Advances in Modeling Groundwater Flow and

Transport with MODFLOW

Presenter: Christian D. Langevin

Contributors: Alden Provost, Sorab Panday, Joseph Hughes, Martijn Russcher,

Jeremy White, and Eric Morway

EPA CLU-IN Webinar, February 3, 2021

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
BACKGROUND
MODFLOW Philosophy

Core Principles
Teachable
Documented
Reliable
Robust
Efficient
Extensible
Portable
MODFLOW Support Environment

Core Principles
Teachable
Documented
Reliable
Robust
Efficient
Extensible
Portable
 Solute and Heat
Transport
Landscape Reactive
Hydrology Transport

Flow Path
Parallel Analysis

Core Principles
Teachable
Documented
Reliable Karst and
Subsidence Robust Pipe Flow
Efficient
Extensible
Portable

Unstructured
Grids Management

Parameter
Estimation Unsaturated
and Uncertainty Zone
Surface Water
Flow
 MODFLOW 6
MT3DMS
GSFLOW-PRMS MT3D-USGS, USG PHREEQC-PHT3D
SWB, HSPF, SWAT SEAWAT, SWI, GWT PHWAT
OWHM RT3D
Solute and Heat
Transport
Landscape Reactive
Hydrology Transport
MODPATH
mod-PATH3DU
SAMG PATH3D
PKS-MODFLOW FlowSource
PKS-SEAWAT Flow Path
MODFLOW 6 Parallel Analysis

Core Principles
Teachable
Documented
SUB Reliable Karst and MODFLOW-USG
Subsidence Robust Pipe Flow CFP, VKD
CSUB
Efficient
Extensible
Portable

Unstructured
Grids Management PESTPP-OPT
MODSIM
GWM
MODFLOW-USG
MODFLOW 6 Parameter
Estimation Unsaturated
and Uncertainty Zone
Surface Water
Flow
PEST UZF
PESTPP HYDRUS
UCODE SFR, SWR
HEC-RAS
VSF
MODFLOW
BRANCH ECOSYSTEM OF CODES
WHAT’S NEW?
Active Development
§ MODFLOW 6
§ Groundwater Flow (GWF) Model (released Aug 2017)
§ Compaction and Subsidence (CSUB) Package (released Dec 2019)
§ Groundwater Transport (GWT) Model (released Oct 2020)
§ Coupled Variable-Density Flow and Transport (released Oct 2020)
§ MODFLOW API (released Jun 2020)
§ Related Programs
§ FloPy
§ MODPATH
§ MT3D-USGS
 Groundwater
Flow (GWF)
Model

Discretization General-Head
Node Property Specified Stream-Flow
(DIS, DISV, Storage (STO) Boundary
Flow (NPF) Head (CHD) Routing (SFR)
DISU) (GHB)

Initial Horizontal Compaction and

Conditions Flow Barrier Subsidence Well (WEL) Drain (DRN) Lake (LAK)
(IC) (HFB) (CSUB)

Ghost Node Multi-Aquifer

Output Control Recharge
Correction River (RIV) Well (MAW)
(OC) (RCH)
(GNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Buoyancy Evapo- Zone Flow
(OBS) (BUY) transpiration (UZF)
(EVT)

Water Mover
(MVR)

Data Input Internal Internal Hydrologic Advanced

Flow Flow Stress Stress
Package
Regular or Unstructured Grids
3 Discretization Approaches
§ Regular MODFLOW grid (DIS)
§ Discretization by Vertices (DISV)
§ Generalized Unstructured (DISU)
Pahute Mesa - Oasis Valley Example
§ Nevada National Security
Site
§ Navarro Research and
Engineering Inc. funded
by DOE
§ Develop a groundwater
flow model for scenario
testing
Hydrostratigraphic Framework Model
§ 77 hydrostratigraphic
units
§ 98 faults and structural
features
§ Convert Earthvision
hydrostratigraphic model
into a MODFLOW 6 GWF
model
MODFLOW 6 Model
§ Python and the FloPy
Package used to convert
Earthvision
hydrostratigraphic model
into MODFLOW 6 model
Multi-Model Coupling
§ Any number of models can be
included in a simulation
§ Models coupled at matrix
level
§ Flexibility supports coupling
of parent, child, grandchild
models, stacked models or
adjacent models
Nested Grids

