Two 500 m deep investigation shafts were excavating in the granite body in Mizunami, central Japan by JAEA (Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute) in 2004-2012. Groundwater with volume of 700 m 3 was generally pumping a day to prevent the shafts from submerging in 2012 following the excavating. As a result of pumping the groundwater, the ground water level lowered to 60 m in the borehole with the distance of 200 m from the excavating shafts in 2012. Leveling network extending 2 km × 2 km around the shafts was established to detect the vertical deformation around the shafts in 2004, and precise leveling was done every year. An 18 mm ground subsidence was detected in the benchmark close to the shafts for 8 years in 2004-2012, and time series of subsidence at benchmark was consistent with the groundwater drawdown. The groundwater drawdown and ground subsidence were caused by the pumping ground water in excavating shafts.
Ground subsidence caused by pumping up mass ground water in alluvial plains is one of the serious social problems of the present days in not only advanced countries but also developing countries (e.g., [
Mizunami, Gifu prefecture is located in the central Japan, and Toki Cretaceous-Paleocene granite complex is distributed as basic rock around there. Toki granite complex is composed of crackles and homogenous rock [
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) conducted Mizunami Underground Laboratory (MIU) Project in Mizunami, which is a comprehensive research project investigating the deep underground environment within crystalline rock. The project role is defined in “Framework for Nuclear Energy Policy” by Japan Atomic Energy Commission [
Tono Research Institute of Earthquake Science (TRIES) provides the research on seismic activities, ground deformation, and grand water flow, following the MIU project including development of the observation system.
MUI organizes the excavating project of the 1000 m deep shafts in Akiyo, western part of Mizunami in 2002 (
The Miocene Mizunami Group, including lignite-bearing formation in the lowermost part covers inconsistent with the Toki granite complex in excavating the area [
Tono Research Institute of Earthquake Science (TRIES) installed strain meters and tilt meters to monitor the ground deformation and water level pressures to detect the water level changes around the excavating shafts. As it is suggested the ground subsidence, a precise leveling network is also established in the area.
In we discuss the groundwater changes in the observation borehole, and ground deformation detected by the leveling, the locations of the observation borehole and leveling benchmarks are shown in
Leveling benchmarks were constructed in 2004 and are added after then. In 2012, the leveling network is extending over 30 km long toward northeast and included 60 benchmarks. In this paper, we discussed the vertical deformations detected at the benchmarks constructed until 2007, because of the survey periods. The benchmarks discussed here are distributed in the area of 2 × 2 km.
Precise leveling is conducted, firstly, in February 2004, and it is repeated every year for eight years until March 2011, and two times a year for two years in 2011 and 2012. However, the shaft excavating was begun in July 2003; it was shallow than 20 m depth in February 2004.
Precise leveling are done by digital level of NA3003 and DNA03 (Leica) and super-invar rods, and round and closure errors are within 2.5 L (km)1/2 and 1.5 L (km)1/2 mm respectively. The accuracy complies the first precise leveling of Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI).
Vertical deformations observed for 8.5 years in March 2004-September 2012 are shown in
Maximum subsidence of 14 mm are detected at the BMs 5 and 6, close to the shafts trough the periods of 1), 2) and 4) until March 2011, just before 2011 Tohoku Super Giant earthquake. After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, subsidence is turned to uplifting of 2 mm maximally until the leveling in February 2012. In September 2012, deformation is turned to subsidence once more, and it reaches 3 mm for only seven months in the period of 4).
Before the discussion on ground deformation around the shafts, we estimate the effect of load on/off by development project nearby the leveling network. A sallow valley was buried, and a low hill was removed during the survey period (
We estimate the volume changes in terrain based on a topographical map of 1:10,000 by Mizunami-shi and a digital 5 m mesh data by GSI. In calculation, a 10 m deep valley was buried, and a 25 m high hill was removed. The both volume changes of buried remove are estimated to be 93 × 103 ton.
Reference [
Maximum deformation is calculated the subsidence of −0.49 mm at BM 4, and other deformations are less than 0.1 mm in any BMs (
We should check the load off by the excavating. The diameter of the main and ventilation shafts is 6.5 m and 4.5 m respectively. When excavating depth arrived to 500 m, the total load off is about 56.4 ×103 ton. This load off is given the uplift of 1 - 2 mm at BMs 5 and 6 (
As results, we progress the discussion with no concern of vertical deformation effect caused by the load on/off of development project and excavating shafts.
As shown in
There was a progress of subsidence at the 2011 Tohoku Mega Thrust earthquake on March 11, 2011, just after the leveling survey in March 9. Deformation was changed to uplift following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. About 1 mm uplifts were detected at few BMs nearby the shafts by the leveling in August 2011. However, in February 2012, about 2 mm uplifts were observed at almost all BMs not only close to shafts.
There are reported groundwater level changes associated with earthquakes (e.g., [
Precise leveling is conducted, firstly, in February 2004, and it is repeated every year for eight years until March 2011, and two times a year for two years in 2011 and 2012. However, the shaft excavating was begun in July 2003; it was shallow than 20 m deep in February 2004.
