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CONTENTS
1.0 SCOPE AND APPLICATION
2.0 METHOD SUMMARY
3.0 SAMPLE PRESERVATION, CONTAINERS, HANDLING, AND STORAGE
4.0 INTERFERENCES AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
5.0 EQUIPMENT/APPARATUS
6.0 REAGENTS
7.0 PROCEDURES
7.1 Field Procedures
7.2 Post Operation Procedures
8.0 CALCULATIONS
9.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
10.0 DATA VALIDATION
11.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY
12.0 REFERENCES
13.0 APPENDIX
A - Slug Test Data Form
SUPERCEDES: SOP #2158; Revision 2; 08/30/90; U.S. EPA Contract EP-W-09-031.
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1.0 SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
This procedure is applicable to determine the horizontal hydraulic conductivity of distinct geologic
horizons under in-situ conditions. The hydraulic conductivity (K) is an important parameter for modeling
the flow of groundwater in an aquifer.
These are standard (i.e. typically applicable) operating procedures which may be varied or changed as
required, dependent upon site conditions, equipment limitations or limitations imposed by the procedure.
In all instances, the ultimate procedures employed should be documented and associated with the final
report.
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (U.S.EPA) endorsement or recommendation for use.
2.0 METHOD SUMMARY
A slug test involves the instantaneous injection or withdrawal of a volume or slug of water or solid
cylinder of known volume. This is accomplished by displacing a known volume of water from a well and
measuring the artificial fluctuation of the groundwater level.
The primary advantages of using slug tests to estimate hydraulic conductivities are numerous. First,
estimates can be made in-situ, thereby avoiding errors incurred in laboratory testing of disturbed soil
samples. Second, tests can be performed quickly at relatively low costs because pumping and observation
wells are not required. And lastly, the hydraulic conductivity of small discrete portions of an aquifer can
be estimated (e.g., sand layers in a clay).
3.0 SAMPLE PRESERVATION, CONTAINERS, HANDLING AND STORAGE
This section is not applicable to this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
4.0 INTERFERENCES AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS
Limitations of slug testing include: 1) only the hydraulic conductivity of the area immediately surrounding
the well is estimated which may not be representative of the average hydraulic conductivity of the area,
and 2) the storage coefficient, S, usually cannot be determined by this method.
5.0 EQUIPMENT/APPARATUS
The following equipment is needed to perform slug tests. All equipment which comes in contact with the
well should be decontaminated and tested prior to commencing field activities.
Tape measure (subdivided into tenths of feet)
Water pressure transducer
Electric water level indicator
Weighted tapes
Steel tape (subdivided into tenths of feet)
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Electronic data-logger (if transducer method is used)
Stainless steel slug of a known volume
Watch or stopwatch with second hand
Semi-log graph paper (if required)
Water proof ink pen and logbook
Thermometer
Appropriate references and calculator
Electrical tape
21X micrologger
Compact portable computer or equivalent with Grapher installed on the hard disk
6.0 REAGENTS
No chemical reagents are used in this procedure; however, decontamination solvents may be necessary. If
decontamination of the slug or equipment is required, refer to ERT/SERAS SOP #2006, Sampling
Equipment Decontamination and the site specific work plan.
7.0 PROCEDURES
7.1 Field Procedures
The following general procedures may be used to collect and report slug test data. These
procedures may be modified to reflect site specific conditions:
1. When the slug test is performed using an electronic data-logger and pressure transducer,
all data will be stored internally or on computer diskettes or tape. The information will
be transferred directly to the main computer and analyzed. A computer printout of the
data shall be maintained in the files as documentation.
If the slug test data is collected and recorded manually, the slug test data form (Figure 1,
Appendix A) will be used to record observations. The slug test data form shall be
completed as follows:
Site ID - Identification number assigned to the site.
Location ID - Identification of location being tested.
Date - The date when the test data was collected in this order: year, month, day
(e.g., 900131 for January 31, 1990).
