Pumping Test

Dr. Doni Prakasa Eka Putra

Step-Drawdown Pumping
Test
Relation of drawdown of a well penetrating a confined aquifer
 Well Efficiency
 The efficiency of a pumped well can be evaluated using
distance-drawdown graphs.

 The distance-drawdown graph is extended to the outer

radius of the pumped well (including any filter pack) to
estimate the theoretical drawdown for a 100% efficient well.

 This analysis assumes the well is fully-penetrating and the

entire saturated thickness is screened.

 The theoretical drawdown (estimated) divided by the actual

well drawdown (observed) is a measure of well efficiency.

 A correction is necessary for unconfined wells to allow for

the reduction in saturated thickness as a result of
drawdown.
 Causes of Well
Inefficiency
 Factors contributing to well inefficiency (excess
head loss) fall into two groups:
 Design factors
 Insufficient open area of screen
 Poor distribution of open area
 Insufficient length of screen
 Improperly designed filter pack
 Construction factors
 Inadequate development, residual drilling fluids
 Improper placement of screen relative to aquifer interval
 Well Loss
 Total drawdown sw at the well may be written for
the steady state confined case:
Q ro
sw = ------ ln ------ + CQ n
2 πT rw
 Where C (well loss coefficient) is a constant
governed by the radius, construction and condition
of the well. For simplicity let:
ln (ro/rw)
B = --------------
2πT
 So that s w = BQ + CQn
 Well Loss Coefficient
Well Loss Coefficient Well Condition
( C )

< 0.5 Properly designed and

developed
0.5 to 1.0 Mild deterioration or
clogging
1.0 to 4.0 Severe deterioration or
clogging
> 4.0 Difficult to restore well to
original
•To evaluate well loss; a step drawdown
capacity test is required
 Step-Drawdown Test
 Step-drawdown tests are tests at
s1 different pumping rates (Q)
designed to determine well
efficiency.
s
 Normally pumping at each
2
successively greater rate Q1 < Q2 <
Drawdown, s

s3 Q3 < Q4 < Q5 takes place for 1-2

hours (t) and for 5 to 8 steps. The
entire test usually takes place in
s4 one day.
 Equal pumping times (t)
simplifies the analysis.
 At the end of each step, the
s5 pumping rate (Q) and drawdown
(s) is recorded.

Time, t
 Step-Drawdown Tests
 Assumption – laminar flow exists in the aquifer during pumping
 Flow is directly proportional to pumping rate (e.g., Jacob approx.)

 2.3 2.25Tt 
s  BQ   log( 2 )Q
 4T r S 
 B is almost constant after pumping is established
 If turbulent flow exists, then linear relationship does not hold

2
s  BQ  CQ
 Specific capacity (s/Q) is a linear function of discharge (Q), slope C and
s
intercept B
 CQ  B
Q
 Observing change in drawdown and specific capacity as discharge is increased
allows us to select an optimum pumping rate.
 Step-Drawdown Test
Analysis
 Step-drawdown tests are  The intercept of the graph
analysed by plotting the at Q=0 is B = W(u)/4T
reciprocal of specific and the slope is the well
capacity (s/Q) against loss coefficient, C.
the pumping rate (Q).  B can also be obtained
independently from a
Theis or Cooper-Jacob
s/Q (m/m3/d)

analysis of a pump test.

C

Q (L/s)
 Well Efficiency
Parameter
 Pumping efficiency

Ep = BQ / sw x 100 %, if Ep > 50% efficient

 Development Factor

Fd = C/B x 100
 Development Factor
Clasification

Development Factor (Fd)

Class
< 0.1 Very
good
0.1 – 0.5 Good
0.5 – 1.0
Moderate
> 1.0 Poor
 Example – Step Drawdown Test

