M.Sc.

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

THESIS TOPIC PROPOSAL

ANALYSIS OF WATER EXTRACTION PLAN FROM THE RIVER BED FOR

ICI KHEWRA

BY

NAME: M. WAHEED KHAN

REGISTRATION No. 2005-PG-WRM-01

DATE OF REGISTRATION: JANUARY 2005

PART TIME OR FULL TIME: FULL TIME

SUPERVISOR: DR. ATTA- UR- REHMAN TARIQ

DEPARTMENT:

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, LAHORE.

YEAR 2006
 ANALYSIS OF WATER EXTRACTION PLAN FROM THE RIVER BED FOR

ICI KHEWRA

1. INTRODUCTION

The ICI plant was established in 1929 at Khewra, district Jhelum and commercial
production began in 1944. The original plant capacity of 18,000 tones of soda ash has
been increased to 225,000 tones per annum by 2007, through a number of expansion
projects. The most recent modernization and expansion was carried in 2002. The
Company is again planning to invest Rs 915 million in the Soda Ash Plant to expand the
plant capacity by 500000 tones per annum. ICI Pakistan's Soda Ash plant is currently
meeting about 75% of the country's requirement for Soda Ash by using locally made
equipment and raw material, and providing savings to the nation's foreign exchange
reserves.

ICI require large quantities of water for various industrial operations. For the present
time water is being extracted from two major sources; one is Watli spring and the other is
river Jehlum. Wells are installed at the bank of river Jehlum in Bella field having 12” to
18” diameter and depths of 30 to 40 feet. ICI is getting 2000m3/day from the wells
installed at Bella field. Due to expansion of Soda Ash plant ICI require 4000m3/day
water.

Figure: A plan of the study area

Spurs for well

River Jhelum

River bank protection

Bella field

Proposed
wells

Existing wells

Stone pitching for

bank protection
 Existing Wells
Proposed wells Ground Surface
River Jhelum


Normal
flow
Sweet water aquifer
Moved interface

River bank Interface

Saline water aquifer

Figure: A cross section of the study area

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The ground water is saline due to salt range in the area. A small thickness of sweet water
aquifer is available in the Bella due to recharge from the river. Due to extraction of sweet
water from the wells installed in the Bella, the interface between the saline water and
sweet water has moved upward and towards the sweet water .Now due to lateral and
vertical up conning of saline water some of the wells in the Bella field have been
abandoned. ICI plan to install some new wells in the river bed near the bank to meet the
additional water demand. Skimming wells are planned due to limited sweet water zone
and small thickness of the sweet water aquifer, to extract the sweet water induced by the
recharge from the porous bed of the river.it is considered thet the lateral flow from the
river Jehlum due to better transmission characteristics of river bed material will minimize
the risk of salinization and abandonment of proposed wells. A half trapezoidal dike will
be constructed and proposed wells will be installed on top or land ward side for easy
access and pretension from damage against river floods.

Delivery pipe
Pump

Fresh water
Upcoming of
saline water

Saline water

Figure: A schematic diagram of conventional

skimming well

3. OBJECTIVES

1. Study of water storage & transmissibility of aquifer & river bed.

2. Determination of location of salt-sweet water interface.

3. Formulate a 3-D numerical model to analyze well pumping and salt intrusion.
 4. Analyses of the proposed water extraction plan in terms of depth and spacing of

the wells to provide protection against the lateral and vertical intrusion of the

saline water.

4. LITERATURE REVIEW.

According to W. Timms in 1980,Aquifer salinisation has occurred on the Lower

Murrumbidgee alluvial fan in response to pumping stresses that have induced downwards
movement of shallow saline groundwater over the short and medium term. Further
investigation, including frequent hydrochemical sampling at key sites, is required to
assess the spatial distribution of aquifer salinisation. Sustainable groundwater pumping
strategies should be assessed for those areas identified to be at risk.

According to C. Langevin & E. Swin 2005, SWIFT2D surface-water flow and transport
code, which solves the St Venant equations in two dimensions, was coupled with the
SEAWAT variable-density ground-water code to represent hydrologic processes in
coastal wetlands and adjacent estuaries. A sequentially coupled time-lagged approach
was implemented, based on a variable-density form of Darcy's Law, to couple the surface
and subsurface systems. The integrated code also represents the advective transport of
salt mass between the surface and subsurface. The integrated code was applied to the
southern Everglades of Florida to quantify flow and salinity patterns and to evaluate
effects of hydrologic processes. Model results confirm several important observations
about the coastal wetland: (1) the coastal embankment separating the wetland from the
estuary is overtopped only during tropical storms, (2) leakage between the surface and
subsurface is locally important in the wetland, but submarine ground-water discharge
does not contribute large quantities of freshwater to the estuary, and (3) coastal wetland
salinities increase to near seawater values during the dry season, and the wetland flushes
each year with the onset of the wet season.
Telford, et al., 1976 states that electrical geophysical prospecting methods detect the
surface effects produced by electric current flow in the ground.  Using electrical methods,
one may measure potentials, currents, and electromagnetic fields that occur naturally or
are introduced artificially in the ground.  In addition, the measurements can be made in a
variety of ways to determine a variety of results.  There is a much greater variety of
electrical and electromagnetic techniques available than in the other prospecting methods,
where only a single field of force or anomalous property is used.  Basically, however, it is
the enormous variation in electrical resistivity found in different rocks and minerals that
makes these techniques possible.

