Hydraulic properties of the Bai-Hassan aquifer in Tuz-Khurmatu, Salahaddin, Iraq

Abstract EN

The studied area is located within Salahadden Governorate between latitudes 34° 50' 00" – 34° 55' 00" and longitudes 44° 33' 00" – 44° 40' 00" south of Kirkuk city of about 70 Km with an approximate area of about 124 Km2.

The important geological formations in the area consist of Tertiary deposits Al-Fatha, Injana, Muqdadiya and Bai-Hassan formations as well as recent Quaternary deposits which cover the study area.

Depending on the climatic data recorded in Tuz-Khurmatu station for the period 1991 – 2014, found that the summation of rainfall is 274.21 mm, average of temperature 22.8 °C, relative humidity 46.93%, wind speed 1.83 m/sec, sunshine 8.28 h/day and the total of evaporation is 2376.2 mm.

The common climate in the area is humid to moist.

The studied area is located within Al-Adhaim basin whose area is about 12000 Km2.

The productive hydrogeological unit in the studied area is Bai-Hassan Formation.

The general direction of groundwater flow is from northeast towards the southwest.

By using Theis recovery 1935 and Cooper-Jacob 1946 methods pumping test results which performed in seven wells that penetrate Bai-Hassan Formation partially without observation wells indicated a transmissivity values range between 95.47 – 335.72 and the median value of 176.11 m2/day and hydraulic conductivity values between 2.11 – 4.47 m/day and the median value of 3.06 m/day.

These reflect that the hydraulic properties values of Bai-Hassan aquifer in the study area are heterogeneous and variant, as a result of heterogeneity of Bai-Hassan aquifer due to variations in lithology and porosity.

Specific capacity for these wells is measured and found varying between 172.8 – 432 m²/d.

It shows an inverse relationship between the specific capacity and drawdown in the wells.