GWF-WEL

Structure of Blocks

FOR EACH SIMULATION

    BEGIN OPTIONS
      [AUXILIARY <auxiliary>]
      [AUXMULTNAME <auxmultname>]
      [BOUNDNAMES]
      [PRINT_INPUT]
      [PRINT_FLOWS]
      [SAVE_FLOWS]
      [AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE <auto_flow_reduce>]
      [AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE_CSV FILEOUT <afrcsvfile>]
      [FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH]
      [AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE_AUXNAME <auto_flow_reduce_auxname>]
      [TS6 FILEIN <ts6_filename>]
      [OBS6 FILEIN <obs6_filename>]
      [MOVER]
    END OPTIONS
    BEGIN DIMENSIONS
      MAXBOUND <maxbound>
    END DIMENSIONS

FOR ANY STRESS PERIOD

    BEGIN PERIOD <iper>
      <cellid> <q> [<aux(naux)>] [<boundname>]
      <cellid> <q> [<aux(naux)>] [<boundname>]
      ...
    END PERIOD

Explanation of Variables

Block: OPTIONS

  • auxiliary defines an array of one or more auxiliary variable names. There is no limit on the number of auxiliary variables that can be provided on this line; however, lists of information provided in subsequent blocks must have a column of data for each auxiliary variable name defined here. The number of auxiliary variables detected on this line determines the value for naux. Comments cannot be provided anywhere on this line as they will be interpreted as auxiliary variable names. Auxiliary variables may not be used by the package, but they will be available for use by other parts of the program. The program will terminate with an error if auxiliary variables are specified on more than one line in the options block.

  • auxmultname name of auxiliary variable to be used as multiplier of well flow rate.

  • BOUNDNAMES keyword to indicate that boundary names may be provided with the list of well cells.

  • PRINT_INPUT keyword to indicate that the list of well information will be written to the listing file immediately after it is read.

  • PRINT_FLOWS keyword to indicate that the list of well flow rates will be printed to the listing file for every stress period time step in which “BUDGET PRINT” is specified in Output Control. If there is no Output Control option and “PRINT_FLOWS” is specified, then flow rates are printed for the last time step of each stress period.

  • SAVE_FLOWS keyword to indicate that well flow terms will be written to the file specified with “BUDGET FILEOUT” in Output Control.

  • auto_flow_reduce keyword and real value that defines the fraction of the cell thickness used as an interval for smoothly adjusting negative pumping rates to 0 in cells with head values less than or equal to the bottom of the cell. Negative pumping rates are adjusted to 0 or a smaller negative value when the head in the cell is equal to or less than the calculated interval above the cell bottom. AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE is set to 0.1 if the specified value is less than or equal to zero. AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE is set to 1.0 if the specified value is greater than 1.0 and the FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH option is not specified (that is, the value is interpreted as a fraction of the cell thickness). By default, negative pumping rates are not reduced during a simulation. This AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE option only applies to wells in model cells that are marked as “convertible” (ICELLTYPE /= 0) in the Node Property Flow (NPF) input file. Reduction in flow will not occur for wells in cells marked as confined (ICELLTYPE = 0).

  • AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE_CSV keyword to specify that record corresponds to the AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE output option in which a new record is written for each well and for each time step in which the user-requested extraction rate is reduced by the program.

  • FILEOUT keyword to specify that an output filename is expected next.

  • afrcsvfile name of the comma-separated value (CSV) output file to write information about well extraction rates that have been reduced by the program. Entries are only written if the extraction rates are reduced.

  • FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH keyword that indicates the AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE value is a length instead of a fraction of the cell thickness. A warning will be issued if the FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH option is specified but the AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE option is not specified in the options block. The program will terminate with an error if the FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH option is specified and the AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE value specified in the options block is less than or equal to zero.

  • auto_flow_reduce_auxname name of a variable listed in AUXILIARY that defines the per-well AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE value used to compute the flow reduction threshold for each well. The auxiliary variable is interpreted the same way as the global AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE value: as a length above the cell bottom when FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH is specified, or otherwise as a fraction of the cell thickness. When specified, the per-well auxiliary value overrides the global AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE value for that well. A warning will be issued if AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE_AUXNAME is specified but AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE is not specified in the OPTIONS block. A warning will be issued if AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE_AUXNAME is specified but FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH is not specified in the OPTIONS block. The program will terminate with an error if AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE_AUXNAME is specified but no AUXILIARY variables are specified, or if the named AUXILIARY variable cannot be found. The per-well value must be greater than zero and less than or equal to 1 when FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH is not specified, or greater than zero and less than or equal to the cell thickness when FLOW_REDUCTION_LENGTH is specified; the program will terminate with an error if a value is outside the valid range.

  • TS6 keyword to specify that record corresponds to a time-series file.

  • FILEIN keyword to specify that an input filename is expected next.

  • ts6_filename defines a time-series file defining time series that can be used to assign time-varying values. See the “Time-Variable Input” section for instructions on using the time-series capability.

  • OBS6 keyword to specify that record corresponds to an observations file.

  • obs6_filename name of input file to define observations for the WEL package. See the “Observation utility” section for instructions for preparing observation input files. Table ref{table:gwf-obstypetable} lists observation type(s) supported by the WEL package.

  • MOVER keyword to indicate that this instance of the Well Package can be used with the Water Mover (MVR) Package. When the MOVER option is specified, additional memory is allocated within the package to store the available, provided, and received water.

