Modern Techniques in Well Design

Abstract

A direct benefit of efficient wells is reduced pumping costs. Well efficiency is controlled by several factors, including aquifer, drilling damage, and turbulent‐flow losses at or near the well screen. Screen entrance velocity is not a critical design factor if values are less than 2–4 fps (0.6–1.2 m/s). For most wells, the required open area of a screen need only be 3–5 percent. A new method of designing minimum length of well screen based on laminar flow‐turbulent flow considerations is presented, along with a simple field test to calculate the efficiency of an existing well or to provide a criterion for termination of development of a newly constructed well.