New Developments in

Multiple-Well Testing
Medhat M. Kamal, SPE, Schlumberger Perforating and Testing Center
Peter S. Hegeman, SPE, Schlumberger Well Services

Summary. Multiple-well tests provide information about reservoir characteristics such as permeability, porosity, communication
between wells, and reservoir heterogeneity. A previous paper discussed the state of the art of multiple-well testing. Several
developments were reported over the last few years; most are for fractured wells, double-porosity systems, and vertical
permeability testing. Several field applications of multiple-well testing were also published during the last few years. This may
indicate an increase in the use of multiple-well tests as a result of improvements in our ability to design and to analyze these tests.
Much more remains to be done in this area of well testing. This paper discusses the new developments, summarizes the
information that can be obtained from multiple-well tests with current technology, and indicates areas for future developments.
Introduction
The data required to select a proper reservoir management method
include interwell reservoir properties, the degree of communication between different wells, and information about the reservoir
heterogeneity. Transient -pressure testing has been one of the most
frequently used methods for obtaining these data. The results from
transient tests are integrated with geologic information, cores, logs,
and other data to improve the overall description of the reservoir.
Of the many pressure-transient testing methods available to the
reservoir engineer, multiple-well interference and pulse tests have
become increasingly popular. This may be attributed to the relative
simplicity of the operations and the rapidity with which information is obtained compared with tracer tests or standard production
operations. Also, significant improvements in pressure measurement and recording systems, computerized data acquisition and
transmission systems, along with the recent development of new
mathematical models of reservoir performance, are making it feasible to design, conduct, and interpret multiple-well tests in more
reservoirs. Nevertheless, the uniqueness problem associated with
reservoir description, especially in heterogeneous systems, requires
that all sources of information be used. These include pressuretransient tests, tracers, and production performance data.
Since a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art multiple-well
testing was published in 1981, 1 horizontal and vertical multiplewell testing has been the subject of many theoretical and field
studies. This paper discusses new developments in this area from
1981 until 1986.
As in the previous paper, 1 reservoir/well systems are divided
into groups on the basis of their properties. For each group, the
new developments are discussed, references containing detailed information about test design and analysis are given, and areas needing future developments are indicated. The reservoir/well systems
and testing categories used in this paper are homogeneous isotropic reservoirs, homogeneous reservoirs with vertically fractured
wells, reservoirs with double-porosity behavior, heterogeneous
reservoirs, and vertical well tests. Field examples are presented
at the end of the discussion.
Homogeneous Isotropic Reservoirs
From a practical point of view, a reservoir is "homogeneous" when
the reservoir properties do not change significantly from one location to another. In addition, the reservoir is "isotropic" when the
permeability, at any point, is the same in all directions. Pressuretransient tests are used to obtain a permeability group, khlp., and
a porosity group, cf>cth, in homogeneous isotropic reservoirs.
Tests design and analysis procedures for both interference and
pulse tests in homogeneous isotropic reservoirs were developed dur-

Copyright 1988 Society of Petroleum Engineers

SPE Formation Evaluation, March 1988

ing the 1960's and 1970's. The majority of effort since 1981 has
focused on extending the basic solutions to include wellbore effects.
Interference Testing. Ogbe and Brigham2 presented a new correlating technique for combining the wellbore storage and skin
values when wellbore storage exists in only one of the wells. With
(CD e 2s )Cv lrJ used as a correlating parameter, it was possible to
display on one graph most of the type curves needed in practice.
This graph, shown as Fig. 1, is valid for the following conditions:
rD?! 100, CD e 2s ?! 100, and s?! O. To help distinguish the type
curves in Fig. 1, the pressure-derivative technique of Bourdet
etal. 3 may be applied. The resultant type curve is shown in Fig. 2.
Tongpenyai and Raghavan 4 and Ogbe and Brigham 2 developed
. analytic solutions for interference testing with wellbore storage and
skin at both the active and observation wells. Four dimensionless
groups are required to describe the solution: CDI /rB, CD2 /rB,
CDl e 2s " and Cm e 2s 2. An example of the type curves that can be
used in this case is shown in Fig. 3. When wellbore storage was
present in both wells, it was not possible to define a single, equivalent storage factor because the pressure response is different in shape
than for the single storage case. 2 Because the pressure response
will be highly attenuated whenever there is significant well bore
storage and skin in both wells, it is desirable to reduce storage in
either (or both) of the wells when the interference test is run. 2
Pulse Testing. Winston 5 described a technique to account for the
effects of wellbore storage at the pulsing well during pulse testing
of a small production pilot. The technique requires computergenerated simulations of the afterflow rate vs. time, and expected
pulse test response with and without wellbore storage. These simulations are used to obtain correction factors for the time lag and
response amplitude. When these correction factors are applied to
field data, the test may then be analyzed with standard pulse test
methods, such as those presented by Kamal and Brigham. 6
Ogbe and Brigham 7 examined pulse testing with well bore
storage and skin effects at either the active or observation well.
They developed an analytic solution by using the principle of superposition, along with the solution they had derived for interference testing. They presented correlation curves for the case when
the pulsing and nonpulsing periods are equal and developed an iterative procedure to use the correlation curves in the design and analysis of pulse tests.
Efforts to find a correlating parameter when well bore effects are
significant at the active and measurement wells have not been successful so far (this is also valid for vertical permeability testing,
which is discussed later). Research is n.eeded in this area to develop a practical number of type curves for use during the general
case with wellbore effects at both wells.
159

10 , - - - - - - - - , , - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - ,
10 . - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - ,

, ,Chl," 1

O. I

hHf+-t'fl--Hlf,L,/H.,tH,f--+-

\.10 . 01

10.