Q s s/Q
(gpm) (ft) (ft/gpm)
514 13 0.0253
1066 27 0.0253
Slope  3 x 10 6
1636 43.4 0.0265
1885 61.5 0.0326
2480 82.5 0.0333
3066 101.5 0.0331 Intercept  0.0231
3520 120.5 0.0342 s
 CQ  B  3 x 106 Q  0.0231
BQ Q
Ep x 100
BQ  CQ 2
B
 x 100
B  CQ
0.0231
 x 100
0.0231  3 x 10 6 ( 2700 gpm ) Fd = (3.10-6 / 0.0231) x 100 = 0.013
 74%
Aquifer Characteristics –
Pumping Test
 Aquifer Characteristics &
Radial Flow to well
 Specific Capacity (Sc)
 Transmissivity (T)
PUMPING TEST
 Storativity (S)

 Hydraulic Conductivity (K)

• Steady Radial Flow to Well  Sc,

T, K
• Unsteady Radial Flow to Well 
Sc, T, S, K
DATA PROVIDED BY PUMPING TEST
AND DRAWDOWN MEASUREMENTS

Step Drawdown Test Constant Rate Test Recovery Data Observation

Wells Data

Well Efficiency, T, Sc, Hydraulic T, S s

Pumping Rate (Q), Conductivity (K), Yield
Transmissivity (T),
Specific Capacity
(sc), Yield
Aquifer Categories
Aquifer Categories
 Pumping Test
confined aquifer
 Unsteady Radial Flow
Q  Assumptions
Isotropic, homogeneous,
infinite aquifer, 2-D radial
r s flow
 Initial Conditions
h ho h(r,0) = ho for all r
 Boundary Conditions
b
h(,t) = ho for all t

• PDE 1  (rh ) = S h • The ultimate solution is:

r r r T t ho- h = Q  exp(-u) du
• Solution is more complex than 4T u u
steady-state
where the integral is called
• Change the dependent the exponential integral
variable by letting u = r2S=t* written as the well function
4Tt t W(u)
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
(C) Transient flow in a confined aquifer
(C.1) Theis method (method of type-curve fitting)

�Q �
From Eq(4) :h0  h  � W ( u)
�
�
log ( h  h )  log
�Q �
� W ( u) �
� log �
�4 T � �
�
��
0
�4 T �
� �

� �4T � �1 �
r 2S �4T � 1 log ( t )   log � 2 � log � �
u
By definition :  � � 2�t �
� �Sr � �u �
4Tt �Sr � u

in which Q/4T and 4T/Sr2 are both constants for a

homogeneous and isotropic aquifer that is subject to a
constant pumping rate.
 The Theis Equation

 The integral in the Theis equation is written as

W(u) and is known as the exponential integral, or
well function, which can be expanded as infinite
series:

W(u) = – 0.5772 – ln(u) + u – u2/2·2! + u3/3·3! – u4/4·4!

+…

The Theis equation can be used to obtain aquifer

constants S and T by means of pumping tests at
fully penetrating wells.
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
� �Q �
log ( h0  h )  log �
� W ( u) �
� log �
� �
� �4 T �
�
� �4T � �1 �
log ( t )   log � 2 � log � �
�
� �Sr � �u � V1
�log ( X 1 )  log ( c1 )  log ( X 2 ) V2
��
�log ( Y1 )   log ( c2 )  log ( Y2 )
d1
� X1
X
�2  V1  V  V2 d2
�� c1 or U1
� U 1  U  U 2 U2
Y2  c2Y1
�

