Science and Products
Healy, R.W., and Essaid, H.I., 2012, VS2DI: Model use, calibration, and validation. Transactions of the ASABE, v. 55, no. 3, p. 1249-1260.
Heilweil, V., Healy, R.W., and Harris, R., 2012, Noble gases and coupled heat/fluid flow modeling for evaluating hydrogeologic conditions of volcanic island aquifers. Journal of Hydrology, v. 464-465, p. 309-327, DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.07.019.
Modeling variably saturated subsurface solute transport with MODFLOW-UZF and MT3DMS
The MT3DMS groundwater solute transport model was modified to simulate solute transport in the unsaturated zone by incorporating the unsaturated-zone flow (UZF1) package developed for MODFLOW. The modified MT3DMS code uses a volume-averaged approach in which Lagrangian-based UZF1 fluid fluxes and storage changes are mapped onto a fixed grid. Referred to as UZF-MT3DMS, the linked model was tested a
Authors
Eric D. Morway, Richard G. Niswonger, Christian D. Langevin, Ryan T. Bailey, Richard W. Healy
Deep subsurface drip irrigation using coal-bed sodic water: part II. geochemistry
Waters with low salinity and high sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) present a challenge to irrigation because they degrade soil structure and infiltration capacity. In the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, such low salinity (electrical conductivity, EC 2.1 mS cm-1) and high-SAR (54) waters are co-produced with coal-bed methane and some are used for subsurface drip irrigation(SDI). The SDI system studie
Authors
Carleton R. Bern, George N. Breit, Richard W. Healy, John W. Zupancic
Deep subsurface drip irrigation using coal-bed sodic water: part I. water and solute movement
Water co-produced with coal-bed methane (CBM) in the semi-arid Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana commonly has relatively low salinity and high sodium adsorption ratios that can degrade soil permeability where used for irrigation. Nevertheless, a desire to derive beneficial use from the water and a need to dispose of large volumes of it have motivated the design of a deep subsurface drip ir
Authors
Carleton R. Bern, George N. Breit, Richard W. Healy, John W. Zupancic, Richard Hammack
Influence of a thin veneer of low-hydraulic-conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration
A thin layer of fine‐grained sediment commonly is deposited at the sediment–water interface of streams and rivers during low‐flow conditions, and may hinder exchange at the sediment–water interface similar to that observed at many riverbank‐filtration (RBF) sites. Results from a numerical groundwater‐flow model indicate that a low‐permeability veneer reduces the contribution of river water to a pu
Authors
Donald O. Rosenberry, Richard W. Healy
Tracking solutes and water from subsurface drip irrigation application of coalbed methane-produced waters, Powder River Basin, Wyoming
One method to beneficially use water produced from coalbed methane (CBM) extraction is subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) of croplands. In SDI systems, treated CBM water (injectate) is supplied to the soil at depth, with the purpose of preventing the buildup of detrimental salts near the surface. The technology is expanding within the Powder River Basin, but little research has been published on its
Authors
Mark A. Engle, Carleton R. Bern, Richard W. Healy, J.I. Sams, J.W. Zupancic, K.T. Schroeder
Groundwater chemistry near an impoundment for produced water, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA
The Powder River Basin is one of the largest producers of coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) in the United States. An important environmental concern in the Basin is the fate of the large amounts of groundwater extracted during CBNG production. Most of this produced water is disposed of in unlined surface impoundments. A 6-year study of groundwater flow and water chemistry at one impoundment, Skewed Rese
Authors
R. W. Healy, T.T. Bartos, C. A. Rice, M.P. McKinley, B. D. Smith
Estimating groundwater recharge
Groundwater recharge is the entry of fresh water into the saturated portion of the subsurface part of the hydrologic cycle, the modifier “saturated” indicating that the pressure of the pore water is greater than atmospheric. Briefly stated, recharge is downward flux across the water table. The term “groundwater recharge” can refer either to the multiple interacting processes generating and control
Authors
David A. Stonestrom
Estimating groundwater recharge
Understanding groundwater recharge is essential for successful management of water resources and modeling fluid and contaminant transport within the subsurface. This book provides a critical evaluation of the theory and assumptions that underlie methods for estimating rates of groundwater recharge. Detailed explanations of the methods are provided - allowing readers to apply many of the techniques
Authors
Richard W. Healy
Infiltration from an impoundment for coal‐bed natural gas, Powder River Basin, Wyoming: Evolution of water and sediment chemistry