Ie'

1.

",,01

II.

1,'0

I,ft.'

U.

1011

10""

n. 10"
, 10'0

I"'O!

10.lftt

J.

l~ft.O'

II.

"Ia

1.

".1

II.

IOU

,. ,11'1"

II"""

U.

IOU

10"

,.,0,1

.0'-'

".

IOn

10'
1.101

10'

It.
11.10'"

,,10'

.0. 1
I.

1.

U.

"J

..'

'0.
2 ..

100

Homogeneous Reservoirs With Vertlcelly

Fractured Wells
Interference Testing. The main use of multiple-well tests in reservoirs with vertically fractured wells has been to determine fracture
orientation. Mousli et ai. 8 examined the interference pressure behavior at an observation well intercepted by an infinite-conductivity
vertical fracture. The active well was assumed either unfractured
or intercepted by a uniform-flux fracture parallel to the fracture
at the observation well. Fig. 4 is a schematic of the system that
was considered, and Figs. 5 and 6 are examples of the type curves
that describe the solution. They discussed the conditions (such as
fracture length, interwell distance, and orientation) under which
the fracture at the observation well has a significant influence on
the pressure response. Also, they noted that the pressure response
at the observation well has no characteristic features that reveal the
existence of the fracture; thus the existence of the fracture would
have to be known a priori from independent measurements (such
as single-well tests). Mousli et ai. 8 compared their results (for a
fracture at the observation well) with those of Uraiet et ai. 9 (for
a fracture at the active well) and concluded that the location of the
fracture does not appear to affect the observation well response significantly (if rLjD ~0.4). That is, the response depends only on the
distance between wells and the angle between the line connecting
the two wells and the fracture, not on which well is fractured.

10 11

,,"
10"
,,'0

17

0.1

1000

Fig. 1-lnterference test pressure-derivative type curve with

wellbore storage and skin In one well.

I'.
1
11.

100

10

1000

Fig. 2-lnterference test type curve with wellbore storage and

skin In both active and observation wells.

The required knowledge that fractures exist at the testing wells

should not be considered a disadvantage of this method because
single-well tests are usually run in wells where detailed reservoir
description is needed. Single-well tests provide information about
the existence of fractures and their lengths.
Pulse Testing. Abobise and Tiab 10 used the uniform-flux fracture
model to extend the work of Ekie et at. lIon the effect of fracture
orientation on pulse tests. Abobise and Tiab developed generalized
correlations relating the quotient of dimensionless response amplitude and dimensionless cycle period, A.PD/A.tcD' to dimensionless
time lag, two Fig. 7 is an example of these correlations. With these
correlations and those of Ref. 11, a pulse test of a vertically fractured
well can be analyzed to determine both the compass orientation of
the fracture and the average formation permeability of the area of
the reservoir influenced by the test. At least two observation wells
are needed to determine the fracture orientation uniquely, and the
fracture length must be known from other sources. For the design
of pulse tests of fractured wells, it is recommended to use a dimensionless cycle period and pulse ratio combination that will result
in a dimensionless time lag of 0.14 for odd pulses and 0.17 for
even pulses. Also, it was noted that the A.PD/A.tcD correlations will
provide more accurate values for fracture prientation when the angle between the fracture plane and the line joining the two wellbores is <60 [< 1.04 rad].

10r------------,------------r-----------,

A=ACTIVE WELL
O=OBSERVATION
WELL

0.

