Modeling subsurface flow in sedimentary basins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Groundwater flows that arise in sedimentary basins from the effects of topographic relief, buoyant convection, sediment compaction, erosional unloading, and combinations of these driving forces can be described using quantitative modeling techniques. Models can be constructed to consider the effects of heat and solute transport, petroleum migration, and the chemical interaction of water and rocks. The accuracy of model predictions, however, is limited by the difficulty of predicting hydrologic properties of sediments on regional dimensions, estimating past conditions such as topographic relief, and knowledge of how physical and chemical processes interact over gelogic time scales. Progress in basin modeling will accelerate as hydrologic research efforts are better integrated with those of other specialities such as sedimentology, rock mechanics, and geochemistry.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-154
Number of pages26
JournalGeologische Rundschau
Volume78
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

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