On-Demand Webinars

Emerging Techniques in Hydraulic Testing for Fractured Rock:

Borehole Flow Meters for Assessing Bedrock Stratigraphy
and Fractured Hydraulics

Measuring the vertical movement of water in wells and boreholes can be a key to understanding the subsurface hydraulic environment. Borehole flowmeters can measure both the direction and velocity of vertical flow along well bores, and these flows relate directly to aquifer parameters such as transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, vertical head profiles, and the presence of fractures or permeable features along boreholes. Quantitative interpretation of borehole flow data can provide estimates of hydraulic parameters and be directly related to hydrostratigraphy.

Validating Your Conceptual Site Model

Learn how to make basic observations and field judgements to validate or refine your Conceptual Site Model. Learn how to use flow meters to check the ground water flow regime in the borehole that is being impacted by contrasting hydraulic conductivities, and specifically where low-permeability units are present, and how aquitards may or may not be effective vertical hydraulic barriers.

Participants will learn the basic theory of operation, pros and cons of various systems, and appropriate application for flowmeter testing. The webinar will address tool calibration and appropriate field procedures for obtaining reliable data.

Key Webinar Highlights:

• Definition of borehole flowmeter testing
• Considerations in flowmeter testing
• The spinner flowmeter - collecting and interpreting data
  • Threshold velocities
  • Logging speeds
  • Problems and pitfalls
    • propeller
    • centralization
  • typical data
  • data processing and interpretation
• The heat-pulse flowmeter - collecting and interpreting data
  • Appropriate flow velocities
  • Theory of operation
  • Determining flow direction
  • Typical data pulses
  • Problems and pitfalls
    • Too little flow
    • Too much flow
  • Data processing and interpretation

Key Webinar Benefits:

• Learn how to interpret a flow meter log
• Practice calculating vertical flows and gradients across an aquitard
• Learn common mistakes and how to avoid them

"The Webinar on borehole flow meter techniques has been an excellent summary and assessment of the different techniques as well as valuable pointers from experienced speakers. A definite must before any work related to borehole flow meters begins! Many thanks."
- Janka Nitsche, PhD, School of Planning, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast

Instructors Bio

Dave Hart Ph.D. is a hydrogeologist/geophysicist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Extension. His work includes regional groundwater flow and recharge in southeastern Wisconsin, near-surface geophysics, and measurement of porosities and permeabilities in aquifers and aquitards. Prior to joining the university, he served as a hydrogeologist with Eder Associates. He is an associate editor for Ground Water and past president of the AWRA - Wisconsin Section.