Development of coal‐bed natural gas (CBNG) in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, has increased substantially in recent years. Among environmental concerns associated with this development is the fate of groundwater removed with the gas. A preferred water‐management option is storage in surface impoundments. As of January 2007, permits for more than 4000 impoundments had been issued within Wyoming. A
Authors
Richard W. Healy, Cynthia A. Rice, Timothy T. Bartos, Michael P. McKinley
Simulating water, solute, and heat transport in the subsurface with the VS2DI software package
The software package VS2DI was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey for simulating water, solute, and heat transport in variably saturated porous media. The package consists of a graphical preprocessor to facilitate construction of a simulation, a postprocessor for visualizing simulation results, and two numerical models that solve for flow and solute transport (VS2DT) and flow and heat transpo
Authors
R. W. Healy
Water movement within the unsaturated zone in four agricultural areas of the United States
Millions of tons of agricultural fertilizer and pesticides are applied annually in the USA. Due to the potential for these chemicals to migrate to groundwater, a study was conducted in 2004 using field data to calculate water budgets, rates of groundwater recharge and times of water travel through the unsaturated zone and to identify factors that influence these phenomena. Precipitation was the on
Authors
L.H. Fisher, R. W. Healy
Water Budgets: Foundations for Effective Water-Resources and Environmental Management
INTRODUCTION
Water budgets provide a means for evaluating availability and sustainability of a water supply. A water budget simply states that the rate of change in water stored in an area, such as a watershed, is balanced by the rate at which water flows into and out of the area. An understanding of water budgets and underlying hydrologic processes provides a foundation for effective water-res
Authors
Richard W. Healy, Thomas C. Winter, James W. LaBaugh, O. Lehn Franke
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
VS2DRTI - A Graphical Software Package for Simulating Water Flow, Heat Transport, and Reactive Solute Transport
VS2DRTI is a graphical software package for simulating water flow, heat transport, and reactive solute transport in variably saturated porous media.
VS2DI Version 1.3
VS2DI is a graphical software package for simulating fluid flow and solute or energy transport in variably saturated porous media.
Science and Products
- Publications
Healy, R.W., and Essaid, H.I., 2012, VS2DI: Model use, calibration, and validation. Transactions of the ASABE, v. 55, no. 3, p. 1249-1260.
Heilweil, V., Healy, R.W., and Harris, R., 2012, Noble gases and coupled heat/fluid flow modeling for evaluating hydrogeologic conditions of volcanic island aquifers. Journal of Hydrology, v. 464-465, p. 309-327, DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.07.019.
Modeling variably saturated subsurface solute transport with MODFLOW-UZF and MT3DMS
The MT3DMS groundwater solute transport model was modified to simulate solute transport in the unsaturated zone by incorporating the unsaturated-zone flow (UZF1) package developed for MODFLOW. The modified MT3DMS code uses a volume-averaged approach in which Lagrangian-based UZF1 fluid fluxes and storage changes are mapped onto a fixed grid. Referred to as UZF-MT3DMS, the linked model was tested aAuthorsEric D. Morway, Richard G. Niswonger, Christian D. Langevin, Ryan T. Bailey, Richard W. HealyDeep subsurface drip irrigation using coal-bed sodic water: part II. geochemistry
Waters with low salinity and high sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) present a challenge to irrigation because they degrade soil structure and infiltration capacity. In the Powder River Basin of Wyoming, such low salinity (electrical conductivity, EC 2.1 mS cm-1) and high-SAR (54) waters are co-produced with coal-bed methane and some are used for subsurface drip irrigation(SDI). The SDI system studieAuthorsCarleton R. Bern, George N. Breit, Richard W. Healy, John W. ZupancicDeep subsurface drip irrigation using coal-bed sodic water: part I. water and solute movement
Water co-produced with coal-bed methane (CBM) in the semi-arid Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana commonly has relatively low salinity and high sodium adsorption ratios that can degrade soil permeability where used for irrigation. Nevertheless, a desire to derive beneficial use from the water and a need to dispose of large volumes of it have motivated the design of a deep subsurface drip irAuthorsCarleton R. Bern, George N. Breit, Richard W. Healy, John W. Zupancic, Richard HammackInfluence of a thin veneer of low-hydraulic-conductivity sediment on modelled exchange between river water and groundwater in response to induced infiltration
