Well Test Analysis

Fundamentals of Fluid Flow in Porous Media

Instructors:
Bui Tu An (PVU)
Nguyen Tuan Duong (VSP)

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 The "Ideal" Reservoir Model

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 Flow Regimes
 Steady State Flow

p
0
t
 Transient State Flow
p
 f ( x, y , z , t )
t
 Psuedo Steady State Flow

p
 constant
t

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 I. Steady-State Flow

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 Steady-State Flow
1.1. Darcy’s Law
kAp
Flow Equation: q
L
k x p
or, in differential form: ux  
 x
Nomenclature
A = Cross sectional area open to flow, cm2
k = Permeability, darcies
L = Length of flow path, cm
p = Pressure, atm
p = Pressure difference between upstream and
downstream sides, atm
q = Flow rate, cm3/sec
ux = Flow velocity, cm/sec
x = Spatial coordinate, cm
 = Viscosity, cp
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 Steady-State Flow
2. Linear Flow

Pressure drop:
1 qBL
p 
0.001127 kA
For steady-state linear flow, if the outlet pressure po is
known, the pressure at any distance x upstream from the
outlet may be calculated from:
1 qBx
p( x)  po 
0.001127 kA
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 Steady-State Flow
3. Radial Flow
The pressure drop for steady-state radial flow from radius
re to radius rw as
141 .2qB  re 
p  ln  
kh  rw 
If the wellbore pressure pw is known, the pressure at any
other radius r may be calculated from:

141 .2qB  r 
p ( r )  pw  ln  
kh  rw 
where q is positive for production and negative for injection

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 2. Development of the Diffusivity Equation

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 Development of the Diffusivity Equation

 The diffusivity equation describes transient

flow of a slightly compressible liquid through
a porous medium.

 The diffusivity equation is derived by

combining three physical principles:
(1) Darcy’s law,
(2) The continuity equation, and
(3) The equation of state for a slightly compressible
liquid.

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 Diffusivity Equation
1. The continuity equation is a restatement of the
conservation of mass. That is, the rate of
accumulation of fluid within a volume element is given
by the rate at which the fluid flows into the volume
minus the rate at which the fluid flows out of the
volume.

(Av)1 (Av)2 Continuity equation in

radial coordinates

1  p
rv   (  )
m   Av 1   Av 2 r r t

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 Diffusivity Equation
2. Equation of State describes the change in density
and volume with pressure for a liquid with small and
constant compressibility.

1  1 
cf  c 
 p  p
3. Darcy's law in radial coordinates

k p
v
 r

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 Diffusivity Equation
 Combining these equations

k  p  1   k p  p
2

c     r   ct
  r  r r   r  t
ct  c f  c
 p 
2

If we further assume c  negligible (and small c)

 r 
- that permeability, k is isotropic and constant
- that ct ,  and  constant

1   p  ct p
Diffusivity equation r  
r r  r  k t
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 3. Solution to the Diffusivity Equation

Infinite-Acting (Transient) Radial Flow

WELL

P
wf
P
e
h

r r
w e
r

p
 f ( x, y , z , t )
t
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 Infinite-Acting Radial Flow (IARF)

• Assumptions
– Single-phase liquid with
constant , c, B
– Formation with constant , h
Bulk – Well completed over entire
formation sand thickness
– Infinite reservoir containing only
rw
h
one well

r
– Uniform pressure in reservoir
prior to production
– Constant production rate q
beginning at time t=0
– Homogeneous reservoir
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 Infinite-Acting Radial Flow (IARF)

• Initial and Boundary Conditions

 Initial: p(r,0) = pi

 Outer - Boundary: p(r, t) = pi

 p  qB
 Inner-Boundary (Darcy's law):  r   141 .2
 r  r rw kh

Mathews 1   p  ct p
r  
& Russell r r  r  k t

qB  948ct r 2 
p  pi  70.6 Ei   
kh  kt 
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 Ei-Function Solution
 The Ei-function (hàm tích phân mũ)

 e u
 Ei  x    du
x u

eu x x2 x3
Ei  x    du  ln x     ...
u 1! 2(2! ) 3(3! )
x

 The Ei-function solution to the diffusivity equation assumes line

source well (finite size of wellbore can be neglected).
 This solution is valid only for r > rw .
 It predicts the pressure response in the reservoir as a function
of both time t and distance from the center of the wellbore r.

