Abstract
Transmissivity estimates derived from non-steady-state, single well, constant discharge, aquifer tests in laterally heterogeneous environments generally are questioned relative to their representativeness of aquifer conditions. Drawdown in pumping wells reflects the removal of water from storage in the aquifer and transient refraction of groundwater path-lines during the evolution of a non-symmetrical cone of depression. Simulations of single-well aquifer tests in aquifers with simple, arbitrary distributions of block heterogeneities suggest that transmissivity (T) values derived by the Cooper–Jacob (1946) method generally reflect volumetric, weighted mean T values of all of the heterogeneities contacted by the cone of depression at a particular time. This finding suggests that early-time drawdown data for single well aquifer tests reflect rapidly changing, volumetric, weighted mean T values proximal to the pumping well while late-time drawdown data reflect stabilized conditions and spatially averaged, volumetric weighted mean T out to a considerable distance from the pumping well.
Resumé
Les estimés de transmissivité dérivés d’essais de pompage en régime transitoire dans un seul puits contenu dans une formation latéralement hétérogène sont généralement questionable en ce qui concerne la représentativité des conditions de l’aquifère. Le rabattement dans les puits de pompage reflète l’extraction d’eau provenant de l’emmagasinement de l’aquifère et la réfraction en régime transitoire des lignes d’écoulement durant l’évolution d’un cone de dépression non symétrique. Des simulations d’essai de pompage dans un seul puits contenu dans un domaine avec des blocs hétérogènes distribués arbitrairement suggèrent que les valeurs de transmissivité obtenus avec la méthode d’interprétation de Cooper–Jacob (1946) sont généralement représentatifs du volume moyen pondéré de toutes les hétérogénéités en contact avec le cone de dépression à un temps particulier. Cette découverte suggère que les données de rabattement au début d’un essai pour un seul puits reflètent un changement rapide des valeurs moyennes proximales pondérées tandis que le rabattement à un temps tardif reflète les conditions stabilisées et la moyenne spatiale jusqu’à une distance considérable du puits de pompage.
Resume
Los estimados de transmisividad derivados de estados no estables, pozos individuales, descarga constante, pruebas de acuíferos en ambientes heterogéneos laterales generalmente se cuestionan en cuanto a su representatividad de las conidiones de los acuíferos. La extracción de agua en pozos de bombeo refleja la extracción de agua del depósito en el acuífero y la refracción transitoria de líneas de trayectoria del agua subterránea durante la evolución de un cono no simétrico de depresión. Las simulaciones de pozos individuales, pruebas de acuíferos en acuíferos con distribuciones simples, arbitrarias de heterogeneidades de bloque sugieren que los valores de transmisividad (T) derivados por el método Cooper–Jacob (1946) generalmente reflejan valores medios volumétricos potenciales (weighted) de todas las heterogeneidades en contaco con el cono de la depresión en un momento particular. Este descubrimiento sugiere que los datos de extracción tempranos de pruebas de pozos individuales reflejan valores medios potenciales volumétricos que cambian rápidamente en la proximidad del pozo de bombeo mientras que los valores de extracción tardíos reflejan condiciones estabilizadas y medias potenciales volumétricas a una distancia considerable del pozo de bombeo.
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We would like to express our sincere appreciation to referees Philippe Renard and Peter Meier, and Associate Editor Simon Loew for their reviews and suggestions for improving the paper. Their contributions to the content of the paper are greatly appreciated.
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Tumlinson, L.G., Osiensky, J.L. & Fairley, J.P. Numerical evaluation of pumping well transmissivity estimates in laterally heterogeneous formations. Hydrogeol J 14, 21–30 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0386-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-004-0386-5