Intrinsic and specific groundwater vulnerability using the GOD method as a pre-operational baseline assessment of an unconventional hydrocarbon industry

Abstract In the middle of the São Francisco basin, the sub-basins of Indaiá and Borrachudo river highlight the considerable potential for unconventional hydrocarbon exploration. The present study seeks to evaluate the groundwater resource's intrinsic and specific vulnerability in the Indaiá and Borrachudo basins as an environmental baseline study for further development in the shale gas industry. The overlay and index GOD method was applied to assess the aquifer's intrinsic susceptibility regarding the Groundwater confinement (G), the Overlying Strata (O), and the Depth of the groundwater table (D). The specific vulnerability assessment considered the intrinsic vulnerability and the land cover/use of the area, concerning the diversity and the toxicity of pollutants inherent in each anthropogenic activity. The results indicate that 52.69%, 25.12%, and 17.57% of the aquifer area have Medium, High, and Extreme intrinsic vulnerability, respectively. The specific vulnerability assessment suggests an overall vulnerability reduction due to the low anthropogenic stress on the basin. Three gas research wells overlay moderate intrinsic vulnerability. One well is above the high vulnerability area, which concerns how the unconventional industry could develop regarding groundwater susceptibility in this ecosystem.

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Consideration of Geopolitical Challenges within the Analysis of Geoenvironmental Risks for Oil and Gas Development of the Russian Arctic

Issues of Risk Analysis ◽

10.32686/1812-5220-2019-16-6-50-59 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. 50-59

Author(s):

O. P. Trubitsina ◽

V. N. Bashkin

Keyword(s):

Oil And Gas ◽

Oil And Gas Industry ◽

Optimal Operation ◽

The Arctic ◽

Stage Model ◽

Oil And Gas Development ◽

Gas Industry ◽

The Impact ◽

Further Development ◽

Geopolitical Risks

The article is devoted to the consideration of geopolitical challenges for the analysis of geoenvironmental risks (GERs) in the hydrocarbon development of the Arctic territory. Geopolitical risks (GPRs), like GERs, can be transformed into opposite external environment factors of oil and gas industry facilities in the form of additional opportunities or threats, which the authors identify in detail for each type of risk. This is necessary for further development of methodological base of expert methods for GER management in the context of the implementational proposed two-stage model of the GER analysis taking to account GPR for the improvement of effectiveness making decisions to ensure optimal operation of the facility oil and gas industry and minimize the impact on the environment in the geopolitical conditions of the Arctic.The authors declare no conflict of interest

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Using intrinsic vulnerability and anthropogenic impacts to evaluate and compare groundwater risk potential at northwestern and western coastal aquifers of Sri Lanka through coupling DRASTIC and GIS approach

Applied Water Science ◽

10.1007/s13201-021-01452-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

Author(s):

Ratha Phok ◽

Nandalal Kosgallana Duwage Wasantha ◽

Weerakoon Sumana Bandara ◽

Pitawala Herath Mudiyanselage Thalapitiye Ge ◽

Dharmagunawardhane Hingure Arachchilage

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Groundwater Contamination ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Shallow Groundwater ◽

Monitoring Network ◽

Groundwater Vulnerability ◽

Moderate Risk ◽

Pollution Risk ◽

Intrinsic Vulnerability ◽

Contamination Risk

AbstractGroundwater vulnerability assessment has become a crucial step in successfully protecting groundwater against pollution. An attempt of this study has been made to evaluate groundwater contamination risk using intrinsic vulnerability and land-uses in Vanathavillu, Kalpitiya and Katana area in Sri Lanka, using coupled DRASTIC with GIS as feasible methodology. The findings reveal that the groundwater in the areas under study falls under very low to high contamination risk. The higher risk of contamination has been identified in most of the Kalpitiya (about 82%) with the moderate along the beach in the west and next to Puttalam lagoon in the northeast and southeast. This is mainly due to pollution risk inherent with intense vegetable cultivation, over pumping, shallow groundwater tables and permeable sandy soil. Vanathavillu is under very low to moderate contamination risk, in which the moderate risk (about 13%) has especially been found the center, central southwest and west of the area. The relative less deep groundwater tables, possible seepage from the underlying limestone aquifer and less permeable red earth soil could be cause for the moderate risk in the area. Furthermore, results show that the Katana has low to moderately high groundwater contamination risk. Nitrate has a good agreement with the different pollution risk classes and that nitrate can be used as an indicator of aquifer degradation inherent with land-use activities in the coastal areas. Groundwater quality monitoring network should be set up to minimize the anthropogenic acts, particularly in high and moderate contamination risk zones.

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Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment Using Random Forest Approach in a Water‐Stressed Paddy Cultivated Region of West Bengal, India

Groundwater Geochemistry ◽

10.1002/9781119709732.ch20 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 392-410

Author(s):

Rabin Chakrabortty ◽

Paramita Roy ◽

Indrajit Chowdhuri ◽

Subodh Chandra Pal

Keyword(s):

Random Forest ◽

Vulnerability Assessment ◽

West Bengal ◽

Groundwater Vulnerability ◽

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment

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Groundwater vulnerability assessment using water quality index (WQI) under geographic information system (GIS) framework in parts of Uttar Pradesh, India

Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽

10.1007/s40899-021-00513-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Abhishek Kumar Chaurasia ◽

H. K. Pandey ◽

S. K. Tiwari ◽

Prashant Pandey ◽

Arjun Ram

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Information System ◽

Geographic Information System ◽

Vulnerability Assessment ◽

Water Quality Index ◽

Quality Index ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Groundwater Vulnerability ◽

Geographic Information ◽

Groundwater Vulnerability Assessment

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Fuzzy or Non-Fuzzy? A Comparison between Fuzzy Logic-Based Vulnerability Mapping and DRASTIC Approach Using a Numerical Model. A Case Study from Qatar

Water ◽

10.3390/w13091288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1288

Author(s):

Husam Musa Baalousha ◽

Bassam Tawabini ◽

Thomas D. Seers

Keyword(s):

Fuzzy Logic ◽

Numerical Model ◽

Vulnerability Assessment ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Groundwater Vulnerability ◽

Vulnerability Mapping ◽

Anthropogenic Contamination ◽

Weighted Overlay ◽

Vulnerability Maps

Vulnerability maps are useful for groundwater protection, water resources development, and land use management. The literature contains various approaches for intrinsic vulnerability assessment, and they mainly depend on hydrogeological settings and anthropogenic impacts. Most methods assign certain ratings and weights to each contributing factor to groundwater vulnerability. Fuzzy logic (FL) is an alternative artificial intelligence tool for overlay analysis, where spatial properties are fuzzified. Unlike the specific rating used in the weighted overlay-based vulnerability mapping methods, FL allows more flexibility through assigning a degree of contribution without specific boundaries for various classes. This study compares the results of DRASTIC vulnerability approach with the FL approach, applying both on Qatar aquifers. The comparison was checked and validated against a numerical model developed for the same study area, and the actual anthropogenic contamination load. Results show some similarities and differences between both approaches. While the coastal areas fall in the same category of high vulnerability in both cases, the FL approach shows greater variability than the DRASTIC approach and better matches with model results and contamination load. FL is probably better suited for vulnerability assessment than the weighted overlay methods.

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