Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
CONFINED AQUIFER
Graphical solutions to flow equations: Theis type curve method, (Cooper) Jacob time
drawdown and distance drawdown methods
Introduction:
- Previous emphasis: Predicting drawdown based on known aquifer parameters.
Examples:
- You get a call from a client, they want to know why their well went dry
- You need to design a de-watering project
- You need to predict drawdown from multiple wells or aquifers with
hydraulic boundaries
- Now: We will look at another aspect of flow to wells: making estimates of
aquifer parameters (T, K, S) based on field data, aquifer tests
Point to remember: all of these methods are for non-equilibrium flow (non-steady-
state)
- Cone of depression is still expanding
ho-h = Q W(u)
4πT
becomes:
T= Q W(u)
4π (ho -h)
- Also need to rearrange our well function solution equation, solve for S:
2
u= r S becomes S= 4Ttu
(4Tt) r2
- So: how do we get these numbers from an aquifer test?
- Answer: the well function for the Theis solution has been plotted on graph
paper. Compare this curve to actual field (drawdown) data
A) Steps to a type curve solution:
1) Plot results from an aquifer test on graph paper. Use the same scale
as the type curve plot.
Other graphical solutions to this problem: estimating aquifer parameters under non-
equilibrium flow conditions
II) (Cooper) and Jacob straight line time-drawdown method for non-equilibrium flow in a
confined aquifer:
- Time drawdown part is important: will compare to distance-drawdown method
- This approach uses the infinite series from the Theis solution (see eqtn. 5-11
in text)
-
- Recognizes that the last terms are insignificant IF we are dealing with longer
term pumping. Combining some terms and converting to base 10 logs (to use with our
graphing) – see pg. 173 text
- The result:
- The log function lets us plot this as a straight line on semi-log paper
- Note: the 2.3 is a relict of the conversion from natural logs to base 10 logarithm
- Typically: arithmetic scale on y axis (plot drawdown here)
3 cycle log scale on x axis (plot time here in minutes, remember to
convert to days in the following equations)
5
T = 2.3 Q
4 π ∆ (ho –h)
S = 2.25 T to
r2
- Note: to refers to the time where the straight line intersects the zero
drawdown line (upper x axis on the graph)
- This is tricky: must project the straight part of the line backward to find to
- r = distance to an observation well. Once again, this storativity calculation
requires an observation well, while estimates of T and K do not need an observation
well.
T = Kb
6
- New formulas:
7
A) Equation for transmissivity:
T= 2.3 Q
2 π ∆ (ho -h)
where:
ro = distance where straight line intersects the zero drawdown axis
t = some time “t” into the test (in days) where drawdown is recorded
in all wells
Summary:
- These methods give a great regional summary of aquifer parameters
- T, K and S are estimated for the entire area affected by the cone of depression
- Theis method uses (relies on) good early time data (first few seconds or
minutes)
- Distance-drawdown method uses an especially wide area- this is useful for
computer models that need a regional estimate of aquifer parameters. AND:
uses later time data
Source of water “leaking” to confined aquifer is an upper unconfined aquifer (in pictured
example)
o
r 2S
u=
4Tt
where W(u, r/B) is the well function for leaky aquifer; K’ and b’ are the
hydraulic conductivity and thickness of the confining layer, respectively
9
Match type curve and aquifer tests data to get W(u,r/B), 1/u, t, s and r/B
Substitute values into Hantush-Jacob equations to obtain T, S, K’
Type A curves = early part of curve match to early data to obtain specific storage
Type B curves = mid to late part of curve match to later data to obtain specific yield
T estimate from both match points should be similar
Obtain vertical K from lambda value match point
10
The problem with having a partially penetrating pumping well is that flow near the well
will not be completely horizontal as water is pulled upward toward the well opening.
Hantush has show that this is not a problem if the observation wells are fully
penetrating.
If the observation wells are also partially penetrating, then they effect of having a
vertical flow component is negligible if the following relationship is true:
When designing aquifer tests, it is important that these effects be taken into
consideration if the pumping well is not going to be fully penetrating.
SLUG TESTS
water in the well by lowering into it a solid piece of pipe called a slug (ahhh! So that’s where An
alternative to a pump test is a slug test (also called a baildown test). In this test the
water level in a small diameter well is quickly raised or lowered. The rate at which the
water in the well falls (as it drains back into the aquifer) or rises (as it drains from the
aquifer into the well) is measured and these data are analyzed.
Water can be poured into the well or bailed out of the well to raise or lower the water
level. However, perhaps the easiest way to raise the water level in the well is to
displace some of the the name comes from!)
11
Slug tests can be used to estimate transmissivity of the aquifer in the immediate vicinity
of the well. Storativity can also be estimated, although storativity estimates are often
difficult to make with any degree of accuracy.
12
Differing solutions – depending on set up of well (fully vs partial penetration, etc.) and
whether the aquifer response is overdamped (water level recovers in a smooth manner)
or underdamped (water level oscillates with oscillations decreasing with time – common
in highly transmissive aquifer)