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Gaining and losing sections of horizontal wells
Author(s) -
Steward David R.,
Jin Wei
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2001wr000371
Subject(s) - aquifer , dimensionless quantity , perpendicular , radius , volumetric flow rate , geology , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , water well , geometry , hydraulic head , flux (metallurgy) , limiting , groundwater , wellbore , geotechnical engineering , materials science , mathematics , physics , petroleum engineering , engineering , mechanical engineering , computer security , computer science , metallurgy
The flux along a horizontal well in uniform flow is examined using an analytic three‐dimensional, steady model. Wells with uniform head and low pumping rates have gaining sections along which water enters the well and losing sections along which water exits. Such a well may provide a conduit for contaminated groundwater to be drawn into the well, conveyed a large distance, and injected into an uncontaminated region of an aquifer. Dimensionless ratios of the well's length L and radius R , aquifer thickness H , and uniform flow rate U are developed to quantify the minimum pumping rate Q min at which no losing section occurs. The ratio Q min /( ULH ) is presented as a nomograph using R / H and L / H for placement parallel to flow and is 6π R / H for placement perpendicular to flow, and a parabolic relationship between these limiting cases is developed for placement oblique to flow. Capture zone geometry is quantified using Q min /( ULH ).