title: Geostatistical Borehole Image-Based Mapping of Karst-Carbonate Aquifer Pores.
abstract: Quantification of the character and spatial distribution of porosity in carbonate aquifers is important as input into computer models used in the calculation of intrinsic permeability and for next-generation, high-resolution groundwater flow simulations. Digital, optical, borehole-wall image data from three closely spaced boreholes in the karst-carbonate Biscayne aquifer in southeastern Florida are used in geostatistical experiments to assess the capabilities of various methods to create realistic two-dimensional models of vuggy megaporosity and matrix-porosity distribution in the limestone that composes the aquifer. When the borehole image data alone were used as the model training image, multiple-point geostatistics failed to detect the known spatial autocorrelation of vuggy megaporosity and matrix porosity among the three boreholes, which were only 10 m apart. Variogram analysis and subsequent Gaussian simulation produced results that showed a realistic conceptualization of horizontal continuity of strata dominated by vuggy megaporosity and matrix porosity among the three boreholes.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sukop
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Carbonate Aquifer Characterization Laboratory, Davie, FL 33314.
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005431:Florida; D060587:Groundwater / Q000032:analysis*; D062070:Hydrology / Q000379:methods*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010539:Permeability; D016062:Porosity; D014872:Water Movements
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D002119:Calcium Carbonate