Geologic and Hydrologic Modelling in the Uinta Basin, Utah · Geologic and Hydrologic Modelling in...
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Geologic and Hydrologic Modelling in the Uinta Basin, Utah Paul G. Quinn, M.E.G.E. (CSM), PG, ph 720.251.6432, Ambet PO Boxes: 441063, Aurora, Colo. 80014; 1071, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 81602; 521518, Salt Lake City, Utah 84152, 770753, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 80477 Robert Prucha, PE, (CU) ph 303.642.0366, [email protected], Integrated Hydro Systems, LLC, PO Box 3375, Boulder, Colo. 80307 Introduction GIS Models Understanding the availability, natural dynamics and interaction between surface water and groundwater resources will be important in the development of oil shale resources in the Uinta Basin. Development will require groundwater to access and process oil shale deposits and water resources must also be protected from environmental impacts of oil shale utilization. The removal of this water and subsequent disposal of it will likely impact both groundwater and surface water. Understanding these impacts requires detailed knowledge of both the surface hydrology and subsurface hydrogeology of the system and their interaction. The Duchesne River and Uinta Formations form the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer, an important basin aquifer that is about 8,000 feet thick in the north-central part of the Uinta Basin in Utah and Colorado. Ground water recharge within the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer is derived from precipitation and from seepage losses from canals and streams, while ground-water discharge is to perennial streams. Hydraulic conductivity of the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer is related to lithology and the degree of fracturing. Ground water in the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer exists within both local and basin flow systems. The geohydrologic units considered in these models in descending order are the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer, the Parachute Creek confining unit, the Douglas Creek-Renegade aquifer, and the Wasatch-Green River confining unit. A narrow strip (generally less than one mile wide) of alluvium occurs along perennial streams such as the Green, Duchesne, Lake Fork, Strawberry, and White Rivers, and Red Creek. Thickness of the alluvium generally is less than 50 ft. Although groundwater flows locally within the Parachute Creek, it is assumed to be a basin confining unit. Petrologic and geophysical interpretation analyses help define a geologic framework model used as a basis for developing a 3-dimensional multi-layer groundwater flow model of the entire basin. Key characteristics of preliminary simulated groundwater flow behaviour appear to confirm the assumption of low vertical hydraulic conductivity associated with confining units. The MikeSHE/Mike11 code and other spatial programs are used to investigate the complex, coupled surface water-groundwater response and complex spatio-temporal distribution of recharge within the basin. Surface Geology with Oil Shale boundary in red Surface Hydrology with Watershed Boundaries GIS Computer Aquifer and Recharge Models GIS Oil Shale Yield Zones Duchesne River-Uinta Aquifer boundary (shown in cyan color) Recharge Areas above Duchesne River-Uinta Aquifer (shown in red color) Basin showing the 50 gpt Oil Shale yield zone Basin showing the 15 gpt Oil Shale yield zone Dhi Mikeshe Surface water Streamflows Streamflow Discharge from the Duschesne River above Knight Diversion shows a gradual increase from early spring, peaking in late June/early July. The streamflow gradually recedes through September and then drops down to low, but relatively constant baseflows (<30 cfs). February 2011 shows no flow data because of ice in the river. The integrated hydrologic model will account for snowmelt using degree-day Snowmelt method that allows for sublimation, snowmelt and storage by convection of warm air and by rain on snow and short wave radiation. Discharge CFS - DUCHESNE RIV ABV KNIGHT DIVERSION, NR DUCHESNE, UT (9295100) 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 10/10/10 11/10/10 12/10/10 1/10/11 2/10/11 3/10/11 4/10/11 5/10/11 6/10/11 7/10/11 8/10/11 9/10/11 Discharge (CFS) 09261000 GREEN RIVER NEAR JENSEN, UT 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 10/10/10 11/10/10 12/10/10 1/10/11 2/10/11 3/10/11 4/10/11 5/10/11 6/10/11 7/10/11 8/10/11 9/10/11 Discharge (cfs) Inflow into the Hydrologic Model area (Uinta Basin) from the Green River will be specified using available information as a boundary condition. Map view showing the streams in the Uinta Basin. Visual Modflow models Dhi Mikeshe Modeling Process Groundwater model showing the