VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY ESTIMATES IN THE ALBUQUERQUE BASIN

Vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivity values have been estimated from temperature logs taken in piezometers located in the Albuquerque Basin, within and near the metropolitan Albuquerque area. Temperature logs are taken below the water table and analysis begins at 20 m depth to avoid yearly temperature cycles (analysis begins deeper where the water table is deeper). Piezometer depths are between 180 m and 500 m. The hydraulic conductivity values are representative over chosen flow zones determined from curvature in the temperature logs. The conductivity values are calculated from specific discharge estimates derived from the temperature logs and hydraulic gradients derived from piezometric information. The vertical conductivity values represent scales of the order of the flow zone thickness (typically a few tens to a hundred meters or so). The horizontal conductivity values represent scales of the distance between piezometers (typically 5 to 10 km). Horizontal conductivity values range between e-6 and 2.5 * e-2 m/s, with most values occurring between e-4 and 5 * e-3 m/s. Vertical conductivity values range between 9 * e-9 and 5 * e-6 m/s, most values occur between 2 * e-8 and 4 * e-6 m/s. Both horizontal and vertical conductivity values frequently change by a factor of two to greater than an order of magnitude between flow zones in a piezometer. There does not appear to be any obvious correlation between conductivity and depth or location (i.e. the Rio Grande Valley, the West Mesa, and the East Mesa). Consequently, one may suggest that some of the important ground-water-flow patterns in the Basin could be controlled by structural features, e.g. small flows on the West Mesa may result because sealed faults limit flow from the Rio Grande. (NOTE: Read e-4 as 10 to the -4 power.)