There is a lot of spring in the excavating shafts, and it needs the draining the spring. Generally, discharges from the shafts were increasing with the excavating depths. The discharge volume of drainage was about 700 m3/day in 2012. The time series of excavating depths of the shafts and discharge volumes a day reported by MUI are shown in
The BMs of 5 and 6 are located at the distance of 50 m from the excavating shafts, and they are closer than BM 2. However, they were established in 2005 and two years later than BM 2. As shown in
10 mm to 20 mm for 7 - 9 years. Unfortunately, BM 5 and 6 located close to the shafts were established in 2006. Then we plot the time series at BM 2 in
Around the excavating shafts, there are distributed Mizunami Group of Miocene sedimentary rocks in 180 m depth, and Toki Granite of Cretaceous rocks under 180 m depth (
From
Of course, time series of discharge suggests some events of discharge. There are some events, such as the first rapid increasing over 400 m3/day in July 2005 (Event 1), the interrupt pumping in November 2005 (Event 2), the resurgence of pumping after the pump system replace in April 2006 (Event 3), co-seismic increment of discharge in March 11, 2011 (Event 4), and same co-seismic increment in December 2011 (Event 5). These events surely positive influences on the groundwater level in Togari borehole, and sometimes we detect some ground deformation by the yearly or half-yearly precise leveling.
Of course, time series of discharge suggests some events of discharge. There are some events, such as the first rapid increasing over 400 m3/day in July 2005 (Event 1), the interrupt pumping in November 2005 (Event 2), the resurgence of pumping after the pump system replace in April 2006 (Event 3), co-seismic increment of discharge
in March 11, 2011 (Event 4), and same co-seismic increment in December 2011 (Event 5). These events surely positive influences on the groundwater level in Togari borehole, and sometimes we detect some ground deformation by the yearly or half-yearly precise leveling.
Event 1: First Rapid Increasing in July 2005
The groundbreaking of the excavation was July 2003, however really excavating was in 2004 in MUI. Until a excavation depth was shallow then 100 m in June 2005, discharge was also less than 100 m3/day. In July, excavation depth of main shaft arrived to 115 m, and discharge was over 300 m3/day. The groundwater level synchronously was drawing down to −20 m from −1 - 2 m GL.
As the precise leveling was done in March 2005, and March 2006, there is no data of ground deformation by leveling.
Event 2: The Interrupting Drain Operation in November 2005
Until the excavation depth of the shaft reached 150 m GL in September 2005, the discharge was increasing over 400 m3/day. It is just the depth of the Toki coal-bearing formation layer. The discharge over 400 m3/day was overwork of the drain system, so that the system was interrupted in November 2005.
After the interruption of the drain system, the groundwater level was recovering and rose rapidly up to 10 m in November 2005, and 20 m in December 2005. In January 2006, two months after the interruption of drain, the groundwater level was recovered and rose up −2 m, which is corresponded to groundwater level at the 100m excavating depth in May 2005.
As there was no leveling in the period, vertical deformation around the shafts was not detected. However, tilt meter of the ASKANIA-type was recording in the observation vault at a distance of 300 m south from the shafts since November 2005 [
When the groundwater level was recovering of about 20 m in the period of November 2005 to January 2006, meter detected the remarkable uplift tilting amounting to 600 msec in the north-northeast. It suggested that uplift was processed around the shafts.
Event 3: The Resurgence of Drain System in April 2006
After the reinforcement of the drain system, discharge was resumed with displacement of 500 - 600 m3/day in March 2006. Immediately, the groundwater level began to draw down rapidly, and it reached to −20 m GL in about 20 days in late March, and to −30 m GL in late April. The excavation was also operated again after the discharge, and it arrived 190 m GL in late June.
As the leveling has done on March 19-23, 2006, the groundwater level already drew down to −20 m GL. As results, a subsidence of −4 mm at BM 2 referred to the height in March 2004 was detected. On the other hand, A subsidence tilting in the north-northeast of 600 msec was observed by the ASKANIA-type tilt meter until early April 2006, which is just a mirror image of uplift tilting at the period of groundwater level drawdown [
The excavating was almost interrupted around −200 m GL, and discharge was small changing around 600 m3/day until March 2008. Contrastingly, the groundwater level was drawing down, and it reached −50 m GL in 2008. The precise leveling was done almost every March in the period of 2006 - 2008. Subsidence of 8 mm was detected at the BM 2 for 2 years of 2006-2008.
In April 2008, the excavation was re-operated and the shafts were arriving a depth about −460 m GL in February 2010. Subsidence was also progressed and up to 4 mm at BM 2 for two years in 2008-2009.
Event 4: Coseismic Increment of Discharge in March 11, 2011
At the 2011 M9.0 East Japan mega thrust earthquake on March 11, 2011, the groundwater level rose 13 m from −66 m GL to −52 m GL at the Togari observation borehole described above [
Coseismic groundwater level raises less than 1 m are frequently detected in Togari observation borehole [
Some co-seismic groundwater level changes in Togari borehole were discussed [
The coseismic groundwater level changes are not simple. However, some boreholes show rises, same as Togari borehole, some show the draw down. Moreover, the patterns of rise and drawdown are also more complex. Some boreholes show a dilatory rise after co-seismic water level drawdown [
Another boreholes close to the shafts monitored by MUI recorded the groundwater level rise [
1) The largest coseismic water level changes are detected at Togari and MUI observation boreholes as the water level rises.
