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Inferring field‐scale properties of a fractured aquifer from ground surface deformation during a well test
Author(s) -
Schuite Jonathan,
Longuevergne Laurent,
Bour Olivier,
Boudin Frédérick,
Durand Stéphane,
Lavenant Nicolas
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl066387
Subject(s) - hydrogeology , aquifer , geology , deformation (meteorology) , groundwater , fracture (geology) , tilt (camera) , geotechnical engineering , displacement (psychology) , scale (ratio) , field (mathematics) , geophysics , geometry , psychology , oceanography , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics , psychotherapist
Fractured aquifers which bear valuable water resources are often difficult to characterize with classical hydrogeological tools due to their intrinsic heterogeneities. Here we implement ground surface deformation tools (tiltmetry and optical leveling) to monitor groundwater pressure changes induced by a classical hydraulic test at the Ploemeur observatory. By jointly analyzing complementary time constraining data (tilt) and spatially constraining data (vertical displacement), our results strongly suggest that the use of these surface deformation observations allows for estimating storativity and structural properties (dip, root depth, and lateral extension) of a large hydraulically active fracture, in good agreement with previous studies. Hence, we demonstrate that ground surface deformation is a useful addition to traditional hydrogeological techniques and opens possibilities for characterizing important large‐scale properties of fractured aquifers with short‐term well tests as a controlled forcing.