Subject: HYDROLOGY AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING

MUET Section: Groundwater Hydrology

Presentation #: 04 (2 hrs)

Determination of Aquifer Parameters

(A) Steady Radial Flow: 1. Confined Aquifer and 2. Un-confined Aquifer
(B) Unsteady Radial Flow- Theis Solution: Theis Graphical Approach

IN ST R U C TOR: PR O F. D R . A SH FA Q U E A . M EM O N

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

(A) Steady Radial Flow
1)Confined Aquifer
By observing drawdowns at various observation (piezometeric) wells in a
Pumping Test. Pumping should be continuous at uniform rate to attain
steady-state condition.

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Let
s1 = drawdown in observation well 1 = (H-h1)
s2 = drawdown in observation well 2 = (H-h2)
Therefore, h2-h1 = (H-s2) - (H-s1) = s1 – s2

h 2 -h1
We have equation, Q=2.72T
log(r2 /r1 )
s1 -s2
Which becomes, Q=2.72T
log(r2 /r1 )
Q
or T= log(r2 /r1 )
2.72(s1 -s2 )

Choosing, r2 = 10 r1, i.e. r2/r1 = 10

we have log(r2/r1) = log(10) = 1
Q Q
Therefore, T = 
2.72(s1 -s 2 ) 2.72s

Where Δs = difference in the drawdowns at the two observation wells so

selected that r2 =10 r1
From the graph is Δs obtained and substituted in the above equation to get T.

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2) Unconfined Aquifer
Let, h1 = H –s1 and h2 = H –s2
s12 s22
2 H [( s1  )  ( s2  )]  2 H ( s1'  s2' )
Therefore, h22-h12 = (H –s2)2 – (H –s1)2 = 2 2 2 H 2H
h h
Putting this in the equation, Q  1.36k 2 1
log(r2 / r1 )
[2H (s1'  s2' )] 2.72kH (s1'  s2' ) 2.72T (s1'  s2' ) 2.72T s'
We get Q  1.36k   
log(r2 / r1 ) log(r2 / r1 ) log(r2 / r1 ) log(r2 / r1 )

Choosing, r2 = 10 r1, i.e. r2/r1 = 10

and substituting log(r2/r1) = log(10) = 1 in the
above equation and rearranging, we get
Q
T
2.72s '

From the graph is Δs’ obtained and substituted in

the above equation to get T.

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(B) Unsteady Radial Flow
The differential equation governing the groundwater flow through porous media towards a
discharging well is

2s 1  s S  s
  (1)
r 2
r r T t
Where
s = drawdown (L);
t = time (T);
r = radial coordinate (L);
S = storativity; and
T = transmissivity.

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Theis Solution
Theis provided solution of Eq. (1) assuming that the aquifer is homogenous, isotropic and of infinite areal
extent having constant transmissivity, where as the well was assumed to be of infinitesimal diameter
penetrating to the full depth of aquifer. According to Thies:

Q ey
s
4 T 
u
y
dy (2)

r 2S
u (3)
4T t

ey
and if W (u )   dy then from Eq. (2) we have
u
y
Q
s W (u ) (4)
4 T
In Eq. (4) W(u) is called well function and can be expressed by series as
u2 u3 u4
W (u )  0.5772  ln u  u     ....................... (5)
2  2! 3  3! 4  4!
From Eq. (3) time t may be written as
r 2S 1
t (6)
4T u
Using Eqs. (4) and (6), Theis devised a solution method for the identification of the aquifer parameters, which
is called Theis graphical approach.

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Theis Graphical Approach
Theis graphical approach involves following steps:
1) A theoretical curve is prepared by plotting W(u) vs. u or 1/u on a log-
log graph paper. This curve is commonly called Theis Type Curve.
2) s is plotted against t or r2/t on a transparent log-log graph paper (i.e.
butter paper, transparency, etc) from the data set obtained through
pumping test. This curve is usually called Field Curve.
3) The Field Curve is superimposed over the Theis Type Curve so as to
get coincidence of maximum number of points of the two curves.
4) Values of the well function W(u) and 1/u are read from the Theis Type
Curve corresponding to assumed values of s and t on the Field Curve.
5) Substitution of these values in Eqs. (4) and (6) yield values of the
aquifer parameters, T and S.

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Theis Type Curve

Assume values of ‘u’ between 1x10-15 and 9.9 and

calculate 1/u.

