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Use of multi-node wells in the Groundwater-Management Process of MODFLOW-2005 (GWM-2005)

September 25, 2013

Many groundwater wells are open to multiple aquifers or to multiple intervals within a single aquifer. These types of wells can be represented in numerical simulations of groundwater flow by use of the Multi-Node Well (MNW) Packages developed for the U.S. Geological Survey’s MODFLOW model. However, previous versions of the Groundwater-Management (GWM) Process for MODFLOW did not allow the use of multi-node wells in groundwater-management formulations. This report describes modifications to the MODFLOW–2005 version of the GWM Process (GWM–2005) to provide for such use with the MNW2 Package. Multi-node wells can be incorporated into a management formulation as flow-rate decision variables for which optimal withdrawal or injection rates will be determined as part of the GWM–2005 solution process. In addition, the heads within multi-node wells can be used as head-type state variables, and, in that capacity, be included in the objective function or constraint set of a management formulation. Simple head bounds also can be defined to constrain water levels at multi-node wells. The report provides instructions for including multi-node wells in the GWM–2005 data-input files and a sample problem that demonstrates use of multi-node wells in a typical groundwater-management problem.

Publication Year 2013
Title Use of multi-node wells in the Groundwater-Management Process of MODFLOW-2005 (GWM-2005)
DOI 10.3133/tm6A47
Authors David P. Ahlfeld, Paul M. Barlow
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Techniques and Methods
Series Number 6-A47
Index ID tm6A47
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Office of Groundwater