,the groundwater data comprising 13 physio-chemical parameters from thirty-eight phreatic aquifer locations were analysed for May 2020 by combining entropy-weighted water quality index(EWQI),multivariate statistics,geochemical modelling,and geographical information system.The findings revealed that the groundwater is fresh and slightly alkaline.Hardness was a significant concern as 57.89% of samples were beyond the permissible limit of the World Health Organisation.The dominance of ions were in the order of Ca^(2+)> Na^(+)> Mg^(2+)> K^(+) and HCO_(3)^(-)> SO_(4)^(2-)> Cl^-> NO_(3)^(-)> F^(-).Higher concentration of these ions is mainly concentrated in the northeast and eastern regions.Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis(PCA) demonstrated that both natural and human factors regulate groundwater chemistry in the region.The analysis of Q-mode agglomerative hierarchical clustering highlighted three significant water clusters.Ca-HCO_3 was the most prevalent hydro-chemical facies in all three clusters.Geochemical modelling through various conventional plots indicated that groundwater chemistry in the research region is influenced by the dissolution of calcite/dolomite,reverse ion exchange,and by silicate and halite weathering.EWQI data of the study area disclosed that 73.69% of the samples were appropriate for drinking.Due to high salinity,Magnesium(Mg^(2+)),Nitrate(NO_(3)^(-)),and Bicarbonate(HCO_(3)^(-)) concentrations,the north-central and north-eastern regions are particularly susceptible.The findings of the study may be accomplished by policymakers and groundwater managers to achieve sustainable groundwater development at the regional scale.

Investigation of Electrical Parameters of Fresh Water and Produced Mixed Injection in High-Salinity Reservoirs

Assuming a reservoir with a typical salt-lake background in the Qaidam Basin as a testbed,in this study the var-iation law of the rock electrical parameters has been determined through water displacement experiments with different salinities.As made evident by the results,the saturation index increases with the degree of water injec-tion.When the salinity of the injected water is lower than 80000 ppm,the resistivity of the rock samplefirst decreases,then it remains almost constant in an intermediate stage,andfinally it grows,thereby giving rise to a‘U’profile behavior.As the salinity decreases,the water saturation corresponding to the inflection point of the resistivity becomes lower,thereby leading to a wider‘U’type range and a higher terminal resistivity.For dif-ferent samples,higher initial resistivity of the sample in the oil-bearing state,and higher resistivity after low-sali-nity water washing are obtained when a thicker lithology is considered.

Geochemical characterization of the salinity of irrigated soils in arid regions(Biskra, SE Algeria)

The agriculture in Biskra,southeastern Algeria,is based on traditional practices and characterized by small irrigated fields.In the last decades,the increasing demand in water as well as the scarcity of rainfall has forced many farmers to use groundwater of low quality to maintain the profitability of their crops.Unfortunately,this practice seems to be the main harmful factor for soil quality in the region since it is responsible for the salinization of the irrigated areas.Aiming to assess the impact of this phenomenon,the soils of the irrigated perimeter of El Ghrous-a representative rural community located in the west of Biskra-have been analyzed.A set of 82 soil samples was collected from top and subsoil(0-15 and15-35 cm respectively),on which the following physicochemical analyzes were performed:Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+),K^(+),Na^(+),Cl^(-),SO_(4)^(2-),HCO_(3)^(-),NO_(3)^(-),pH,electrical conductivity(EC)and sodium adsorption ratio.A Principal Component Analysis was performed to individuate the geochemical processes that influenced significantly the evolution of soil salinity and its pathways.The results showed a calcium sulfate(CaSO_(4))facies with a high risk of salinity and a low to medium risk of alkalinity.The calcite residual alkalinity and generalized residual alkalinity decreased as the solutions became more concentrated.Most of the samples were oversaturated in carbonate minerals(aragonite,calcite,and dolomite)and under saturated in evaporitic minerals(anhydrite,gypsum,and halite).Finally,two multiple linear regressions(using cations and anions as independent variables)have been proposed to quantify soil salinity.These equations,with an accuracy of 85%,can represent a time and money-saving tool for managers and farmers to estimate the EC,in comparison to the traditional estimation methods.

