• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.197-205
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• 2010

Recently abrupt climate changes have been occurred in global and regional scales and $CO_2$ reduction technologies became an important solution for global warming. As a method of the solution shallow underground thermal energy storage (UTES) has been applied as a reliable technology in most countries developing renewable energy. The geothermal energy system using thermal source of soil, rock, and ground water in aquifer or cavern located in shallow ground is designed based on the concept of thermal energy recovery and storage. UTES technology of Korea is in early stage and consistent researches are demanded to develop environmental friendly, economical and efficient UTES systems. Aquifers in Korea are suitable for various type of ground water source heat pump system. However due to poor understanding and regulations on various UTES high efficient geothermal systems have not been developed. Therefore simple closed U-tube type geothermal heat pump systems account for more than 90% of the total geothermal system installation in Korea. To prevent becoming wide-spread of inefficient systems, UTES systems considering to the hydrogeothemal properties of the ground should be developed and installed. Also international collaboration is necessary, and continuous UTES researches can improve the efficiency of shallow geothermal systems.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.587-598
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• 2023

To assess the distribution and temporal changes in radon concentration within a region in Yeonpung-myeon, Goesan-gun, known for elevated groundwater radon levels, we conducted a series of analyses, measuring radon concentration and DTW (Depth to water table) at 2-month intervals over 12 cycles. The investigation covered 10 groundwater wells and one stream within the designated area. The groundwater in the central part of the region exhibited high radon concentrations, ranging from 37.0 to 2,675.2 Bq/L. Conversely, the peripheral zones displayed comparatively lower radon concentrations, ranging from 10.6 to 37.9 Bq/L. This variation is attributed to the presence of granite porphyry that intruded into the Okcheon Formation, forming a fracture zone and contributing to elevated radon levels in the central part. In contrast, the peripheral locations, located within the Okcheon Formation and away from the granite porphyry intrusion, demonstrated lower radon concentrations. The observed significant fluctuation in radon concentration in the central area is associated with its low-lying topography. The pronounced seasonal changes in groundwater levels contribute to the migration of shallow, low-radon groundwater into areas with higher radon concentrations, explaining the observed variations in radon levels within the central part of the studied area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.553-566
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• 2018

The occurrence of natural radionuclides like uranium and radon in groundwater was hydrochemically examined based on 40 well groundwaters in Mungyeong area. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was $68{\sim}574{\mu}S/cm$. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from $0.03{\sim}169{\mu}g/L$ (median value, $0.82{\mu}g/L$) and radon concentrations ranged from 70~30,700 pCi/L (median value, 955 pCi/L). Only 1 out of 40 wells (2.5%) showed uranium concentration exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL; $30{\mu}g/L$) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radon concentrations of eight wells (20%) exceeded AMCL(Alternative maximum contaminant level) of the US EPA (4,000 pCi/L). Four out of those eight wells even exceeded Finland's guideline level (8,100 pCi/L). When concentrations of uranium and radon were investigated in terms of geology, the highest values are generally associated with granite. The uranium and radon levels observed in this study are low in comparison to those of other countries with similar geological settings. It is likely that the measured value was lower than the actual content due to the inflow of shallow groundwater by the lack of casing and grouting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.199-211
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• 1997

As a part of study on geological disposal of radioactive waste, hydrogeochemical characteristics of deep granitic groundwater in Korea were investigated through the construction of a large geochemical dataset of natural water, the examination on the behaviour of dissolved constituents, and the consideration of phase stability based on thermodynamic approach. In granitic region, the contents of total dissolved solids increase progressively from surface waters to deep groundwaters, which indicates the presence of more concentrated waters at depth due to water-rock interaction. The chemical composition of groundwater evolves from initial $Ca^{2＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) or $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type to final N $a^{＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ or N $a^{＋}$－(C $l^{－}$＋S $O_4$$^{2-}$) type, via $Ca^{2＋}$-HC $O_3$$^{－}$ type. Three main mechanisms seem to control the chemical composition of groundwater in the granitic region; 1) congruent dissolution of calcite at shallower depth, 2) calcite precipitation and incongruent dissolution of plagioclase at deeper depth, and 3) kaolinite-smectite or/and kaolinite-illite reaction at equilibrium at deeper depth. The behaviour of dissolved major cations (C $a^{2＋}$, $K^{＋}$, $Mg^{2＋}$, M $a^{＋}$) and silica is likely to be controlled by these reactions.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.395-406
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• 2002

The sixty natural springs and community wells used as a drinking water in the Daejeon area are mainly located at the parks and the natural green districts. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of water quality and the contamination of the springs and the wells, and to suggest the management strategy for the springs and wells. For this study, we undertook water quality data from Daejeon City. According to the statistic analysis of water quality data, unacceptable rate as a drinking water was about 28 percent in 1999 and 24.5 percent in 2000, respectively. Major unacceptable factor is coliform, and others are bacteria, yersinia, color, turbidity, Fe and F. The unacceptable rate shows a roughly positive relationship with precipitation, that is, it shows highest rate during a rainy season between June and September. The major contamination source is likely to be the excrement of wild animals around natural springs and wells. Most of springs are vulnerable to the contamination of coliform and bacteria because of short residence time and shallow circulation in subsurface environment. The water samples collected from 31 springs or wells show weak acidic pHs, the electrical conductivity ranging from 63 to 357 $\mu\textrm{S}$/cm, and the hydrochemical types of Na(Ca)-HC0$_3$ and Ca-HC0$_3$. The groundwater samples of low total dissolved solid(TDS) belong to Na(Ca)-HC0$_3$. type, and the groundwater of high total dissolved solid is shifted towards Ca-HC0$_3$ type in the chemical composition. These hydrochemical characteristics indicate that most natural springs is in the early stage of geochemical evolution. The natural springs should be closed during a rainy season, which shows a high contamination rate. We suggest that a protection barrier around the springs should be built to keep wild animals away from the springs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.159-170
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• 1999

