Hydrological and Hydrogeological Evaluation of Proposed Massive Salty
Lagoons in western Dessert in Egypt
Abstract
Hydropower generation has been proposed by utilizing the difference in
the water levels between the Mediterranean Sea and the level of
accumulated saltwater in the Qattara Depression. The target of this
paper is to represent the study of the accumulated saltwater effect in
the Qattara Depression on the Nile Delta drainage and the underneath
groundwater reservoir. The main objectives of the research study are to:
a) determine the expected evaporation from the accumulated saline water
in the depression, b) study the hydrogeological conditions of the
Qattara Depression by identifying the flow direction between the Nile
Delta and the depression, after filling the depression, and C) study the
effect of lagoon accumulated saline water on the Nile Delta fertility
and the underneath groundwater layers. The study methodology has been
performed utilizing the recent tools of analysis that were not available
for the previous studies such as; efficient numerical models, geographic
information system (GIS), and Digital Elevation Models (DEM). The effect
of salinity on evaporation, from the lagoon, was considered. A number of
twenty one boreholes, with average depth of 3900 m, were employed to
construct the geological stratification. Hydraulic conductivity values
and groundwater levels have been collected from the available boreholes
and deep exploratory wells drilled by the oil companies. Mass balance of
the lagoon salinity was performed, every separate year for a total
period of 50 years. Density dependent model (SEAWAT) via MODFLOW has
been employed for a duration of 50 years. The simulation was performed
every separate year. It was repeated for different water filling levels
(50 m and 60 m below mean sea level). Several well fields are assumed
between the filled lagoon and the Nile Delta. The wells screen was
assumed in the Moghra, the Limestone, or the deep Sandstone Formations.
The results have revealed that the saline lagoon does not affect the
Nile Delta drainage. The lagoon accumulated salinity does not reach the
Nile Delta. The effect of salinity on the underneath sandstone reservoir
is minor due to its upper confining shale layer.