V1  log ( X 1 )  log ( h0  h ) , V2  log ( X 2 )  log �

� W ( u) �
� �
�
� �
� �1 � �
U
� 1  log ( Y1 )  log ( t ) , U 2  log ( Y2 )  log �� �
� �u � �
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
 If we plot h0 – h vs t, and W(u) vs 1/u
on a log-log paper, then these two
plots are similar to one another
because one plot is a re-scale of
another, see Eq(10).
 If we match the W(u) vs 1/u plot with
the h0 – h vs t plot until the two
curves overlay one another, then by
an arbitrary matching point chosen
from the matched plots we get
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
Q
( A) : log ( h0  h )  log �
�
�
� log � �W ( u) �
�
�4 T �
4T � �1 �
( B ) : log ( t )   log �
� 2�  log ��
�Sr � �u �
�1 �
At matching point � ,W ( u ) �overlaps with ( t , h0  h )
�u �
�Q � Q h0  h Q
From ( A ) : log � � log ( h0  h )  log �
�W ( u ) �� 
� 4 T W u � T  W ( u)
� 4 T � ( ) 4 ( 0 )
h  h
�4T � �1 � 4T 1 4uTt
From ( B ) : log � 2 � log � � log ( t ) � 2  � S  2
�Sr � �u � Sr ut r

(Note that K is simply

T/b)
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
Steps type-curve fitting
1. Prepare a plot of W(u) vs 1/u on a log-log paper, the so-called type
curve
2. Plot the field data, drawdown vs t, on a log-log paper
3. Lay the field data on the type curve. Move the field data plot while
keeping the axes of the two plots parallel to each other until the
data points overlie the type curve
4. Choose an arbitrary match point. Read off the values of W(u), u,
drawdown, and time from the matched plots.
5. Determine transmissivity from Eq(11)
6. Substitute transmissivity into Eq(11) to get storativity
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
Example of type-curve fitting

(This is a time-drawdown data)

Field drawdown data

Q = 220 gal/min
b = 48 ft
r = 824 ft from the pumping well

(After Fetter, 1994)

 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)

(After Fetter, 1994)

 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)

Field data
(After Fetter, 1994)
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)

(After Fetter, 1994)

At the match point :
Q 42400 ft 3 / day T 1400 ft 2 / day
W(u) = 1 T W ( u)  �1  1400 ft 2 / day , K    29 ft / day
4 ( h0  h ) 4 �2.4 ft b 48 ft
1/u = 1
4uTt 4 �1 �1400 ft 2 / day �4.1min/1400day / min
h0 – h = 2.4 ft S 
r 2

824 ft �824 ft
 2.4 �105

t = 4.1 min
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
(C.2) Cooper-Jacob’s time-drawdown method
From Eq(4), if u is small (u < 0.05, i.e., late time
drawdown data) then the drawdown can be
approximated as (Cooper and Jacob, 1946; Jacob, 1950)

Q � Q �
�r 2 S �
h0  h  W ( u) 
�0.5772  ln � � �
4 T � 4 T 4
� �Tt �
in which the Euler’s constant is ln(1.78). Hence

Q � 4Tt � 2.3Q �2.25Tt �

h0  h  ln � � log � 2 �
4 T � 1.78r 2 S � 4 T �r S �

(Note that 1.78 = 1/e-0.5772, 2.30 = 1/log(e))

 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
For each log cycle of a semi-log plot of h 0 – h vs t, i.e., t2 = 10t1, then

2.3Q �2.25Tt � 2.3Q �2.25Tt �

 ( h0  h )  log � 2 2 � log � 2 1 �
4 T � r S � 4 T �r S �
2.3Q �t2 � 2.3Q 2.3Q
 log � � ( t2  10t1 ) � T 
4 T �t1 � 4 T 4 ( h0  h )

2.3Q �2.25Tt � 2.25Tt 2.25Tt0

h0  h  0  log � 2 0 �� 2 0  1 � S 
4 T �r S � r S r2

2.3Q 2.25Tt0
T , S (11)
4 ( h0  h ) r2

in which t0 is the intercept of time extrapolated from the

straight line of the late-time drawdown curve on the semi-
log plot of h0 – h vs t.
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
Example (Fetter, 1994) (p.225)

(After Fetter, 1994)

2.3Q �2.25Tt � 2.3Q � �2.25T � � 2.3Q �2.25T � 2.3Q
h0  h  log � 2 � log � 2
� � log t � �log � 2 � �log t
4 T � r S � 4 T � � r S � � 4 T � r S � 4 T
2.3Q 2.3Q
�  ( h0  h )  �
(�h0  h2 )  ( h0  h1 ) �
� 4 T ( log t  log t )  ( Q t2  10t1 )
4 T
2 1

