OPTIMIZATION OF PUMPING FROM AL-SIDIR WELLFIELD, BARA AQUIFER

Waddah H. Y. Elsheikh, Abdalla M. T. Shigidi

Abstract


This paper document an optimization analysis conducted to determine future pumping scenarios intended to prolong the productivity of Bara aquifer and to delay excessive drawdowns. The optimization analyses were based on an existing calibrated groundwater-flow model of Bara aquifer. USGS’s Ground Water Management Process (GWM) was utilized.
The software uses an objective function to maximize total withdrawal rate, subject to withdrawal-rate and hydraulichead constraints at the location of each well. A user interface was developed for GWM to ease the utilization of the
software.
Analysis showed that pumping of the existing 40 wells in Al-Sidir wellfield at the design capacity (1500 m3/day) will result in a drawdown of 100 m in 50-years period. Optimized operation of the wellfield can limit drawdowns to 50
meters with 31 operating wells at varying pumping rates (Run 1), or to 60 meters of drawdown with 33 operating wells
at varying pumping rates (Run 2).

Keywords


GWM; MODFLOW; Managed Wells; Optimization

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References


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