INFINITE- CONDUCTIVITY
VERTICAL FRACTURE

- 8tor .,. In _Ingle

CD /r Oa 1

0.01 L -_ _
0.1

~~~~......._ _~~~~~.L__ _~~~~...J

10

100

Fig. 3-lnterference test type curve with well bore storage and
skin In one well.

160

-xm----l

LINE SOURCE
WELL
OR
UNIFORM- FLUX
FRACTURE

Fig. 4-Schematlc of reservoir system with vertically fractured

wells.
SPE Formation Evaluation, March 1988

1.0

10

First Even Pulse

DIMENSIONLESS RADIAL DISTANCE. rL.tD-D .

INFINITE- CONDUCTIVITY

rLfO"'O.35. F': 0.7

+
W

ORIENTATIO~.

:> Q
t: a:
..J w

15

0..

0..

..J

30

>U

45

0..

(/)

:\; W

Co

(/)

tiP
A

(/)

(/) 0.1

..J

a: z
x

eo

75
80

(/)
(/)

(/)

..J

w Z

Z
Q 0~

:\;

15
0.01
0.01

Fig. 5-lnterference test type curve for a vertically fractured

observation well.

0.1

1.0

DIMENSIONLESS TIME LAG

Fig. 7-Effect of fracture orientation on pulse test response

amplitude and cycle period.
OIMENSIONlESS RADIAL DISTANCE.
FRACTURE RATIO -1.0
O=INFINITE- CONDUCTIVITY
A - UNIFORM- FLUX

rUD

-0 .

IDr--------~-------4--------~------4_------~

Co

10

10
10"

10

Fig. 6-lnterference test type curve when both wells are vertically fractured.

Solutions and interpretation methods when both wells are fractured with finite-conductivity fractures (the most realistic fracture
representation) are needed to improve the analysis of multiple-well
tests in fractured wells.

tfD/r~

Fig. 8-lnterference test type curve for a reservoir with

double-porosity behavior (pseudo-steady-state Interporosity flow).

10r-==;;~===---'~------+-----~-------r

Naturally Fractured and Multilayered Reservoirs

With Double-Porosity aehavlor
The double-porosity model assumes the existence of two porous
media of distinctly different porosities and permeabilities. Only one
medium has sufficient permeability to communicate with the well,
whereas the other one has a much lower conductivity and feeds fluid
only to the more conductive medium. The double-porosity model
was first introduced for the study of naturally fractured (fissured)
reservoirs. Later authors proposed the two-layer model, with large
permeability contrast between layers, as an alternative solution. Ref.
12 summarizes single-well testing in reservoirs with double-porosity
behavior.'

10.1

10

tf0 /r

Fig. 9-lnterference test type curve for a reservoir with

double-porosity behavior (tranSient interporoslty flOW).

Interference Testing. Deruyck et at. 13 presented a systematic approach for analyzing interference tests in reservoirs with doubleporosity behavior. The interpretation method is based on type
curves. Examples of the type curves are shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
Fig. 8 is for pseudo-steady-state fluid flow from the less permeable to the more permeable medium, whereas Fig. 9 is for transient
fluid flow between the media.
SPE Fonnation Evaluation, March 1988

161

W-2

W-5\
tlOO' \\

2<400' ,..

W-1
2400'

/~

w::~/;;?:.

//

2100'

~'ff"
~o
:
Jf

2000'

t>CSJ ~':'-

\"',.2000'

.(':

W-4

.eo~<xf ~,,/

W-3

1.~--------------------~-~~-----------------1
o~

..

00

o
00

00

00

0.1 L..____........_______""--'L...L..I....-----....L..---'--'--L.................J..J
01~

10

10

____~__~-L-L~~~L-____~__~-L-L-L~WU

100

4t, HRS

100

.It. HRS

Fig. 1O-Example of double-porosity behavior from Prudhoe

Bay test site; observation wells completed In "support" zone.

The dimensionless time for these type curves is based on the storativity (<pVCt) and permeability of the more permeable medium.
That is,
O.OOO264kf

.............................. (1)

Fig. 11-Example of double-porosity behavior from Prudhoe

Bay test site; observation wells and active well completed In
producing Interval.

For transient interporosity flow (Fig. 9), the flow group, {3, is defined by
A
(3 = Ih - for slab-shaped matrix ...................... (4)
w

(<p VC t)fW2

and
The double-porosity model is characterized by two parameters: the
storativity ratio, w, which is defined as

{3=%- for sphere-shaped matrix .................... (5)

w
(<pVCt)f
- - - - " - - - , ............................. (2)
(<pVCt)f+(<pVCt)m

and the interporosity flow parameter, A, which is given by

km

A=ar;-

...................................... (3)

kf

LINE SOURCE
SOLUTION

On the basis of either type curve, a log-log analysis yields values

for flow capacity, kfh, of the more permeable medium, interporosity flow coefficient, A, and the storativities, <pVcI' of each
medium.
The storativity ratio, w, controls the time delay between the
responses from the fractures and the total system (fractures and
matrix). For a given value for the interporosity flow parameter,
A, the fracture's response is measurable only within a limited distance from the active well. Therefore, the observation well should

h,h2

k"

k,.

x--;--

500
100
DIMENSIONLESS
OI$T ANCE. TO

Observat jon

Well

o Hf'

t,l'

~'"

a.

). :::10- 7

h, ,

Poor layer
($,I&1t k/4lf&c)

Good layer
(larve k/f,I.e)

w =0.01

10

Fig. 13-Schematlc of reservoir for a heterogeneous (multilayered) system.

Fig. 12-lnfluence of the distance between wells on pressure

response for double-porosity systems.
162

SPE Formation Evaluation, March 1988

ZONE 1

ZONE 2

~A

t
L\h

ht

fJA

1t

PA

. ... ".~.
'

kvA- LARGE
'. kv - SMALL

"
a>

fJO

Po

kyO -

LARGE

ASSUMPTIONS:
1) fJA:l! fJO
2) kv ~kvA AND kv ~kvO
3) k.A AND kyO ARE LARGE SUCH TtiAT
VERTICAL PRESSURE GRADIENTS
IN ZONES 1 AND 2 ARE NEGLIGIBLE
4) NEGLIGIBLE STORAGE IN THE LOW
PERMEABILITY ZONE
5) RESERVOIR IS INFINITE ACTING

Fig. 14-Model for single-well testing across a tight zone.

be selected accordingly. If operational considerations prevent

