Developing an Approach for a Three-Dimensional Hydrogeologic Framework to Find Water in Northern Ghana

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an approach for constructing a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework using borehole driller logs. The ultimate goal is to increase drilling success rates via a better understanding of the regional hydrogeologic framework in northern Ghana. Groundwater development has increased in northern Ghana, but drilling successful boreholes is difficult due to complex geology and limited aquifer characteristic information. An approach was developed to construct a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework of the basin using 900 borehole logs from World Vision International’s Ghana Integrated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Project, located in northern Ghana. The study’s approach consists of: evaluating potential software programs; collecting borehole drilling logs; data QA/QC; data standardization and normalization; analysis for trends and correlations; and creation of a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework and two-dimensional cross sections. This approach can be used and adapted by others working to provide groundwater in developing countries.