In contaminant hydrogeology, investigations at fractured rock sites are typically undertaken to improve understanding of the fracture networks and associated groundwater flow that govern past and/or future contaminant transport. Conventional hydrogeologic, geophysical, and hydrophysical techniques used to develop a conceptual model are often implemented in open boreholes under conditions of cross-connected flow. A new approach using high-resolution temperature (+/-0.001 degrees C) profiles measured within static water columns of boreholes sealed using continuous, water-inflated, flexible liners (FLUTe) identifies hydraulically active fractures under ambient (natural) groundwater flow conditions. The value of this approach is assessed by comparisons of temperature profiles from holes (100 to 200 m deep) with and without liners at four contaminated sites with distinctly different hydrogeologic conditions. The results from the lined holes consistently show many more hydraulically active fractures than the open-hole profiles, in which the influence of vertical flow through the borehole between a few fractures masks important intermediary flow zones. Temperature measurements in temporarily sealed boreholes not only improve the sensitivity and accuracy of identifying hydraulically active fractures under ambient conditions but also offer new insights regarding previously unresolvable flow distributions in fractured rock systems, while leaving the borehole available for other forms of testing and monitoring device installation.

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We present a technique for placing a borehole into thermal dis-equilibrium, and thereby interpreting groundwater flow through fractures where it may have been previously undetected. Denoted as Active Line Source (ALS) logging, the method consists of temperature logging while a borehole is heated by the cable and∕or during cooling after the heating. With two or more logs collected during either heating or cooling, an estimate of thermal conductivity is obtained. The basic theory, widely used for such things as thermal conductivity probes, is shown to fit the recorded data well. The mechanics of ALS logging are described, and the practical challenges are outlined. In the absence of groundwater flow in or around the borehole, variations in the thermal conductivity of the rock are largely due to variable water content and the ALS log provides a reasonable surrogate for the neutron log. When groundwater flow dominates the dissipation of thermal energy from the borehole, however, the apparent thermal conductivity is increased. In open boreholes this flow can be both ambient (within the formation itself) and connecting (vertical flow between fractures intersected by the borehole). In cased or lined holes with no connecting flow, ALS logs are particularly useful as detectors of ambient groundwater flow. Alternative methods for flow detection, such as chemical dilution or flow-meters, require an open borehole and either have poor vertical resolution or require multiple stationary measurements, often with packers to minimize the effects of connecting flow. The ALS technique is a comparatively simple tool, useful in both open and cased or lined boreholes, run continuously down the length of the borehole, with fracture resolution on the order of a few centimeters. We describe ALS logging of a [Formula: see text] section of a borehole through fractured dolomite which has been lined with a FLUTe sleeve. The ALS results are compared to the geologic units encountered, conventional geophysical logging techniques, time-lapse passive temperature logging, heat pulse flowmeter data and packer testing.

Buried bedrock valleys infilled with Quaternary-aged sediment have the potential to become productive aquifers owing to prevalent sand and gravel deposits often associated with these topographic lows. In areas where groundwater is drawn from the underlying bedrock aquifer, buried bedrock channels may significantly affect the spatial distribution of recharge and localized contaminant pathways. Therefore, understanding the form, distribution, and the nature of Quaternary infill sediments within these buried bedrock river valleys, and their relationship to hydraulically transmissive bedrock features is an important aspect of groundwater resource management. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of electrical resistivity and seismic refraction collected over a partially urbanized 150 ha area with variable vegetation, roads, and structures, to map the spatial distribution of sediments and delineation of a channel segment associated with a regional bedrock valley. Electrical resistivity and seismic refraction was performed along 13 (covering ϳ11.6 km) and seven transects (covering ϳ0.9 km), respectively, to map and characterize the bedrock surface morphology beneath a variable thickness of unconsolidated deposits. Three continuously cored holes and downhole geophysical logs, supplemented with four nearby water well records captured the in-channel as well as adjacent Quaternary stratigraphy (ϳ15-40 m). Cores recorded multiple glacial till deposits and ice-marginal processes associated with ice advances and retreats. Hydraulic transmissivity of the bedrock around the valley feature was evaluated using a FLUTe hydraulic transmissivity profiling technique. This study demonstrates the potential of combining several surface geophysical methods with sedimentological analysis of continuous cores and hydraulic data for characterizing tributary bedrock channel morphology and Quaternary infill at a scale relevant to localized studies of municipal production well recharge zones and contaminant transport and fate.Résumé : Les vallées ensevelies taillées dans le roc remplies de sédiments d'âge quaternaire ont le potentiel de devenir des aquifères productifs en raison des importants dépôts de sable et de gravier souvent associés à ces dépressions topographiques. Dans les régions où l'eau souterraine est tirée de l'aquifère rocheux sous-jacent, les chenaux ensevelis taillés dans le roc pourraient avoir une importante incidence sur la répartition spatiale de la recharge et des voies de propagation des contaminants. La compréhension de la forme, de la répartition et de la nature des sédiments quaternaires qui remplissent ces vallées fluviales ensevelies et leur lien avec des caractéristiques du substrat rocheux transmissif est un aspect important de la gestion des ressources d'eau souterraine. Nous évaluons l'efficacité des méthodes de résistivité électrique et de sismique réfraction utilisées dans une zone partiellement urbanisée de 150 ha présentant une répartition variable de la végétation, des routes et des ouvrages, pour c...

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[1] Estimation of water and contaminant discharges is an important hydrological problem. Fractured rock aquifers are recognized as highly complex flow and transport systems, and the fractured rock passive flux meter (FRPFM) is a recently tested device to simultaneously measure cumulative water and contaminant mass fluxes in fractures intersecting an observation well (boring). Furthermore, the FRPFM is capable of indicating orientations and directions of flow in hydraulically active (''flowing'') fractures. The present work develops a discharge estimator for when FRPFM measurements of fracture fluxes in the direction perpendicular to a transect (control plane) along one or more observation wells are available. In addition, estimation uncertainty in terms of a coefficient of variation is assessed based on a Monte Carlo approach under normalized conditions. Sources of uncertainty considered are spatially random fracture trace locations, random trace lengths, and orientations as well as variability of trace average fluxes (including smooth spatial trends), variability of local fluxes within traces, and flux measurement errors. Knowledge about the trace length distribution, which is commonly not available from borehole surveys, is not required for discharge estimation. However, it does affect the uncertainty assessment, and equations for upper uncertainty bounds are given as an alternative. In agreement with general statistical inference, it is found that discharge uncertainty decreases proportionally with the number of fluxes measured. Results are validated, and an example problem illustrates practical application and performance.

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