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 Ei-Function Graph

The argument of the Ei-function, x, is given

by:
qB  948ct r 2  Short times or large distances
p  pi  70.6 Ei     large x (A)
kh  kt 
7 Long times or short distances
 small x (B)
6
5 (A) pressure response
predicted by the Ei-function is
-Ei(-x)

4 negligible.
C
3
A (B) pressure response may be
2 Ei-function calculated using the logarithmic
B approximation to the Ei
1 Log
function.
approximation
0 For intermediate times, (C), the
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 full Ei-function must be used to
x
calculate the pressure
response.
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 Short-Time Approximation

qB  948ct r 2 
p  pi  70.6 Ei  
kh  kt 
p  pi

948 ct r 2
Applies when  10
kt

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 Long-Time Approximation

qB  1688ct r 
2
p  pi  70.6 ln  
kh  kt 

948 ct r 2
Applies when  0.01
kt

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 For intermediate times (C)

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 3. Radius of Investigation

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 Radius of Investigation

 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
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 Radius of Investigation
 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
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 Definitions of the Radius of Investigation

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 Definitions of the Radius of Investigation
 Jones’s definition:
– The radius of investigation is the point in the reservoir
where the pressure variations represent 1% of the
variations observed at the well:

kt
ri  4 (in SI units)
ct

 Poettmann’s definition:
– The radius of investigation is the point in the reservoir
where the flow is to 1% of the well flow rates:

kt
ri  4.29 (in SI units)
ct
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 Definitions of the Radius of Investigation
 J. Lee and Muskat’s definition:
– The radius of investigation is the point where the
pressure variations are the fastest:

qB  948ct r 2  p qB  948ct r 2 

p  pi  70.6 Ei      70.6 exp  
kh  kt  t kht  kt 

• The variations is at a maximum for:

2 p qB  948ct r 2   948ct r 2 

 70.6 exp     1  0
t 2
kht  kt  kt 
948ct r 2
i.e.for 1  0
kt

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 Radius of Investigation Equations

 Radius of investigation for a given time t:

kt
ri 
948ct

 Time required to reach a given radius of

investigation ri:

948ct ri 2
t
k

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 How radius of investigation can be used

 Estimating Drainage Area:

Drainage Area (A)    ri

2

 Estimate the required duration of a shut-in for

a buildup test:

948ct ri 2
t
k
Note: “Radius of investigation” Synonyms “Transient drainage radius”

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 Exercise 7

Factors That Affect Radius of Investigation

Without looking at the notes, choose the correct response to complete each statement.
Check your answers by referring to the radius of investigation equation.
A) increases B) decreases C) does not affect
1. Increasing viscosity ________________ the radius of investigation.
2. Increasing permeability _______________ the radius of investigation.
3. Increasing formation volume factor _______________ the radius of investigation.
4. Increasing test time ______________ the radius of investigation.
5. Increasing production rate _____ the radius of investigation.
6. Increasing net pay thickness_____the radius of investigation.
7. Increasing porosity __________________ the radius of investigation.
8. Increasing total compressibility ___________the radius of investigation.

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 Exercise 8

Calculate the time required to reach a radius of

investigation of 745 feet for the following undersaturated
oil reservoir

Sw = 17%, oil gravity = 27API, Rso = 530 scf/STB,

gas gravity = 0.85, T = 185F

p = 3500 psia pb = 2803 psia,

h = 100 ft, q = 75 STB/D,  = 17%, k = 250 md

co = 1.158 x 10-5 psi-1, cw = 2.277 x 10-5 psi-1

cf = 3.610-6 psi-1

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 Exercise 9

Calculate the time required to reach a radius of

investigation of 745 feet for the following
saturated oil reservoir (below the original
bubblepoint)
Sw = 17%, Sg = 5%, oil gravity = 27API,
Rso = 530 scf/STB, gas gravity = 0.85,
Tf = 185F, p = 2,000 psia
cf = 3.610-6 psi-1, h = 100 ft, q = 75 STB/D,
 = 17%, k = 250 md, kro = 0.8

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 Exercise 10

Calculate the time required to reach a radius of

investigation of 745 feet for the following Low-
pressure, high-permeability gas reservoir
Sw = 20%, gas gravity = 0.74, T = 125F,

p = 125 psia, cf = 3.610-6 psi-1,

h = 17 ft, q = 4,500 Mcf/D, k = 100 md

 = 12%, cw = 4.0 x 10-6 psi-1.

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 Exercise 11

Calculate the time required to reach a radius of

investigation of 745 feet for the following High-
pressure, low-permeability gas reservoir
Sw = 35%, gas gravity = 0.67

Tf = 270F, p = 5,000 psi, cf = 2010-6 psi-1,

h = 210 ft, q = 1,500 Mcf/D,  = 4%, k = 0.08 md

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