Pumping tests

2rw
Q

Pumping test: controlled field experiment to determine

basic aquifer parameters near the well. Volume interested:
support volume to which the measure refers.
It is an example of the inverse problem, or problem of
identifying aquifer parameters, or model calibration.
Specifically: Consider available information on aquifer
excitation (pumping) and responses (head/water levels).
Calibration means finding the values of parameters.

hw
b

h1

h2

q
r1
r2

Case I: steady-state flow, confined aquifer (Thiem equation):

Measure drawdown in two observation well and deduce

r2
r2
Q
2.30Q
T
ln
log
2 s1 s 2 r1 2 s1 s 2
r1
Show numerical example

Q
r2
h2 h1 s1 s2
ln
2T r1

If more than two observation wells are available, plotting

s(r) in semilog scale (r is log) should yield a line, its slope
provides T. For any two points

2.30Q log(r )
T
2 s1 s 2 s

Pumping tests

2rw
Q

Case II: unsteady-state flow, confined aquifer (Theis equation):

Q
s(r , t )
4T

e u
Q
Sr 2

W (u ); u
u
4T
4Tt

hw
b

For large times (u<0.01) the Cooper-Jacb formula is valid

Q
s (r , t )
4T

T,S q
r

Sr 2
Q
2.25Tt

0
.
5772

ln

ln
2

4T
4
Tt
Sr

One cannot eliminate S or T from these equations, hence the graphical method by Theis is used
(Type curve method). It takes advantage of the fact that Q, T, S are constants.

Pumping test analysis, confined aquifer (1/2)

Q
s
W (u )
4T
r2
4T

u
t
S

Q
log s log
logW (u )
4T
Data curve
Type curve
r2
4T
log
log

log u
t
S

The two relationships are similar in form when both are plotted on log paper, except for a certain
displacement of the curves with respect to each other, due to the first term on the r.h.s. of each equation
4T
log

r2/t

Q
log

1) Place the type curve W(u)-u over

the field data, and translate it
vertically and horizontally, keeping
coordinate axes parallel, until best fit
is achieved;
2) Choose an arbitrary point (match
point) on the overlapping sheets, and
record the coordinates on both sheets:
s, r2/t, W(u), u;

W(u)

3) Substitute the four coordinates in

the two equations to yield T and S.

Pumping test analysis, confined aquifer, late time (2/2)

For large times (u <0.01) the Jacob formula is valid :

Q
2.25Tt
s
ln
4T
Sr 2

2.3Q
s
4T

Sr 2
log t log

2
.
25
T

Drawdown test: for given r, s(r, t) is plotted as a function of t

log t

t0

s
2,3Q

log t
4T

Transmissivity T is obtained from the late time portion of the

pumping test curve.

s
log t
s

2.3Q
s0
4T

Then the storativity S is determined by extending the line to

the horizontal axis, finding t0. Then

Srw2
log t 0 log

2
.
25
T

Srw2
2.25Tt 0
t0
S
2.25T
rw2

2rw

Pumping tests

Case III: steady-state flow, phreatic aquifer, small drawdowns

(s<0.25H): behaves like a confined aquifer

Q
R
Q
R
s H h
ln
ln
2KH
r
2T
r

h1

hw

h2
H

K, S

Between any two points r1 and r2

z=0

r1
r2

r2
Q
2
2
h2 h1
ln
K r1

2
1

H s 2

2 H s2 s 2 H
2
2

H s1

r
Q

ln 2
KH
r1

r
Q

ln 2
K r1

r2
Q
s '1 s ' 2
ln
KH
r1

where s is the corrected drawdown that would occur in an equivalent confined aquifer
Hence to infer T: i) measure drawdowns s1, s2 in two observation wells; ii) calculate corrected
drawdowns s1, s2; III) deduce T as for a confined aquifer
Show numerical example

r2
2.30Q
T
log
2 s '1 s ' 2
r1

2rw

Pumping tests

Case IV: unsteady-state flow, phreatic aquifer, small drawdowns

(s<0.25H). The equivalent confined aquifer behaves as
2

Q
S'r
s'
W (u ); u
; T KH
4T
4Tt

s' s s

hw

K, S

2 H

where s is the corrected drawdown that would occur in an equivalent confined aquifer.
To determine aquifer parameters: i) measure s over time in observation well; ii) calculate corresponding
s sequence; iii) use Theis type curve method to determine T and S based on confined aquifer method.

z=0