29 Petroleum and Water Interactions in Mexico’s South- Central Region

Tuesday, 14 March 2017
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Grand Ballroom B

VERTICAL FLOW AND EARLY ALERT IN LOW HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY MEDIA

Paper number: 29-4
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 2:15 PM – 2:35 PM

Authors

Abstract

Deep oil and gas recovery by means of water-based fluid injection into traditional low hydraulic conductivity shale strata provides unique economic opportunities. Low hydraulic conductivity proposes natural groundwater flow conditions related to water movement in tens of thousands years along the strata. This movement might speed up within this strata in several orders of magnitude under human intervention, ie. Hydraulic fracturing. Therefore, access to good quality water in the northern-eastern semiarid region of Mexico and south-eastern USA requires involving groundwater protection measures, directing the concerns of residents and developers. Experience on fractured hydrogeology in Mexico has increased recently under the basis of the Tóthian flow systems theory. The response of groundwater flow from kilometers distance below the ground may be traced at surface within minutes after pumping started in an abstraction well. This response usually termed up-conning, might deteriorate obtained water quality by ascending deep flow to the extraction level; thus, the concept of Early Alert needs to be developed according to the Hydrogeological nature of the geological media. Due to the nature of the flow to be involved geochemical tools could prove adequate for a sound Early Alert definition, from which other readily and simple tools for well users could be formulated.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017SC-289025

© Copyright 2017 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.