Child 1
Parent

Child 2

Grandchild
Water Mover
§ Generalized package for transferring water from one
MODFLOW package to another
§ Water can be transferred from a “provider” to a “receiver”
subject to simplified rules
§ All transfers are tracked in a water budget
MODFLOW 6 GWF + MT3D-USGS
§ MT3D-USGS developed and
maintained in cooperation
with S.S. Papadopulos &
Associates Inc.
§ Works with standard head
and budget files produced by
MODFLOW 6
§ Regular MODFLOW grids
 §
§
§
sha1_base64="JnZGk8nhYOWNdZ+ehosPtc+E+/0=">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</latexit>
sha1_base64="JnZGk8nhYOWNdZ+ehosPtc+E+/0=">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</latexit><latexit
sha1_base64="JnZGk8nhYOWNdZ+ehosPtc+E+/0=">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</latexit><latexit
sha1_base64="JnZGk8nhYOWNdZ+ehosPtc+E+/0=">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</latexit><latexit
<latexit
§

@t
@ (Sw ✓C)
=

fm ⇢b
@t
Environmental Inc.

@ Sw C
First released October 2020

2 f m ⇢b S w C
New model type in MODFLOW 6

2 f m ⇢b S w
r · (qC) + r · (Sw ✓DrC) + qs0 Cs + Ms
X
nim

im=1
Developed in collaboration with Sorab Panday, GSI

1 ✓Sw C

⇣im Sw (C
MODFLOW 6 Groundwater Transport Model

1 ✓Sw

Cim )
Patterned after MT3D, USG-Transport, MODFLOW-GWT, SUTRA
Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Discretization
(DIS, DISV,
DISU)

Initial
Conditions
(IC)

Output Control
(OC)

Observations
(OBS)

Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization
(DIS, DISV,
DISU)

Initial
Conditions
(IC)

Output Control
(OC)

Observations
(OBS)

Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization
(DIS, DISV,
DISU)

Initial
General Features
Conditions
(IC)
• Works with DIS, DISV, and DISU model grids
• Supports active ”dry cells” from Newton flow
Output Control
(OC) formulation
• Current implementation uses implicit formulation
Observations
(OBS) for all transport terms
• Flow and transport grids must be the same
Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization
Advection
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV)
DISU)

Initial
Dispersion
Conditions
(DSP)
(IC)

Output Control
(OC)

Observations
(OBS)

Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/

Grid
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization
Advection
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV)
DISU)

Initial
Dispersion
Advection (ADV) Package Dispersion (DSP) Package
Conditions
(IC)
(DSP)
• Central in space • Generalized unstructured
Output Control
• Upstream formulation
(OC) • Second-order implicit • Fast and approximate, or
TVD with van Leer flux • XT3D formulation with
Observations
(OBS) limiter expanded stencil
• No particle-based
Flow Model
Interface (FMI) methods

Data Input Transport/

Grid
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization
Advection
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV)
DISU)

Initial
Dispersion
Conditions
(DSP)
(IC)

Output Control
(OC)

Observations
(OBS)

Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/

Grid
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and

Advection Sink Mixing
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV)
DISU) (SSM)

Initial
Conditions
Dispersion
Mass Source
Loading Generalized solute boundary
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)
conditions
Output Control
Constant
Concentration
• Concentration associated with
(OC)
(CNC) groundwater inflows (SSM)
Observations
• Direct application or removal of
(OBS)
solute mass (SRC)
Flow Model
• Fixed concentration (CNC)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/

Grid External
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV)
DISU) (SSM) (MST)

Initial Mass Source

Dispersion Loading
Conditions
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)
Mass storage and transfer within a cell
Constant
Output Control
(OC)
Concentration • Storage
(CNC)
• Sorption
Observations
(OBS)
• First or zero-order decay/production

Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV)
DISU) (SSM) (MST)