Slug volume (ft3) - Manufacturers specification for the known volume or
displacement of the slug device.
Logger - identifies the company or person responsible for performing the field
measurements.
Test method - The slug device is either injected or lowered into the well or
withdrawn or pulled-out from the monitor well. Check the method that is
applicable to the test situation being run.
Comments - Appropriate observations or information for which no other blanks are
provided.
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Elapsed time (min) - Cumulative time readings from beginning of test to end of test,
in minutes.
Depth to water (ft) - Depth to water recorded in tenths of feet.
2. Decontaminate the transducer and cable.
3. Make initial water level measurements on monitor wells in an upgradient to
downgradient sequence, if possible.
4. Before beginning the slug test, information will be recorded and entered into the
electronic data-logger. The type of information may vary depending on the model used.
When using different models, consult the operator's manual for the proper data entry
sequence to be used.
5. Test wells from least contaminated to most contaminated, if possible.
6. Determine the static water level in the well by measuring the depth to water periodically
for several minutes and taking the average of the readings, (see ERT/SERAS SOP
#2043, Water Level Measurements).
7. Cover sharp edges of the well casing with duct tape to protect the transducer cables.
8. Install the transducer and cable in the well to a depth below the target drawdown
estimated for the test but at least two feet from the bottom of the well. Be sure the depth
of submergence is within the design range stamped on the transducer. Temporarily tape
the transducer cable to the well to keep the transducer at a constant depth.
9. Connect the transducer cable to the electronic data-logger.
10. Enter the initial water level and transducer design range into the recording device
according to manufacturer’s instructions (the transducer design range will be stamped
on the side of the transducer). Record the initial water level on the recording device.
11. "Instantaneously" introduce or remove a known volume or slug of water to the well.
Another method is to introduce a solid cylinder of known volume to displace and raise
the water level, allow the water level to restabilize and remove the cylinder. It is
important to remove or add the volumes as quickly as possible because the analysis
assumes an "instantaneous" change in volume is created in the well.
12. At the moment of volume addition or removal assigned time zero, measure and record
the depth to water and the time at each reading. Depths should be measured to the
nearest 0.01 foot. The number of depth-time measurements necessary to complete the
test are variable. It is critical to make as many measurements as possible in the early
part of the test. The number and intervals between measurements will be determined
from earlier previous aquifer tests or evaluations.
13. Continue measuring and recording depth-time measurements until the water level
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returns to equilibrium conditions or a sufficient number of readings have been made to
clearly show a trend on a semi-log plot of time versus depth.
14. Retrieve slug (if applicable).
Note: The time required for a slug test to be completed is a function of the volume of
the slug, the hydraulic conductivity of the formation and the type of well completion.
The slug volume should be large enough that a sufficient number of water level
measurements can be made before the water level returns to equilibrium conditions.
The length of the test may range from less than a minute to several hours.
If the well is to be used as a monitoring well, precautions should be taken that the wells
are not contaminated by material introduced into the well. If water is added to the
monitoring well, it should be from an uncontaminated source and transported in a clean
container. Bailers or measuring devices should be cleaned prior to the test. If tests are
performed on more than one monitor well, care must be taken to avoid cross
contamination of the wells.
Slug tests shall be conducted on relatively undisturbed wells. If a test is conducted on a
well that has recently been pumped for water sampling purposes, the measured water
level must be within 0.1 foot of the water level prior to sampling. At least one week
should elapse between the drilling of a well and the performance of a slug test.