boundary, surface streams, and the yielding Oil Shale formation Groundwater model showing the boundary, surface streams, Oil Shale formation, and the watershed boundaries. Delineation of the Uinta Basin and watershed Boundaries. Integrated hydrologic models, like MikeSHE/Mike11 developed by the Danish Hydraulic Instute (DHI, www.dhigroup.com) differs from tradional single-process models like Modflow, or the USACE HEC-RAS codes in its ability to simulate all phases of the system hydrology. This coupling allows beer constraints on the simulated behavior and parameterizaon of the hydrologic processes than simulang individual processes. In single process codes, external processes like Recharge, or Evapotranspiraon involve using highly uncertain assumpons, whereas the integrated model calculates these flows internally based on externally specified climate data. This offers many advantages in simulang integrated hydrologic systems. The integrated hydrologic code, MikeSHE/Mike11 simulates all of the relevant hydrologic processes in the Uinta Basin in a physically rigorous way. 1) Precipitaon as rain, or snow intercepts vegetaon or ground surface and is either evaporated, or infiltrates the ground surface, or ponds and flows along the ground surface. 2) The model simulates infiltraon of precipitaon through shallow soils, where it is subject to evapotranspiraon losses based on seasonal vegetaon dynamics (i.e., Leaf Area Index and Root depth with me and depth). 3) Water infiltrang past the root zone recharges groundwater using a Richard's based method, which accounts for gravity and capillary flows. This is a crical process in arid/semi-arid zones with deep groundwater tables. The large depths cause significant delays in precipitaon recharge, which in turn influence the ming/magnitude of groundwater baseflow contribuons to streamflow. 4) The model calculates spaally variable surface runoff (Horton or Dunne flows) and groundwater baseflow into streams. 5) Streams are simulated using fully hydrodynamic St. Venant 1-dimensional equaons. Streamflow is simulated using the Mike11 code, which allows simulaon of dams, diversions, operaons, and various structures. Saturated Zone Saturated Zone Overland Flow Unsaturated Zone Channel Flow Recharge Discharge Precipitaon Tradional Groundwater Model Integrated Model INTEGRATED MODELING APPROACH General Modeling Approach System Observaons -Climate -Streamflow System Conceptualizaon - Properes - Dynamics Physics-based Representaon - Processes - Dynamics Numerical Model Calibrate Parameters Reproduce System Observaons Conceptual Model Evaluation Verification of Model Prediction Examples: External Stresses Flow System – Structure System Response Flow Model Climate change, Groundwater pumping Irrigaon Reservoir-stream flow regulaon Stragraphy, Surface Soils Topography Hydraulic Properes, Vegetaon Hydraulic Features, Subsurface structures Groundwater Heads Groundwater Flow Direcons Recharge Flows Baseflows to Rivers or Springs Overland Flow/Stage Surface Flow/Stage Infiltraon Rates Evapotranspiraon Green River White River Duchesne River Uinta River H i l l C r e e k Bitter Creek Ash ley Creek Farm Creek Ninemile Creek Dry Gulch Creek Yampa River Antelo p e Cre e k Big Brush Creek P igeon Water Creek R ed Creek Little Water Y e llowston e Rive r Willow Creek Cot t o n w o od C ree k Wi l l ow Cr eek Uinta River Deep Creek R o c kC r e e k Sub-watersheds Dhi Mikeshe various modeling aspects Uinta formation bottom in purple color boundary Climate Station Map of the Uinta Basin One challenge in simulating the surface hydrologic response within the Uinta Basin is the localized, short-term, intense storm events across the large basin area. The plot above emphasizes this point. A storm event begins in Price and propagates to Vernal and Moab, but the shape of the storm hyetograph shows how the timing and shape change as it moves across the basin. To capture this type of dynamic and complex storm movements, the climate data input to the model must be spatially distributed and the model must simulate hydrologic conditions at a sub-daily timestep (i.e., hourly or better). Data is available at the three stations shown from 9/2005 to 9/2011. This critical data that is used along with other daily precipitation data to develop climate vs. elevation lapse rates that are input to the model (i.e., precipitation, temperature and relative Evapotranspiration). The storm duration (upper plot) shows that the majority of storms (>50%) last less than 1 hour. More than 90% of storms last less Than 8 hours. The climate in the area is arid/Semi-Arid (<10 in/yr) As shown on Annual Precipitation plot for stations located in Moab, Price, and Vernal, Utah. Green River White River Duchesne River Uinta Ri ver H i l lC r e e k Bitter Creek Ashl ey Creek