Well Hydraulics in Parts of Western Vidarbha Region in Deccan Traps, India

Abstract

Deccan Traps cover about 15% (500,000 sq. km) of India’s landmass, and about 82% of Maharashtra state. They deliver fluctuating hydraulic results due to their disposition as a multilayered aquifer system. The drawdown and recovery data of eight exploratory wells in Akola, Buldhana and Washim districts of western Vidarbha region in Maharashtra state were analyzed to define the aquifer characteristics in basalts. Conventional methods such as those suggested by Theis (1935), Jacob-Cooper (1946), Chow (1952) and Walton (1962) were used to estimate aquifer parameters such as transmissivity (T) and storativity (S). The advantages and limitations of these methods were critically examined from their applicability perspective. Estimated values of T ranged from 7 to 133 m2/day and those of S from 6.05x10-4 to 1.63x10-2, showing poor yields in most parts. In this study, Jacob-Cooper (1945) and Theis recovery (1935) methods were found easy to adopt and yielded rapid results compared to Theis curve matching (1935), Chow (1952) and Walton (1962) methods that typically involve either curve matching or complex computational techniques.