Re-examination of aquitard intergrity using new methods

在全球和许多地区，含水层污染是一个日益严重的问题。污染的程度和时间由覆盖在含水层上的含水层（低渗透层）的特性决定。出水完整性是指出水保护底层出水不受污染的能力。本研究有两个目标：第一个目标是开发一种新的方法，通过从每个研究地点的单个钻孔获取信息来确定aquitard完整性；第二个目标是将该方法应用于两个重要的粘土aquitard的调查：一个位于安大略省西南部，另一个位于温尼伯。新方法包括四项活动：旋声钻井，在旋声孔中安装一种新型监测装置，从旋声岩心中挤出孔隙水，以及使用岩心的x射线照相。由于近年来钻井/取心技术的进步和多级监测技术的进步，可以从同一孔中获得更多的信息。三种主要数据类型是详细的水头剖面、环境同位素（即氚、18O、2H、碳-14）和出水岩心的x射线照相。x射线照相是一种已经存在了几十年的技术，但它很少用于研究出水完整性，我相信它会增加很多价值。其他更常规的数据也将从井眼中获得，但有关井筒完整性的主要新见解和整体价值预计将来自上述组合。旋转声波钻井以合理的成本在几乎所有类型的非硬化矿床中提供大直径岩心，并且岩心孔很容易用于安装封头剖面的多级监测系统。此外，岩心通过挤压同位素和其他分析提供水。

Contamination of aquifers is an increasing problem globally and in many regions. The degree and timing of the contamination is governed by the characteristics of the aquitard (low permeability layer) that overlies the aquifer. Aquitard integrity refers to the capability of the aquitard to protect the underlying aquitard from contamination. This research has two goals: the first is to develop a new method for determining aquitard integrity by acquiring information from a single drill hole at each study location, and the second is to apply this method in an investigation of two important clayey aquitards: one located in southwestern Ontario and the other in Winnipeg. The new method involves a combination of four activities: rotosonic drilling, installation of a new type of monitoring device in the rotosonic holes, squeezing of porewater from the rotosonic cores, and the use of x-radiography of cores. Much information can be obtained from the same hole because of recent advances in drilling / coring technology and advances in multilevel monitoring technology. The three main data types are detailed hydraulic head profiles, environmental isotopes (i.e. tritium, 18O, 2H, carbon-14) and X-radiography of aquitard cores. X-radiography is a technique that has existed for many decades but it has been little used in studies of aquitard integrity and I believe it will add much value. Other more conventional data will also be obtained from the holes, however the major new insights and overall value concerning aquitard integrity are expected to come from the above- mentioned combination. Rotosonic drilling provides large-diameter core at reasonable cost in essentially all types of nonindurated deposits and the core holes are easily used for installation of multilevel monitoring systems for head profiles. Also, the cores provide water by squeezing for isotope and other analyses.