Farm Creek Ninemile Creek Dry Gulch Creek Yampa Ri Antelope Creek Big Brush Creek Pigeon Water Creek Re d Cree k Little Water Yel l owsto ne Rive r Willow Creek Cot t onwoo d Creek Wi l l o w C r ee k Uinta River Deep Creek Ro ck C re e k Bottom of Uinta SubsurfaceModelBOUND Hydrologic Model Boundary Named Streams and Rivers -749.3179932 - -360.4804145 -360.4804144 - 28.35716417 28.35716418 - 417.1947428 417.1947429 - 806.0323215 806.0323216 - 1,194.8699 1,194.869901 - 1,583.707479 1,583.70748 - 1,972.545058 1,972.545059 - 2,361.382636 2,361.382637 - 2,750.220215 0 9 18 27 36 4.5 Miles Avg Monthly Storm Duraon (9/2005 to 9/2011) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Storm Event Duraon (Hours) Annual Precipitaon (In/yr) 0 2 4 6 8 10 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Precipitaon (Inches) MOAB PRICE VERNAL Typical Storm Event 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Precipitaon (Inches/hr) MOAB PRICE VERNAL Storm Duraon Histogram (2005 to 2011) 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 1 5 10 15 25 30 45 40 55 80 2 20 35 50 60 65 70 75 More Storm Duraon (Hours) Frequency 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 Frequency Cumulave Storm Intensity Histogram (2005 to 2011) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 0.01 0.04 0.02 0.08 0.06 0.15 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.25 0.35 0.4 0.45 0.5 0.6 0.65 0.55 More Precipitaon Intensity (In/hr) Frequency 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 Frequency Cumulave Green River White River Yampa River Uinta River Strawberry River Surface Water Model Boundary Ground Water Model Boundary - Duschene-UintaAquifer Extent Oil Fields Gas Fields Daily Climate Staon Hourly Climate Staon
Transcript of Geologic and Hydrologic Modelling in the Uinta Basin, Utah · Geologic and Hydrologic Modelling in...
Geologic and Hydrologic Modelling in the Uinta Basin, UtahPaul G. Quinn, M.E.G.E. (CSM), PG, ph 720.251.6432, Ambet
PO Boxes: 441063, Aurora, Colo. 80014; 1071, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 81602; 521518, Salt Lake City, Utah 84152, 770753, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 80477Robert Prucha, PE, (CU) ph 303.642.0366, [email protected], Integrated Hydro Systems, LLC, PO Box 3375, Boulder, Colo. 80307
Introduction
GIS Models
Understanding the availability, natural dynamics and interaction between surface water and groundwater resources will be important in the development of oil shale resources in the Uinta Basin. Development will require groundwater to access and process oil shale deposits and water resources must also be protected from environmental impacts of oil shale utilization. The removal of this water and subsequent disposal of it will likely impact both groundwater and surface water. Understanding these impacts requires detailed knowledge of both the surface hydrology and subsurface hydrogeology of the system and their interaction. The Duchesne River and Uinta Formations form the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer, an important basin aquifer that is about 8,000 feet thick in the north-central part of the Uinta Basin in Utah and Colorado. Ground water recharge within the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer is derived from precipitation and from seepage losses from canals and streams, while ground-water discharge is to perennial streams. Hydraulic conductivity of the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer is related to lithology and the degree of fracturing. Ground water in the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer exists within both local and basin flow systems. The geohydrologic units considered in these models in descending order are the Duchesne River-Uinta aquifer, the Parachute Creek confining unit, the Douglas Creek-Renegade aquifer, and the Wasatch-Green River confining unit. A narrow strip (generally less than one mile wide) of alluvium occurs along perennial streams such as the Green, Duchesne, Lake Fork, Strawberry, and White Rivers, and Red Creek. Thickness of the alluvium generally is less than 50 ft. Although groundwater flows locally within the Parachute Creek, it is assumed to be a basin confining unit. Petrologic and geophysical interpretation analyses help define a geologic framework model used as a basis for developing a 3-dimensional multi-layer groundwater flow model of the entire basin. Key characteristics of preliminary simulated groundwater flow behaviour appear to confirm the assumption of low vertical hydraulic conductivity associated with confining units. The MikeSHE/Mike11 code and other spatial programs are used to investigate the complex, coupled surface water-groundwater response and complex spatio-temporal distribution of recharge within the basin.
