Effects of irrigation well efficiency on energy requirements. Final report

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of several factors on the performance of a high production irrigation well. The study involved the drilling of ten wells. Each well was either constructed with different materials, such as a different style of screen or type of gravel pack, or it was drilled using a different drilling fluid. Three development methods were used on each well, specifically; overpumping, surging, and high pressure jetting with air lift pumping. After each well was developed, a pump-test was performed. For a pump-test, one well was pumped and the others acted as observation wells. The drawdown in the pumped well, the drawdown in the observation wells, and the flowrate were recorded for 24 hours. A 24 hour recovery period was also recorded. The data obtained was evaluated graphically to determine the aquifer parameters, T and S/sub y/. These values were used to calculate the theoretical drawdown and consequently the efficiency of each well. From the differences recorded in the 3 pump-tests performed on each well, the response of the wells to development was determined.