Hydraulic Testing Capabilities

PACKER TESTING FOR GEOTECHNICAL, MINING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS

Legion Drilling has packer systems to complete hydraulic tests, including pumping tests, single packer tests, and straddle packer tests. Packer systems incorporate one or multiple inflatable devices to isolate discrete intervals in the formation and therefore enable investigation of several hydrogeological parameters in specific zones of interest:

  • Aquifer transmissivity.

  • Specific storage.

  • Average linear groundwater velocity.

  • Fracture aperture.

  • Water quality.

PACKER SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS

A hydraulic packer test is a common method used in hydrological studies to assess the properties and behavior of aquifers, specifically their permeability and transmissivity. This test involves isolating a specific interval within a borehole using an inflatable packer and conducting a controlled hydraulic test to measure the response of the aquifer.

Here is an overview of the hydraulic packer test procedure:

  1. Preparation: A borehole is drilled into the aquifer of interest, and a casing is installed to stabilize the hole. The casing typically has multiple openings or perforations to allow water flow into and out of the borehole.

  2. Packer Installation: A packer assembly is lowered into the borehole and positioned at the desired testing interval. The packer is an expandable rubber sleeve or bladder that can be inflated to create a seal against the borehole wall, isolating the specific interval for testing.

  3. Packer Inflation and Sealing: The packer is inflated using hydraulic pressure, expanding the rubber sleeve and creating a tight seal against the borehole wall. This ensures that water flow is directed only through the isolated section between the packer and the borehole wall.

  4. Step Testing: The hydraulic packer test typically involves conducting a series of step tests. In each step, water is pumped into the isolated section at a known rate, and the resulting pressure response is measured over time. The pressure measurements are taken using pressure transducers installed above and below the packer.

  5. Data Collection and Analysis: The pressure data collected during the step tests are analyzed to calculate parameters such as hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, and storativity of the aquifer. These parameters provide insights into the aquifer's ability to transmit water and its storage capacity.

  6. Test Completion and Evaluation: Once the desired data has been collected, the packer is deflated, and the testing equipment is removed from the borehole. The borehole is typically flushed to remove any remaining packer debris or sediment.

Advantages of Hydraulic Packer Test:

  • Isolation of a specific interval allows focused testing of a targeted aquifer zone.

  • Provides direct measurements of hydraulic properties, such as permeability and transmissivity, which are essential for groundwater flow modeling and resource evaluation.

  • Relatively quick and cost-effective compared to other aquifer characterization methods.

Limitations of Hydraulic Packer Test:

  • Limited to the specific interval where the packer is installed, which may not represent the entire aquifer's characteristics.

  • Requires careful selection and positioning of the packer to ensure accurate results.

  • Interpretation of test results may be influenced by factors such as borehole conditions, wellbore storage effects, and the presence of any confining layers or fractures.

In hydrological studies, hydraulic packer tests provide valuable information about aquifer properties, which is crucial for effective water resource management, groundwater modeling, and decision-making in various industries, including water supply, environmental assessments, and geotechnical investigations.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Our technical specialists will be happy to provide further information and discuss in detail any specific project requirements.

In the meantime, we recommend you to consult the following documents: