Influência da estruturação regional na avaliação de reservas hidrogeológicas do Aquífero Barreiras – área do baixo curso do Rio Maxaranguape - RN

Abstract

The target area of this research is the Maxaranguape River lower course, located on the east coast of Rio Grande do Norte state, and particularly the hydrogeological domain Barreiras Aquifer. This study aimed to analyze the influence of regional structure in the geometry of the aquifer in the study area (taking into account thickness variations), in order to make an optimized calculation of local hydrogeological reserves in that area. The methodology was based on the use of morphotectonic and lithostratigraphic analysis techniques, in well profile correlation, as well as hydrogeological and geoelectric analysis (Vertical Electrical Sounding - VES). The geophysical method of electrical resistivity was adopted in order to infer thickness values of the aquifer and depth of the basement. It were carried out 17 SEV with maximum aperture of current electrodes (AB) of 1200 meters, distributed so as to cover the entire study area, although primarily seeking to obtain data for subareas with little or no well information. Hydro-stratigraphic and lithologic data from 21 wells profiles were integrated with VES data, 5 hydrogeophysical profiles were generated to define downthrow and a geomorphological analysis was performed, which aimed at the structural characterization of the area with emphasis on aquifer compartmentalization. The morphotectonic analysis used the topographic (SRTM) and hydrographical data to support the structural characterization taking into account the lack of outcrops with specific features in the area. Topographic data are presented as a map of residual topographic anomalies, with defined topographic lineaments. Hydrographic data underscore preferred directions of fluvial channels and anomalies of this hydrogeophysical network with abrupt deflections of drainages and alignments of other surface features such as springs. The results of this analysis enabled to draw up a morphotectonic lineaments map, arranged according to the prevailing NE and NW directions. The results of this analysis enabled the development of a map of morphotectonic lineaments, arranged according to the prevailing NE and NW directions. The hydrogeophysical profiles, obtained from geoelectric inverse models and well data, were prepared to intercept the lineaments, emphasizing saturated thickness values ranging from 19 to 66 meters, and featuring some of these lineaments as faults. The hydrogeological reserves were evaluated considering 18 subareas associated with blocks resulting from structural compartmentalization. Therefore, the saturation reserves are the order of 8.7x108 m3, considering average saturated thickness for each subarea and 7.6% average effective porosity.