TY - GEN
T1 - Construction of pressure relief wells under flowing artesian conditions, Karkheh storage dam - Iran
AU - Heidarzadeh, Mohammad
AU - Mirghasemi, Ali A.
AU - Eslamian, Faramarz
AU - Niroomand, Habib
AU - Etemadzadeh, Seyed M.
PY - 2006/12/31
Y1 - 2006/12/31
N2 - This article discusses experiences from construction of pressure relief wells under flowing artesian conditions in the downstream of the Karkheh storage dam. Based on the information obtained from monitoring wells installed in the downstream of the Karkheh dam, indicating excess uplift pressure beneath the dam, construction of relief wells was exploited to relieve part of these pressures. The mentioned excess water pressure was produced in a confined conglomerate aquifer bounded above and below by relatively impervious mudstone layers. Further, the water level in the confined aquifer was about 20 m above the ground surface, resulting in artesian conditions. It is known that drilling and installation of relief wells in flowing artesian aquifers is significantly more complex and difficult than that in unconfined aquifers. In addition, such process in large dam sites having giant reservoirs like Karkheh storage dam would be associated with more complexities. In total, 23 relief wells were constructed in the downstream of Karkheh dam. Results showed that a successful process in such conditions requires the following items: drilling fluid to protect excavated walls, surface and driven casing, and grouting. Results indicate that these wells so far (January 2006) could be able to decrease artesian pressure about 25 m, improving the factor of safety by 40%.
AB - This article discusses experiences from construction of pressure relief wells under flowing artesian conditions in the downstream of the Karkheh storage dam. Based on the information obtained from monitoring wells installed in the downstream of the Karkheh dam, indicating excess uplift pressure beneath the dam, construction of relief wells was exploited to relieve part of these pressures. The mentioned excess water pressure was produced in a confined conglomerate aquifer bounded above and below by relatively impervious mudstone layers. Further, the water level in the confined aquifer was about 20 m above the ground surface, resulting in artesian conditions. It is known that drilling and installation of relief wells in flowing artesian aquifers is significantly more complex and difficult than that in unconfined aquifers. In addition, such process in large dam sites having giant reservoirs like Karkheh storage dam would be associated with more complexities. In total, 23 relief wells were constructed in the downstream of Karkheh dam. Results showed that a successful process in such conditions requires the following items: drilling fluid to protect excavated walls, surface and driven casing, and grouting. Results indicate that these wells so far (January 2006) could be able to decrease artesian pressure about 25 m, improving the factor of safety by 40%.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=56249088959&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1201/b16818-108
DO - 10.1201/b16818-108
M3 - Chapter in a published conference proceeding
AN - SCOPUS:56249088959
SN - 0415404231
SN - 9780415404235
T3 - Proceedings of the International Symposium on Dams in the Societies of the 21st Century, ICOLD-SPANCOLD - Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century
SP - 687
EP - 693
BT - Proceedings of the International Symposium on Dams in the Societies of the 21st Century, ICOLD-SPANCOLD - Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century
PB - Taylor and Francis/ Balkema
T2 - International Symposium on Dams in the Societies of the 21st Century, ICOLD-SPANCOLD - Dams and Reservoirs, Societies and Environment in the 21st Century
Y2 - 18 June 2006 through 18 June 2006
ER -