A Detailed Study for the Assessment of Artificial Injection of Retained Water at Al Alb and Al Ghat Dams Lakes

PURPOSES

To assess whether recharge wells installed within the Al Alb and Al Ghat dam reservoirs could improve groundwater recharge and increase the volume of retained water transferred to the underlying aquifers.

CLIENT

Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the study delivered in collaboration with SLB, 2024.

WHAT WE DID

We developed three-dimensional FEFLOW groundwater models incorporating saturated and unsaturated flow beneath both reservoirs. Six scenarios were simulated to compare recharge through the reservoir beds, injection wells and combined systems, while evaluating the progressive effects of clogging, evaporation and changing groundwater levels. The results were used to assess system performance, identify key data limitations and provide recommendations for future recharge projects and field investigations.