Ground-water withdrawals and land-surface subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, 1906-80

Abstract

The withdrawal of large amounts of ground water in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas, has resulted in water-level declines of as much as 250 feet (76 meters) in wells completed in the Chicot aquifer and as much as 300 feet (91 meters) in wells completed in the Evangeline aquifer during 1943-77. Since late 1976, changes in pumping distribution resulting from efforts to control subsidence and the introduction of surface water from Lake Livingston have altered the pattern of water-level changes. In the Johnson Space Center and Baytown-La Porte areas (Chicot aquifer), and in the Pasadena area (Evangeline aquifer), water levels rose about 20 feet (6.1 meters) during 1973-77. However, in the western Houston area (Evangeline aquifer), water levels have continued to decline at an increasing rate through 1977. The declines in water levels have caused pronounced regional subsidence of the land surface. The center of regional subsidence is the Pasadena area, where more than 9 feet (2.7 meters) and possibly as much as 10 feet (3.0 meters) of subsidence occurred between 1906 and 1978. Almost 9 feet (2.7 meters) of subsidence occurred between 1943 and 1978. Localized centers of subsidence exist throughout the region, especially in the Baytown-La Porte and Texas City areas. Evaluation of tide records from five gages in Galveston Bay and the tidal reaches of Buffalo Bayou indicates that changes in elevations of significantly less than 0.5 foot (150 millimeters) and possibly as little as 0.1 foot (30 millimeters) can be detected. The unit measure of compressibility, specific-unit compaction, ranged from 1.0 x 10-5 to 4.0 x 10-5 feet-1(3.28 x 10-5 to 1.31 x 10-4 m-') of compaction per foot of clay thickness per foot of average water-level change for 1906-78. The greatest compressibility was at the Clear Lake site and the least compressibility was at the Lake Houston site. The data indicate that the compressibility is related to the age of the sediments and the depth of burial of the sediments.

Water-level altitudes 2017 and water-level changes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper Aquifers and compaction 1973–2016 in the Chicot and Evangeline Aquifers, Houston-Galveston region, Texas

“…The cumulative compaction data for the Pasadena, Clear Lake (shallow), Clear Lake (deep), Seabrook, Baytown C-1 (shallow), Baytown C-2 (deep), and Johnson Space Center extensometers indicate a slight increase in land-surface elevation from late 1978 to early 1980 (figs. 15 and 16) because a ruptured natural gas well pressurized the confined aquifer system and caused water levels to rise in the area adjacent to the ruptured well (Gabrysch, 1984). Gradually, the pressure in the aquifer dissipated, and the process of compaction subsequently returned to rates similar to those prior to the pressuring event.…”

“…Because the extensometer functions as a piezometer and an extensometer, the cause-and-effect relation between the changes in water level in the aquifer and the changes in landsurface elevation can be established. Detailed information on the scientific theory, construction, and operation of extensometers is presented in Gabrysch (1984).…”

“…1) (Pratt and Johnson, 1926). Although subsidence was first identified in the Houston-Galveston region as a result of hydrocarbon extraction at this particular oil field, most of the subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region is a direct result of groundwater withdrawals that have depressured and dewatered the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, thereby causing compaction of the aquifer sediments (Winslow and Doyel, 1954;Winslow and Wood, 1959;Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975;Gabrysch, 1984;Holzer and Bluntzer, 1984;Kasmarek, Gabrysch, and Johnson, 2010).…”

Ground Water Atlas of the United States: Segment 4, Oklahoma, Texas

“…M odified from Gabrysch, 1984 E XPLANATION ~0 The topography of the coastal uplands is more dissected and rolling than that of the coastal lowlands. Average annual precipitation in the uplands ranges from about 21 inches in the Rio Grande Valley to about 50 inches at the Louisiana border.…”

Water-level altitudes 2013 and water-level changes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers and compaction 1973--2012 in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, Houston-Galveston region, Texas

“…1) (Pratt and Johnson, 1926). Most of the subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region has occurred as a direct result of groundwater withdrawals that have depressured and dewatered the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, thereby causing compaction of the aquifer sediments (Winslow and Doyle, 1954;Winslow and Wood, 1959;Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975;Gabrysch, 1984;Holzer and Bluntzer, 1984;Kasmarek, Gabrysch, and Johnson, 2010).…”