Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-81
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-81
04 Apr 2022
 | 04 Apr 2022

3D hydrogeological parametrization using sparse piezometric data

Dimitri Rambourg, Raphaël Di Chiara, and Philippe Ackerer

Abstract. When modelling contamination transport in the subsurface and aquifers, it is crucial to assess the heterogeneities of the porous medium, including the vertical distribution of the aquifer parameter. This issue is generally addressed thanks to geophysical investigations.

As an alternative, a method is proposed using inversion data from a 2D calibrated flow model (solely reliant on piezometric series) as parameterization constraints for a 3D hydrogeological model. The methodology is tested via a synthetic model, ensuring full knowledge and control of its structure. The synthetic aquifer is composed of five lithofacies, distributed according to a sedimentary pattern, and functions in an unconfined regime. The level of heterogeneity for hydraulic conductivity spans three orders of magnitude. It provides the piezometric chronicles used to inverse 2D flow parameter fields and the lithological logs used to interpolate the 3D lithological model. Finally, the parameters of each facies (hydraulic conductivity and porosity) are obtained through an optimization loop, that minimizes the difference between the 2D calibrated transmissivity and the transmissivity computed with the estimated 3D facies parameters.

The method estimate parameters close to the known initial parameters, even with sparse piezometric and lithological data sampling. The maximal discrepancy is 61 % of the initial value for the permeability and 16 % for the porosity (mean error 18 % and 4 %, respectively). Although the methodology does not prevent interpolation error, it succeeds in reconstructing flow and transport dynamics close to the control data. Due to the inherent limitations of the 2D inversion approach, the method only applies to the saturated zone at this point.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

08 Dec 2022
Three-dimensional hydrogeological parametrization using sparse piezometric data
Dimitri Rambourg, Raphaël Di Chiara, and Philippe Ackerer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6147–6162, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6147-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6147-2022, 2022
Short summary

Dimitri Rambourg et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-81', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 May 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Dimitri Rambourg, 23 Jun 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-81', Anonymous Referee #2, 23 May 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Dimitri Rambourg, 23 Jun 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-81', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 May 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Dimitri Rambourg, 23 Jun 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-81', Anonymous Referee #2, 23 May 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Dimitri Rambourg, 23 Jun 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (24 Jun 2022) by Alberto Guadagnini
AR by Dimitri Rambourg on behalf of the Authors (07 Jul 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (08 Jul 2022) by Alberto Guadagnini
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (16 Jul 2022)
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (16 Jul 2022) by Alberto Guadagnini
AR by Dimitri Rambourg on behalf of the Authors (08 Sep 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (09 Sep 2022) by Alberto Guadagnini
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (16 Oct 2022)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (16 Oct 2022) by Alberto Guadagnini
AR by Dimitri Rambourg on behalf of the Authors (20 Oct 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (20 Oct 2022) by Alberto Guadagnini
AR by Dimitri Rambourg on behalf of the Authors (27 Oct 2022)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

08 Dec 2022
Three-dimensional hydrogeological parametrization using sparse piezometric data
Dimitri Rambourg, Raphaël Di Chiara, and Philippe Ackerer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6147–6162, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6147-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6147-2022, 2022
Short summary

Dimitri Rambourg et al.

Dimitri Rambourg et al.

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
The reproduction of flows and contaminations underground requires a good estimation of the parameters of the geological environment (mainly permeability and porosity), in three dimensions. While most researchers rely on geophysical methods, which are costly and difficult to implement in the field, this study proposes an alternative using data that is already widely available: piezometric records (monitoring of the water table) and the lithological description of the piezometric wells.