Quantitative HydroGeology

NOTE: THIS COURSE IS IN DEVELOPMENT AND THIS SYNOPSIS IS PRELIMINARY. THE COURSE CONTENT MAY CHANGE WHEN THE COURSE IS FINALIZED.

This hands-on course will review the underlying assumptions and theories of aquifer characterization and the practical utilization of hydrogeologic principles to understand and analyze ground water movement. The course is intended to be a refresher on hydrogeology and to provide exposure to application of these principles in analysis and investigation of ground water questions. The course will look at confined, unconfined, leaky, and fractured aquifers. Students will work examples applying these principles to coal mining and reclamation-related problems. .Duration: 3 days

Review of Hydrogeologic Principles

Geology: aquifers, aquitard, aquicludes, confined, unconfined leaky, porosity fractures and structures, permeability

Basic Ground-water Hydrology: aquifer parameters, Darcy’s law, permeability, storage, hydraulic head, hydraulic conductivity, isotropy/anisotropy; storativity, transmissivity

Types of Models: analytical modeling: deterministic versus stochastic; inverse versus forward modeling; transient versus equilibrium

Application of Hydrogeologic Principles

Physical model demonstration of ground-water flow

Apply storativity concepts to evaluating impacts of longwall mining

Application of well theory to analytical modeling of a mine

Using Darcy’s Law to evaluate barrier design

Understanding hydraulic head and its components

Understanding and applying the Thiem equation

Understanding specific capacity

Stream dewatering and remediation of longwall impacts

Application of concepts to passive treatment facilities

Evaluating retention time and useful life

Declining hydraulic conductivity as indicator of remaining useful life

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Regulatory or AML scientists with degrees or college credit in hydrology, or current experience in ground-water hydrology, with 6 months to 1 year of experience with SMCRA.

PREREQUISITES: Prospective students must possess a basic knowledge of ground-water geology, hydrology and hydraulics concept, e.g., recharge, discharge, hydraulic conductivity, storativity, transmissivity, and Darcy's Law.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED: None , though a calculator, pencil and a ruler will be useful.