Mosul Dam is an earth fill dam located on the Tigris River in North Western part of Iraq. It is 113 m in height, 3.4 km in length, 10 m wide in its crest and has a storage capacity of 11.11 billion cubic meters. It is, constructed on bedrocks which consist of gypsum beds alternated with marl and limestone, in cyclic nature. The thickness of the gypsum beds attains 18 m; they are intensely karstified even in foundation rocks. This has created number of problems during construction, impounding and operation of the dam. Construction work in Mosul Dam started on January 25th, 1981 and started operating on 24th July, 1986. After impounding in 1986, seepage locations were recognized. The cause of seepage is mainly due to: 1) The karsts prevailing in the dam site and in the reservoir area. 2) The existence of gypsum/anhydrite rock formations in the dam foundation alternating with soft marl layers and weathered and cavernous limestone beddings. 3) The presence of an extensive ground water aquifer called Wadi Malleh aquifer, which affects considerably the ground water regime in the right bank. The dissolution intensity of the gypsum/anhydrite ranged from 42 to 80 t/day which was followed by a noticeable increase in the permeability and leakages through the foundation. Inspection of the dam situation in 2014 and 2015 indicates that the dam is in a state of extreme unprecedentedly high relative risk. In this work, possible solutions to the problem are to be discussed. It is believed that grouting operations will elongate the span life of the dam but do not solve the problem. Building another dam downstream Mosul Dam will be the best protective measures due to the possible failure of Mosul Dam, to secure the safety of the downstream area and its’ population.
References
[1]
Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources (2012) Water Resources, Mosul Dam.
https://www.mowr.gov.iq/en
[2]
Al-Ansari, N.A., Barazanji, A., Al-Jabari, M. and Gayara, A. (1984) Geological Investigation of Mosul Dam Site. The Ministry of Irrigation, 41 p.
[3]
Sissakian, V.K. (1978) Report on the Geological Mapping of Tuz Khurmatu-Kifri- Kalar Area. Iraq Geological Survey Library Report No. 902.
[4]
Sissakian, V.K. and Al-Mousawi, H.A. (2007) Karstification and Related Problems, Examples from Iraq. Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining, 3, 1-12.
[5]
IVO (Imatran Voima Osakeyhtio) (1969) Consulting Engineers, Finland, Geologic Map of Mosul Dam. Ministry of Agrarian Reform.
[6]
Al-Sinjari, M.A. (2007) Characterization and Classification of Some Vertisols West of Duhok Governorate. PhD Thesis, University of Mosul.
[7]
Sissakian, V.K., Al-Ansari, N. and Knutson, S. (2014) Karstification Problems in Mosul Dam and Its Assessment. North Iraq. Engineering, 6, 84-92.
https://doi.org/10.4236/eng.2014.62012
[8]
Adamo, N., Al-Ansari, N.A., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: Problems Encountered during and after Impounding the Reservoir. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 47-58.
[9]
Adamo, N., Al-Ansari, N.A., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: Foundation Treatment during Construction. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 59-69.
[10]
Adamo, N., Al-Ansari, N.A., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: Maintenance Grouting. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 71-77.
[11]
Adamo, N., Al-Ansari, N.A., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: Experts Proposals and Ideas on Mosul Dam. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 79-93.
[12]
Al-Ansari, N.A., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V., Adamo, N. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: The Project. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 15-31.
[13]
Al-Ansari, N.A., Adamo, N., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: Karstification and Sinkholes. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 33-45.
[14]
Al-Ansari, N.A., Adamo, N., Issa, I.E., Sissakian, V. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: Dam Failure and Its Consequences. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 91-111.
[15]
Al-Ansari, N.A. (2015) Geological and Engineering Investigations of the Most Dangerous Dam in the World. SCIENPRESS, London.
[16]
Sissakian, V., Al-Ansari, N.A., Issa, I.E., Adamo, N. and Knutsson, S. (2015) Mystery of Mosul Dam the Most Dangerous Dam in the World: General Geology. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 5, 1-13.
[17]
Adamo, N. and Al-Ansari, N.A. (2016) Mosul Dam Full Story: Safety Evaluation of Mosul Dam. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 6, 185-212.
[18]
Adamo, N. and Al-Ansari, N.A. (2016) Mosul Dam Full Story: Engineering Problems. Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 6, 213-244.
[19]
Adamo, N. and Al-Ansari, N.A. (2016) Mosul Dam Full Story: What if the Dam Fails? Journal of Earth Sciences and Geotechnical Engineering, 6, 245-269.
[20]
Wakeley, L.D., Kelley, J.R., Talbot, C.A., Pearson, M.L. and Broadfoot, S.W. (2007) Geologic Conceptual Model of Mosul Dam. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 61 p.
[21]
Sissakian, V.K., Abdul Ahad, A.D. and Hamid, A.T. (2011) Geological Hazards in Iraq, Classification and Geographical Distribution. Iraqi Bulletin of Geology and Mining, 7, 1-28.
[22]
Kelly, J., Wakeley, L.D., Broadfoot, S.W., Pearson, M.L., McGill, T.E., Jorgeson, J.D., Talbot, C.A. and McGrath, C.J. (2007) Geologic Setting of Mosul Dam and Its Engineering Implications. Final Report, U.S. Army Engineer District, Gulf Region, Baghdad.
