Goals for the ASCE Task Committee on Well Hydraulics

In 1998, an ASCE Task Committee on Well Hydraulics was formed to inventory, review, compile, and summarize information on the current state of knowledge of well hydraulics. Well hydraulics is concerned with head losses that result from movement of ground water from the aquifer into and through the structure of a production water well. This paper introduces and describes the subject of well hydraulics, and includes a discussion of the components of head losses, illustrates impacts of these components on well efficiency, and describes a proposed manual to contain a summary of factors that influence well hydraulics. Discussion of such factors as well development, gravel-pack design, size and shape of casing openings, degree of incrustation and corrosion of well casing, influence of pump placement, and economic impacts of well efficiency will be included in the manual. The Task Committee on Well Hydraulics has three specific goals; the goals include: 1) sponsorship of technical sessions at ASCE specialty conferences during years 2000 and 2001; 2) presentation of specific papers to inform the professional community of important factors regarding well hydraulics; and 3) development of an up-to-date manual on current knowledge related to well hydraulics for the practicing engineer and hydrologist. The proposed manual would present current knowledge of well hydraulics, document current procedures used to evaluate head losses and well efficiency, and identify further research needs. A preliminary outline of contents for the manual is presented.