selection of an observation well within the limited distance, only
the total system response will be recorded. Care must be exercised
in this case because, although the system behavior will look
homogeneous, the heterogeneity will still affect the recovery of
hydrocarbons from the formation (e. g., early water breakthrough
during secondary recovery). Therefore, the main contribution of
Deruyck et al. 13 is in providing information to design interference
tests in double-porosity systems properly.
The observation well response in double-porosity systems was
examined by two other teams of researchers. 14,15 Both studies focused on the multilayered (stratified) geometry. Streltsova 14 gave
special attention to the difference between the pressure response
when the observation well is completed in the more permeable zone
and when it is completed in the less permeable zone. She presented
data from interference tests at a water injectivity site in the Prudhoe
Bay field that clearly show the difference. These field data are
presented in Figs. IO and 11. Fig. IO shows the response when
the observation wells are completed in the less permeable or "support" zone, whereas Fig. 11 shows the response when observation
and active wells are completed in the major producing interval.
Studies of interference tests in double-porosity systems l3 - 15
highlighted two important points.
1. If we attempt to correlate the response at several observation
wells in the same reservoir, then plotting the data in terms of ap
vs. Atlr2 will not suffice. At intermediate times, the data will not
correlate because the observation well response is a unique function
of its distance, r, from the active well (for fixed values of the doubleporosity parameters and A). Fig. 12 illustrates this point.
2. As the distance between the two wells increases, the characteristic double-porosity pressure variation will decrease. Thus, if
the distance between the wells is large, the response may be identical
to that of a well in a homogeneous system. This explains why some
reservoirs known to exhibit double-porosity behavior during production (single-well) tests may appear simply homogeneous during an interference test.
Correlation charts for pulse tests in double-porosity systems are
needed. The effect of wellbore storage and skin on multiple-well
tests should be investigated.

Heterogeneous (Multilayered) Reservoirs

Pulse Testing. Prats 16 used a single-phase numerical simulator to
investigate the pulse test response measured in an observation well
fully open to two contiguous layers. The active well was also completed in both layers. There was no restriction to flow at the boundary between the layers. Note that, although the observation well
is shut in, unequal pressure responses in the two layers cause fluid
flow (crossflow) from one layer to the other at the observation well.
Prats used this model to investigate the conditions under which
the interpretation of the observation well pressure response would
SPE Fonnation Evaluation, March 1988

1.0

1000.0

10000.

Fig. 15-Type curve for vertical Interference test across a tight

zone, P.~10-4.

be unaffected by reservoir layering. He concluded that there is a

critical value of dimensionless heterogeneity parameter, X, defined
in terms of well spacing and the reservoir layer properties, below
which a simple interpretation yields good estimates of the average
reservoir properties. Prats defined the heterogeneity parameter, X,
as (see Fig. 13)

X=

h~:2InC::::)

.............................. (6)

For a homogeneous reservoir, x=O; the heterogeneity parameter

increases in value as the reservoir becomes more heterogeneous.
The critical value for X is in the range of 0.8 to 1.3. For values
of the heterogeneity parameter above the critical, Prats recommended the use of interpretation methods based on the presence
of contiguous layers. He also suggested that there are good prospects for obtaining individual layer properties by specially completing the observation well so that the layers are isolated from each
other, and monitoring the pressure in each layer.
Although Prats 16 did not provide interpretation methods for
pulse tests in two-layer reservoirs, his work gave practical guidelines
to direct the interpretation. A value ofthe dimensionless heterogeneity parameter less than 0.8 suggests that the test should be interpreted as a single layer. Higher values indicate that a two-layer
analysis is needed.
Interference and pulse tests in layered reservoirs are areas where
research is needed and the results promise to be rewarding. Multiplewell tests are sensitive to reservoir heterogeneity, yet little has been
done so far to analyze these tests systematically in layered reservoirs.
For such an analysis technique to be successful, it will probably
use information about individual layers (e.g., kl</ from other
sources like cores and logs.

Vertical Permeability Testing

Use of multiple-well tests for determining vertical permeability was
the subject of several studies during 1983 and 1984. 17-20 These
studies can be divided into two groups. The first deals with determining the vertical permeability across a tight layer I7 - 19 ; the second addresses determining the vertical permeability in a
homogeneous anisotropic layer (in the vertical direction). 20
Bremer et al. 17 presented an analytic model and interpretation
technique for the analysis of vertical interference test data in a reservoir consisting of two permeable zones separated by a zone of low
permeability. Their system is illustrated in Fig. 14. They defined
the following dimensionless pressure:

.( -rlJ) \'

