Application of the finite Hankel transform to a diffusion problem without azimuthal symmetry

The problem treated in this paper concerns calculating the evolution of the pressure in a single-phase, slightly compressible fluid in a porous medium consisting of communicating layers. The fluid is produced through a point sink located on the side of an otherwise sealed cylindrical wellbore. This location of the sink causes the flow around the wellbore to be azimuthally asymmetric.The problem is solved through successive application of Laplace, finite Fourier and finite Hankel transforms. Although apparently straightforward, this approach leads to serious numerical difficulties. The published form of the inversion formula for the finite Hankel transform leads to inaccurate computation for the higher azimuthal modes even with 128 bit arithmetic. An alternative form is developed which enables accurate evaluation of the solution with the more practical 64 bit arithmetic. The technique for two-layer solution presented here can be directly extended to a problem with a larger number of communicating layers. This is the first instance of successful application of the finite Hankel transform to an azimuthally asymmetric diffusion problem.