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Comparison of transport simulations and equivalent dispersion coefficients in heterogeneous media generated by different numerical methods: A genesis model and a simple geostatistical sequential Gaussian simulator

¹ Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique—Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Orme des Merisiers, bât. 709, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
² University of Poitiers, Unité Mixte de Recherche, 6532 Hydrasa of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 40 Avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, France
³ University Paris VI, Unité Mixte de Recherche, Sisyphe of Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France

This article presents a genesis method for characterizing heterogeneous media representing alluvial deposits. This method simulates the main steps of the medium genesis for meandering, braided, and incising streams and generates facies, which are then translated into hydraulic conductivities to simulate flow and transport. In order to compare this "genetic" model with other methods commonly used to characterize heterogeneous media, a basic sequential Gaussian indicator method was applied to the same site: a 5200-m-long reach of the Aube River floodplain (France). Ten different geostatistical realizations were generated. An equivalent homogeneous representation was also included. Flow and transport simulations in the different heterogeneous numerical media were conducted with Visual MODFLOW. The results were analyzed and compared in terms of permeability fields, plume spreading, and equivalent longitudinal dispersion. Emphasis is on the ability of the genetic model to represent continuous channels that can serve either as conduits or as barriers to flow, which, we think, is unique.

Keywords: heterogeneity • alluvial aquifer • groundwater • model • genetic method • geostatistical method • dispersion