Surface Geology with Oil Shale boundary in red
Surface Hydrology with Watershed Boundaries
GIS Computer Aquifer and Recharge Models
GIS Oil Shale Yield Zones
Duchesne River-Uinta Aquifer boundary (shown in cyan color)
Recharge Areas above Duchesne River-Uinta Aquifer (shown in red color)
Basin showing the 50 gpt Oil Shale yield zone
Basin showing the 15 gpt Oil Shale yield zone
Dhi Mikeshe Surface water Streamflows
Streamflow Discharge from the Duschesne River above Knight Diversion shows a gradual increase from early spring, peaking in late
June/early July. The streamflow gradually recedes through September and then drops down to low, but relatively constant baseflows (<30 cfs).
February 2011 shows no flow data because of ice in the river. The integrated hydrologic model will account for snowmelt using degree-day
Snowmelt method that allows for sublimation, snowmelt and storage by convection of warm air and by rain on snow and short wave radiation.
Discharge CFS - DUCHESNE RIV ABV KNIGHT DIVERSION, NR DUCHESNE, UT (9295100)
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09261000 GREEN RIVER NEAR JENSEN, UT
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Inflow into the Hydrologic Model area (Uinta Basin) from the Green River will be specified using available information as a boundary
condition.
Map view showing the streams in the Uinta Basin.
Visual Modflow models
Dhi Mikeshe Modeling Process
Groundwater model showing the boundary, surface streams, and the yielding Oil Shale formation
Groundwater model showing the boundary, surface streams, Oil Shale formation, and the watershed boundaries.
Delineation of the Uinta Basin and watershed
Boundaries.
Integrated hydrologic models, like MikeSHE/Mike11 developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI, www.dhigroup.com) differs from traditionalsingle-process models like Modflow, or the USACE HEC-RAS codes in itsability to simulate all phases of the system hydrology. This coupling allowsbetter constraints on the simulated behavior and parameterization of thehydrologic processes than simulating individual processes. In single processcodes, external processes like Recharge, or Evapotranspiration involveusing highly uncertain assumptions, whereas the integrated model calculatesthese flows internally based on externally specified climate data. This offersmany advantages in simulating integrated hydrologic systems.
The integrated hydrologic code, MikeSHE/Mike11 simulates all of the relevant hydrologic processesin the Uinta Basin in a physically rigorous way. 1) Precipitation as rain, or snow intercepts vegetation or ground surface and is either evaporated, orinfiltrates the ground surface, or ponds and flows along the ground surface.2) The model simulates infiltration of precipitation through shallow soils, where it is subject to evapotranspiration losses based on seasonal vegetation dynamics (i.e., Leaf Area Index and Root depth withtime and depth).3) Water infiltrating past the root zone recharges groundwater using a Richard's based method, whichaccounts for gravity and capillary flows. This is a critical process in arid/semi-arid zones with deepgroundwater tables. The large depths cause significant delays in precipitation recharge, which in turninfluence the timing/magnitude of groundwater baseflow contributions to streamflow.4) The model calculates spatially variable surface runoff (Horton or Dunne flows) and groundwater baseflowinto streams.5) Streams are simulated using fully hydrodynamic St. Venant 1-dimensional equations. Streamflow is simulated using the Mike11 code, which allows simulation of dams, diversions, operations, and variousstructures.
