Quantitative hydro-geophysical analysis of a complex structural karst aquifer in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Abstract The Umm er Radhuma (UER) Formation is a major karst aquifer in Saudi Arabia. This study investigated the hydraulic and petrophysical characteristics of the folded UER carbonate aquifer using integrated hydrological and geophysical logging datasets to understand its complex hydraulic setting as well as detect possible water flow. Petrophysical analysis showed that the UER aquifer has three zones with different lithologic and hydraulic properties. The upper zone attains the best properties with average values of 20%, >100 mD, 3.30 × 10−5–1.34 × 10−3 m/s, and 1.49 × 10−3–6.04 × 10−2 m2/s, with respect to effective porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity. The gamma-ray logs indicate a good fracture system near the upper zone of the UER Formation. Pumping test measurements of transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity and storage coefficients were matched with those from geophysical logs and found to be within the expected range for confined and leaky aquifers. Hydrogeological properties were mapped to detect possible groundwater flow in relation to the dominant structure. The underground water of the folded UER aquifer was forced along meandering flow patterns from W-E to SW-NE through the anticlinal axes. The integrated approach can be further used to enhance local aquifer models and improve strategies for identifying the most productive zones in similar aquifer systems.