Wellbore Skin Effect

Definitions

Moench (1997) provides a useful definition of wellbore skin for a finite-diameter well that derives from the heat flow literature. According to Moench, "the spatial average of head in the well bore, h_w, is related to the average head in the aquifer adjacent to the pumped well screen, h*," by the following equation:

where K_s is wellbore skin hydraulic conductivity, d_s is wellbore skin thickness, K_r is radial hydraulic conductivity in the aquifer, and r_w is well radius. In this definition, the storage capacity of the skin is neglected.

Moench (1997) also defines a dimensionless wellbore skin factor as follows:

S_w = K_rd_s/K_sr_w

See also: pumping tests