Factors influencing in-situ leaching of uranium mining in a sandstone deposit in Shihongtan, Northwest China

The Shihongtan uranium deposit in northwest China is a sandstone-type deposit suitable for alkaline in-situ leaching exploitation of uranium. Alkaline leaching tends to result in CaCO3 precipitation there by affecting the porosity of the ore-bearing aquifer. CaCO3 deposits can also block pumping and injection holes if the formulation parameters of the leaching solution are not well controlled. However, controlling these parameters to operate the in-situ leaching process is challenging. Our study demonstrates that the dissolved uranium concentration in the leaching solution increases as HCO3-concentration increases. Therefore, the most suitable HCO3-concentration to use as leaching solution is defined by the boundary value of the HCO3-concentration that controls CaCO3 dissolution-precipitation. That is, the dissolution and precipitation of calcite is closely related to pH, Ca2+ and HCO3-concentration. The pH and Ca2+ concentration are the main factors limiting HCO3-concentration in the leaching solution. The higher the pH and Ca2+ concentration, the lower the boundary value of HCO3-concentration, and therefore the more unfavorable to in-situ leaching of uranium.

Geochemical Modelling of Fluoride Concentration in Hard Rock Terrain of Madhya Pradesh, India

The aim of the present study is to locate and decipher the groundwater quality, types, and hydrogeochemicai reactions, which are responsible for elevated concentration of fluoride in the Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, India. Groundwater samples, quality data and other ancillary information were collected for 26 villages in the Chhindwara District, M.P. India during May 2006. The saturation index was computed for the selected samples in the region, which suggest that generally most of the minerals are saturated with respect to water. The concentration of fluoride in the region varies from 0.6 to 4.74 rag/l, which is much higher as per the national and international water quality standards. The study also reveals that the fluoride bearing rock formations are the main source of the higher concentration of fluoride in groundwater along with the conjuncture of land use change. Moreover, the area is a hard rock terrain and consists of fractured granites and amygdaloidal and highly jointed compact basalt acting as good aquifer, which is probably enriching the high content of fluoride in groundwater. High concentration of fluoride is found in deeper level of groundwater and it is possible due to rock-water interaction, which requires further detailed investigation. The highly alkaline conditions indicate fluorite dissolution, which works as a major process for higher concentration of fluoride in the study area. The results of this study will ultimately help in the identification of risk areas and taking measures to mitigate negative impacts related to fluoride pollution and toxicity.

Effect of Boiling and Cooling of Geothermal Fluids on Precipitation of Secondary Minerals: A Case Study of Olkaria Fields, Kenya

The main drawback in the utilization of geothermal resources arises from the precipitation of secondary minerals within wells, pipelines, steam separators, turbines and other surface equipment in form of scales. Scale formation is an outcome of the alteration of various rocks dissolved in geothermal fluids that find their way into a reservoir. Once geothermal fluids ascend to the surface, hydrostatic pressure decreases toward a phase separation level that permits the dissolved gases such as CO2, H2S and H2, and steam to separate from the liquid phase by “boiling”. Stripping of these volatiles may increase fluid pH, leading to precipitation and deposition of secondary minerals. The study sought to establish the relationship between water-rock interaction and secondary mineral precipitates at the surface and deep fluid at different temperatures during depressurisation boiling and cooling. Samples were collected from selected Olkaria wells;OW-38A, OW-910 and OW-910A. The analysis of the results outlined deep fluid Alkali-Chloride waters and surface steam-heated Alkali-Bicarbonate and acidic Sulphate-Chloride waters. Various models suggested adiabatic boiling, conductive cooling and possible mixing and dilution in the wells. Hydrothermal alteration minerals were found to be in equilibrium with the geothermal fluids at varying temperatures, and the secondary minerals controlled the chemistry of the reservoir. Silica-saturated solutions precipitated silica in OW-910 and OW-910A, which may have resulted from rapid cooling following mixing with cold surface water.