Initial Mass Source

Dispersion Loading
Conditions
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant
Output Control
Concentration
(OC)
(CNC)

Observations
(OBS)

Flow Model
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV,
DISU)
(ADV)
(SSM) (MST)
Transport (SFT)
Support for advanced flow
Initial
Dispersion
Mass Source Lake Transport packages
Conditions Loading
(IC)
(DSP)
(SRC)
(LKT)
• Simulate concentration
Constant Multi-Aquifer in individual features
Output Control Well Transport
(OC)
Concentration
(CNC) (MWT) (stream reaches, lakes,
Unsaturated wells, unsaturated zone)
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT) • Simulate mass transfer
Mover Transport
between flow packages
Flow Model
Interface (FMI)
(MVT)
• Alternative to SSM

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV,
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT)

Mover Transport
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT)

Mover Transport
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced Internal
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(IC)
(DSP)
(SRC) Immobile Domain
Output Control
Constant Multi-Aquifer
Well Transport
• Mobile-immobile
Concentration
(OC)
(CNC) (MWT) exchange
Unsaturated
Zone Transport
• Immobile sorption
Observations
(OBS) (UZT) • Immobile
Mover Transport decay/production
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced Internal
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP) IST
(IC) (SRC) fim =
<latexit sha1_base64="ibeaCPjAu9TO9OuCeZCSd2Sq0KA=">AAACJXicdVDLahtBEJx14kcUP+TkmEsTYXAOFrOW8QNiMOiS3Bxs2QatvMyOeqXBsw9meh3kRT+Ti3/FFx9sQiCn/EpGWgUS4xQ01FR1M90V5VpZ4vynN/fi5fzC4tKr2uvlldW1+vqbM5sVRmJHZjozF5GwqFWKHVKk8SI3KJJI43l01Z7459dorMrSUxrl2EvEIFWxkoKcFNY/xpfl55PTcViqZAyHAFsQ3CCJ6n0SfoVAY0ywCW1ntSs5MGowJPgQ1hu8eTDBLlSkdeAI3/F5qwV+k0/RYDMch/XHoJ/JIsGUpBbWdn2eU68UhpTUOK4FhcVcyCsxwK6jqUjQ9srplWPYcEof4sy4Sgmm6t8TpUisHSWR60wEDe1TbyI+53ULivd7pUrzgjCV1UdxoYEymEQGfWVQkh45IqRRbleQQ2GEJBdszYXw51L4Pznbbvq86X/ZaRzxWRxL7B17zzaZz/bYEfvEjlmHSfaN3bEH9ujdevfed+9H1TrnzWbesn/g/foNSqKjOg==</latexit>
sha1_base64="hP+6LrUf2d3tZaldqaQQvEKMXyw=">AAAB2XicbZDNSgMxFIXv1L86Vq1rN8EiuCozbnQpuHFZwbZCO5RM5k4bmskMyR2hDH0BF25EfC93vo3pz0JbDwQ+zknIvSculLQUBN9ebWd3b/+gfugfNfzjk9Nmo2fz0gjsilzl5jnmFpXU2CVJCp8LgzyLFfbj6f0i77+gsTLXTzQrMMr4WMtUCk7O6oyaraAdLMW2IVxDC9YaNb+GSS7KDDUJxa0dhEFBUcUNSaFw7g9LiwUXUz7GgUPNM7RRtRxzzi6dk7A0N+5oYkv394uKZ9bOstjdzDhN7Ga2MP/LBiWlt1EldVESarH6KC0Vo5wtdmaJNChIzRxwYaSblYkJN1yQa8Z3HYSbG29D77odBu3wMYA6nMMFXEEIN3AHD9CBLghI4BXevYn35n2suqp569LO4I+8zx84xIo4</latexit>
sha1_base64="jNFoAEJUKcXXWsBvBpm5qWuX+PQ=">AAACGnicbZBLSwMxFIXv+Kz1Vd26CYqgC8uMG10oCN3oTtG2QqcOmfROG8w8SO4odeifceNfceNCEcF/Y/pY+DoQODknIblfmClpyHU/nanpmdm5+dJCeXFpeWW1srbUMGmuBdZFqlJ9HXKDSiZYJ0kKrzONPA4VNsPb2rBv3qE2Mk2uqJ9hO+bdREZScLJRUDmKboqzy6tBUMh4wI4Z22P+AxIf7y+De+YrjIjtsJqtauPY17LbI7YbVLbcqjsS+2u8idmCic6DypvfSUUeY0JCcWNanptRu+CapFA4KPu5wYyLW97FlrUJj9G0i9GUA7Ztkw6LUm1XQmyUfr9R8NiYfhzakzGnnvndDcP/ulZO0WG7kEmWEyZi/FCUK0YpGyJjHalRkOpbw4WW9q9M9LjmgizYsoXg/R75r2nsVz236l24UIIN2IQd8OAATuAUzqEOAh7hGV7hzXlyXpz3Ma4pZ8JtHX7I+fgCtOKhTg==</latexit>
sha1_base64="8cyHtvXFRTZlxGqylbb+tRvCpmo=">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</latexit>
sha1_base64="UNw+S5hjownCV4nk+xfMTScAg6U=">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</latexit>
⇣im Sw (C Cim )
Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC) @Cim @C im
Unsaturated + fim ⇢b = ✓im
Observations Zone Transport @t @t
(OBS) (UZT)
1,im ✓im Cim 2,im fim ⇢b C im
Mover Transport
Flow Model
Interface (FMI)
(MVT) 1,im ✓im 2,im fim ⇢b

