Analytical Method for Determining the Parameters of the Nubian Aquifer, Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt | ||
| Assiut University Journal of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research | ||
| Volume 51, Issue 2, May 2022, Pages 215-228 PDF (549.92 K) | ||
| Document Type: Novel Research Articles | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/aunj.2022.234653 | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The Farafra Oasis is located in Egypt's western desert, in the centre region of the country, covering an area of approximately 86,200 Km2. Groundwater extracted from the Nubian sandstone Aquifer System (NSAS ) in the Farafra Oasis, and considered as the only source of water supply, As a result of the growing population, groundwater development in the oasis became of great necessity, especially because the soil is appropriate for agriculture in the area. For this reason, deep investigations have been carried out for the area under interest to assess the NSAS hydraulic parameters as an initial phase for a complete groundwater management scheme for the NSAS aquifer in Farafra Oasis.The NSAS in the Farafra Oasis is recognized as two aquifers; 1- Post Nubian or limestone Aquifer System, which consists of limestone and shale of Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene age. 2- The Nubian sandstone Aquifer system is composed of sandstone and little intercalation of shale and mud of an age ranges from Paleozoic to Cretaceous.The pumping test (constant discharge tests) followed by the recovery tests was done for the study area to calculate the transmissivity, storativity, and hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer using 2D analytical solutions. There are three productive zones in the area. The first one has a thickness range from 100- 140 m (a.s.1.). The calculated transmissivity values for this zone vary from 400 to 1,200 m2/day and the average value of the hydraulic conductivity was about 1.5 m/day. The average thickness of the second zone is 450 m. The transmissivity values for this zone vary from 1,600 to 3,000 m2/day and the hydraulic conductivity reaches 6 m/day. On the other hand, the third zone has an average penetrated thickness of 500 m. Its transmissivity values vary from 1,800 to 2,500 m2/day while the average hydraulic conductivity is about 8 m/day. The storage coefficient values for the NSAS in the area range from 4.7x10-4 to 2.5x10-3, as determined by the analysis of pumping tests. The hydraulic parameters indicate that the aquifer is still hydraulically promising, however, In order to ensure the long-term development of this aquifer in Farafra Oasis, more management studies must be completed. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Nubian Aquifer System; Farafra Oasis; Groundwater Management; 2D Analytical Solutions | ||
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