2.3Q 2.3 �42400 ft 3 / day

�T    1400 ft 2 / day
4 ( h0  h ) 4 �5.5 ft
2.25Tt0 2.25 �1400 ft 2 / day �3.6 �103 day
�S  2
  1.7 �105
r 824 ft �824 ft
 Determination of aquifer
parameters (cont.)
(C.3) Cooper-Jocob’s distance-drawdown method
In this method, drawdown is measured at the same time in
several observation wells. The drawdown curve from the wells
closest to the pumping well should be plotted as a straight line on
a semi-log2.3
plot
Q of�h h�
0 – Tt
2.25 vs r curve. Hence
h0  h  log � 2 �
4 T �r S �
2.3Q 2.3Q �r2 �
�  ( h0  h )  ( 2log r  2log r2)  log � �
4 T
1
2 T �r1 �
If r2 = 10r1
then
2.3Q 2.25Tt � 2.25Tt � (12)
T , S i.e., h0  h  0 at r0 �
�  1�
2 ( h0  h ) r02 � Sr02
�
r0 is the intercept extended by the distance-drawdown curve on a semi-lot p
of drawdown vs r curve, i.e., the distance at which no drawdown occurs.
 Determination of aquifer
Example (Fetter, parameters
1994) (p.228) (cont.)
Distance (ft) Drawdown (ft)
10 15.1
40 9.4
150 4.4
300 1.7
400 0.25

(After Fetter, 1994)

2.3Q 2.3 �77000 ft 3 / day

T   3200 ft 2 / day
2 ( h0  h ) 2 �8.8 ft
2.25Tt 2.25 �3200 ft 2 / day �0.14day
�S  2
  0.0048
r0 460 ft �460 ft
 Class Quiz
 Diketahui data uji pompa pada suatu
akuifer tertekan pada suatu sumur
observasi berjarak 150 m dari sumur
pompa, yang dipompa dengan debit
konstan sebesar 5.43 x 10-3 m3/day
dengan w(u) = 1, 1/u = 1000 dan s =
0.2 m serta t = 990 menit.
 Hitung T dan S
Pumping Test
Leaky Aquifer
leaky aquifer
Radial Flow in a Leaky Aquifer
• Leaky aquifers are complex
because when they are
pumped, water is withdrawn
from both the lower aquifer
and from the saturated portion
of the overlying aquitard.
• By creating a lowered
piezometric surface below the
water table, ground water can
migrate vertically downward
and than move horizontally to
the well
Radial Flow in a Leaky Aquifer
 When pumping starts from a well in a leaky aquifer,
drawdown of the piezometric surface can be given by:

s' = (Q/4πT)W(u,r/B)

where the quantity r/B is given by:

r/B = r/ T/(K' / b')

where:
T is transmissivity of the aquifer
K' is vertical hydraulic conductivity
b' is the thickness of the aquitard
Leaky Aquifer (1)
Leaky Aquifer (2)
Radial Flow in a Leaky Aquifer

 This method of solution for the leaky aquifer is

similar to the Theis method, except for W(u,r/B)
 A curve of best fit is selected and values of W,
1/u, s', and t are found, which allows T and S to
be determined. This makes it possible to
calculate K' and b'.
 Method is rarely used in practice since the
assumptions are often violated in the field.
 Better to use a numerical model (MODFLOW)
that can handle variations more accurately.
 Pumping test
unconfined aquifer
Recovery Test
Theis Method - Recovery
Test
Theis Method – Recovery
Test

2.30 · Q
T =K· D T=
4п · Δs’

NOTE: THEIS RECOVERY METHOD IS APPLICABLE FOR

UNCONFINED AQUIFER FOR LATE TIME RECOVERY DATA
(NEUMAN, 1975).
Recovery Test Data
Theis Recovery – Graphical
Solution

2.30 · Q
T=
4п · Δs’