Valve Openings and Minimum Pump Head for Precise Operation of Multiple Groundwater Injection Wells

Abstract

Freshwater may be injected into aquifers to combat sea water intrusion in groundwater or to store water for later retrieval. For these cases to achieve the desired goal groundwater modeling is commonly used to determine locations and rates of injection wells. When these wells are connected to a pipe network, a flow control valve is installed for each well to regulate the injection rate. When a valve opening is modified, pressure changes in the entire pipe network and thereby changes flow rates in other wells. Therefore, desired valve openings must be determined for all injection wells. The pipe flow analysis allows estimation of the minimum pump power in addition to valve openings. Methods are developed to identify valve openings for multiple wells and the minimum pump power. The methodology developed in this work can contribute to precise operation of multiple injection wells.