Block: DIMENSIONS

  • maxbound integer value specifying the maximum number of wells cells that will be specified for use during any stress period.

Block: PERIOD

  • iper integer value specifying the starting stress period number for which the data specified in the PERIOD block apply. IPER must be less than or equal to NPER in the TDIS Package and greater than zero. The IPER value assigned to a stress period block must be greater than the IPER value assigned for the previous PERIOD block. The information specified in the PERIOD block will continue to apply for all subsequent stress periods, unless the program encounters another PERIOD block.

  • cellid is the cell identifier, and depends on the type of grid that is used for the simulation. For a structured grid that uses the DIS input file, CELLID is the layer, row, and column. For a grid that uses the DISV input file, CELLID is the layer and CELL2D number. If the model uses the unstructured discretization (DISU) input file, CELLID is the node number for the cell.

  • q is the volumetric well rate. A positive value indicates recharge (injection) and a negative value indicates discharge (extraction). If the Options block includes a TIMESERIESFILE entry (see the “Time-Variable Input” section), values can be obtained from a time series by entering the time-series name in place of a numeric value.

  • aux represents the values of the auxiliary variables for each well. The values of auxiliary variables must be present for each well. The values must be specified in the order of the auxiliary variables specified in the OPTIONS block. If the package supports time series and the Options block includes a TIMESERIESFILE entry (see the “Time-Variable Input” section), values can be obtained from a time series by entering the time-series name in place of a numeric value.

  • boundname name of the well cell. BOUNDNAME is an ASCII character variable that can contain as many as 40 characters. If BOUNDNAME contains spaces in it, then the entire name must be enclosed within single quotes.

Example Input File

Example 1

    #The OPTIONS block is optional
    BEGIN OPTIONS
      AUXILIARY depth screen_length
      BOUNDNAMES
      PRINT_INPUT
      PRINT_FLOWS
      SAVE_FLOWS
    END OPTIONS
    
    #The DIMENSIONS block is required
    BEGIN DIMENSIONS
      MAXBOUND 5
    END DIMENSIONS
    
    #The following block of wells will be activated for stress periods
    #2 and 3.  No wells are present in stress period 1 due to an
    #absence of a block for that period.
    BEGIN PERIOD 2
        #layer  row  col      Q    depth  screen_length  boundname
    
              #wells 1 and 2
             7  102   17 -19000    275.9           17.6       CW_1
             9  192   44 -13000    280.0           24.0       CW_2
    
              #wells 3 through 5
             9  109   67 -24000    295.1           12.1       CW_3
            10   43   17 -12000    301.3            9.6       CW_4
            11   12   17 -17000    315.0           18.6       CW_5
    
    END PERIOD
    
    #Turn off all wells for stress period 4
    BEGIN PERIOD 4
      #An empty block indicates that there are no wells.
    END PERIOD
    
    #For stress period 5, turn on wells 1 and 4,
    #and add three wells that are grouped in a well field
    BEGIN PERIOD 5
        #layer  row  col      Q    depth  screen_length  boundname
             7  102   17 -19000    275.9           17.6       CW_1
            10   43   17 -12000    301.3            9.6       CW_4
    
        #wells in well field
             5   27   50 -11000    190.0           20.0  well_field
             5   27   51 -10000    185.0           20.0  well_field
             5   28   50 -12000    187.3           15.0  well_field
    END PERIOD
    
    #Use a list of wells in ASCII file wells_sp6.txt for stress period 6.
    #Use these wells until the end of the simulation.
    BEGIN PERIOD 6
      OPEN/CLOSE wells_sp6.txt
    END PERIOD

Example 2

    # File generated by Flopy version 3.10.0.dev3 on 09/04/2025 at 15:35:26.
    BEGIN options
      READARRAYGRID
      auxiliary  concentration
      OBS6  FILEIN  flow.wel.obs
    END options
    
    BEGIN period  1
      q
        INTERNAL  FACTOR  1.0
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
      concentration
        INTERNAL  FACTOR  1.0
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
           100.00000000  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30  3.00000000E+30
    END period  1
    

Available Observation Types

Stress Package Observation Type ID1 ID2 Description
WEL wel cellid or boundname -- Flow between the groundwater system and a well boundary or a group of well boundaries.
WEL to-mvr cellid or boundname -- Well boundary discharge that is available for the MVR package for a well boundary or a group of well boundaries.
WEL wel-reduction cellid or boundname -- Reduction in the specified well boundary discharge calculated when the AUTO_FLOW_REDUCE option is specified.

Example Observation Input File

Example 1

    BEGIN OPTIONS
      DIGITS 7
      PRINT_INPUT
    END OPTIONS
    
    BEGIN CONTINUOUS FILEOUT my_model.wel.obs.csv
    # obsname           obstype  ID
      wel-7-102-17      WEL      7  102  17
      wel-7-102-17      WEL      CW_1
      well-field        WEL      well_field
    END CONTINUOUS

Example Observation Input File

Example 2

    # File generated by Flopy version 3.10.0.dev3 on 09/04/2025 at 15:35:26.
    BEGIN options
      DIGITS  20
      PRINT_INPUT
    END options
    
    BEGIN continuous  FILEOUT  wel_obs.csv
      w1_1_1  WEL  1 1 1
    END continuous  FILEOUT  wel_obs.csv