2) A water level rise at Togari borehole is amounting to 13 m in a day after the earthquake, and the level rise continued to for one month.
3) Vertical displacements of 1 - 2 mm uplift are recognized at the benchmarks only close to the shafts in August 2011, and displacements of two mm uplift are remarked at all benchmarks. It is clearly the different response between water level rises and ground uplifts.
4) An increasing spring in shafts is observed as increasing discharges pumped up from the shafts. Until the coseismic changes of the 2011 earthquake, the water level drawdowns are following the growing discharges, however, water level rises are detected this time.
Event 5: Coseismic Increment by M5.1 near Field Earthquake in December 24, 2011
Coseismic groundwater level rise of 5 m was observed by the felt earthquakes occurred beneath Mizunami in December 2012. The earthquake is M5.1 and the epicenter of the earthquake is located at 54 km deep, which is just located in the sub-ducting slab of the Philippine Sea plate. The earthquake mechanism suggests a normal fault type striking in N-S. It is caused under the east west extension in the subduction plate [
The
It is clearly that following the excavating depth, increasing of discharge from the shafts, and the groundwater level drawdown in Togari borehole, BM 2 is subsidence with time. After the 2011 East Japan earthquake, the precise leveling was done in August 2011, February 2012, and September 2012, and small uplifts are detected in August 2011 and February 2012. In September 2012, the subsidence is recovered, and it reaches about 2 cm.
In the plan of MUI, the excavated shaft would be infilled after the examination by MUI. If there are no pumping the discharge of the shafts, the groundwater level would basically recover same as no pumping experiments in November 2004. However, many ground subsidence caused by pumping the groundwater never recover in alluvial plains. In many cases, the ground subsidences are as the result of consolidation behavior of sedimentary layer.
In some case, groundwater is pumping up in shallow alluvium for seasonal agricultural water in summer or snow-melt-water for road in heavy snowfall area along the Japan Sea coast in winter. In their area, ground subsidence is detected in the period of pumping in summer or winter. However, the ground subsidence is also recovered in the period of no pumping in winter or summer [
Authors observed some recovery of grand subsidence by the tilt meter at the time of no pumping discharge for few months and pumping water in the borehole for few hours around the excavating shafts in MUI (Matthias et al., 2013; Asai, 2014, personal communication). There is one possibility of pore erratic body of granite as the mechanism of the ground subsidence. It is necessary to discuss the mechanism of ground subsidence, including the supply source and transport system of groundwater around the shafts. In order to make clear ground water flow, the precise leveling network was extended to 32 km distance to around area in 2012 and more surveys of ground magnetism and gravity in 2014.
Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has developed the excavating 500 m deep shafts in the Toki granite in Mizunami, central Japan, since 2004. As a part of monitoring of ground water circulation, crustal deformation, and seismic activities following the excavating shafts, the precise leveling has been done to discuss the ground deformation around the shafts since 2004. As a result of the precise leveling, 20 mm subsidence is detected at benchmarks nearby the shafts until 2012.
As following depths of the excavation, ground water discharges are increasing to 700 m3/day and grand water level is declined up to 70 m in the borehole close to the shafts. Simultaneously, ground subsidence is observed in the benchmarks nearby the shafts, corresponding to the ground water level declination. The water level was recovered instantly at the time of the tentative draining discontinue in November 2005, and declined after the resuming discharges. Following the 2011 Tohoku mega thrust earthquake and M5.6 earthquake occurred beneath Mizunami, the ground water level was ascending 13 m and 6 m respectively. The uplifts of 2 mm are detected at the benchmarks nearby the shafts with some time lag. After then, the ground water level and ground deformation were turned to declination and subsidence, respectively.
Because the groundwater of 700 m3/day is still discharged from the shafts, until now, mass ground water steadily requires an ongoing supply from not only local area but also the surrounding area of the shafts. We expanded the leveling network peripherally to the area of 5 × 10 km in 2012, and leveling routes were laying over 30 km. Since then, precise leveling was repeated in every year until 2014. In the near future, we will discuss the regional groundwater flow based on vertical deformation by our precise leveling.
We appreciate Dr. H. Aoki, a former director of TRIES to establish the research project in 2004, and Dr. M. Okubo, a chief researcher of TRIES, to joint our discussion and give many suggestions. We also express our appreciation to the researchers of Tono Geoscience Center, JAEA to discuss the data of excavation, and anonymous referees to contribute convenient suggestions on our manuscript.
FumiakiKimata,YasuhiroAsai,RyoHonda,ToshiyukiTanaka,HiroshiIshii,RikioMiyajima, (2015) Ground Subsidence Following Groundwater Drawdown by Excavating of 500 m Deep Investigation Shafts in Granite Body in Mizunami, Central Japan in 2004-2012. Engineering,07,424-433. doi: 10.4236/eng.2015.77038