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ABSTRACT:
When a well is pumped water is removed from the aquifer to the surrounding well, and
the piezometric surface, depending on the type of aquifer is lowered. The drawdown
(h0 – h) at a given point is the distance the water level is lowered. A drawdown curve (or
cone) shows the variation of drawdown with distance from the well. In 3D the drawdown
curve describes a conic shape known as the cone of depression with the outer limits of the
cone being the area of influence of the well.
This experiment, Aquifer test software is designed to give you the appropriate method
of analysis for different hydrologic conditions. It introduces you to some of the many
features of the AquiferTest by the evaluation of pumping tests in a confined aquifer
using the Theis method and Cooper-Jacob method.
An aquifer test consists of a well at a constant rate for a period of time. The drawdown is
measured as a function of time in one or more observation wells and perhaps the
pumping well.
By use of the results and analysis of aquifer tests several of the different hydrological
conditions can be determined including Storativity, Transmissivity and Hydraulic
conductivity by implementation of methods such as the Theis and Cooper-Jacob analysis.
In the experiment calculation of results for these values gave solutions for storativity,
transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity as 2.4*10-5 , 1400 ft²/d and 29ft/d, respectively
via the Theis Method and 1.6*10-5, 1411ft²/d and 29.4ft/d via the Cooper-Jacob Method,
values which were found to close to those tabulated by the software.
INTRODUCTION:
When a well penetrating an extensive confined aquifer is pumped at a constant rate, the
influence of discharge extends outwards with time. The partial differential equation that
describes saturated flow in two horizontal dimension in a confined aquifer is
∂²h /∂x² +∂²h/∂y²= S ∂h/ T ∂t
Written in terms of radial co-ordinates the equation becomes:
∂²h/∂r²+ (1∂h/r∂r)=(S∂h/T∂t)
Where h is head, r is radial distance from the pumped well, S is the storage coefficient, T
is the transmissivity and t is the time since the beginning of pumping. Theis obtained a
solution for the equation based on the analogy between heat conduction and groundwater
flow by assuming the well is placed in a mathematical sink of constant strength and
imposing the boundary conditions h=h0 for t=0 and h→ h0 as r→∞ for t≥0 . By use of
these boundaries and Taylor’s formula the equation S= Q/ 4ΠT W(u) was derived.
A log- log plot with W(u) along the y axis and 1/u along the x axis is referred to as Theis
curve. The field measurements are plotted as to t/r² along the x axis and s along the y
axis. The data analysis is done by curve matching.
There are however many assumptions made in the derivation of the equations which may
lead to errors which include:
• The aquifer is homogeneous and, isotropic, of uniform thickness and of infinite
area extent
• Before pumping the piezometric surface is horizontal
• The well is pumped at a constant rate of discharge
• The pumped well penetrates the entire aquifer, and flow is everywhere horizontal
within the aquifer to the well.
• The well diameter is infinitesimal so that storage within the well can be neglected
• Water removed from storage is discharged instantaneously with decline of head.
These assumptions are strictly satisfied as many aquifer tests will never reach
equilibrium, that is, the cone of depression will continue to grow with time. These are
known as non-equilibrium, or transient, flow conditions. Because of the mathematical
difficulties encountered simpler graphical methods where devised including the Theis
Method and the Cooper-Jacob Method as described in the analysis of results.
By use of these methods the storativity, transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity were
calculated.
Storativity is the storage co-efficient of the confined aquifer, defined as the volume of
water released from storage per unit surface area of the aquifer per change in piezometric
head.
Transmissivity (Txx, Tyy ) of a confined aquifer is the product of the hydraulic conductivity
(Kxx, Kyy) and the aquifer thickness b , where Txx = Kxx b, Tyy= Kyy b
METHOD:
The experiment was performed as directed in the PHYS 3392 (P39C) Laboratory Manual
for familiarization and then performed using actual values iven by the demonstration as
follows:
Confined Aquifer
The values for pumping test duration and drawdown were also given as shown in the
table of results.
DISCUSSION:
In the experiment the Theis method and Cooper Jacob method were used for
determination of the storativity, transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity. The
experiments yielded results of 2.4*10-5 , 1400 ft²/d and 29ft/d, respectively via the Theis
Method and 1.6*10-5, 1411ft²/d and 29.4ft/d via the Cooper-Jacob Method, values which
were found to close to those tabulated by the software.
The results calculated by the software were those of transmissivitty and storativity. It was
possible to determine the value of hydraulic conductivity using these to hydrological
conditions of the aquifer since hydraulic conductivity is simply the transmissivity per unit
thickness. The software results produced values of 8.30*10-1 for transmissivity and
2.09*10-5 for storativity for the Theis Method and 9.92*10-1 for transmissivity and
1.69*10-5 for storativity for the Cooper_Jacob Method.
In comparing the Cooper Jacob solution with the Theis solution we see that the resulting
answers for the both methods are not the same via methods nor by the manual
calculations as compared to the software, yet they do not vary greatly. The variations
result since these are graphical methods dependent on the accuracy of the plotted graph
and the judgements made in judgement of alignment in matching data as well as precision
of the experimenter in reading of plots.
In the experiment a precaution taken is the application of a u criterion in this case u>0.02
which is a limit by which the small line approximation should be restricted in order to
avoid large areas.
The derived values imply that the aquifer has the ability to transmit an approximate
volume of water at a rate of 1400 ft²/d through its entire thickness. Also the vertically
averaged specific storage value for an aquifer is approximately 2.4*10-5 , a dimensionless
quantity. It also shows that these properties are very fundamental and can be derive other
properties such as hydraulic conductivity which was found to approximate 29ft/day.
The two methods do not give very different solutions and thus do not differ greatly in
accuracy but rather these variances result from the use of the graphical method and
dependency on personal judgment as previously expressed. The Cooper Jacob method is
simply derived from the Theis Method and recognizes that for small values of r and large
values of t, u is small and by further mathematical analysis deduces that transmissivity be
first derived and then storativity. Thus the accuracy and method of choice is dependent
on the values of t and r involved of the aquifer test.
CONCLUSION
The experiments yielded results of 2.4*10-5 , 1400 ft²/d and 29ft/d, respectively via the
Theis Method and 1.6*10-5, 1411ft²/d and 29.4ft/d via the Cooper-Jacob Method, values
which were found to close to those tabulated by the software.
It was also possible to determine the value of hydraulic conductivity which was found to
approximate 29ft/day.