In South Africa, pumping tests are performed for mainly two reasons: to determine the
long-term sustainable yield of a borehole and to estimate aquifer parameters. The manual
highlights the non-linear relationship between the abstraction rate and the drawdown,
which is common in most South African aquifers. Fracture dewatering is dependent on
the abstraction rate, which, in turn, will have an effect on the water level in the borehole.
This feature should be treated with caution when assigning sustainable yields. (Report No
1116/1/02, 2002)

According to Natural resources Canada 2004, the resistivity measurements are derived
from the waveforms received during the constant current 'on' time of the square
waveform, after the initial IP charging effects are over. Resistivity measurements are
made with the same arrays as are used in the IP measurements. Single point resistance
measurements can also be made using a single downhole current/potential electrode (Pb)
and a return/reference electrode on the surface.

As per Alberta Government 2004, In some areas of Alberta, drillers frequently access two
or more aquifers through one well. This is done to provide a higher well yield and to
ensure a more reliable water supply. This is ONLY done for domestic wells where there
is little water available. However, analysis of pumping test data can only evaluate one
aquifer, not two or more simultaneously. The two-hour minimum pumping test gives an
overall pumping rate, but values of Q20 for each individual aquifer cannot be reliably
determined if more than one aquifer is accessed by a single well. Each aquifer should
have its own well and independent pumping test to learn the safe yield. During many
two-hour tests conducted on domestic wells during drilling operations, a bailer is used
instead of a pump. A bailer does not provide the constant and measured flow rate of a
pump. In this circumstance, only recovery data can be obtained to estimate transmissivity
values. Production with compressed air during drilling or following well completion is
another way of conducting a test that uses recovery data. Transmissivity values calculated
only from recovery measurements are less reliable than those obtained from a formal
pumping test where drawdown and recovery measurements are taken. Aquifer parameters
derived from short-term recovery tests performed during, or immediately following,
drilling operations aren't very useful, but they do provide preliminary estimates of the
transmissivity and yield of the aquifer zone.

5. METHODOLOGY

1. Collection of the pumping test data for the project area and for the river bed and its

analysis to:

o Find the storitivity and transmissibility of the aquifer.

o Find the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer.

2. Electric resistively survey to determine the depth of salt-sweet water interface in

Bella and under river bank.

o Find the depth of sweet water layer in the aquifer.

o Find the location of interface between the sweet and saline water.

o Find the quality of saline water and sweet water.

3. Formulation of discharge & salt flow model using MODFLOW and MT3D.

o Using the parameters of the aquifer and the prevailing conditions of the

project area in the MODFLOW and MT3D to get the maximum discharge

which can be extracted without upcoming of the saline water.

o To determine the salt concentrations in the river bed.

 o To determine the total recharge into the river bed from the river and rainfall.

o To determine the no of wells, capacity of wells and the distance between the

wells for the best fit water extraction plan.

4. Calibration of the Model. Analysis of the present & planned layout of wells

5. Suggestions about the perfection of plan and future salt intrusion concentrations.

5.1 Case Study:

Analysis of the proposed water extraction plan from the river bed
whether it will work properly or not, to match the requirements of ICI to fulfill water
needed for the industrial operations now increased demand due to expansion in the works
of ICI.

5.2 Background:
The original plant capacity of 18,000 tonnes has been increased
to 225,000 tonnes per annum, through a number of expansion projects. The Company is
currently investing Rs 915 million in the Soda Ash Plant to expand the plant capacity by
50,000 tonnes per annum and will result in improved operating efficiencies and higher
productivity. For the present time water is being extracted from two major sources; one is
Watli spring and the other is river Jehlum. Wells are installed at the bank of river Jehlum
in Bella field of 12” to 18” diameter and are of depths 30 to 40 feet. From the wells
installed at Bella field ICI is getting 2000m3/day.Due to expansion of Soda Ash plant ICI
require 4000m3/day water.

5.3 Data required and data sources

The data and information needed to proceed with the study would include the
following:
 Subsurface details which include:
o Bore holes for finding the aquifer parameters.
 o Electric resisitivity survey to find the interface between the saline
water and fresh water.
o Storage & transmissibility of aquifer & river bed.
SOURCES: Consultants: Geo hydro consultants, (Pvt.) Ltd.
Clients: ICI Pakistan Ltd.

5.4 Field or laboratory experimentation

To fill up gaps and verify the accuracy of the available data field and laboratory

experiments will be conducted.

