Hydrofracturing in the Development of Groundwater Resources in the southern Part of the Volta Region of Ghana

Abstract

The yield of marginal and sometimes dry welly may he improved by the application of hydrofracturing methods. Hydrofracturing is the technique by which potential and ."or existing fractures and cracks within a geologic formation are forced to open further by using high pressures induced through water within the well profile so that the increased crock opening will induce increased water flow into the well When this technique was applied to the development of wells for the supply of drinking water to communities in the Akatsi, Adidome and Ho Distncts in the Volta Region. the results were dramatic; well yields increased several fold and in some cases by more than 1,000% and made it possible for even dry and marginal-yield wells, which otherwise would have been declared unproductive and abandoned to be developed for hand pump installation. Out of J/ borehole, to which the hydrofracturing technique was applied, as many as 35 were mode productive and are now the sources of water supply far the communities in which they are located.