<latexit sha1_base64="Gv0+fVdIwXY+9nUNqJD6ZISHtNk=">AAADIHicdVJNb9QwEHXCVwlfWzhysVghFRVWSbcq9IBUKReORbBtpfUqcrzOxqqdRPYEtET5KVz4K1w4gBDc4NfgfLTdrspIkUZv3rw3mXFcSGHA9/847rXrN27e2rjt3bl77/6DwebDI5OXmvEJy2WuT2JquBQZn4AAyU8KzamKJT+OT8OmfvyBayPy7D0sCz5TdJGJRDAKFoo2nT0CKQcaVULVmCSasooUVIOgEocdWl8gUONtnPRkneZRvN5DcmvXTFOFdcu73P0aE+K9wETaEefWNXjeSq3M0JuucHZazrrtuk8vvKBKXal7Uev0erlzPeJtY/LpnP4u+mgn4AngLRza5vDMXSxSwM+iwdAf7Texh7tkvG8Tfzfwx2McjPw2hqiPw2jwm8xzViqeAZPUmGngFzCrms0wyWuPlIYXlJ3SBZ/aNKOKm1nVHrjGTy0yx0mu7ZcBbtHVjooqY5YqtkxFITXrtQa8qjYtIXk1q0RWlMAz1hklpb1UjpvXgudCcwZyaRPKtLCzYpZSe3Cwb8qzSzj7U/z/5GhnFPij4O3u8MDv17GBHqMnaAsF6CU6QG/QIZog5nx2vjrfnR/uF/eb+9P91VFdp+95hC6F+/cfbLP+8g==</latexit>
+⇣im Sw (C Cim )
Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/
Grid External Internal Advanced Internal
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT)

Mover Transport
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced Internal
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile Immobile Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and Storage and Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST) Transfer (IST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT)

Mover Transport
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced Internal Internal Internal
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile Immobile Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and Storage and Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST) Transfer (IST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT)

Mover Transport
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced Internal Internal Internal
Package
 Groundwater
Transport
(GWT) Model

Mobile Immobile
Domain Domain

Discretization Source and Mobile Storage Immobile Immobile Immobile

Advection Sink Mixing and Transfer Streamflow
(DIS, DISV, Storage and Storage and Storage and
(ADV) Transport (SFT)
DISU) (SSM) (MST) Transfer (IST) Transfer (IST) Transfer (IST)

Initial Mass Source Lake Transport

Dispersion Loading
Conditions (LKT)
(DSP)
(IC) (SRC)

Constant Multi-Aquifer
Output Control Well Transport
Concentration
(OC) (MWT)
(CNC)

Unsaturated
Observations Zone Transport
(OBS) (UZT)