7.2 Post Operation Procedures
When using an electronic data-logger use the following procedure:
1. Stop logging sequence.
2. Print data.
3. Send data to computer by telephone.
4. Save memory and disconnect battery at the end of the day's activities.
5. Review field forms for completeness.
8.0 CALCULATIONS
The simplest interpretation of piezometer recovery is that of Hvorslev (1951). The analysis assumes a
homogenous, isotropic medium in which soil and water are incompressible. Hvorslev's expression for
hydraulic conductivity (K) is:
r 2 ln L R
K for L R 8
2 L To
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where:
K =
hydraulic conductivity [ft/sec]
r =
casing radius [ft]
L =
length of open screen (or borehole) [ft]
R =
filter pack (borehole) radius [ft]
T0 =
Basic Time Lag [sec]; value of t on semi-logarithmic plot of H-h/H-H0 vs. t,
where H-h/H-H0 = 0.37
H = initial water level prior to removal of slug
H0 = water level at t = 0
h = recorded water level at t > 0
(Hvorslev, 1951; Freeze and Cherry, 1979)
The Bower and Rice method is also commonly used for K calculations. However, it is much more time
consuming than the Hvorslev method. Refer to Freeze and Cherry or Applied Hydrogeology (Fetter) for a
discussion of these methods.
9.0 QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL
The following general quality assurance procedures apply:
1. All data must be documented on standard Chain of Custody records, field data sheets, or within
personal/site logbooks.
2. All instrumentation must be operated in accordance with operating instructions as supplied by
the manufacturer, unless otherwise specified in the work plan. Equipment checkout and
calibration activities must occur prior to sampling/operation, and they must be documented.
The following specific quality assurance activity will apply:
1. Each well should be tested at least twice in order to compare results.
10.0 DATA VALIDATION
This section is not applicable to this SOP.
11.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY
When working with potential hazardouse materials, follow U.S. EPA, OSHA and corporate health and
safety procedures.
12.0 REFERENCES
Bower, H., 1978. Groundwater Hydrology, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, New York.
Bower, H., and R.C. Rice, 1980. "A Slug Test for Determining the Hydraulic Properties of Tight
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Formations", Water Resources Research, Vol. 16, No. 1 pp. 233-238.
Cooper, Jr. H.H., J.D., Bredehoeft, and S.S. Papadopulos, 1967. "Response of a Finite-Diameter Well to
an Instantaneous Charge of Water", Water Resources Research, Vol. 13, No. 1.
DOI (U.S. Department of the Interior), Ground Water Manual, U.S. Government Printing Office, New
York, New York, Washington, D.C.
Earlougher, R.C., 1977. Advances in Well Test Analysis, Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME.
Ferris, J.G., and D.B., Knowles, 1954. "The Slug Test for Estimating Transmissivity", U.S. Geological
Survey Ground Water Note 26.
Freeze, R. Allen and John A. Cherry, 1979. Groundwater, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New
Jersey.
Hvorslev, 1951. "Time Lag and Soil Permeability in Ground Water Observations", Bulletin No. 36, U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers p. 50.
Johnson Division, UOP, Inc., 1966. Ground Water and Wells, Johnson Division, UOP, Inc., St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Lohman, S.W., 1982. "Ground Water Hydraulics", U.S. Geological Survey, Paper 708, p. 70.
Neuman, S.P., 1972. "Theory of Flow in Unconfined Aquifers Considering Delayed Response of the
Water Table", Water Resources Research, Vol. 8, No. 4, p. 1031.
Papadopulos, S.S., J.D., Bredehoeft, H.H., Cooper, Jr., 1973. "On the Analysis of Slug Test Data", Water
Resources Research, Vol. 9, No. 4.
Todd, David K., 1980. Ground Water Hydrology, 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons.
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APPENDIX A
Slug Test Data Form
SOP #2046
October 1994
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Page of
FIGURE 1. Slug Test Data Form
DATE: ____________________
SITE ID: ____________________ SLUG VOLUME (ft3): _________________
LOCATION ID: _____________________ LOGGER: _________________
TEST METHOD: _____ SLUG INJECTION _____ SLUG WITHDRAWAL
COMMENTS _____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Time Beginning of Test #1 ______ Time Beginning of Test #2 ___________________
Time End of Test #1 ______ Time End of Test #2 ___________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
ELAPSED TIME DEPTH TO ELAPSED TIME DEPTH TO
(MIN) WATER (FT) (MIN) WATER (FT)
__________________________________________________________________________________