=-EI - - 4tD

e- f3 v/ eT

00

~J/4tD

dT,

......... : . (7)

163

10r-------------------------------------~

fJ < 10-<
1.0

g
Co

'"

0.1
~

: VERTICAL COMMUNICATION FACTOR.

,2 kV('~. ~')

>

44h~

Q.

0.01 '--'-'-.u..LJWL--'-.J....LJ..uu.'--'-'-.u..LJWL-L-.J....LJ.........'--'--'-.L.LLJWI
0.01
0.1
1.0
10.0
100.0
1000.0

Fig. 16-Type curve for vertical Interference test across a tight

zone, ,8.<10- 4

where

(3v=(~)(~+~) .
4t:.hkh

hA

{3*

ho

Fig. 17-lnfluence of wellbore storage and skin on pressure

response for vertical Interference test across a tight zone.

The dimensionless pressure, PVD' provided the basis for type

curves presented here as Figs. 15 and 16. For relatively large values
of {3v, {3v~ 10- 4 , the type curves are functions of {3v as shown
in Fig. 15. For (3. < 10, the type curves collapse into the single
curve shown in Fig. 16.
The type curves shown in Figs. 15 and 16 are used by matching
the field data on the appropriate type curve and calculating the
horizontal and vertical permeabilities as follows:

4{3v kht:.hhA h O
r~(hA +ho)

........... _................... (10)

for (3v ~ 10 -4, and

h
4</>c rp.t:.hhA O [(3v(t D /r'b)]
0.OOO264(h A +ho)
t:.t
mp

.............. (11)

for {3v<IO- 4 .
Tests from two wells were analyzed with the tight-zone type
curves, a numerical r-z reservoir simulator, and Burns' model. 21

The differences between the three methods were in predicting earlytime pressure response. The tight-zone model predicts the most rapid
early-time response, which is related to the assumption of negligible tight-zone storage. Burns' model predicts the slowest early-time
response.
Lee et at. 18 included wellbore storage and skin in the tight-zone
model 17 and allowed the properties of the two permeable zones
to be different. They used their model to study vertical pulse testing and, consistent with the literature, showed that the influence
of wellbore storage and skin is to reduce the response amplitude
and to increase the time lag of the pulse response.
Ehlig-Economides and Ayoub, 19 working independently from
Lee et at., 18 also presented a generalized solution for the tightzone model, which allowed the properties of the two permeable
zones to be different and included the effects of wellbore storage
and skin. They presented a systematic method for analysis based
on a generalized type curve (shown here as Fig. 17) and the pressurederivative type curve for a homogeneous reservoir. 3
The effects of wellbore storage and skin on vertical permeability
testing in homogenepus and anisotropic (in the vertical direction)
reservoirs were presented in 1984. 20 A set of type curves was developed and can be used to design and analyze vertical permeability
tests. Examples of these type curves are shown as Figs. 18 and 19.
Horizontal and vertical permeabilities can be estimated by matching

100~------~------~------~------,_------~

100r-------~------~------~------~------,
.u,t,D ,. 0.1,

.11:00 I: 0.5

.&lAO 80.4, 4%00,..0.8

P_ .. 100

P_ -100

Co

c.

'"*

'"*

0.1

10

100

1000

10000

Fig. 18-Vertlcal-permeablllty type curve with well bore

storage and skill at both active and l11easurement perforations
for AZAO=0.1, Azoo=0.5.
164

tVD

...... _.................. (8)

Fig. 19-Vertlcal-permeablllty type curve with wellbore

storage and skin a( both active and measurement perforations
for Az AO = 0.4, Az'oo = 0.6.
SPE Formation Evaluation, March 1988

the field data on the appropriate type curve and using the following
equations:

'~.r-------~----~------~-------r------,
p ...

C:; )

kh = 70.: P.B

mp . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (12)

and

kv = 948q,c t p.h

2l 4tD (k/k )(r 1h )2l

h

Ilt

. . ............. (13)
mp

A new correlation function called the wellbore parameter, P wb '

was introduced in this study. 20 P wb combines the effects of wellbore storage and skin and reduces the number of type curves needed
for design and analysis of vertical permeability tests. The wellbore
parameter, P wb' is defined as

WELLBORE PARAMETER AT MEASUREMENT PERFS. PWIO

Fig. 20-Start of semilog straight line for vertical permeabilIty test with wellbore and skin at both perforations.

P wb =CD(I +5). . ................................. (14)

munication behind the casing is tested by a logging technique (such

as the cement bond log). The largest possible interval without such
communication is selected, and perforations are then made at the
top and bottom of this interval to run the vertical permeability test.
It is clear that the area for future development in vertical permeability testing is to provide solutions in the presence of fast communication channels. Channels will probably be detected by logging
techniques. Given the characteristics of these channels, we should
be able to deduce the formation vertical permeability from transient
tests.

The study also showed that wellbore storage and skin at the active
perforations have the same effect on the pressure response as wellbore storage and skin at the measurement perforations. A correlation
was presented for the time when all wellbore effects die out. Data
collected beyond this time maybe analyzed without wellbore storage
and skin considered. When wellbore effects are present at only one
set of perforations, the time for these effects to die out is given by
4tD(k v lk h )(r w1h) 2 ssl == 70 .......................... (15)

Field Applications
Improvements in pressure measuring devices and in computercontrolled collection, storage, and analysis of data are making it
feasible to conduct multiple-well tests in more reservoirs. Many
reports containing both field data and their analyses are available.
