Land-surface subsidence in the Houston-Galveston region, Texas

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

“…Because most compaction of subsurface sediments is inelastic, with about 90 percent of the compaction considered permanent, only a small amount of rebound of the land-surface elevation can occur (Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975). Although the compaction of one thin silt and clay layer generally will not cause a measureable decrease in the landsurface elevation, when numerous stratigraphic sequences of sand layers and silt and clay layers (characteristic of the Gulf Coast aquifer system) depressure and compact, a measureable amount of subsidence often occurs (Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975). Figure 6.…”

“…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).…”

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

“…Diagram depicting the mechanism of subsidence caused by potentiometric surface declines induced by groundwater withdrawals in an aquifer composed of sand, clay, and silt (modified from Galloway and others, 1999, p. 9). land-surface altitude occurs (Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975). Although the compaction of one thin clay and silt layer generally will not cause a noticeable decrease in the landsurface altitude, when numerous stacked clay and silt-and sand-layer sequences (characteristic of the Gulf Coast aquifer system) depressure and compact, subsidence often occurs (Gabrysch and Bonnet, 1975).…”

“…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).…”

Geodetic Monitoring of Tectonic Deformation: Toward a Strategy

“…One of the me-.t active areas is Atchfalaya Bay, Louisiana, which is subsiding at the rate of 13 mm/yr (Schlemon,1975). In the Houston-( Galveston area, fissures due to groundwater withdrawal are causing severe j problems in developed areas (Sheets, 1976;Kreider, 1976;Gabrysch, 1976) (Figure 43). The problem here is extremely critical, not just because of the cracking but also becaii.e of the potential for large-scale flooding from the sea in p_srts of this low-lying area.…”