Mover Transport
Flow Model (MVT)
Interface (FMI)

Data Input Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/ Transport/

Grid External Internal Advanced Internal Internal Internal
Package
MODFLOW 6 GWF and GWT Approach
(Option 1: Separate Simulations)
Head File
ion1
ulat MODFLOW 6 Budget File
Sim GWF

ion2
ulat MODFLOW 6
Sim Concentration
GWT
File(s)

Can use different time-step lengths for GWT Model

MODFLOW 6 GWF and GWT Approach
(Option 2: Coupled Simulation)

Head File

t ion MODFLOW 6 Budget File

ula GWF/GWT
Sim
Concentration
File(s)

Must use same time-step lengths for both models

Groundwater Transport Model Status
§ Available now in MODFLOW 6
§ Fully supported in FloPy
§ Theory report is in review
§ Limitations:
§ Represents a single species, BUT, can
have any number of GWT Models
§ No transport across grids (yet)

In review
EXAMPLES
Newton Formulation for Water Table Aquifers
§ Minimizes wetting and drying complications
Transport Solution for Perched Aquifers
§ Instantaneous solute routing through the unsaturated zone
Advanced Packages and Water Mover
Surface and Groundwater Flow and Transport

Comparison between MODFLOW 6 (solid lines) and

GWT (dashed lines)
Coupled Variable-Density Flow and Transport
§ Run GWF and GWT
in same simulation
§ Turn on Buoyancy
Package in GWF
Model
§ Represent salt as a
chemical species
Coupled Flow and Transport Capabilities
Does MODFLOW 6 work with PEST?
Does MODFLOW 6 work with PEST?

Of course!
Optimal Plume Management
§ Example from Jeremy
White, INTERA Inc.
§ Simple synthetic
problem
§ 50 m cells
§ 10 km x 5 km x 1 layer
§ 20 years of treatment
Optimal Plume Management Extractor

§ Standard 5-spot
injector/extractor
configuration

Injectors
Optimal Plume Management Extractor

§ 20 years of treatment
§ Configuration works,
but could it be better?

Injectors
pestpp-mou (beta)
§ Constrained multi-objective
optimization under uncertainty within
the PEST interface
§ Template files, instruction files, control files
§ Treat “risk” (probability of success) as
an objective
§ Uses first-order second-moment or
“stack”-based “chances”
§ Plays nicely with other PEST and PEST++ tools
§ Fault-tolerant, model-independent,
parallel run management
Mapping Tradeoff Between Objectives
§ Decision Variables 5-spot system
§ Injector location
§ Extractor location
§ Extraction rate
§ Injector apportioning
§ Objectives
§ Mass treated
§ Total cost (drilling + operation)
§ Final maximum concentration
§ Constraints
§ Concentration at compliance point
< 5-spot
§ Mass flux to downstream
boundary < 5-spot
MODFLOW API
MODFLOW API
§ API = Application Programming Interface
API for MODFLOW 6
§ Developed in collaboration with Martijn Russcher, Deltares
§ Full control of MODFLOW while it’s running
§ Access to MODFLOW internal variables (as a copy or pointer)
§ Three different levels of control
§ Between time steps
§ Within a time step
§ Within an iteration
§ Well-defined interfaces based on Basic Model Interface (BMI)
standard
§ Uses identical code base as executable version
MODFLOW API – Between Time Steps
Main Program

start

Create (CR)

Define (DF)

Allocate and Read (AR)

Time Update (TU)

Read and Prepare (RP)

TIME STEP LOOP

Calculate (CA)

Output (OT)

NO Last Time
Step

YES
Final Processing (FP)

Deallocate (DA)

end
MODFLOW API – Between Time Steps
Main Program

start

Create (CR)

Define (DF) initialize

Allocate and Read (AR)

Time Update (TU)

Read and Prepare (RP)

update
TIME STEP LOOP

Calculate (CA)

Output (OT)

NO Last Time
Step

YES
Final Processing (FP)

finalize
Deallocate (DA)

end
MODFLOW API – Between Time Steps
Main Program

start

Create (CR)

