Theoretical study on influence of well clogging and variable injection pressure on seepage field induced by single-well recharge

To analyze the influence of clogging and variable injection pressures on groundwater seepage field, a model for Single-Well-Recharge (SWR) in confined aquifer is established. In the model, clogging is considered by assuming an exponentially decayed permeability, where as the variable injection pressures are concerned by setting sinusoidal pressure boundary. The analytical solution for the model is obtained using the Weber transform. By performing parameter analysis based on the proposed solution, the results can be drawn as follows: (1) The permeability reduction due to clogging limits the injection rate and artesian head increment, and the limitation is more considerable as the permeability reduction index and injection time increase. (2) The variable injection pressures have certain influences on the groundwater seepage field, and the influences are more significant when the fluctuation amplitude is larger while the fluctuation frequency is smaller. (3) The influences of injection pressure fluctuation and frequency on the total groundwater injection amount are relatively small. The proposed model can provide theoretical basis for the design of recharge pressures and pump lifting cycles.