HYDROGEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF A-BAHARIYA AQUIFER- WESTERN DESERT-EGYPT

Al-Bahariya Oasis represents a large pearl–like shape depression, located at the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt. It represents a morphotectonic depression in the Western Desert of Egypt. It is surrounded by weather resistant limestone plateau (Tertiary) which rises up to 200-300 m above sea level. The limestone plateau is affected by the great NE-SW folded belt of Syrian Arch. Al-Bahariya Oasis constitutes part of the great groundwater reservoir of the Western Desert of Egypt. The aquifer in the study area is the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer. The artesian groundwater of Al-Bahariya Oasis is discharged to the surface principally through artesian wells. Nearly all the wells were flowed till few years ago, but now most of them stopped to flow due to drop in the piezometric pressure level of groundwater. The reclamation of new land and also irrigation of the existing agricultural land in Al-Bahariya Oasis depends on the discharge of shallow and deep wells.

Integrated geological and hydrogeophysical investigation has been conducted to evaluate the present conditions of the aquifer. Pumping test, hydrochemistry and well logging are used to achieve this target. The results reveal that:

1- The southwestern part of the study area is distinguished by high potentiality and efficiency of the aquifer.

1- The southwestern part of the study area is distinguished by high potentiality and efficiency of the aquifer.

2- The hydraulic conductivity of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer in Al-Bahariya Oasis has values ranging from 0.51 to 10.87 m/day.

3- A proper management is a must to help in saving the amount of water inside the aquifer.