Hydrogeological Model for Groundwater Prediction in the Shennan Mining Area, China

摘要

Coal mining can seriously affect groundwater systems in aquifers that overlie the coal seam, especially in dry and water-stressed areas where protection of groundwater resources is very important. Through generalization of the hydrogeological conditions and analysis of the actual groundwater flow field in a confined weathered bedrock aquifer overlying the Shennan mining area in northern Shaanxi, a hydrogeological conceptual model and numerical groundwater flow model were established. FEFLOW finite element software was used to solve the model and dynamic groundwater data were used to validate it. The study area was hydrogeologically modeled by repeatedly adjusting the parameters. The model was then used to simulate the effect of mining on the overlying aquifer based on the mining plan for the next 5 years by adjusting the quantity of water discharged, the hydrogeological parameters of the upper water-bearing zone, the characteristics of the groundwater flow field, and the predicted water balance after 5 years. The results show that the maximum drawdown could be as high as 50 m (northeast of the Zhangjiamao Mine). A cone of depression centered on the Ningtiaota, Zhangjiamao, and Hongliulin mines will be formed that will influence more than 75% of the simulation area.