NIGK21012U Contaminant Hydrogeology

Volume 2025/2026
Education

MSc Programme in Geology-Geoscience

Content
  • Collection of pumping test and slug test data, and data management.
  • Conduction of slug and pumping tests, and borehole logging, on an urban industrial contaminated site.
  • Slug- and pumping test theory and analysis using Aqtesolv.
  • Borehole logging theory and analysis.
  • Theory of depth specific sampling and practical use of such data.
  • Acquisition and use of hydraulic potenitals and geological data from borehole databases. 
  • Calculation of contaminant movement velocity.
  • Estimation of pump-and-treat pumping rate.
  1.  

The course is a collaboration between the company GEO, Region Hovedstaden, and KU. Fieldwork - mainly slug tests and a 24 h pumping test - will be conducted at one of Region Hovedstadens polluted industrial sites near Copenhagen (chlorinated solvents). The theory for, and use of data from, other methods will be covered in a lecture room avaiable at the field site. The goal is to prepare students with the needed theory in an environment as close as possible to every-day-life of, and in close collaboration with, practitioners.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • Introduction to how Danish authorities handle contaminated sites to protect groundwater resources.
  • Practical hydrogeological and geophysical field investigations at point-source contaminated sites.
  • Theoretical understanding of pump tests, borehole logging, water sampling, and data analysis.
  • Application of industry-standard software for data interpretion.
  • Write-up of industry-standard reports.

 

Skills

  • Use of pressure transducers for measuring time series of hydraulic head.
  • Pumping tests: (a) Capacity tests; (b) 24 h constant pump tests (drawdown) followed by 24 h recovery tests (pump shut off).
  • Advanced pump test analysis.
  • Making use of borehole logging to interpret (hydro)geology: Borehole flow logging (gamma, conductivity, temperature), flow logs (to interpret inflow zones along long screens), and video logs.
  • Evaluating spatial variability in hydraulic conductivity.
  • Evaluate regional flow and contaminant plume velocity and direction.
  • Estimation of pumping rate needed for pump and treat facility.
  • Use of industry-standard software.
  • Write industry-standard reports.

 

Competences

The course will give students the skills and qualifications for carrying out practical hydrogeological and geophysical investigations in close collaboration with external partners and provide a much broader platform for applying for jobs.

Please see Absalon course page.

Knowledge of hydrogeology and geophysics at BSc level.
One block of teaching consists of: 1, 2 or 3 week(s) of preparation incl. lectures. This is followed by 1 week of active fieldwork, lectures and data curation and analysis at the field site. This is followed by 3, 4 or 5 weeks of analysis of collected data and report writing. In total 7 weeks.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 141
  • Exercises
  • 35
  • Field Work
  • 30
  • Total
  • 206
Written
Oral
Individual
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)

Feedback on reports.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, During course
Type of assessment details
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners.
Re-exam

Re-submission of written assignment. The written assignment must be handed in prior to the re-examination week.

Criteria for exam assesment

See Learning Outcome.