To illustrate the variety of reservoir types and testing objectives
to which multiple-well testing has been applied, the following paragraphs summarize some of the field tests that have appeared in the
literature in the past few years.
Huinong 22 described a comprehensive study of the geologic
characteristics of the Kenli carbonate oil pool involving 28 interference tests and 4 pulse tests. Analysis of the data established that
the pool is an anisotropic heterogeneous system with fractures developed along the major faults. A rough areal distribution chart for
permeability was proposed for use in numerical simulation.
Hutfilz et at. 23 described multi well pulse tests conducted in a
zone (interbedded limestone and dolomite) of the Arab-D forma-

for PwbO < 1,000, P wbA =0, and

........... (16)

for P wbO;::: 1,000, P wbA =0.

When well bore effects are present at both perforations, the time
for the beginning of the semilog straight line (end of wellbore effects) is obtained from Fig. 20.
The biggest hindrance to vertical permeability tests is the communication channels behind the casing that may exist between the
two sets of perforations as a result of either a poor cement job or
a fracture. Even a small microannulus behind the casing can cause
considerable error in calculating the vertical permeability.
Experience in vertical well testing led to a procedure that may
overcome the communication problem. In this procedure, the com-

..

~ A- -IHUT'N

\,

.3

.......

I, "'ODUC_

A-33 PUUI TIMU

.1

..
..
I.. ..
!!
f
, ..

\,

.:-

.:. :::
. 1; ....
:" ...

..

PRESSURE RESPONS[

A_. PULII TIMII

~.:

TL - TIME LAG
- _. -

..

.2
I1p -

1,,- ___

i.:!

.......

MEASURED PRESSURE

.' '.

- - - PIIUSUII COIIIICTO FOIl TIO

f<

f<

:>

.7

II:
c

.5

..
..
I

12.00

10/4

M.OG

11/4

12.00

11/4

2".00

1214

12.00

12/4

24.00

13'.

12.00

13'4

U:OO

,.,.

12.00

14/4

211.00

1514

,UIO

;iir

1514

2. 00

Fig. 21-Pulse test data and tide data from Statfjord field.
SPE Fonnation Evaluation, March 1988

165

150

..

...

IL

iii
(!I

.."

100

z
-<
:I:

68

..

...

en
en
w

50

a:

"

FielD DATA

Khll.9.K~'.41 md

....

:)

"

"

il
WELLBORE RADIUS
'w = 0.33 FT

~---:,I:--- I

. Kt1al'.9.KVa2.5md
2

0-

PRESSURE GAUGE

30
00

.,""

II

I1h = 26

OBSERVATION
PERFORATIONS
.~

IL

.,

hO= 55

a:

::J

2:S;

.'-,

hA = 66

"

.,
PRODUCTION
PERFORATIONS

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

20
10
0
POROSITY - %

TIME. HOURS

Fig. 22-Vertical permeability test data from Bigoray Nisku

B pool.

Fig. 23-Completlon and porosity for vertical interference test

across a tight zone.

tion of the Ghawar field in Saudi Arabia to yield information about

the reservoir's anisotropic permeability. They described the following adaptation of the standard pulse test to a high-permeability,
wide-spacing environment using (I) sensitive, temperaturecompensated quartz pressure gauges, (2) long pulse intervals, and
(3) a central well for pulsing while observing multiple offset wells.
Also discussed is special processing of the pressure data to filter
out "reservoir noise" resulting from the long pulse intervals. The
authors concluded that the results from the pulse tests are consistent with log data and single-well tests.
Rathbone et al. 24 presented a case history using pulse testing as
a reservoir evaluation tool for the Statfjord field, the largest oil field
in the North Sea. The pulse tests proved useful in determining interlayer communication for reservoir modeling and gas breakthrough
prediction. Short, cyclical pressure responses were detected during the tests. An example of these data is shown in Fig. 21. The
authors attributed these cyclical responses to lunar and solar gravitational forces on the fluids in the reservoir. Because these are the
same forces that create tides, the authors were able to use the actual
tide cycle to correct the measured pressures. The data from the Statfjord field suggest that the pressure change resulting from earth
tides may be used to characterize reservoirs.
Chen and Lescarboura 25 described an interference test run to
characterize the San Andres Ninth Massive formation of the Maljamar field in New Mexico before start of a pilot CO 2 flood. The
results of the interference test for a 5-acre [2.0-ha] inverted fivespot pattern indicate that the reservoir is anisotropic with the two
principal kh's approximately 3,000 and 30 md-ft [914 and 9 md m],

and the direction of maximum permeability is 77 west of north.

The authors noted that in an anisotropic reservoir, if the five pattern wells form an ideal five-spot, two apparently correct solutions
are possible. In a real five-spot, however, computer regression analysis yields a unique anisotropic solution because of drift of bottomhole locations.
Pollack and Bennett 26 described how a large-scale interference
test (involving eight wells) was planned and conducted in the Anschutz Ranch East field in Wyoming. They also presented the results of their preliminary analysis of the test. They concluded that
communications exist between certain pairs of wells, that there is
no indication of extensive fracturing in the reservoir (which was
a major conclusion, because they were considering an injection system in the reservoir), and that the formation cannot be treated as
a homogeneous isotropic system.
Gillund and Kamal 27 presented field data from a vertical permeability test that was used to design and operate a vertical miscible flood in the Bigoray Nisku B pool in Alberta, Canada. The test
was run in a pinnacle reef with a maximum thickness of 312 ft [95
