Several new water wells have been discovered through a groundwater exploration programme in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi that could change the face of the desert.
So far, 190 exploration and 65 groundwater monitoring wells that have been drilled, tested and completed, contain a total capacity of 510,000 m3/day with an average groundwater salinity of 2,500 ppm (parts per million).
The same programme includes a major study of groundwater consumption and use in agriculture and forestry to provide precise and reliable data for efficient irrigation management. Two German companies - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technisce Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Dornier Consulting - are undertaking the project under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC).
The total capacity of all exploration, production and observation wells completed until now in the whole of Abu Dhabi by the Groundwater Assessment Project (GAP) includes 541 deep and shallow exploration and monitoring wells with a maximum capacity of 1.13 million m3 per day. To date, the network includes 298 wells equipped with highly sophisticated sensors and data loggers.
The project includes an inventory of more than 13,000 wells surveyed by the project. Combined with the application of a countrywide mathematical groundwater model, this tool is seen as one of the most advanced instruments in groundwater resources management in the region.
The average salinity of the new wells is 2,500 ppm, i.e. 2.5 ppt (parts per thousand). Average ocean salinity is 35 ppt, and freshwater salinity is less than 0.5 ppt.
