ONSHORE GROUNDWATER EXPLORATION

THE STUDY EXPLORED POSSIBLE NEW SOURCES OF GROUNDWATER IN KUWAIT. Fresh to lightly brackish groundwater is scarce in Kuwait and a study was conducted to explore possible new sources of groundwater in northern Kuwait. The campaign involved drilling, geophysical logging and sampling of new and existing wells, and surface time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) surveying. Forward geophysical modelling and synthetic curves were used to detail equipment setup and expected outcome. Remote sensing imagery and GIS provided various information such as on survey sites, catchment morphology and land use, while GIS was ultimately also used to visualize and plot the campaign and its results. Groundwater was found to exist mainly in shallow pockets that have formed from modern time rainfall events. Groundwater quality and aquifer dimensions and depths were determined. New insight was gained on how varying lithology and sedimentology considerably affect recharge behaviour. A follow-up study is underway that also involves exploration of more nconventional groundwater resources.