A Parametric Numerical Analysis of Factors Controlling Ground Ruptures Caused by Groundwater Pumping

Abstract

A modeling analysis is used to investigate the relative susceptibility of various hydrogeologic configurations to aseismic rupture generation due to deformation of aquifer systems accompanying groundwater pumping. An advanced numerical model (GEPS3D) is used to simulate rupture generation and propagation for three typical processes: (i) reactivation of a preexisting fault, (ii) differential compaction due to variations in thickness of aquifer/aquitard layers constituting the aquifer system, and (iii) tensile fracturing above a bedrock ridge that forms the base of the aquifer system. A sensitivity analysis is developed to address the relative importance of various factors, including aquifer depletion, aquifer thickness, the possible uneven distribution and depth below land surface of the aquifer/aquitard layers susceptible to aquifer‐system compaction, and the height of bedrock ridges beneath the aquifer system which contributes to thinning of the aquifer system. The rupture evolution is classified in two occurrences. In one, the rupture develops at either the top of the aquifer or at land surface and does not propagate. In the other, the developed rupture propagates from the aquifer top toward the land surface and/or from the land surface downward. The aquifer depth is the most important factor controlling rupture evolution. Specifically, the probability of a significant rupture propagation is higher when the aquifer top is near land surface. The numerical results are processed by a statistical regression analysis to provide a general methodology for a preliminary evaluation of possible ruptures development in exploited aquifer systems susceptible to compaction and accompanying land subsidence. A comparison with a few representative case studies in Arizona, USA, China, and Mexico supports the study outcomes.

Understanding Ground Rupture Due to Groundwater Overpumping by a Large Lab Experiment and Advanced Numerical Modeling

“…Specifically, the "v" shape of the fracture (Figures 13(j)-13(l)), where opening decreases with depth, is consistent with a rupturing mechanism characterized by the detachment and rotation of the rupture planes, originating from the land surface and propagating downward. This outcome supports previous modeling results obtained at the field scale on simplified hydrogeological configurations (Frigo et al, 2019) and on the actual setting of the Guangming village (Ye et al, 2018). With reference to the outcome by Ye et al (2018), it is interesting to point out that the ratio between the values of the geomechanical parameters mainly governing the rupture opening, that is, E and c, at the full-scale and lab-scale models, which is in the order of 10-20, corresponds to the same ratio for w r .…”

“…Ground ruptures, associated with land subsidence due to excessive groundwater withdrawal, are becoming a widespread environmental hazard, mainly affecting semiarid regions. An increasing effort has been devoted to monitor (Carpenter, 2015; Holzer & Pampeyan, 1981; J. Liu et al., 2017; X. Liu et al., 2019), model (Hernandez‐Marín & Burbey, 2012; Malinowska et al., 2018; Panda et al., 2015; Ye et al., 2018), and understand the main mechanisms of this hydrogeomechanical process through general hazard and sensitivity analyses (Choubin et al., 2019; Frigo et al., 2019; Y. Liu et al., 2019).…”

“…Liu et al, 2017;X. Liu et al, 2019), model (Hernandez-Marín & Burbey, 2012;Malinowska et al, 2018;Panda et al, 2015;Ye et al, 2018), and understand the main mechanisms of this hydrogeomechanical process through general hazard and sensitivity analyses (Choubin et al, 2019;Frigo et al, 2019;Y. Liu et al, 2019).…”

“…By distinction, the study purpose was wider than the simulation of the specific Guangming case. For example, a still‐open general question is if ground ruptures originate from the land surface and grow downward or from the bedrock tip upward (Frigo et al., 2019; Holzer & Pampeyan, 1981; Sheng et al., 2003). Discriminating which of the two behaviors is more likely to take place is generally quite difficult in in situ conditions and can be more effectively recognized through a lab experiment.…”

Transport analysis in deformable porous media through integral transforms

“…Groundwater vulnerability related to geomechanical deformations has been evaluated through numerical modeling (deterministic and stochastic), GIS (Geographic Information System) tools, and well capture zone analysis (employing both field data analysis and numerical models). 25 Although many numerical models focus on the consolidation and fracturing induced by water extraction, 26–28 a few works 23, 29 investigated the effects of consolidation‐induced flow on solute transport, which is of relevance to landfill consolidation. A reduction in the breakthrough time of contaminant across a plane was reported 29 due to consolidation and found advection to have a lesser impact on the contaminant transit time than variations in geometry and porosity.…”