Major and Trace Element Characterization of Shallow Groundwater in Coastal Alluvium of Chidambaram Town, Cuddalore District, South India

Hydrogeochemical investigation of groundwater of Chidambaram town has been carried out to assess the suitability for drinking uses and the source for the ions acquisition process. Geologically, the area comes under the alluvial zone and is followed by tertiary formation, includes sands, sand stone, laterite, clayey black and stiff clay. The water level varies from 6 m to 10 m bgl. Twenty groundwater samples are collected and analysed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), major cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and anions , Cl-, . The trace elements of Zn, Pb, Cr, Fe, Cd, Cu and Mn are determined. Study results reveal that groundwater in study area is a fresh water type. The pH, EC and TDS are noticed high and sequence of abundance of the major ions is Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ and Cl- > > . The Stufzand chloride classification indicates that the groundwater is derived from precipitations and Scholler classification shown type I. Hydrochemical facies of groundwater are Ca2+ > Na+ > Cl- and saturation index shows that nearly all the water samples are under saturated with respect to carbonate (calcite, dolomite and aragonite) and sulfate (gypsum and anhydrite) minerals. Except Zn, other elements of Fe, Pb, Cr, Mn, Cu, and Cd are found high and above the permissible limit of drinking water standard. The ionic concentration present in the groundwater of the study area can be from wastes of commercial activities, domestic sewage and automobiles rather than by ionic exchange and geological formation.

Saturation evaluation for fine-grained sediments

Accurate quantification of the gas hydrate content in the deep sea is useful for assessing the resource potential and understanding the role of gas hydrates in the global carbon cycle.Resistivity logging data combined with Archie’s equation are often used to calculate gas hydrate saturation,but the reliability is dependent on the rationality of the empirical parameter cementation factor and saturation index.At present,an increasing number of fine-grained hydrate-rich sediment regions have been discovered worldwide through drilling efforts,and the reservoir types and hydrate distribution are diverse,which differs greatly from that of coarse-grained reservoirs of hydrate-bearing sediment.This results in vertical variations in m and n through stratigraphy.At present,the saturation evaluation effect of these reservoirs cannot be improved.In this work,a theory for the determination of the cementation factor and saturation index was first proposed to obtain reliable and variable values of the empirical parameters.Then,a hydrate saturation evaluation technique with variables m and n was formed based on the well logging data.This technique was used to evaluate complex fine-grained hydrate-bearing reservoirs in several regions worldwide.It was found that the highest n could be 16,and the log calculation results were more consistent with the core hydrate saturation.Additionally,the cause of the excessively high n values was explained from physical principles,and the result was verified with actually well log data.In future evaluations of the amount of hydrate resources in fine-grained sediment reservoirs worldwide,new saturation estimation methods should be taken into account to advance hydrate research.

Effects of Common Ions on Zn Sorption in Some Calcareous Soils of Western Iran

Zinc （Zn） is essential to plant growth and relatively mobile in soils. This study was conducted to assess the effect of common ions （Ca2＋, K＋, Na＋, NH＋, CI-, NO3-, and H2PO4） on sorption of Zn in surface samples of ten calcareous soils from western Iran using 10 mmol L-1 KC1, KNO3, KH2P04, Ca（N03）2, NAN03, and NH4N03 solutions as background electrolytes. The results indicated that both NH＋, K＋, and Ca2＋ equally decreased Zn sorption as compared to Na＋. Zinc sorption was decreased by H2PO4- as compared to NO3 and Cl-. The Langmuir and Freundlich equations fitted closely to the sorption data of all ions. The Langmuir maximum, bonding energy constant, and Freundlich distribution coefficient for Zn sorption differed among the various ionic background electrolytes. Langmuir sorption parameters showed that the presence of H2PO4- decreased the maximum Zn adsorbed, but increased the bonding energy. Although K＋ and NH＋ equally influenced maximum Zn adsorbed, they differed in their effect on the distribution coefficient of Zn in soils. Values of saturation index calculated using Visual MINTEQ indicated that at the low Zn concentration, Zn solubility was controlled by sorption reactions and at the high Zn concentration, it was mainly controlled by sorption and mineral precipitation reactions, such as precipitation of Zn3（PO4）2.4H2O, Zn5（OH）6（CO3）2, and ZnCO3. For most ionic background electrolytes, soil pH, CaC03, and cation exchange capacity （CEC） were significantly correlated with sorption parameters.