Estimation of transmissivity from specific capacity data in fractured carbonate rock aquifer,central Jordan

Transmissivity of an aquifer is determined from pumping test analysis, but due to the difficulty of performing such tests as well as the relatively high cost of these test, it is often estimated from specific capacity data. In this study an empirical relation is derived using 237 pairs of transmissivity and specific capacity values that are obtained from groundwater wells penetrating a fractured and karstified carbonate aquifer. Linear and logarithmic regression functions have been performed and it is found that the logarithmic relationship predicting transmissivity from specific capacity data has a better correlation (r=0.95) than linear one (r=0.84). This is logically true because both transmissivity and specific capacity are lognormally distributed. The spatial distribution of transmissivity is also affected by the presence of fracturing and karstification phenomena within the aquifer matrix.