Define (DF) initialize

Allocate and Read (AR) mf6 = XmiWrapper(‘libmf6.dll’)

mf6.initialize(‘mfsim.nam’)
Time Update (TU) current_time = 0.
Read and Prepare (RP) end_time = mf6.get_end_time()
update
TIME STEP LOOP

Calculate (CA)
while current_time < end_time:
Output (OT) mf6.update()
current_time = mf6.get_current_time()
NO Last Time
Step
mf6.finalize()
YES
Final Processing (FP)

finalize
Deallocate (DA)

end
MODFLOW API – Within a Time Step

update

Time Update (TU)

Read and Prepare (RP)

Calculate (CA)

Output (OT)
MODFLOW API – Within a Time Step

update

Time Update (TU) prepare_time_step

Read and Prepare (RP)

Calculate (CA) do_time_step

Output (OT) finalize_time_step

MODFLOW API – Within a Time Step

mf6 = XmiWrapper(‘libmf6.dll’)
mf6.initialize(‘mfsim.nam’)
update current_time = 0.
Time Update (TU) prepare_time_step end_time = mf6.get_end_time()

Read and Prepare (RP)

while current_time < end_time:

Calculate (CA) do_time_step dt = mf6.get_time_step()

mf6.prepare_time_step(dt) update
Output (OT) finalize_time_step mf6.do_time_step()
mf6.finalize_time_step()

current_time = mf6.get_current_time()

mf6.finalize()
MODFLOW API – Within an Iteration
do_time_step

Advance (AD)

Calculate Coefficients (CF)

Fill Coefficients (FC)

CONVERGENCE LOOP

Newton Raphson (NR)

Linear Solve (LS)

Convergence Check (CC)

Newton Dampening (ND)

NO
Converged

YES

Budget (BD)
MODFLOW API – Within an Iteration
do_time_step

Advance (AD) prepare_solve

Calculate Coefficients (CF) solve

Fill Coefficients (FC)

CONVERGENCE LOOP

Newton Raphson (NR)

Linear Solve (LS)

Convergence Check (CC)

Newton Dampening (ND)

NO
Converged

YES

Budget (BD) finalize_solve

MODFLOW API – Within an Iteration
do_time_step
mf6 = XmiWrapper(‘libmf6.dll’)
Advance (AD) prepare_solve mf6.initialize(‘mfsim.nam’)
current_time = 0.
end_time = mf6.get_end_time()
Calculate Coefficients (CF) solve

Fill Coefficients (FC)

while current_time < end_time:
dt = mf6.get_time_step()
CONVERGENCE LOOP

Newton Raphson (NR) mf6.prepare_time_step(dt)

Linear Solve (LS)
kiter = 0
Convergence Check (CC)
mf6.prepare_solve(1)
while kiter < max_iter:
Newton Dampening (ND) has_converged = mf6.solve(1) do_time_step

if has_converged:
break
NO
Converged
mf6.finalize_solve(1)

mf6.finalize_time_step()
YES
current_time = mf6.get_current_time()
Budget (BD) finalize_solve

mf6.finalize()
Why We’re Excited about the API!
§ Tight integration with other models
§ Callable from other languages, such
as Python; access to 3rd party tools
§ Sensitivity analysis, adjoint state,
parameter estimation, optimization,
uncertainty analysis
§ Alternative solvers (PETSc, …)
§ Alternative data input (netCDF,
database access, online services, …)
§ MODFLOW can be customized by
our users
ONLINE RESOURCES
MODFLOW Distribution
Additional Online Resources
Main Repository FloPy Executables

Pymake Nightly Build Examples

CONCLUDING REMARKS
Summary
§ MODFLOW 6 is presently the “core” MODFLOW
§ GWF Model
§ GWT Model
§ Coupled flow and transport
§ New MODFLOW API
§ Ongoing and planned efforts
§ Parallelization
§ Particle tracking
§ Time-variable properties (mining applications)
§ Adaptive time stepping, Richard’s equation, heat transport, …
Any Questions?

Or feel free to email me at

[email protected]
Final Poll

We value your input! Please consider sending

comments and recommendations.