Integrating in-situ hydraulic conductivity measurements and vertical electrical sounding for groundwater exploration in fractured shales within Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike (AE-FUNAI), South Eastern Nigeria

Amobi Ekwe, Samuel Ekeoma, Georgebest Azuoko, Ayatu Usman, Omonona Victor, Ndidiamaka Eluwa

Article ID: 6400
Vol 7, Issue 2, 2024

VIEWS - 211 (Abstract) 165 (PDF)

Abstract


An appraisal of the groundwater potential of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike was carried out by integrating datasets from geology, geographic information system and electrical resistivity survey of the area. The study area is underlain by the Asu River group of Albian age. The Asu River Group in the Southern Benue Trough comprises of Shales, Limestones and Sandstone lenses of the Abakaliki Formation in Abakaliki and Ikwo areas. The shales are generally weathered, fissile, thinly laminated and highly fractured and varies between greyish brown to pinkish red in colour. Twenty (20) Vertical Electrical Sounding data were acquired using SAS 1000 ABEM Terrameter and processed to obtain layer parameters for the study area. A maximum current electrode spacing (AB) of 300 meters was used for data acquisition. Computer aided iterative modelling using IPI2 Win was used to determine layer parameters. In-situ Hydraulic Conductivity measurements at seven parametric locations within the study area were conducted and integrated with Electrical Resistivity measurements to determine aquifer parameters (e.g. Hydraulic conductivity and Transmissivity) in real time. This technique reduces the attendant huge costs associated with pumping tests and timelines required to carry out the technique. Accurate delineation of aquifer parameters and geometries will aid water resource planners and developers on favourable areas to site boreholes in the area. Several correlative cross-sections were generated from the interpreted results and used to assess the groundwater potential of the study area. Results show that the resistivity of the the aquifer ranges from 7.3 Wm–530 Wm while depth to water ranges from 11.4 m to 55.3 m. Aquifer thicknesses range from 8.7 m at VES 5 to 36.3 m at VES 6 locations. Hydraulic conductivity ranges from 1.55 m/day at VES 15.18, and 19 locations to 9.8 m/day at VES 3 and 4 locations respectively. Transmissivity varies from 17.48 m2/day at VES 19 to 98 m2/day at VES 3 locations respectively.Areas with relatively high transmissivities coupled with good aquifer thicknesses should be the target of water resource planners and developers when proposing sites for drilling productive boreholes within Alex Ekwueme federal University Ndufu Alike.


Keywords


groundwater; shale; hydraulic conductivity; transmissivity; VES

Full Text:

PDF


References


1. Struckmeier WF, Margat, J. Hydrogeological Maps—A guide and a Standard Legend. International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). 1995; 17: 177.

2. MacDonald AM, DaviesJ. A brief review of groundwater for rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa. British Geological Survey Technical Report 2000; WC/00/33.

3. MacDonald AM, Davies J, Peart RJ. Geophysical methods for locating groundwater in low permeability sedimentary rocks: Examples from southeast Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 2001; 32: 115–131. doi: 10.1016/S0899-5362(01)90022-3

4. Neuzil CE. Groundwater Flow in Low‐Permeability Environments. Water Resources Research. 1986; 22(8): 1163–1195. doi: 10.1029/wr022i008p01163

5. Onuoha KM, Mbazi FCC. Aquifer Transmissivity from Electrical Sounding Data. The Case of Ajali Sandstone Aquifers, South-West of Enugu. In: Ofoegbu CO (editor). Ground Water and Mineral Resources of Nigeria, Fried-vieweg and Sohn,Wiesbaden. 1988. pp. 17–29.

6. Ekwe AC, Onu NN, Onuoha KM. Estimation of aquifer hydraulic characteristics from electrical sounding data: The case of middle Imo River basin aquifers, southeastern Nigeria. Journal Spatial Hydrology. 2006; 6(2): 121–132.

7. Ekwe AC, Opara AI. Aquifer transmissivity from surface geo-electrical data: A case study of owerri and environs, southeastern Nigeria. Journal of the Geological Society of India. 2012; 80(1): 123–128. doi: 10.1007/s12594-012-0126-8

8. Opara AI, Onu NN, Okereafor DU. Geophysical Sounding for the Determination of Aquifer Hydraulic Characteristics from Dar- Zarrouk Parameters: Case study of Ngor Okpala, Imo River Basin, Southeastern Nigeria. Pacific Journal of Science and Technology. 2012; 13(1): 590–603.

