ESTIMATING STORAGE CAPACITY IN DEEP ALLUVIUM BY GRAVITY-SEISMIC METHODS

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Abstract
Large volumes of groundwater are contained in the deep intermontane valleys of Basin and Range regions. Determining the shape and storage capacity of these basins by drilling can be expensive and difficult because of the depth of alluvium and large areas involved. These difficulties can often be overcome by combining gravimetric and seismic refraction interpretations. The basin boundaries are determined by gravimetric methods, with bulk density samples taken of all representative formations. Density values can then be correlated with seismic velocities to estimate subsurface porosities. Studies indicate that seismic velocity varies inversely with porosity for the alluvial deposits. These values can be correlated with their respective formations in the basin from geologic sections derived from the seismic refraction survey. Thus, with volume and porosity of the alluvium known, storage capacity (both present and potential) can be computed.

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