Paskapoo aquifer system

Aquifer System

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f83ce137-1b1b-44c5-b93e-557baaed47d8
Project
Paskapoo

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Paskapoo aquifer system unit description

Update:2014-03-12
The Paskapoo Formation overlies the uppermost coal seam of the Ardley coal zone of the Scollard Formation. Discontinuous deposits of Neogene gravel or Quaternary sediments unconformably overlie the Paskapoo Formation. The Paskapoo Formation comprises three units. The lowermost unit is correlative with sandstone of the Haynes Member (Haynes aquifer). Overlying the Haynes aquifer is a regionally extensive mudstone and siltstone-dominated unit correlative with the Lacombe Member (Lacombe aquitard). The uppermost unit is a sandstone-dominated unit, named the Sunchild aquifer. The complex and heterogeneous sedimentary geology of the Paskapoo Formation creates highly variable physical properties that govern the hydrogeology of the system. It appears that aquifers in the Paskapoo Formation are not continuous sand sheets with constant reservoir quality extending over large regions, but rather aquifer systems consisting of isolated fluvial channels and other types of sand bodies with limited spatial continuity. Fractures appear to be an essential control for the connections among the ""isolated sandstone aquifers"". There are also connections between Sunchild and Haynes aquifers where Lacombe aquitard is discontinuous or absent. The regional aquifer system is recharged by precipitations percolating along topographic highs, mostly located west. In a shallow system, Paskapoo Formation consists of groundwater flow toward the north-northeast. Local flow systems in sub-horizontal sandstones and shales probably occur with the well-fractured sandstones units acting as ""collectors"" for the downward moving groundwaters of overlying units. Groundwater flow through the permeable sandstones is rapid and emerges on hillsides and slopes as contact springs and in lower areas as soap holes, hummocky terrain, or muskeg. Groundwater that escapes these sandstone collectors continue downward into the regional system and discharge into the Athabasca River or Edson Lowlands. Groundwater quality is good. The Paskapoo Formation supports more groundwater wells than any other aquifer system in the Canadian Prairies. Located in a region of rapid population growth, this regional aquifer is under increasing pressure to provide water supply.
Physiography
Hydrogeological regionWestern Canada Sedimentary Basin
Hydrogeological context
ReliefLocated in the alluvial plain, the Paskapoo Formation topography is relatively flat. There is no significant slope.
Area66788.00 km2
Lithology
DescriptionThe Paskapoo Formation overlies the uppermost coal seam of the Ardley coal zone of the Scollard Formation. Discontinuous deposits of Neogene gravel or Quaternary sediment unconformably overlie the Paskapoo Formation. The Paskapoo Formation comprises three units. The lowermost unit is correlative with sandstone of the Haynes Member (Haynes aquifer). Overlying the Haynes aquifer is a regionally extensive mudstone- and siltstone-dominated unit correlative with the Lacombe Member (Lacombe aquitard). The uppermost unit is a sandstone-dominated unit, named the Sunchild aquifer.
Source
Aquifer
AquifersList of aquifers sandstone Haynes Member aquifer sandstone Sunchild aquifer alluvial isolated channel aquifers

Unit properties

Bedrock aquifer media
Typical value:porous - fractured
Description 1) Haynes Member sandstone aquifer (lowermost sandstone-dominated unit) and 2) Sunchild (Dalehurst) Member sandstone aquifer (uppermost sandstone-dominated unit)
Source Geostatistical rendering of the architecture of hydrostratigraphic units within the Paskapoo Formation, central Alberta
Confinement
Typical value:semi confined - unconfined
Source Geostatistical rendering of the architecture of hydrostratigraphic units within the Paskapoo Formation, central Alberta
Surficial sediment thickness
Range: [14.5 to 15.1] m
Source Stochastic Modeling of the Paskapoo Formation. University of Calgary
Hydrogeological unit thickness
Range: [0 to 800] m
Description The 800 m thickness is found in the western part.
Source Stochastic Modeling of the Paskapoo Formation. University of Calgary
Well depth
45 m Range: [5 to 378] m
Source Stochastic Modeling of the Paskapoo Formation. University of Calgary
Groundwater depth
Range: [0 to ] m
Bedrock hydraulic conductivity
0.00297 m/s Range: [1e-05 to ] m/s
Description Hydraulic conductivity values are generally highest in association with thick coarse channel sandstones.
Source Stochastic Modeling of the Paskapoo Formation. University of Calgary
Regional precipitation
452.9 mm/y Range: [418.8 to 487] mm/y
Methode Precipitation data are from Environment Canada. The value represents the average of the climate normals (1981-2010) measured on the stations distributed in or near the hydrogeological unit. The stations were selected so the average precipitation is as representative as possible of the whole hydrogeological unit.
Regional evapotranspiration
17.7 mm/y
Methode Data is from climate normals (1981-2010) of Environment Canada.
Regional recharge
Description Meteoric recharge along the topographic highs mostly in the western part.
Source Geostatistical rendering of the architecture of hydrostratigraphic units within the Paskapoo Formation, central Alberta
Regional discharge
Description Discharges: hillsides and slopes as contact springs and in lower areas as soapholes, hummocky terrain, or muskeg and into Athabasca River or Edson Lowlands.
Source Stochastic Modeling of the Paskapoo Formation. University of Calgary
Hydrogeological unit yield
Description Coarse--grained fractured sandstone units can provide higher yielding wells while regions with sandstone volumes lower than the regional average. Low yielding wells are characteristic of those completed in mudstone-dominant facies
Source Paskapoo Groundwater Study Part VI: Aquifer transmissivity estimation and a preliminary data analysis of the Paskapoo Formation
Groundwater usage
Typical value:domestic
Description The Paskapoo Formation is one of the most intensely used bedrock aquifer systems in Alberta.
Source Paskapoo groundwater study. Part I: hydrogeological properties of the Paskapoo Formation determined from six continuous cores
Threats
Typical value:population
Description Groundwater in the aquifer system of the Paskapoo Formation is under increasing development pressure
Source Regional characterization of the Paskapoo bedrock aquifer system, southern Alberta
Groundwater Quality
Typical value:fresh
Source Regional characterization of the Paskapoo bedrock aquifer system, southern Alberta