Double Constraint Method for Pumping Test Analysis

Abstract

A double constraint method is proposed to analyze pumping tests in a confined aquifer. An expression for estimation of aquifer transmissivity is derived by minimizing the sum of squared errors in the Darcy equation and a similar expression for estimation of aquifer storativity by minimizing the sum of squared errors in the water balance equation. The feasibility of the method is illustrated by two case studies and the results are compared with classical methods for pumping test analysis. The results indicate that the proposed methodology is accurate, robust, easy to implement and execute, and simpler and less time consuming than classical optimization methods.