The Following field tests may be required:

Pumping test data for the site to evaluate the aquifer parameters. Electric

resisitivity survey to find the interface between the saline water and fresh water.

5.5 Data analysis

 Review of previous and proposed water extraction plans.

 Rechecking the suitability of new plan.
 Independent critical review of the proposed water extraction plan and suggesting
improvements or alterations to the measures adopted under the guidance of the
consultants review.
 Analyzing different options for the bore hole diameter and depth to extract the
maximum discharge by avoiding the salt water extraction with sweet water.
 Analyzing the salt water concentrations in the river bed and to suggest the
suitability of extraction plan in terms of life of plan and fulfilling the required
quantities of water.

5.6 Model formulation

MODFLOW is a three-dimensional finite-difference ground-water model that was
first published in 1984. It has a modular structure that allows it to be easily modified to
adapt the code for a particular application. Many new capabilities have been added to the
original model.

MODFLOW simulates steady and nonsteady flow in an irregularly shaped flow system
in which aquifer layers can be confined, unconfined, or a combination of confined and
unconfined. Flow from external stresses, such as flow to wells, areal recharge,
evapotranspiration, flow to drains and flow through river beds, can be simulated.
Hydraulic conductivities or transmissivities for any layer may differ spatially and be
anisotropic (restricted to having the principal directions aligned with the grid axes), and
the storage coefficient may be heterogeneous. Specified head and specified flux
boundaries can be simulated as can a head dependent flux across the model's outer
boundary that allows water to be supplied to a boundary block in the modeled area at a
rate proportional to the current head difference between a "source" of water outside the
modeled area and the boundary block. In addition to simulating ground-water flow, the
scope of MODFLOW has been expanded to incorporate related capabilities such as solute
transport and parameter estimation.

MT3D is a comprehensive three-dimensional numerical model for simulating solute

transport in complex hydrogeologic settings. MT3D has a modular design that permits
simulation of transport processes independently or jointly. MT3D is capable of modeling
advection in complex steady-state and transient flow fields, anisotropic dispersion, first-
order decay and production reactions, and linear and nonlinear sorption. MT3D can also
handle bioplume-type reactions, monad reactions, and daughter products. This enables
MT3D to do multi-species reactions and simulate or assess natural attenuation within a
contaminant plume. MT3D is linked with the USGS groundwater flow simulator,
MODFLOW, and is designed specifically to handle advectively-dominated transport
problems without the need to construct refined models specifically for solute transport.
5.7 Model simulations

Groundwater flow within the aquifer is simulated in MODFLOW using a block-centered

finite-difference approach. Layers can be simulated as confined, unconfined, or a
combination of both. Flows from external stresses such as flow to wells, areal recharge,
evapotranspiration, flow to drains, and flow through riverbeds can also be simulated.
  Determine average, maximum minimum values of water table elevations and
depth to water table in the area and its location for the present configuration.
Also determine water table level at all location of all wells
 Solute transport data of the aquifer.
 Increase in salt water concentrations of river, wells and river water quality at
exit from the project area.
 Salt water concentrations in the aquifer.

6. UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH.

This Study would aim at evaluating the implementations of universal MODFLOW and
MT3D model for the correct implementations of ground water extraction problems.

7. RESEARCH TIME TABLE

i. Data collection: 08/20 to 09/10

ii. Literature Review 08/03 to 08/20

iii. Field visits/experiments 09/10 to 10/10

iv. Data analysis 10/10 to 11/15

v. Thesis writing 11/15 to 12/20

Final draft late Dec 06

vi. Thesis examination / viva Early Jan 07

vii. Final thesis submission Late Jan 07

viii. COST ESTIMATE

Traveling Rs. 10000.00

Accommodation Rs. 5000.00

Field Experiments/Data/Info Rs. 5000.00

Miscellaneous Rs. 5000.00

 Total Rs. 25,000.00

8. REFERENCES

 Terzaghi, K., and Peck, R. B., “Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice”, John Wiley
& Sons, 1967.
 “Ground Water and Wells”, UOP Johnson Division, St. Poul, 1966.

9. COMMENTS OF SUPERVISOR
Ground water modeling is a useful tool to analyze and evaluate ground water

and solute flow hydraulics together with interaction to boundaries. Well system require to

be sustainable in terms of water yield , water quality and damage by floods etc. this study

will analyze a special water extraction system for ICI Khewra site and will be helpful in

designing successful water extraction plans for industrial and municipal purposes

elsewhere.

------------------------------ ------------------------
Signature of Supervisor Signature of Student

No. CEWRE/Acad/06/
 Dated: ---------------------

The above proposal duly recommended by the Centre’s Board of Studies on its meeting

held on 7.6.2006 is hereby forwarded to the Director of Research , University of

Engineering and Technology, Lahore for obtaining the approval of the Vice Chancellor.

DIRECTOR, CEWRE