Long range regional groundwater flow systems in the Northern Great Plains: (2) Physics of regional groundwater flow in Alberta

K. Udo Weyer, James C. Ellis

In the proceedings of: GeoMontréal 2013: 66th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 11th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Regional Aquifer Characterization I

ABSTRACT: A number of prominent papers during the last two decades have proposed that six differing basin-scale groundwater flow systems exist in Alberta, including three different gravitationally-driven systems within the Upper Devonian formation extending from Montana to northern Alberta (Bachu, 1995, 1999; Michael and Bachu, 2002), a groundwater flow system within the Lower Devonian aquifers of southwestern Alberta, driven by ‚past tectonic compression™ updip to the east (Bachu 1995, 1999), and a system driven by gravitational forces from the Rocky Mountains eastward towards Great Slave Lake (Bachu, 1999; Michael and Bachu, 1999). In actuality, none of the above systems exist as the applied methodologies do not adhere to basic thermodynamic principles, Darcy™s law, the equation of continuity, Hubbert™s Force Potential, and Groundwater Flow Systems Theory.

RÉSUMÉ: Au cours des deux dernières décennies, plusieurs articles importants ont proposé six (6) différents systèmes d™écoulement des eaux souterraines pour de grand bassins en Alberta, avec trois (3) systèmes d™écoulements gravitaires dans la formation du Dévonien Supérieur s™étendant du Montana jusqu™au nord de l™Alberta (Bachu, 1995, 1999; Michael and Bachu, 2002), un (1) système d™écoulement souterrain vers l™est à l™intérieur des couches aquifères du Dévonien Inférieur du sud-ouest de l™Alberta, généré par les anciennes compressions tectoniques dans le pendage-amont (Bachu 1995, 1999), et un (1) système d™écoulement gravitaire vers l™est provenant des Rocheuses vers le Grand Lac des Esclaves (Bachu, 1999; Michael and Bachu, 1999). En pratique, aucun des systèmes proposés existent puisque la méthodologie n™adhère pas aux principes de base de la thermodynamique, à la loi de Darcy, à l™équation de continuité, aux forces potentielles d™Hubbert, et à la théorie des systèmes d™écoulement des eaux souterraines.

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