Flow dimensions corresponding to hydrogeologic conditions

The generalized radial flow approach to hydraulic test interpretation uses the flow dimension to describe the change in flow area versus radial distance from the borehole. The flow dimension of a hydraulic test may reflect several characteristics of the hydrogeologic system, including heterogeneity, boundaries, and leakage. We show that a radial flow system with a linear, constant‐head boundary asymptotically reaches a flow dimension of four, while the flow dimension of a leaky aquifer is a function of time and the leakage factor. We use numerical techniques to show that a stationary transmissivity field with a modest level of heterogeneity has a flow dimension that stabilizes at two. We also show that the flow dimension for a nonstationary transmissivity field depends on the form and magnitude of the nonstationarity. The flow dimension observed during hydraulic tests helps identify admissible conceptual models for the tested system, and places hydraulic testing in its full hydrogeologic context.