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Assessment of Groundwater Potential in Parts of the Coastal Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Well Design

Received: 29 August 2024     Accepted: 24 September 2024     Published: 30 December 2024
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Abstract

The location, design, drilling and completion of wells for potable groundwater abstraction require exploration and mapping of groundwater potential zones within the geologic framework of any region. In this study, field data acquisition involved seven vertical electrical sounding and three horizontal resistivity profiling (HRP) carried out. Field data were interpreted using IPI2win 1-D software while subsurface lithologic layering and correlation was realized in rockworks v 22. Modelled true geolectric sections after curve matching revealed the study area to be underlain predominantly by clayey lithologic units followed by coarse grained sands with silty sands and fine sands in minor fraction. Total investigation depth range between 314.0m and 510.0m and fresh water was found to occur at a depth of 168m in VES L2, 430m in VES L3 and 154m in VES L6 locations. Iron water was found in some coarse sands at a depth interval of 129 m to 314 m at VES L1 while fresh water in coarse sands underlain by iron water saturated fine sands occurs at a depth interval of 73.20 m to 206 m at VES L2. At VES L3, fresh water saturated coarse sands were found at a depth interval of 131 m to 430m. Boreholes should be drilled to 430m and screened from 131m to 430m at L3. At VES L4, fine sands overlying coarse grained sands were saturated with iron water from 50.20 m to 422m. At VES L6, fresh water saturated coarse grained sandy aquifer was found from 114 m to 154m. Although VES L2, L3 and L6 provides the most suitable prospective locations for fresh water in the area at depths of 168m for L2, 430m for L3 and 154m for L6, lithologic modelling revealed that both coarse sands and fine sands are either juxtaposed or interfingered at the shallow, intermediate and deeper depths, hence, there is strong potential for iron water and fresh water inter-mixing during pumping. All twenty proposed boreholes are recommended not to be pumped at rates exceeding 3,500 l/min. Boreholes should be 450m apart to prevent well interferences and pumping schedule of 10 to 14 boreholes daily will greatly reduce stresses on the well field as well as potential risk from saline intrusion. Three saline water encroachment monitoring boreholes should be sited at 1.5km from L1 and L2 and 2.4km from L7 respectively at the East, West and Southern sections of the plant area.

Published in Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 13, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11
Page(s) 136-157
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Groundwater Potential Zones, Geoelctric Layers, Fresh Water, Salt Water Intrusion

References
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    Abam, T. K. S., Mogaba, P. M., Abija, F. A. (2024). Assessment of Groundwater Potential in Parts of the Coastal Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Well Design. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 13(6), 136-157. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11

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    ACS Style

    Abam, T. K. S.; Mogaba, P. M.; Abija, F. A. Assessment of Groundwater Potential in Parts of the Coastal Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Well Design. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2024, 13(6), 136-157. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11