m]. The distance between the test perforations was 56 ft [17 m].
The horizontal permeability of the formation was estimated from
a falloff test as 11.9 md. The vertical permeability was calculated
by matching the pressure measured at the observation perforations
with a computer program to take advantage of the pressure measured in the test after varying the flow rates more than once. The
program is based on an analytic solution for the point-source flow
model and uses the principle of superpositiou to simulate changes
in rate. The results of the match are shown in Fig. 22.

3100r---.---,----r---r--~---,----r---r---,

WElL B

. ~ /\

Cii
IL

W
a:

::J
Ul
Ul
W

3090

INTER- \1
FERENCE.

3085

a:

IL

12

3080

20,600 STB/D

~3/4

V
17,600 STBID

10

..

c;;

~5

iii

"<z

.6

:I:

\j

.,w~

..

21,000 STBID

II:

PULSE

28

32

,
TIGHT ZONE MODEL (BREMER)
R-Z alMULATOR

BURNS MODEL

TIGHT ZONE MODEL WITH

STORAoe (EHlIO - ECONOMIDU)

36
~1~~~-W~UL

TIME. HOURS

A
B

1D"'

__~~~~~-L~~~ll-__~~LU~

10-1

10

'0'

TIME, HOURS

Fig. 24-Measured pressure and flow rates.

Fig. 25-Matches to pressure data for Interference Test 1.
166

SPE Fonnation Evaluation, March 1988

Two field examples illustrating the application of the tight-zone

model for vertical interference testing were given by Bremer et
al. 17 Ehlig-Economides and Ayoub 19 later used one of these examples to illustrate the effects of well bore storage and skin on the
solution. Only the common example will be discussed here. The
completion and porosity profile for this well is shown in Fig. 23.
A 66-ft [20-m] -thick, highly permeable limestone upper zone is
separated from a 55-ft [16.7-m] -thick limestgne lower zone by 26 ft
[8 m] of low-permeability dolomite. The measured pressure and
flow rates during the test are shown in Fig. 24. The results of the
ahalysis are presented in Fig. 25. The tight-zone model resulted
in kh = 1,314 md, kv=5.8 md, and i3 v = 1.5 x 10- 7 . The r-z simulator gave kh = 1,250 md and kv =8 md. Bums' model resulted in
kh = I ,230 md and kv =9 md. The tight-zone model with wellbore
storage resulted in k h =I,314 md, kv=5.8 md, i3 v =l.5xlO- 7 ,
s=O, and CD =10 5 .

rD =
rLFD =
rw =
s =
t =
tite =
titeD =
tD =
tjD =
tL =
tLD =
tLFD =
titp =
V =

Conclusions
1. New developments in multiple-well testing during the period
1981-86 have been discussed. Field application of horizontal and
vertical well testing for the purpose of reservoir characterization
has been a driving force behind the continued evolution of multiplewell testing techniques and new mathematical models of well/reservoir performance. As a result of these developments, systematic
design and analysis procedures that take into ac~ount several factors (e.g., wellbore effects) are now available.
2. In homogeneous isotropic reservoirs, generalized type curves
have been developed for interference and pulse tests when wellbore storage and skin are present at one of the testing wells. Attempts to find a correlating parameter for well bore effects at both
wells have been unsuccessful so far. Therefore, either wellbore effects have to be minimized at one of the wells or a special type
curve has to be developed for each test.
3. In homogeneous reservoirs with vertically fractured wells, solutions were developed for some cases when both active and observation wells are fractured .
. 4. In reservoirs with double-porosity behavior, type curves for
interference tests were developed. No wellbore effects are included
in these curves.
5. In vertical permeability testing, type curves were developed
for homogeneous and anisotropic (in the vertical direction) formations. The type curves consider wellbore storage and skin effects
at both active and observation perforations.
6. Solutions for determining the effective vertical permeability
across a tight zone considering wellbore effects at both sets of perforations were developed.

liz =

Nomenclature
B = formation volume factor, res bbl/STB [res m 3 /stocktank m 3 ]
Ct = total compressibility, psi - 1 [kPa - 1]
C = wellbore storage constant, bbl/psi [m 3 /kPa]
CD = dimensionless storage coefficient=(5.615C)/
(2 7rc/Jhctr ~)
F' = pulse ratio, titp1tite
h = formation thickness, ft em]
tih = tight-zone thickness, ft em]
k = permeability, md
Lf = fracture length, ft em]
P = pressure, psi [kPa]
PD = dimensionless pressure change=
(kh/141.2qBp.)(Pi -p)
Pi = pressure at start of test, psi [kPa]
ApD = dimensionless response amplitude=khAp/(141.2qp.)
P VD = dimensionless pressure for vertical testing across a
tight layer (Eq. 7)
P wb = wellbore parameter
P wbA = wellbore at active perforations
P whO = wellbore parameter at observation perforations
q = flow rate, STBID [stock-tank m 3 /d]
r = radius or radial distance, ft em]
SPE Formation Evaluation, March 1988

IizD =
ex =
i3 =

i3 v =
'1/ =

()
X.
p.
c/J

=
=
=
=
X =
w =

dimensionless radius=rlrw
dimensionless radius=rlLf
wellbore radius, ft [m]
skin factor
time, hours
cycle period, hours
dimensionless cycle period=0.OOO264ktitcf(c/JctW 2 )
dimensionless time=0.OOO264ktl(c/JctW~)
dimensionless time=0.OOO264kl(c/JVcr)fW,7,
time lag, hours
dimensionless time lag=tLltite
dimensionless time=0.OOO264kt/(c/Jc rP-Lj)
pulse period, hours
ratio of volume of one porous system to bulk
volume
vertical distance from upper formation boundary to
perforations, ft em]
dimensionless distance to perforation=lizlh
interporosity shape factor, ft -2 [m -2]
transient interporosity flow group (double-porosity
reservoir)
vertical communication factor (vertical test)
hydraulic diffusivity=0.OOO264kh lc/Jc r p.,
md-psi/cp [md/s]
compass orientation of fracture plane, degrees [rad]