Saturated Zone
Saturated Zone
Overland Flow
Unsaturated Zone
Channel Flow
Recharge Discharge
Precipitation
Traditional Groundwater Model
Integrated Model
INTEGRATED MODELING APPROACH
General Modeling Approach
System Observations
- Climate
- Streamflow
System Conceptualization
- Properties
- Dynamics
Physics-basedRepresentation
- Processes
- Dynamics
Numerical Model
Calibrate Parameters Reproduce System
Observations
Conceptual ModelEvaluation
Verification of Model
Prediction
Examples:
External StressesFlow System – Structure
System Response
Flow Model
Climate change,Groundwater pumpingIrrigationReservoir-stream flow regulation
Stratigraphy,Surface SoilsTopographyHydraulic Properties,VegetationHydraulic Features,Subsurface structures
Groundwater HeadsGroundwater Flow DirectionsRecharge FlowsBaseflows to Rivers or SpringsOverland Flow/StageSurface Flow/StageInfiltration RatesEvapotranspiration
Gre
enR
iver
White River
DuchesneRiver
UintaRiver
Hill C
ree k
Bitter Creek
Ashley
Creek
FarmCreek
Ninemile Creek
Dry
Gulch
Creek
Yampa River
Ante
lope
Cre
ek
Big Brush Creek
PigeonW
ater Creek
Red
Creek
LittleW
ater
Yellowstone
River
Willo
wCre
ek
Cottonw
oodC
reek
Wil low
Creek
Uinta River
Deep
Creek
Rock
Creek
Sub-watersheds
Dhi Mikeshe various modeling aspects
Uinta formation bottom in purple color boundary
Climate Station Map of the Uinta Basin
One challenge in simulating the surface hydrologic response within the Uinta Basin is the localized, short-term, intense storm events across the large basin area. The plot above emphasizes this point. A storm event begins in Price and propagates to Vernal and Moab, but the shape of the storm hyetograph shows how the timing and shape change as it moves across the basin. To capture this type of dynamic and complex storm movements, the climate data input to the model must be spatially distributed and the model must simulate hydrologic conditions at a sub-daily timestep (i.e., hourly or better). Data is available at the three stations shown from 9/2005 to 9/2011. This critical data that is used along with other daily precipitation data to develop climate vs. elevation lapse rates that are input to the model (i.e., precipitation, temperature and relative Evapotranspiration).
The storm duration (upper plot) shows that the majority of storms
(>50%) last less than 1 hour. More than 90% of storms last less
Than 8 hours. The climate in the area is arid/Semi-Arid (<10 in/yr)
As shown on Annual Precipitation plot for stations located in
Moab, Price, and Vernal, Utah.
Gre
enR
iver
White River
DuchesneRiver
Uinta
River
Hill C
ree
k
Bitter Creek
Ashley
Cree
k
FarmC
reek
Ninemile Creek
Dry
Gulch
Creek
Yampa Ri
Ant
elop
eC
reek
Big Brush Creek
PigeonW
ater Creek
Red
Cre
ek
LittleW
ater
Yellow
stoneR
iver
Willo
wC
reek
Cotto
nw
ood
Cre
ek
Willo
wC
ree
k
UintaRiver
Dee
pC
reek
Ro
ckC
reek
Bottom of Uinta
SubsurfaceModelBOUND
Hydrologic Model Boundary
Named Streams and Rivers
-749.3179932 - -360.4804145
-360.4804144 - 28.35716417
28.35716418 - 417.1947428
417.1947429 - 806.0323215
806.0323216 - 1,194.8699
1,194.869901 - 1,583.707479
1,583.70748 - 1,972.545058
1,972.545059 - 2,361.382636
2,361.382637 - 2,750.220215
0 9 18 27 364.5Miles
Avg Monthly Storm Duration (9/2005 to 9/2011)
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ipit
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Storm Duration Histogram (2005 to 2011)
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e
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00.10.20.30.40.50.60.70.80.91
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Cumulative
Storm Intensity Histogram (2005 to 2011)
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Green River
White River
Yampa River
Uinta RiverStrawberry River
Surface Water Model Boundary
Ground Water Model Boundary - Duschene-Uinta Aquifer Extent
Oil Fields Gas Fields
Daily Climate Station
Hourly Climate Station