[23]
Swiss Consultants (1979) Mosul Dam Project-Planning Report, Vol. 1, State Organization of Dams, Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Irrigation.
[24]
Black and Veatch (2004) Mosul Dam Assessment, Review of 1984 Dambreak and Floadwave Study for Mosul Dam, Mosul Dam Library, Iraq.
[25]
Mark and Wheeler (2004) Mosul Dam Assessment, Task Order No. 8, Report on Site Visit, Mosul Dam Library, 3-7 September, 2004.
Washington Group International (2005) Inter-Office Correspondence. Mosul Dam Library.
[28]
Hijab, S.R. and Al-Jabbar, M.A. (2006) Geophysical Investigation on Mosul Dam Area, Stage One, Emergency Microgravity Survey. Iraq Geological Survey Library, Internal Report.
[29]
Issa, E.I., Al-Ansari, N.A. and Knutsson, S. (2013) Changes in Bed Morphology of Mosul Dam Reservoir. Journal of Advanced Science and Engineering Research, 3, 86-95.
[30]
Swiss Consultant (1984) Mosul Dam Project Hydrological Study on Right Bank Report. State Organization of Dams, Republic of Iraq, Ministry of Irrigation, June 1984.
[31]
Deere, D.U. and Deere, D.W. (1989) Rock Quality Designation (RQD) after Twenty Years Contract Report GL-89-1. U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg.
[32]
Al-Abayachi, S. (2016) Report on Mosul Dam, Iraqi House of Representatives. Agriculture, Water, and Marshes Sub-Committee.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byn0PFg9wZ5FNHNQUmxLb0JzenM/view
[33]
Coffman, R. (2014) Mosul Dam Could Fail if ISIS Doesn’t Continue Grouting Operations. Expert Says, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Article ID: 621536.
[34]
Cetinic, F. (2016) Satellite Based Information to Support Health Analysis of Mosul Dam. International Workshop on Mosul Dam, Stockholm, 24-25 May 2016.
[35]
MaCleanathan, J.T. (2009) Update for Screening Portfolio Risk Analysis for U.S Army Corps of Engineers Dams. Risks and Reliability Directorate USACE.
[36]
U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation (2014) Interim RCEM (Reclamation Consequence Estimating Methodology). Guidelines for Estimating Life Loss for Dam Safety Risk Analysis, February 2014.
[37]
Milillo, P., Bürgmann, R., Lundgren, P., Salzer, J., Perissin, D., Fielding, E., Biondi, F. and Milillo, G. (2016) Space Geodetic Monitoring of Engineered Structures: The Ongoing Destabilization of the Mosul Dam, Iraq. Scientific Reports, 6, Article No. 37408. http://www.nature.com/articles/srep37408
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep37408
[38]
Swiss Consultants (1984) Security Measures II, Addendum 3-Flood Wave Studies, Task 2 Mosul Flood Wave, Confidential Report for the Ministry of Irrigation, State Organization of Dams, V. 1 (Summary), V. 2 (The Model and Model Calibration), V. 3 (Calculation of Mosul Flood Wave).
[39]
Swiss Consultants (1984) Security Measures II, Addendum 3-Flood Wave Studies, Task 2 Mosul Flood Wave, Confidential Report for the Ministry of Irrigation, State Organization of Dams, V. 1 (Summary), V. 2 (The Model and Model Calibration), 3 (Calculation of Mosul Flood Wave).
Al-Taiee, T.M. and Rasheed, M.M. (2009) Simulation Tigris River Flood Wave in Mosul City Due to hypothetical Mosul Dam. 13th International Water Technology Conference, Hurghada.
[44]
Mahmud, M.I., Al Azawi, A.O., Abdul Majeed, A.T. and Khalil, T.W. (2015) Mosul Dam Break Scenario and Its Effects on the Areas along the River down to Baghdad. Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Center for Catastrophes Data Management and Space Archives, Baghdad. (In Arabic)
[45]
Annunziato, A., Andredakis, I. and Probst, P. (2016) Impact of Flood by a Possible Failure of the Mosul Dam. Version 2, Joint Research Centre JRC Technical Reports, EU Commission.
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC101555/lbna27923enn.pdf
[46]
Franchello, F. and Krausmann, E. (2008) HyFlux2: A Numerical Model for the Impact Assessment of Severe Inundation Scenario to Chemical Facilities and Downstream Environment. EUR 23354 EN-2008.
http://www.google.se/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ah UKEwiMrcDK4tfRAhWC1iwKHf9MA3wQFggeMAE&url= http%3A%2F%2Fportal.gdacs.org%2Fabout%2 FPublications%2FItemID%2F205%2FModID%2 F662&usg=AFQjCNEG-Mtyu2tSVcrmS_-6nWjrvmfAgw&bvm=bv.144224172,d.bGg
[47]
Luga, R. (1986) Report on Visit in February 1986 Concerning Grouting Works. GEOCONSEIL, Ministry of Irrigation, Baghdad.
[48]
Binnie and Partners (1987) Mosul Dam Foundation Cut-Off. Report, Ministry of Irrigation, Baghdad.
[49]
IBOE (1989) International Board of Experts. Interim Meeting Report, Ministry of Irrigation, Baghdad, Iraq.
[50]
Al-Adily, A., Khasaf, S. and Ajaj, A. (2014) Hydrological Impacts of Iraqi Badush Dam on Ground Water. International Water Technology Journal, 4, 90-106.
