The OUAIP software, developed by BRGM and made available free of charge on its website, is designed to improve the interpretation of pumping tests and, in particular, the reliability of the estimated parameters characteristic of aquifers.
© BRGM
Test pumping is an essential phase in the study of aquifers, and is usually indispensable when quantitative data on water resources are required.
It involves a hydraulic test of the aquifer. It is used by hydrogeologists to determine the flow rates of operational pumping installations and estimate the parameters governing underground water flows. Specifically, pumping test interpretations are used to quantify the specific parameters of a pumping installation and the characteristic hydrodynamic parameters of an aquifer.
OUAIP, developed by BRGM, is a free software package dedicated to the interpretation and simulation of pumping tests in hydrogeology. It aims to improve the interpretation of pumping tests and, in particular, the reliability of estimates of characteristic aquifer parameters.
OUAIP offers a range of analytical solutions (for porous or fissured ground, captive or semi-captive aquifers, etc.) taking into account perturbing effects (well effects, boundary effects, capacity effects, etc.).
Practical information
- Operating system: Windows Vista / Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / 11
- Programming language: VB.NET with .NET Framework 4.6
- Languages: French, English, Spanish (users can translate the interface into other languages)
OUAIP software versions
What’s new in OUAIP v3.2 beta (August 2026)?
- 3 new analytical solutions
- Fractured and karst media – Moench (1984) solution
- Alluvial and stratified aquifers – Boulton (1973) solution
- Groundwater-river interaction – Hunt (2003) solution
- New module to calculate the impact of pumping on a river under transient conditions, accounting for the distance between the river and the well.
Discover these new features in our PDF guide.
The "Exemples\Nappe – rivière" subfolder downloaded with the software contains example files (*.ouaips).
A new user manual covering these new features and examples will be released soon.
Why a beta version?
This version introduces features that are currently being finalized so you can test them with your own datasets. Your feedback will help refine and stabilize the modules before the official release of OUAIP v4, scheduled for early 2027.
Testing period: Until December 31, 2026
Feedback contact: ouaip@brgm.fr
What's new in version 3.1 (September 2025)?
OUAIP v3.1 is a mixed hydrogeology and geothermal version with the addition of the diagnosis of the derivatives of the drawdown (or of the pressure) taking into account the variations of the pumping flow (deconvolution of the flows) for interpretation of the pumping tests. OUAIP is now available in Spanish in addition to French and English.
A new user manual (RP-72426-FR) is now available, with examples of derivative analyses and a description of the geothermal module.
A new analytical module simulating the behaviour of free aquifers (Neuman solution) has been added.
The interface has been improved to make it user-friendly (management/conversion of units, graph management, addition of "dark mode", derivative module, filtering of points using the eraser tool, etc.).
Examples of screenshots from the OUAIP software
OUAIP software - Flow regime diagnostic interface - Derivative calculation.
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OUAIP software - Flow regime diagnostic interface - Identification of flow regimes - Step 1.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Flow regime diagnostic interface - Identification of flow regimes - Step 2.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Flow regime diagnostic interface - Identification of flow regimes - Step 3.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Diagnosis of flow regimes.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Examples of interpreting a groundwater test using the derivative method, diagnosis of flow regimes.
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OUAIP software - Flow regime diagnostic interface - Identification of flow regimes - Step 2.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Use of drawdown derivative to diagnose a pumping test.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Use of drawdown derivative to diagnose a pumping test.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Analytical solution representing the behaviour of unconfined aquifers.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Analytical solution representing the behaviour of confined aquifers with drainage effect.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Analytical solution representing the behaviour of unconfined aquifers.
© BRGM
OUAIP software - Analytical solution representing the behaviour of unconfined or confined aquifers using Theis's solution.
© BRGM
Documentation
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OUAIP v3 Manual - French version: Pumping Tests Interpretation Assistance Tool: mixed hydrogeology and geothermal version. Final report
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OUAIP v2 manual - English version: Tool to assist in pumping tests interpretation. Final report
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OUAIP v2 manual - French version: Tool to assist in pumping tests interpretation. Final report
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OUAIP: computer-assisted pumping tests interpretation aid - poster presented at the CFH symposium in Bordeaux, 2013(PDF, 776 kB)
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Publication: Latest developments in pumping test interpretation - Alexis Gutierrez, Benoit Dewandel(PDF, 1 MB)
Contact
For more information contact us at ouaip@brgm.fr.
Do you need training in interpreting and making the most of pumping test data? Follow this link.
