Core photos, Hole 1 (PTA-2), Humu‘ula Groundwater Research Project

Date
2016
Authors
Thomas, Donald M.
Lautze, Nicole C.
Haskins, Eric
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Kim, Alice
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University of Hawaii at Manoa
Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center
Humu‘ula Groundwater Research Project
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Abstract
Also known as “PTA” or “Saddle Road Project,” the Humuʻula Groundwater Research Project (HGRP) aimed to research the groundwater resources in the Hawaiʻi Island ‘Saddle’ region between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes by drilling two test holes on Army Garrison Hawaii land. Results include the discovery of: i) groundwater at a much shallower depth than expected, ii) a dike-impounded aquifer, and iii) a potential geothermal reservoir. By using the diamond wireline core drilling technology, we collected a continuous sequence of rock core. We documented our progress in a blog and made a complete stratigraphic record of the region. This continuous stratigraphic sequence contained subaerial shield-stage and post-shield-stage lava rock and ash samples from the Mauna Kea Volcano, documenting the area’s environmental, geologic, hydrologic, and thermal history.
Description
The site of the first hole was based on results of a geophysical (Magnetotelluric or MT) survey. We drilled into the area where the measured subsurface resistivity is consistent with highest level water saturation – on the southern edge of the Pohakuloa Training Area cantonment. During the drilling, we encountered the following: - ~215 meters (700’) below the ground surface — The initial stable saturated zone. - ~215 meters (700’) – 345 meters (830’) — A perching layer of clay-rich ash. Water levels began to drop. - 345 meters (830’) – ~550 meters (1,800’) — Dry rock. - ~550 meters (1,800’) — A second saturated interval. - ~550 meters (1,800’) – 1,763 meters (5,780’) — Water levels in the borehole remained stable. This deeper water is likely the regional water table for this area. - ~1,000 m and beyond — The borehole temperatures showed significant increases. Intervals of intruded dike rocks indicate a dike-impounded aquifer. Along with the unexpected presence of high-elevation water, the borehole temperatures significantly increased below depths of ~1,000 m, suggestive of a previously unknown geothermal reservoir in the Saddle region.
Keywords
core logging, core samples, Hawaii--Mauna Kea, Hawaii--Mauna Loa (Hawaii Island), Humuʻula Groundwater Research Project, drill cores, well logging, Water table, Groundwater flow, Groundwater, Drill cores -- Hawaii -- Mauna Kea, Drill cores -- Hawaii -- Mauna Loa, Volcanism -- Hawaii -- Mauna Kea, Volcanism -- Hawaii -- Mauna Loa, Hawaii -- Mauna Kea, Hawaii -- Mauna Loa
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1,058 pages
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CC0 1.0 Universal
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