Modelling boreholes in complex heterogeneous aquifers
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Upton, KA
Butler, AP
Jackson, CR
Mansour, M
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Reliable estimates of the sustainable yield of supply boreholes are critical to ensure that groundwater resources are managed sustainably. Sustainable yields are dependent on the pumped groundwater level in a borehole, how this relates to vertical aquifer heterogeneity, and features of the borehole itself. This paper presents a 3D radial flow model (SPIDERR), based on the Darcy-Forchheimer equation, for simulating the groundwater level response in supply boreholes in unconfined, heterogeneous aquifers. The model provides a tool for investigating the causes of non-linear behaviour in abstraction boreholes, which can have a significant impact on sustainable yields. This is demonstrated by simulating a variable-rate pumping test in a Chalk abstraction borehole. The application suggests the non-linear response to pumping is due to a combination of factors: a reduction in well storage with depth due to changes in the borehole diameter, a reduction in hydraulic conductivity with depth, and non-Darcian flow.
Date Issued
2019-08
Date Acceptance
2019-03-19
Citation
Environmental Modelling & Software, 2019, 118, pp.48-60
ISSN
1364-8152
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
48
End Page
60
Journal / Book Title
Environmental Modelling & Software
Volume
118
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence (CC BY 4.0 - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Subjects
MD Multidisciplinary
Environmental Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-03-20