interporosity flow parameter
viscosity, cp [Pa s]
porosity, fraction
heterogeneity parameter
storativity ratio

Subscripts
1 = observation well (homogeneous system)
2 = active well (homogeneous system)
I = poor layer (two-layer reservoir)
2 = good layer (two-layer reservoir)
A = active perforations or active zone (vertical test)
f = fissure medium (double-porosity reservoir)
h = horizontal
m = matrix medium (double-porosity reservoir)
mp = type-curve match point
o = observation perforations or observation zone
(vertical test)
ss 1 = start of semilog straight line
v = vertical

Acknowledgment
We thank Flopetrol Johnston Schlumberger for permission to publish
this paper.
References
1. Kamal, M.M.: "Interference and Pulse Testing-A Review," lPT(Dec.
1983) 2257-70.
2. Ogbe, D.O. and Brigham, W.E.: "A Model for Interference Testing
with Wellbore Storage and Skin Effects at Both Wells," paper SPE
13253 presented at the 1984 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, Houston, Sept. 16-19.
3. Bourdet, D., Ayoub, J.A., and Pirard, Y.M.: "Use of Pressure Derivative in Well Test Interpretation," paper SPE 12777 presented at the
1984 SPE California Regional Meeting, Long Beach, April 11-13.
4. Tongpenyai, J. and Raghavan, R.: "Effect of Well bore Storage and
Skin on Interference Test Data," lPT (Jan. 1981) 151-60.
5. Winston, H.: "A Method to Account for Afterflow at the Pulsing Well
During Pulse Tests," SPEI (June 1983) 519-20.
6. Kamal, M.M. and Brigham, W.E.: "Design and Analysis of Pulse Tests
with Unequal Pulse and Shut-in Periods," lPT(Feb. 1976) 205-12;
Trans., AIME, 261.
7. Ogbe, D.O. and Brigham, W.E.: "Pulse Testing with Wellbore Storage
and Skin Effects," paper SPE 12780 presented at the 1984 SPE California Regional Meeting, Long Beach, April 11-13.
167

8. Mousli, N.A. et ai. : "The Influence of Vertical Fractures Intercepting

Active and Observation Wells on Interference Tests," SPEI (Dec. 1982)
933-44.
9. Uraiet, A., Raghavan, R., and Thomas, G.W.: "Determination of the
Orientation of a Vertical Fracture by Interference Tests," JPT (Ian.
1977) 73-80; Trans., AIME, 263. .
10. Abobise, E.O. and Tiab, D.: "Determining Fracture Orientation and
Formation Permeability from Pulse Testing," paper SPE 11027 presented at the 1982 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New
Orleans, Sept. 26-29.
11. Ekie, S., Hadinoto, N., and Raghavan, R.: "Pulse-Testing of Vertically
Fractured Wells, " paper SPE 6751 presented at the 1977 SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, Oct. 9-12.
12. Gringarten, A.C.: "Interpretation of Tests in Fissured and Multilayered
Reservoirs with Double Porosity Behavior: Theory and Practice," JPT
(April 1984) 549-64.
13. Deruyck, B.G. et ai.: "Interpretation of Interference Tests in Reservoirs with Double Porosity Behavior-Theory and Field Examples,"
paper SPE 11025 presented at the 1982 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Sept. 26-29.
14. Streltsova, T.D.: "Buildup Analysis for Interference Tests in Stratified Formations," JPT (Feb. 1984) 301-10.
15. Chen, C.C. et al.: "Pressure Response at Observation Wells in Fractured Reservoirs," SPEI (Dec. 1984) 628-38.
16. Prats, M.: "Interpretation of Pulse Tests in Reservoirs with Crossflow
Between Contiguous Layers," SPEFE (Oct. 1986) 511-20.
17. Bremer, R.E., Winston, H., and Vela, S.: "Analytical Model forVertical Interference Tests Across Low-Permeability Zones," paper SPE
11965 presented at the 1983 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, San Francisco, Oct. 5-8.
18. Lee, S.T., Chien, M.C.H., and Culham, W.E.: "Vertical Single-Well
Pulse Testing of a Three-Layer Stratified Reservoir," paper SPE 13249
presented at the 1984 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Sept. 16-19.
19. Ehlig-Economides, C.A. and Ayoub, I.A.: "Vertical Interference Testing Across a Low-Permeability Zone," SPEFE (Oct. 1986) 497-510.

168

20. Kamal, M.M.: "Effects of Well bore Storage and Skin on Vertical Permeability Testing," SPEFE (Oct. 1986) 481-96.
21. Bums, W.A. Ir.: "New Single-Well Test for Determining Vertical Permeability," JPT (June 1969) 743-52; Trans., AIME, 246.
22. Huinong, Z.: "Interference Testing and Pulse Testing in the KenJi Carbonate Oil Pool-A Case History," JPT(Iune 1984) 1009-17.
23. Hutfilz, J.M., Cockerham, P.W., and McIntosh, J.R.: "Pulse Testing for Reservoir Description in a High-Permeability Environment,"
JPT (Sept. 1982) 2179-89.
24. Rathbone, M.J., Unneberg, A., and Cull, G.W.L.: "Pulse Testing in
the Statfjord Field, " paper SPE 10267 presented at the 1981 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Oct. 4-7.
25. Chen, H.G. and Lescarboura, I.A.: "Interference Analysis of an
Anisotropic Reservoir Using Five-Spot Data," paper SPE 11967 presented at the 1983 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San
Francisco, Sept. 5-8.
26. Pollock, C.B. and Bennett, C.O.: "Eight-Well Interference Test in the
Anschutz Ranch East Field," SPEFE (Dec. 1986) 547-56.
27. Gillund, G.N. and Kamal, M.M.: "Incorporation of Vertical Permeability Test Results in Vertical Miscible Flood Design and Operation,"
J. Cdn. Pet. Tech. (March-April 1984) 54-59.

51 Metric Conversion Factors

bbl x 1.589 873
E-Ol
degrees x 1.745329
E-02
ft x 3.048*
E-Ol
psi x 6.894 757
E+OO
* Conversion

factor is exact.

m3
rad
m

kPa
SPEFE

Original SPE manuscript received for review March 14, 1986. Paper accepted for publication Oct. 6, 1986. Revised manuscript received Aug. 24, 1987. Paper (SPE 14100) first
presented at the 1986 SPE IntI. Meeting on Petroleum Engineering held in Beijing, March

17-20.

SPE Formation Evaluation, March 1988