Predicting well productivity in cratonic regions using remote sensing lineaments and weathered cover thickness: A case study from Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

In western African cratonic regions, fractured crystalline bedrock, Neoproterozoic sedimentary covers, and regolith deposits constitute the most productive aquifer systems. Structural lineaments derived from remote sensing data and weathered cover thickness from borehole interpretations provide cost-effective methods for evaluating well productivity in regions with limited economic resources and hydrogeological knowledge, such as Houet province in Western Burkina Faso. Structural lineaments were interpreted using 1:200,000 Landsat TM images and 1:50,000 aerial photographs, revealing NE and NW as the most significant directions. An analysis of 101 borehole stratigraphic profiles from rural water supply program reports revealed the weathering depth and cover thickness. Borehole productivity exhibited a strong correlation with increased weathered cover thickness. Negative well results were concentrated in areas with less than 5 m of cover. In contrast, significant differences in specific yield rates were observed with greater thicknesses, ranging from 2.5 m³/d for 20 m of saturated thickness to 7.6 m³/d when the regolith reached a depth of 40 m. These preliminary groundwater exploration tools effectively target successful well sites by accounting for differing lithologies, regional tectonics, and regolith development. This approach is particularly relevant for cratonic regions with limited resources and hydrogeological knowledge, aiding in sustainable groundwater development and land-use planning. • Introduced a cost-effective approach using remote sensing lineaments and weathered cover thickness to predict well productivity in cratonic regions. • Demonstrated a strong correlation between increased weathered cover thickness and higher borehole productivity in the Houet province of Burkina Faso. • Identified NE and NW structural lineaments as critical factors influencing groundwater flow and storage in fractured crystalline bedrock and sedimentary aquifers. • Provided practical guidelines for selecting high-yield well sites in regions with sparse hydrogeological data, enhancing sustainable groundwater development. • The methodology applied in Western Burkina Faso offers valuable insights for groundwater management in similar Sahelian regions with economic and hydrogeological constraints.