Radial Flow and

Radius of Investigation
 Radial Flow and
Radius of Investigation
Instructional Objectives
1. Calculate radius of investigation at a
given time or time required to reach a
given radius of investigation.
2. Describe the effects of reservoir
properties on radius of investigation.
Radial Flow Reservoir Model

Bulk
formation

h
rw

r
 Ei-Function Solution

qB 948c tr 2
p pi 70.6 Ei

kh kt

u
e
Ei x x du
u
 Ei-Function Graph
7
Ei-function
6 Log approximation

5
-Ei(-x)

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
-x
Short-Time Approximation for
Ei-Function Solution

p pi

948 ct r 2
Applies when 10
kt
Long-Time Approximation to
Ei-Function Solution

qB 1688 c r 2
p pi 162.6 log10 t

kh kt

948 ct r 2
Applies when 0.01
kt
Pressure Profile During Drawdown
2000

t=0
1800

t = 0.01 hrs
Pressure, psi

1600

t = 1 hr
1400

t = 100 hrs t = 10000 hrs

1200

1000
1 10 100 1000 10000
Distance from center of wellbore, ft
Pressure Profile During Buildup
2000

1800 t = 10000 hrs

t = 100 hrs
Pressure, psi

1600

1400
t = 1 hr

1200
t = 0.01 hrs
t=0
1000
1 10 100 1000 10000
Distance from center of wellbore, ft
 Radius of Investigation
Equations
Radius of investigation for a given time
t:
kt
ri
948c t

Time required to reach a given radius of

investigation ri:
948c tri2
t
k
 Exercise 1

Identify factors that increase, decrease,

or do not affect radius of investigation.
 Exercise 2
Radial Flow and Radius of Investigation

Calculate radius of investigation for an

undersaturated oil reservoir
 Exercise 3
Radial Flow and Radius of Investigation

Calculate radius of investigation for a

saturated oil reservoir
 Exercise 4
Radial Flow and Radius of Investigation

Calculate radius of investigation for a

low-pressure, high-permeability gas
reservoir
 Exercise 5
Radial Flow and Radius of Investigation

Calculate radius of investigation for a

high-pressure, low-permeability gas
reservoir