For the above (assumed) values of u calculate W(u) using

the series
u2 u3 u4
W (u )  0.5772  ln u  u     .......................
2  2! 3  3! 4  4!
Plot W(u) vs. u or 1/u.

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 Pumping Test Data for Plotting the Field Curve
Time, t Drawdown, s Time, t Drawdown, s Time, t Drawdown, s

(min) (days) (m) (min) (days) (m) (min) (days) (m)

0 0 0.00 17 0.01181 1.48 510 0.35417 1.96

0.33 0.00023 0.40 20 0.01389 1.51 660 0.45833 1.97

0.66 0.00046 0.57 30 0.02083 1.60 830 0.57639 1.96

1 0.00069 0.70 40 0.02778 1.65 1080 0.75000 1.93

2 0.00139 0.88 50 0.03472 1.69 1380 0.95833 1.96

3 0.00208 1.00 60 0.04167 1.71 1500 1.04167 1.97

4 0.00278 1.13 80 0.05556 1.76 1700 1.18056 1.99

6 0.00417 1.20 100 0.06944 1.78 1900 1.31944 1.99

7 0.00486 1.29 150 0.10417 1.86 2100 1.45833 2.00

9 0.00625 1.32 200 0.13889 1.89 2280 1.58333 2.00

11 0.00764 1.39 300 0.20833 1.91 2700 1.87500 2.03

15 0.01042 1.46 400 0.27778 1.91

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 Field Curve

Field Curve

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Field Curve is superposed over the Type Curve

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Example # 1: A well penetrating an unconfined aquifer is pumped at a uniform rate
of 5243.011 m3/day. The drawdowns in an observation well 15.3 m away are given
in the below table. Using Theis method determine aquifer parameters.

Time Drawdown Time Drawdown Time Drawdown

t s t s t s

(min) (days) (m) (min) (days) (m) (min) (days) (m)

0 0 0.00 17 0.01181 1.48 510 0.35417 1.96

0.33 0.00023 0.40 20 0.01389 1.51 660 0.45833 1.97

0.66 0.00046 0.57 30 0.02083 1.60 830 0.57639 1.96

1 0.00069 0.70 40 0.02778 1.65 1080 0.75000 1.93

2 0.00139 0.88 50 0.03472 1.69 1380 0.95833 1.96

3 0.00208 1.00 60 0.04167 1.71 1500 1.04167 1.97

4 0.00278 1.13 80 0.05556 1.76 1700 1.18056 1.99

6 0.00417 1.20 100 0.06944 1.78 1900 1.31944 1.99

7 0.00486 1.29 150 0.10417 1.86 2100 1.45833 2.00

9 0.00625 1.32 200 0.13889 1.89 2280 1.58333 2.00

11 0.00764 1.39 300 0.20833 1.91 2700 1.87500 2.03

15 0.01042 1.46 400 0.27778 1.91

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Solution:
First of all Theis Type Curve is plotted on a log-log graph paper.
From the given pumping test data Field Curve is plotted on a transparent log-log
graph paper.
By matching the Field curve on the Theis Type Curve, (say) the match point on Field
Curve is so selected that
s = 1 m and
t = 1 min
For this match point the corresponding coordinates on Type Curve are:
W(u) = 4 and
1/u = 20
Q
Substituting these values in the equation s  W (u ) we get, T = 1668.9 m2/day
4 T
r 2S
Putting this value of T in the equation u  we get, S = 0.000943
4T t
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Field Curve

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Field Curve is superimposed over the Type Curve and match point is marked on the superimposed curves

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Example # 2: A well penetrating a confined aquifer is pumped at uniform
rate of 2500 m 3 /day. Drawdowns during the pumping period are
measured in an observation well 60 m away: observations of t and s are
listed in table 4.2 below. Determine S and T.

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Solution:
First of all Theis Type Curve is plotted on a plain log-log graph paper.
From the given pumping test data Field Curve is plotted on a transparent log-log graph
paper.
By matching the Field curve on the Theis Type Curve, here the match point on Theis
Curve is so selected that:
W(u) = 1 and
u = 1x10-2
For this match point the corresponding coordinates on Field Curve are:
s = 0.18 m and
r2/t = 150 m2/min
Substituting these values in the equations:
Q r 2S
s W (u ) and u
4 T 4T t
We get: T = 0.7708 m2/min or 1110 m2/day and S = 0.000206

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Field Curve is superimposed over the Type Curve and match point is marked on the superimposed curves

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