AIR-SLUG LOW-PRESSURE PACKER SYSTEM AIR-SLUG LOW-PRESSURE PACKER SYSTEM TO FACILITATE CHARACTERIZATION OF TO FACILITATE CHARACTERIZATION OF

FRACTURED ROCKFRACTURED ROCK

Georgia Ground Water Resources ConferenceGeorgia Ground Water Resources ConferenceUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia

April 25, 2005April 25, 2005

STRADDLE STRADDLE PACKER PACKER

Head MeasurementHead Measurement Hydraulic TestHydraulic Test SampleSample

Compressed Air

Saprolite

Upper Packer

Lower Packer

Separation Pipe

PIPE PLUG (Cherne Industries)PIPE PLUG (Cherne Industries)

Dia.-11.89cm Length-45cmDia.-11.89cm Length-45cm Inflation Pressure: 35psiInflation Pressure: 35psi Differential Pressure: 13psi Differential Pressure: 13psi

(9m)(9m) ~$150.00 per Pipe Plug~$150.00 per Pipe Plug

SEPARATION PIPESEPARATION PIPE ~1.4m PVC pipe~1.4m PVC pipe 5/16” reinforcement rod5/16” reinforcement rod

(LP) STRADDLE PACKER(LP) STRADDLE PACKER

Pipe Plug

Pipe Plug

Separation Pipe

Pipe String

Air Slug TestAir Slug Test

Compressed Air

ValveRegulator

Transducer and DAQ

Slug inSlug out

h

t

FIELD APPLICATIONFIELD APPLICATION (SC Botanical Gardens, Clemson Well Field)(SC Botanical Gardens, Clemson Well Field)

Dep

th(m

ete

rs)

10

20

30

40

50

60

Ca

sin

gF

ra

ctu

red

Bio

tite

Gn

eis

s

WELL-(LAR-4) FRX. LOCATION Photo Log

Time (sec)1 10 100 1000 10000

H(t

)/H o

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.024m25.4m26.9m28.2m29.5m30.9m32.3m33.6m36.5m37.9m39.2m42m44.8m46m47.5m48.7m50.2m51.5m52.8m54.2m55.5m56.8m58.5m

24m25.4m26.9m28.2m

29.5m30.9m32.3m33.67m36.48m37.9m39.2m

42m44.77m46m47.5m48.7m50.2m51.5m

52.8m54.2m55.5m56.87m58.5m

FIELD DATAFIELD DATA

t0.37

T = dwell2/t0.37

Similar to Hvorslev Method

Transmissivity Example at 50.2mt0.37=~20sec

dwell2=0.023m2

T=0.001m2/s

Slug Volume 5.5L

(LP) PACKER RESULTS(LP) PACKER RESULTS

Transmissivity (m2/s)10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3

Dep

th (

met

ers)

10

20

30

40

50

60

LP-Packers

Head (meters)

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6

Dep

th (

met

ers)

10

20

30

40

50

60

Ambient Head 0.013

0.0016

ROCTEST PackersROCTEST Packers Length-150cmLength-150cm Inflation Pressure: 800psi Inflation Pressure: 800psi Differential Pressure: 200psiDifferential Pressure: 200psi ~$2000.00 per packer~$2000.00 per packer

(HP) STRADDLE PACKER(HP) STRADDLE PACKER

TRANSMISSIVITY

COMPARISON (m2/s)

Low-Pressure Packers 10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3

Hig

h-P

ress

ure

Pac

ker

s

10-7

10-6

10-5

10-4

10-3

r2=0.68

VERIFICATIONVERIFICATION

Transmissivity (m2/s)10-7 10-6 10-5 10-4 10-3

Dep

th (

met

ers)

10

20

30

40

50

60

LP-PackersHP- Packers

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

The (HP) straddle packer system costs $4000.00 and The (HP) straddle packer system costs $4000.00 and

requires a winch and several personnel to deploy, which requires a winch and several personnel to deploy, which

can increase operational costs.can increase operational costs.

The (LP) Straddle packer system costs $300.00 and can be The (LP) Straddle packer system costs $300.00 and can be

deployed without a winch using one or two personneldeployed without a winch using one or two personnel

The (LP) packer system gives The (LP) packer system gives T T results that are similar to results that are similar to

the (HP) packer system the (HP) packer system T T results.results.

The effectiveness of the (LP) packer seal can be improved The effectiveness of the (LP) packer seal can be improved

by stacking additional packers.by stacking additional packers.

ACKNOWLEGEMENTSACKNOWLEGEMENTS

Murdoch, Larry (Advisor)Schweisinger, Todd (Student)Elmore, Ryan (student)Hall, Richard (Student)

Thanks To: National Science Foundation (NSF EAR 0001146)