Slug Test Analysis

Solution Methods
Overdamped Slug Tests
Underdamped Slug Tests
Multiwell Slug Tests
Wells Screened Across Water Table

AQTESOLV Advantage

Only AQTESOLV features the Peres et al. (1989) deconvolution method for wells damaged by wellbore skin.

"I also tested [a competitor's product], but found AQTESOLV to be much more intuitive, stable and just plain fast."
--Tom Davis, Fletcher Driscoll & Associates LLC

What is the best slug test analysis software? Choose AQTESOLV to get the most advanced software for slug test analysis including methods for single- and multi-well tests, overdamped and underdamped conditions, wells screened across the water table, and more.

AQTESOLV is the most advanced software for slug test analysis and features the most comprehensive set of solution methods for overdamped and underdamped conditions in confined, unconfined and fractured aquifers.

overdamped tests
underdamped (oscillatory) tests
falling-head tests
rising-head tests
baildown tests
multi-well tests (including observation wells)
partially submerged screens (double straight-line effect)
filter pack drainage
frictional well loss

Only AQTESOLV has recommended head ranges to reduce ambiguity sometimes encountered in the application of straight-line methods for slug test data analysis. Additional features include compensations for filter pack drainage in wells screened across the water table and frictional well loss in small-diameter wells.

Summary of Slug Test Solutions

AQTESOLV has the most comprehensive set of solutions for slug test analysis that allow you to analyze rising- and falling-head tests, baildown tests, multi-well tests, overdamped tests, underdamped tests, fully and partially penetrating wells, wells screened across the water table, and more.

Summary of Slug Test Solutions in AQTESOLV Pro
Solution Category	Methods Available
Slug Tests	18
Partial Penetration	15
Underdamped	5
Confined Aquifers	11
Unconfined Aquifers	6
Fractured Aquifers	1

Compare slug test solutions in the Pro and Standard versions.

Overdamped Slug Tests

Overdamped slug tests are the ones we commonly analyze with techniques like the straight-line methods of Hvorslev (1951) and Bouwer and Rice (1976) and the type curve methods of Cooper, Bredehoeft and Papadopulos (1967) and Hyder et al. (1994).

The straight-line methods of Hvorslev (1951) and Bouwer and Rice (1976) assume a quasi-steady-state model by neglecting the compressibility of the aquifer (storativity). These methods are commonly used for rising- and falling-head tests and fortests in wells screened across the water table.

Analysis of slug test data with concave upward curvature using Bouwer and Rice (1976) method — Analysis of falling-head slug test using Bouwer and Rice (1976) method and recommended normalized head range.

AQTESOLV makes the application of straight-line solutions (e.g., Bouwer and Rice method or Hvorslev method) easier and more reliable with recommended head ranges (Butler 1998) that help to overcome line-fitting ambiguity when data exhibit curvature as shown above.

AQTESOLV also features type curve methods such as Cooper, Bredehoeft and Papadopulos (1967) and Hyder et al. (1994) (KGS Model) for rising- and falling-head slug tests. These methods are fully transient (include aquifer compressibility) and allow you to analyze multi-well slug tests as well as single-well tests.

Analysis of overdamped slug test in unconfined aquifer with KGS Model — Estimation of aquifer properties from time-displacement data collected during an overdamped slug test in an unconfined aquifer using the KGS Model (Hyder et al. 1994) type-curve solution (data from Butler 1998).

Underdamped (Oscillatory) Slug Tests

Only AQTESOLV provides underdamped slug test solutions for tests with inertial effects in both fully and partially penetrating wells.

Underdamped slug test with frictional well loss — Analysis of underdamped slug test in small-diameter well with frictional well loss in a high-K aquifer (Butler 2002).

AQTESOLV features an innovative visual curve matching tool that makes parameter estimation for underdamped tests a snap (video) and includes a correction for frictional well loss (Butler 2002) that is important for analyzing underdamped tests in small-diameter wells.

Multi-Well Slug Tests

AQTESOLV includes slug test data analysis methods such as the KGS Model (Hyder et al. 1994) that may be used to analyze multi-well slug tests (interference tests) in confined or unconfined aquifers.

Most slug tests are conducted as single-well tests in which heads (displacements) are measured in just the test (control) well. In a multi-well slug test, heads are recorded in the test well and one or more nearby observation wells for subsequent analysis.

Wells Screened Across Water Table

Slug tests in wells with partially submerged screens may exhibit a double straight-line effect due to filter pack drainage (Bouwer 1989). Use AQTESOLV to analyze slug tests from wells screened across the water table with the Bouwer and Rice (1976) solution.