9. Ekwe AC, Nnodu IN, Ugwumbah KI et al.. Estimation of Aquifer Hydraulic Characteristics of Low Permeability Formations from Geosounding Data: A case study of Oduma Town, Enugu State; Online Journal of Earth Sciences 2010; 4(1): 19-26. doi: 10.3923/ojesci.2010.19.26

10. Maxwell O, Ejike EJ,Ugwuoke PE. Geophysical Analysis of Basement Terrain Groundwater Using Vertical Electrical Sounding: A Case Study of Parts of Abuja North Central Nigeria. International Journal of Geophysics and Geochemistry. 2015; 2(4): 92–97.

11. Loke MH, Chambers JE, Rucker DF, et al. Recent developments in the direct-current geoelectrical imaging method. Journal of Applied Geophysics. 2013; 95: 135–156. doi: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2013.02.017

12. Ekwe AC, Onuoha MK, Ugodulunwa FXO. Prospecting for groundwater in low permeability formations using the electrical resistivity method: The case of Ikwo and environs, southeastern Nigeria. International Workshop and Gravity, Electrical & Magnetic Methods and their Applications, Chenghu, China. 2015; 19–22.doi: 10.1190/gem2015-127.

13. Nwankwoala HO. An integrated approach to sustainable groundwater development and management in Nigeria. Journal of geology and mining research. 2011; 3(5): 123–130.

14. Nwankwoala HNL. Causes of Climate and Environmental Changes: The Need for Environmental-Friendly Education Policy in Nigeria. Journal of Education and Practice. 2015; 6(30): 224–234.

15. Ekwok SE, Akpan AE, Ebong ED, et al. Assessment of depth to magnetic sources using high resolution aeromagnetic data of some parts of the Lower Benue Trough and adjoining areas, Southeast Nigeria. Advances in Space Research. 2021; 67(7): 2104–2119. doi: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.01.007

16. Okolo GC, Emedo OC, Obumselu AC, et al. Lithofacies, particle size analysis and paleodepositional environment of the Eze-Aku Group (Cenomanian–Turonian) in the Itigidi-Ediba area, Afikpo Synclinorium, southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Sedimentary Environments. 2020; 5(4): 375–398. doi: 10.1007/s43217-020-00012-9

17. Okogbue CO, Aghamelu OP. Performance of pyroclastic rocks from Abakaliki Metropolis (southeastern Nigeria) in road construction projects. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment. 2013; 72(3–4): 433–446. doi: 10.1007/s10064-013-0489-0

18. Okpoli CC. Sensitivity and Resolution Capacity of Electrode Configurations. International Journal of Geophysics. 2013; 2013: 1–12. doi: 10.1155/2013/608037

19. Amadi AN, Olasehinde PI, Okosun EA, Yisa J. Assessment of the water quality index of Otamiri and Oramiriukwa Rivers. Physics International 2010; 1(2): 102-109.

20. A. Zohdy, “Application of Surface Geophysical (Elec- trical Methods to Groundwater Investigations),” Techni- ques of Water Resources Investigations of the United States Geological Survey, 1976, pp. 5-55.

21. Reyment RA. Aspects of the geology of Nigeria: the stratigraphy of the Cretaceous and Cenozoic deposits.Ibadan University Press; 1965. p. 133.

22. Ofoegbu CO, Amajor LC. A geochemical comparison of the pyroclastic rocks from Abakaliki and Ezillo, southeastern Benue Trough. J. Min. Geol. 1987; 23(1–2): 45–51.

23. Murat RC. Stratigraphy and paleogeography of the Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary in Southern Nigeria. African geology. 1972; 1(1): 251–266.

24. Nwachukwu SO. The tectonic evolution of the southern portion of the Benue Trough, Nigeria. Geological Magazine. 1972; 109(5): 411–419. doi: 10.1017/s0016756800039790

25. Benkhelil J. The origin and evolution of the Cretaceous Benue Trough (Nigeria). Journal of African Earth Sciences (and the Middle East). 1989; 8(2–4): 251–282. doi: 10.1016/S0899-5362(89)80028-4

26. Adejuwon BB, Obasi IA, Salami AA. Integrated geophysical study for mapping Pb–Zn sulfide deposits in Asu River Group shales in Nkpuma-Ekwoku, Abakaliki area, southeastern Nigeria. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. 2021; 14(14). doi: 10.1007/s12517-021-07770-4

27. Wang W, Zhao K, Zhang P, et al. Investigation of water ingress into uncracked and cracked cement-based materials using electrical capacitance volume tomography. Materials & Design. 2022; 220: 110877. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110877

28. Oli IC, Opara AI, Okeke OC, et al. Evaluation of aquifer hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity of Ezza/Ikwo area, Southeastern Nigeria, using pumping test and surficial resistivity techniques. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2022; 194(10). doi: 10.1007/s10661-022-10341-z




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jgc.v7i2.6400

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Amobi Ekwe, Samuel Ekeoma, Georgebest Azuoko, Ayatu Usman, Omonona Victor, Ndidiamaka Eluwa

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.