Optimizing Multiwell Aquifer Storage and Recovery Systems for Energy Use and Recovery Efficiency

Ground Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saheli Majumdar ◽  
Gretchen R. Miller ◽  
Zhuping Sheng
2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 1173-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Gerardus Zuurbier ◽  
Pieter Jan Stuyfzand

Abstract. Coastal aquifers and the deeper subsurface are increasingly exploited. The accompanying perforation of the subsurface for those purposes has increased the risk of short-circuiting of originally separated aquifers. This study shows how this short-circuiting negatively impacts the freshwater recovery efficiency (RE) during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) in coastal aquifers. ASR was applied in a shallow saltwater aquifer overlying a deeper, confined saltwater aquifer, which was targeted for seasonal aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES). Although both aquifers were considered properly separated (i.e., a continuous clay layer prevented rapid groundwater flow between both aquifers), intrusion of deeper saltwater into the shallower aquifer quickly terminated the freshwater recovery. The presumable pathway was a nearby ATES borehole. This finding was supported by field measurements, hydrochemical analyses, and variable-density solute transport modeling (SEAWAT version 4; Langevin et al., 2007). The potentially rapid short-circuiting during storage and recovery can reduce the RE of ASR to null. When limited mixing with ambient groundwater is allowed, a linear RE decrease by short-circuiting with increasing distance from the ASR well within the radius of the injected ASR bubble was observed. Interception of deep short-circuiting water can mitigate the observed RE decrease, although complete compensation of the RE decrease will generally be unattainable. Brackish water upconing from the underlying aquitard towards the shallow recovery wells of the ASR system with multiple partially penetrating wells (MPPW-ASR) was observed. This leakage may lead to a lower recovery efficiency than based on current ASR performance estimations.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Gerardus Zuurbier ◽  
Pieter Jan Stuyfzand

Abstract. Coastal aquifers and the deeper subsurface are increasingly exploited. The accompanying perforation of the subsurface for those purposes has increased the risk of short-circuiting of originally separated aquifers. This study shows how this short-circuiting negatively impacts the freshwater recovery efficiency (RE) during aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) in coastal aquifers. ASR was applied in a shallow saltwater aquifer overlying a deeper saltwater aquifer, which was targeted for seasonal aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES). Although both aquifers were considered properly separated, intrusion of deeper saltwater into the shallower aquifer quickly terminated the freshwater recovery. The presumable pathway was a nearby ATES borehole. This finding was supported by field measurements, hydrochemical analyses, and SEAWAT transport modelling. The potentially rapid short-circuiting during storage and recovery can reduce the RE of ASR to null. When limited mixing with ambient groundwater is allowed, a linear RE decrease by short-circuiting with increasing distance from the ASR well within the radius of the injected ASR-bubble was observed. Interception of deep short-circuiting water can mitigate the observed RE decrease, although complete compensation of the RE decrease will generally be unattainable. Brackish water upconing from the underlying aquitard towards the shallow recovery wells of the MPPW-ASR system was observed. This "leakage" may lead to a lower recovery efficiency than based on current ASR performance estimations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hafiz U. Farid ◽  
Allah Bakhsh ◽  
Muhammad U. Ali ◽  
Zahid Mahmood-Khan ◽  
Amir Shakoor ◽  
...  

Abstract Fast decline of groundwater levels in Pakistan requires the use of artificial recharging techniques to minimize the adverse effect of over pumping. A study was conducted in the Toba Tek Singh district, Punjab, Pakistan, to investigate aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) technology to recharge groundwater. The facility was developed by drilling a pumping/injection well and constructing the water storage tank along with developing the recharge mechanism. Three treatments of 51, 71, and 99 m3 of treated canal water were injected into the aquifer under gravity and were retained for 7 days. Another three treatments of 100 m3 each were injected for retention times of 14, 28, and 56 days. The recovery efficiency (RE) was found to be 83, 91, and 98% for injected volumes of 51, 71, and 99 m3, respectively, for retention time of 7 days. Similarly, the RE for an injected volume of 100 m3 was found to be 73, 62, and 52% for retention times of 14, 28, and 56 days, respectively. These results indicated that RE improved with increase in injected volume and decreased with increase in retention time; however, the technology was found to have potential for storing and recovering of water injected into the aquifer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-445
Author(s):  
Abhishek Anand Kaushal ◽  
Gopal Krishan ◽  
Govind Pandey

Present work was carried out in an experimental model developed at the institute, sand was used as prototype artificial aquifer and was saturated with highly saline water having Electrical Conductivity (EC) equal to 8500 µS/cm. Fresh water with average EC = 467.50 µS/cm and temperature = 25oC was injected in the known amount in the saline water and this water was extracted at a fixed time interval of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4, 8 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 hours in a cumulative time of 735.30 hours with average recovery efficiency of 63%. Recovered water has salinity equal to or less than 1000 µS/cm. Although, this experiment was carried out at a small scale but this can be tried at a bigger scale for skillfully managing the surface or reclaimed water in problematic areas where demand exceeds the supply.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3502
Author(s):  
Somnath Bandyopadhyay ◽  
Aviram Sharma ◽  
Satiprasad Sahoo ◽  
Kishore Dhavala ◽  
Prabhakar Sharma

Among the several options of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques, the aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) is a well-known sub-surface technique to replenish depleted aquifers, which is contingent upon the selection of appropriate sites. This paper explores the potential of ASR for groundwater recharge in the hydrological, hydrogeological, social, and economic context of South Bihar in India. Based on the water samples from more than 137 wells and socio-economic surveys, ASR installations were piloted through seven selected entrepreneurial farmers in two villages of South Bihar. The feasibility of ASR in both hard rock and deep alluvial aquifers was demonstrated for the prominent aquifer types in the marginal alluvial plains of South Bihar and elsewhere. It was postulated through this pilot study that a successful spread of ASR in South Bihar can augment usable water resources for agriculture during the winter cropping season. More importantly, ASR can adapt to local circumstances and challenges under changing climatic conditions. The flexible and participatory approach in this pilot study also allowed the farmers to creatively engage with the design and governance aspects of the recharge pit. The entrepreneurial farmers-led model builds local accountability, creates avenues for private investments, and opens up the space for continued innovation in technology and management, while also committing to resource distributive justice and environmental sustainability.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Toze ◽  
Peter Dillon ◽  
Paul Pavelic ◽  
Brenton Nicholson ◽  
Michel Gibert

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