EOSC 532 · Field Laboratory in Groundwater Hydrology

Hydraulic head measurements, water-quality sampling, pump and slug testing, infiltration measurements, profiling techniques. Computer analysis of field data. Held after spring term at the Richmond groundwater hydrology field site. Enrolment limitations. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. Prerequisite: EOSC 533.

Course Availability & Schedule

Course Fees

There are 2 separate fees for this course:

  1. Course Tuition Fee - payable via Student Service Centre
  2. Special Fee ($40.00) - payable to EOAS Administrative Office

Instructors

Roger Beckie

Lecture Topics

  1. Overview of Field Site and Field Techniques
    • geology of field site
    • review of methods of determining porous medium properties
    • interpretation of tidal signals in aquifers
    • introduction to piezocone penetration technology

    Exercise 1: Geologic description of sediment core from field site
    Exercise 2: Correlation between core data and cone penetrometer data
     

  2. Flow System Characterization
    • measurement of hydraulic head in piezometers
    • characterization of temporal changes in hydraulic head
    • demonstration of piezocone test

    Exercise 3: Prepare potentiometric surface maps for site and interpret directions of groundwater flow
    Exercise 4: Estimation of hydraulic properties from tidal signals
    Exercise 5: Hydrogeologic properties from piezocone tests
     

  3. Water Quality Sampling
    • field protocols
    • demonstration of sampling equipment
    • introduction to specific depty K-BAT and UBC K-sampler
    • water quality determinations (pH, conductance, chloride, dissolved oxygen)
    • sampling for isotopic analysis

    Exercise 6: Mapping spatial variations in water quality above and through a saline water wedge
    Exercise 7: Aqueous geochemical modeling of pore waters at field site
     

  4. Infiltation Through Soil Profile
    • fixed ring infiltrometer

    Exercise 8: Estimation of steady state infiltration rates
     

  5. Measurement and Sampling Procedures for Westbay Multiport System
    • demonstration of measurement/sampling procedures

    Exercise 9: Characterization of vertical flow components at field site
     

  6. Hydraulic Response Tests
    • methodology for single boreholes tests
    • piezocone pore pressure dissipation tests
    • step drawdown tests for well efficiency
    • methodology for pumping tests

    Exercise 10: Characterization of aquifer properties using slug/bail tests
    Exercise 11: Estimation of specific capacity of pumping well
    Exercise 12: Characterization of aquifer properties using pumping tests
    Exercise 13: Characterization of aquifer properties from recovery data
    Exercise 14: Characterization of aquifer properties from CPT and UBC K-sampler
    Exercise 15: Assessment of scale-dependence of parameter estimates (lab, piezocone, single borehole, cross-borehole)
    Exercise 16: Development of a calibrated numerical simulation model of pumping test
     

  7. Geophysical Surveys
    • demonstration of ground penetrating radar survey
    • demonstration of EM-31 and downhole cone resistivity survey

    Exercise 17: Interpretation of resistivity data collected on site
     

  8. Site Hydrogeologic Model
    Exercise 18: Development of a large-scale simulation model of the groundwater flow system at the field site
     
  9. Preparation of Hydrogeological Report
    Exercise 19: Students will prepare a comprehensive report summarizing the groundwater hydrology of the field site.