A thin layer of fine‐grained sediment commonly is deposited at the sediment–water interface of streams and rivers during low‐flow conditions, and may hinder exchange at the sediment–water interface similar to that observed at many riverbank‐filtration (RBF) sites. Results from a numerical groundwater‐flow model indicate that a low‐permeability veneer reduces the contribution of river water to a puAuthorsDonald O. Rosenberry, Richard W. HealyTracking solutes and water from subsurface drip irrigation application of coalbed methane-produced waters, Powder River Basin, Wyoming
One method to beneficially use water produced from coalbed methane (CBM) extraction is subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) of croplands. In SDI systems, treated CBM water (injectate) is supplied to the soil at depth, with the purpose of preventing the buildup of detrimental salts near the surface. The technology is expanding within the Powder River Basin, but little research has been published on itsAuthorsMark A. Engle, Carleton R. Bern, Richard W. Healy, J.I. Sams, J.W. Zupancic, K.T. SchroederGroundwater chemistry near an impoundment for produced water, Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA
The Powder River Basin is one of the largest producers of coal-bed natural gas (CBNG) in the United States. An important environmental concern in the Basin is the fate of the large amounts of groundwater extracted during CBNG production. Most of this produced water is disposed of in unlined surface impoundments. A 6-year study of groundwater flow and water chemistry at one impoundment, Skewed ReseAuthorsR. W. Healy, T.T. Bartos, C. A. Rice, M.P. McKinley, B. D. SmithEstimating groundwater recharge
Groundwater recharge is the entry of fresh water into the saturated portion of the subsurface part of the hydrologic cycle, the modifier “saturated” indicating that the pressure of the pore water is greater than atmospheric. Briefly stated, recharge is downward flux across the water table. The term “groundwater recharge” can refer either to the multiple interacting processes generating and controlAuthorsDavid A. StonestromEstimating groundwater recharge
Understanding groundwater recharge is essential for successful management of water resources and modeling fluid and contaminant transport within the subsurface. This book provides a critical evaluation of the theory and assumptions that underlie methods for estimating rates of groundwater recharge. Detailed explanations of the methods are provided - allowing readers to apply many of the techniquesAuthorsRichard W. HealyInfiltration from an impoundment for coal‐bed natural gas, Powder River Basin, Wyoming: Evolution of water and sediment chemistry
Development of coal‐bed natural gas (CBNG) in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, has increased substantially in recent years. Among environmental concerns associated with this development is the fate of groundwater removed with the gas. A preferred water‐management option is storage in surface impoundments. As of January 2007, permits for more than 4000 impoundments had been issued within Wyoming. AAuthorsRichard W. Healy, Cynthia A. Rice, Timothy T. Bartos, Michael P. McKinleySimulating water, solute, and heat transport in the subsurface with the VS2DI software package
The software package VS2DI was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey for simulating water, solute, and heat transport in variably saturated porous media. The package consists of a graphical preprocessor to facilitate construction of a simulation, a postprocessor for visualizing simulation results, and two numerical models that solve for flow and solute transport (VS2DT) and flow and heat transpoAuthorsR. W. HealyWater movement within the unsaturated zone in four agricultural areas of the United States
Millions of tons of agricultural fertilizer and pesticides are applied annually in the USA. Due to the potential for these chemicals to migrate to groundwater, a study was conducted in 2004 using field data to calculate water budgets, rates of groundwater recharge and times of water travel through the unsaturated zone and to identify factors that influence these phenomena. Precipitation was the onAuthorsL.H. Fisher, R. W. HealyWater Budgets: Foundations for Effective Water-Resources and Environmental Management
INTRODUCTION Water budgets provide a means for evaluating availability and sustainability of a water supply. A water budget simply states that the rate of change in water stored in an area, such as a watershed, is balanced by the rate at which water flows into and out of the area. An understanding of water budgets and underlying hydrologic processes provides a foundation for effective water-resAuthorsRichard W. Healy, Thomas C. Winter, James W. LaBaugh, O. Lehn FrankeNon-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- Software
VS2DRTI - A Graphical Software Package for Simulating Water Flow, Heat Transport, and Reactive Solute Transport
VS2DRTI is a graphical software package for simulating water flow, heat transport, and reactive solute transport in variably saturated porous media.
VS2DI Version 1.3
VS2DI is a graphical software package for simulating fluid flow and solute or energy transport in variably saturated porous media.
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