title: An improved approach for assigning pumping rates to heterogeneous aquifer models.
abstract: A common assumption of ground water models formulated using a block-centered finite-difference method is that a well is located at the center of a cell regardless of its actual location. Due to this assumption, errors are introduced in the spatial distribution of simulated heads. This paper presents an alternative approach for assigning the pumping rates of wells that are located off cell centers. This approach consists of assigning the pumping rate not only to the cell in which the well is located but also to adjacent cells, taking into account the length of the well screen, the hydraulic conductivity, and the distance from the well to the center of its cell. The advantage of this alternative approach over the conventional one is illustrated with a test problem of a synthetic aquifer. Statistical measures of error indicate a much better model fit when pumping rates of wells are distributed over several cells.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C., Miguel de Cervantes 120, 31109 Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico. adan.pinales@cimav.edu.mx
authors.forename: Adan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinales
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: Geronimo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Llerar
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manzanares
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keer
mesh_terms: D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011312:Pressure; D012987:Soil; D014872:Water Movements; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D012987:Soil