Hierarchical Patch Dynamics Modeling of Near-Well Dynamics in Complex Regional Groundwater Systems

Abstract

One of the challenges in groundwater modeling is the prediction of hydraulic head in close proximity to a pumping well using a regional-scale model. Typical applications of numerical models to field-scale problems generally require large grids that can seldom accommodate cells as small as the actual well diameter. In this paper, we apply a dynamically integrated “hierarchical patch dynamics paradigm (HPDP)” to model detailed near-well dynamics and interactions. The HPDP enables converting a large, complex problem into a network of hierarchically nested and dynamically coupled patch models that can be easily solved. The performance of the HPDP is verified against the analytical solution for a single well, against a superposition of analytical solutions for a wellfield, and against a numerical solution in a three-dimensional heterogeneous system. The results show that the HPDP is capable of providing an accurate and efficient representation of head in a wellfield in large-scale hydrogeologic systems.