Hydrogeological field course

Abstract

The course covered a variety of hydrogeological investigation methods with both theory and application at an experimental site in fractured rock. Included were aquifer and well tests, estimation of natural hydraulic heads, fluid logging, groundwater sampling, and tracer techniques. The students had to sample, display, evaluate and assess own data and write a report.

Objective

- To be able to choose an appropriate (goal, hydrogeological environment, logistic boundary conditions) investigation method and plan experiments accordingly. - To acquire own experiences in handling typical instruments, e.g. pump, pressure transmitter, data logger, inductive flowmeter, hydrochemical test sets etc. - To understand the theoretical background of important hydrogeological field investigation methods. - To master typical data presentation and evaluation methods, e.g. diagnostic plots, piper diagram, type curve fitting etc.). - To be able to assess the quality and importance of the achieved results in view of theoretical and practical limitations.

Content

Covered methods are - Aquifer and well tests (constant pressure, constant flow, step pumping tests, drawdown and build-up, single hole and crosshole, double packer and open hole), - Slug & bail tests (pneumatic and bailer techniques, double packer intervals and open hole). - Hydraulic head profiling (natural conditions). - Fluid logging (simple and typical techniques like fluid conductivity, flowmeter). - Groundwater sampling (including measurement of physico-chemical properties). - Tracer dilution test.

Resources