Type Curves for Pumping Test Analysis in Coastal Aquifers

Abstract Conventional methods of analyzing pumping test data usually assume a single‐phase fluid condition. In coastal aquifer systems this condition is not valid when salt water underlies the production well screen. A set of type curves is developed for unsteady state flow toward a fresh water pumping well. The solution accounts for the nonlinear boundary conditions on the interface and for different interface geometry. The governing partial differential equations are solved using the finite‐element approximation for confined, homogeneous, and isotropic aquifer situations. The type curves were used to estimate the aquifer fresh water hydraulic conductivity and aquifer specific storage using pumping test data from a pumping well located on the coast of the Red Sea. The measured drawdowns are consistent with the predicted drawdown of the type curves.