3-D Flow and Transport Modeling for an ASR Pilot Project of Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority

Asam A. Almulla* , Mayada Bardan*, AlaEldin M.E.H*,
Walid Labaky**
*Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority, P.O. Box 150, Sharjah, UAE
Tel. +971 (6) 5671114; Fax +971 (6) 5670008;
Emails:  asam.almulla@sewa.gov.ae: Mayada.bardan@sewa.gov.ae;
 drala@sewa.gov.ae;
**Schlumberger Water Services, P.O. Box: 9261, Dubai, UAE
Tel. +971 4 306 7494; Fax. +971 4 329 3196
Email:  WLabaky@abu-dhabi.oilfield.slb.com

A 3-D Flow and Transport model was developed for the Nizwa ASR project in Sharjah using visual MODFLOW. The objective of the model was to evaluate the critical hydrogeologic parameters in the aquifer such that scenario analyses for future operations can be modeled.

The model was built and calibrated using results from the first 3 injection, storage and recovery cycles. The model was then validated with the results from the 4th cycle. After successful validation of the results, the model was used to delineate the extent of the fresh water bubble beyond the observation point, to be used in the full scale design and implementation of the well field.

Particle tracking was used to model the “fate” of injected water particles from the time of release to the aquifer, through the storage period and during recovery. The model showed that the adopted borehole strategy was capable of recovering the entire physical volume of injected water. The model was also used to predict the quality of recovered water when non desalinated water was injected.

Finally, the numerical model was used to assess the suitability of the site for emergency conditions. The modeling scenarios established the potential yield that can be expected under such circumstance and the preliminary design of the required infrastructure to meet this yield was optimized accordingly.