Papadopulos-Cooper Solution for Nonleaky Confined Aquifers
Description
A mathematical solution by Papadopulos and Cooper (1967) is useful for determining the hydraulic properties (transmissivity and storativity) of nonleaky confined aquifers. Analysis involves matching the solution to drawdown data collected during a pumping test. The Papadopulos and Cooper solution accounts for wellbore storage effects in a large-diameter (finite-diameter) pumping well.
AQTESOLV provides visual and automatic methods for matching the Papadopulos-Cooper solution to pumping test and recovery test data. This easy-to-use and intuitive software promotes rapid and accurate determination of aquifer properties.
Assumptions
The following assumptions apply to the use of the Papadopulos and Cooper pumping test solution:
- aquifer has infinite areal extent
- aquifer is homogeneous, isotropic and of uniform thickness
- control well is fully penetrating
- flow to control well is horizontal
- aquifer is nonleaky confined
- flow is unsteady
- water is released instantaneously from storage with decline of hydraulic head
Solution Options
AQTESOLV provides the following options for the Papadopulos and Cooper pumping test solution for nonleaky confined aquifers:
- large-diameter pumping wells
- variable pumping rates
- multiple pumping wells
- multiple observation wells
- boundaries
Benchmarks
Comparison of AQTESOLV (blue line) and published Papadopulos and Cooper (1967) well function values for α=0.001, rD=1 (symbols).
Comparison of AQTESOLV (blue line) and computed values from program by Barker and McDonald (2000) for variable-rate pumping test including recovery (symbols).
References
Papadopulos, I.S. and H.H. Cooper, 1967. Drawdown in a well of large diameter, Water Resources Research, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 241-244.
See also: solution methods, pumping tests