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    AMA Style

    Abam TKS, Mogaba PM, Abija FA. Assessment of Groundwater Potential in Parts of the Coastal Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Well Design. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2024;13(6):136-157. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11,
      author = {Tamunoene Kingdom Simeon Abam and Paul Mokam Mogaba and Fidelis Ankwo Abija},
      title = {Assessment of Groundwater Potential in Parts of the Coastal Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Well Design},
      journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
      volume = {13},
      number = {6},
      pages = {136-157},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20241306.11},
      abstract = {The location, design, drilling and completion of wells for potable groundwater abstraction require exploration and mapping of groundwater potential zones within the geologic framework of any region. In this study, field data acquisition involved seven vertical electrical sounding and three horizontal resistivity profiling (HRP) carried out. Field data were interpreted using IPI2win 1-D software while subsurface lithologic layering and correlation was realized in rockworks v 22. Modelled true geolectric sections after curve matching revealed the study area to be underlain predominantly by clayey lithologic units followed by coarse grained sands with silty sands and fine sands in minor fraction. Total investigation depth range between 314.0m and 510.0m and fresh water was found to occur at a depth of 168m in VES L2, 430m in VES L3 and 154m in VES L6 locations. Iron water was found in some coarse sands at a depth interval of 129 m to 314 m at VES L1 while fresh water in coarse sands underlain by iron water saturated fine sands occurs at a depth interval of 73.20 m to 206 m at VES L2. At VES L3, fresh water saturated coarse sands were found at a depth interval of 131 m to 430m. Boreholes should be drilled to 430m and screened from 131m to 430m at L3. At VES L4, fine sands overlying coarse grained sands were saturated with iron water from 50.20 m to 422m. At VES L6, fresh water saturated coarse grained sandy aquifer was found from 114 m to 154m. Although VES L2, L3 and L6 provides the most suitable prospective locations for fresh water in the area at depths of 168m for L2, 430m for L3 and 154m for L6, lithologic modelling revealed that both coarse sands and fine sands are either juxtaposed or interfingered at the shallow, intermediate and deeper depths, hence, there is strong potential for iron water and fresh water inter-mixing during pumping. All twenty proposed boreholes are recommended not to be pumped at rates exceeding 3,500 l/min. Boreholes should be 450m apart to prevent well interferences and pumping schedule of 10 to 14 boreholes daily will greatly reduce stresses on the well field as well as potential risk from saline intrusion. Three saline water encroachment monitoring boreholes should be sited at 1.5km from L1 and L2 and 2.4km from L7 respectively at the East, West and Southern sections of the plant area.},
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    T1  - Assessment of Groundwater Potential in Parts of the Coastal Niger Delta, Nigeria: Implications for Well Design
    AU  - Tamunoene Kingdom Simeon Abam
    AU  - Paul Mokam Mogaba
    AU  - Fidelis Ankwo Abija
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11
    T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
    JF  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
    JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
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    EP  - 157
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7993
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20241306.11
    AB  - The location, design, drilling and completion of wells for potable groundwater abstraction require exploration and mapping of groundwater potential zones within the geologic framework of any region. In this study, field data acquisition involved seven vertical electrical sounding and three horizontal resistivity profiling (HRP) carried out. Field data were interpreted using IPI2win 1-D software while subsurface lithologic layering and correlation was realized in rockworks v 22. Modelled true geolectric sections after curve matching revealed the study area to be underlain predominantly by clayey lithologic units followed by coarse grained sands with silty sands and fine sands in minor fraction. Total investigation depth range between 314.0m and 510.0m and fresh water was found to occur at a depth of 168m in VES L2, 430m in VES L3 and 154m in VES L6 locations. Iron water was found in some coarse sands at a depth interval of 129 m to 314 m at VES L1 while fresh water in coarse sands underlain by iron water saturated fine sands occurs at a depth interval of 73.20 m to 206 m at VES L2. At VES L3, fresh water saturated coarse sands were found at a depth interval of 131 m to 430m. Boreholes should be drilled to 430m and screened from 131m to 430m at L3. At VES L4, fine sands overlying coarse grained sands were saturated with iron water from 50.20 m to 422m. At VES L6, fresh water saturated coarse grained sandy aquifer was found from 114 m to 154m. Although VES L2, L3 and L6 provides the most suitable prospective locations for fresh water in the area at depths of 168m for L2, 430m for L3 and 154m for L6, lithologic modelling revealed that both coarse sands and fine sands are either juxtaposed or interfingered at the shallow, intermediate and deeper depths, hence, there is strong potential for iron water and fresh water inter-mixing during pumping. All twenty proposed boreholes are recommended not to be pumped at rates exceeding 3,500 l/min. Boreholes should be 450m apart to prevent well interferences and pumping schedule of 10 to 14 boreholes daily will greatly reduce stresses on the well field as well as potential risk from saline intrusion. Three saline water encroachment monitoring boreholes should be sited at 1.5km from L1 and L2 and 2.4km from L7 respectively at the East, West and Southern sections of the plant area.
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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