The hydrogeochemical study on the $CO_2$-rich water in the Chojeong area was carried out. The $CO_2$-rich water of Ca-$HCO_3$type is characterized by low pH (5.0~5.8). high $CO_2$concentration ($Pco_2$＜$10^{0.31}$atm) and high TDS. The water chemistry indicates that the $CO_2$-rich water was probably evolved by the local suppy of deep seated $CO_2$gas resulting in the enhanced water/rock (granite) interaction under low pH conditions. High $NO_3$concentration indicates that the $CO_2$water was mixed and diluted with low $CO_2$groundwater in the vicinity of the area, in which the extensive groundwater abstraction occurred during the past years. The evoiution of the $CO_2$-rich water in the Chojeong area for the process of $CO_2$injection water/rock interaction and mixing processes was thermodynamically simulated by PHREEQC. Although the simulation was limited to water/plagioclase interaction, the results show the feasible explanation about the observed trend of pH and Ca and Na concentrations of the $CO_2$-rich water.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.461-471
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• 2016

Numerical modules based on a conventional thermo-hydrological numerical model, TOUGH2, are developed to provide a numerical modeling technique for a standing column well (SCW). Cooling and heating operations for two different types of SCW are then simulated using these modules. Modeling showed these operations to be significantly influenced by heat exchange and fluid mixing between the SCW and the adjacent geologic formation and groundwater. The results also reveal that heat exchange between the oppositely flowing outflow and inflow in the PVC or PE pipe and the SCW borehole is an important factor. Overall, the numerical modeling technique developed here can reasonably simulate fluid flow and heat transport phenomena in the complex internal structures of a SCW. The proposed technique can be used practically for the quantitative analysis of heat exchange in a SCW at the design, construction, and operation stages.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.495-508
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• 2019

We measured the concentrations of natural radionuclides (uranium and radon) and major elements in groundwater collected from forty wells located in Wonju area to investigate the hydrochemistry and the occurrence of these radionuclides. The range of electrical conductivity (EC) value in the study area was 73~400 μS/cm. In addition to the increase of EC value, the content of cations and anions also tends to increase. Uranium concentrations ranged from 0.06~50.5 ㎍/L (median value, 1.55 ㎍/L) and radon concentrations ranged from 67~8,410 pCi/L (median value, 1,915 pCi/L). Uranium concentrations in 3 well, 7.5% of the samples, exceeded 30 ㎍/L, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on the chemical toxicity of uranium. Radon concentrations in 9 wells, 22.5% of the samples, and 1 well, 2.2% of the samples, exceeded 4,000 pCi/L (AMCL of the US EPA) and 8,100 pCi/L (Finland's guideline level), respectively. Concentrations of uranium and radon related to geology of the study area showd the highest values in groundwater of the biotite granite area. Uranium and radon contents in the groundwater are comparatively low compared to those in other countries with similar geological settings. It is likely that the measured value was lower than the actual content due to the inflow of shallow groundwater by the lack of casing and grouting.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2013

The study area is located on the western coastal region of Korea, partly had been reclaimed lands. Groundwaters of the coastal area show lower Eh and DO values (Eh: 0.57 V ${\rightarrow}$ 0.13 V, DO; 9.7 mg/l ${\rightarrow}$ 1.3 mg/l), and higher Fe concentrations (> 20 mg/l) than those of the inner land (< 0.3 mg/l), indicating that the redox condition of groundwater changes from oxic into suboxic/anoxic conditions as it flows from the inland toward the coastal area. In addition, Fe speciation of groundwater from the coastal area demonstrates that the most dissolved Fe exist as $Fe^{2+}$, reflecting that groundwater is under the anoxic condition to sufficiently occur Fe reduction. According to the result of Fe extraction with the sediment samples from three wells (A, B, C), the sediments provide enough $Fe^{3+}$ to occur the Fe reduction in the groundwater. Integrated all results of the groundwater and sediment, we infer that the Fe reduction to occur in groundwater is associated with the reclamation processes of the study area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.73-77
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• 2009

Two different aquifers with different characteristics developed in the study area - a lower and upper aquifer zone. Nitrate contamination of the lower aquifer zone was likely due to infiltration of nitrate-contaminated groundwater of the upper aquier zone through abandoned groundwater wells. In order to evaluate the feasibility of a preliminary packer designed to prevent nitrate migration through abandoned groundwater wells NO3-N concentrations of the upper and lower part of preliminary packer installed at four sampling sites were measured. Nitrate concentrations of the and lower part of Yechun sinwolri were 10.3 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L, respectively. Yechun eosinri, Yechun jeowooriis, and Andong hoegokri were $NO_3$-N concentrations in the upper (11.3, 11.0, and 14.6 mg/L) and lower (8.8, 1.6, and 8.0 mg/L), respectively. $NO_3$-N contents of all groundwater samples in the lower part after the preliminary packer installation showed 22~85% lower than those of the upper part.