Modelling boreholes in complex heterogeneous aquifers

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental modelling & software : with environment data news 2019-08, Vol.118, p.48-60
Main Authors: Upton, K.A., Butler, A.P., Jackson, C.R., Mansour, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Boreholes
Chalk aquifer
Computer simulation
Forchheimer equation
Groundwater
Groundwater levels
Groundwater management
Heterogeneity
Non-Darcy flow
Nonlinear response
Pumping
Radial flow
Radial flow model
Reduction
Sustainability
Sustainable yield
Three dimensional flow
Three dimensional models
Water resources
Water table
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Summary: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. •New model – SPIDERR – presented for simulating boreholes in complex aquifers.•SPIDERR represents key features of a borehole and unconfined heterogeneous aquifer.•SPIDERR is based on the Darcy-Forchheimer equation to simulate non-linear flow.•SPIDERR shown to reproduce non-linear groundwater level response in a Chalk borehole.
ISSN:1364-8152
1873-6726
DOI:10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.03.018