PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O.

OGIRIKI

DERIVATION OF THE BASIC RADIAL DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION

The basic differential equation will be derived in radial form thus simulating the
flow of fluids in the vicinity of a well. Analytical solutions of the equation can then
be obtained under various boundary and initial conditions for use in the description
of well testing and well inflow, which have considerable practical application in
reservoir engineering. The radial cell geometry is shown in figure 1 and the
following assumptions will be made to develop diffusivity equation:
1. Homogeneous and isotropic porous media of uniform thickness;
2. Rock and fluid properties are pressure-independent;
3. Pressure gradients are small;
4. Flow is radial;
5. Darcy's law is applicable;
6. Gravity forces are negligible;
7. The flow is along a radial path toward the wellbore
8. The fluid flow is single phase and fluid saturation in the system is constant;
9. The porosity and permeability are constant in space and time; and
10.Viscosity and compressibility of the fluid are constant.

Consider the flow through a volume element of thickness, dr, situated at a distance
r from the center of the radial cell.

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

Figure 1: Radial flow of a single-phase fluid in the vicinity of a producing well.

Then applying the principle of mass conservation:

Mass flow rate in — mass flow rate out = rate of change of mass in volume element.

𝝏
𝐪𝑰𝒓+𝒅𝒓 − 𝐪𝑰𝒓 = 𝟐𝒓𝒉𝒅𝒓 1-1
𝝏𝒕

Where 𝟐𝒓𝒉𝒅𝒓 is the volume of the small element of thickness dr. The left-hand
side of the equation can be expressed as

𝝏(𝒒) 𝝏
𝐪𝑰𝒓 + 𝒅𝒓 − 𝐪𝑰𝒓 = 𝟐𝒓𝒉𝒅𝒓 1-2
𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒕

Which simplifies to
𝝏(𝒒) 𝝏
= 𝟐𝒓𝒉 𝒅𝒓 1-3
𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒕

By applying Darcy's law for radial, horizontal flow it is possible to substitute for the
flow rate, q, in Eq. 1-3, since

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

𝟐𝒌𝒉𝒓 𝝏𝑷
𝒒= 1-4
 𝝏𝒓

Therefore,

𝝏 𝟐𝒌𝒉𝒓 𝝏𝑷 𝝏
( ) = 𝟐𝒓𝒉 𝒅𝒓 1-5
𝝏𝒓  𝝏𝒓 𝝏𝒕

Or

𝟏 𝝏 𝒌 𝝏𝑷 𝝏
( 𝒓 𝝏𝒓 ) =  1-6
𝒓 𝝏𝒓  𝝏𝒕

The time derivative of the density appearing on the right-hand side of Eq. 2-15 can
be expressed in terms of a time derivative of the pressure by using the definition of
isothermal compressibility:
𝟏 𝝏𝑽
𝐜=− 1-7
𝑽 𝝏𝑷

Recall that
𝒎
= 1-8
𝑽

Therefore, compressibility can be alternatively expressed as

𝒎
 𝝏(  ) 𝟏 𝝏
𝐜= = 1-9
𝒎 𝝏𝑷  𝝏𝑷

Differentiating Eq. 1-9 with respect to time gives

𝝏
𝐜
𝝏𝑷
= 1-10
𝝏𝒕 𝝏𝒕

Finally, substituting Eq. 1-10 into Eq. 1-9 gives

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

𝟏 𝝏 𝒌 𝝏𝑷 𝝏
( 𝒓 𝝏𝒓 ) =  𝒄 𝝏𝒕 1-11
𝒓 𝝏𝒓 

Eq. 1-11 is nonlinear, since the coefficients on both sides are themselves functions
of a dependent variable, the pressure. This equation has to be presented in linear
form in order to obtain analytical solutions, i.e., Eq. 1-11 is reduced to the radial
form. For a radial flow toward a well in a circular reservoir, if we combine the law
of conservation of mass and Darcy's law for the isothermal flow of fluids of small
and constant compressibility, Eq. 1-11 simplifies to

𝛛𝟐 𝑷 𝟏 𝝏𝑷   𝒄𝒕 𝝏𝑷
+ = 1-12
𝛛𝐫 𝟐 𝒓 𝝏𝒓 𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟔𝟒𝒌 𝝏𝒕

This equation (Eq. 1-12) is called the radial diffusivity equation; the term
0.000264k/ct is called the hydraulic diffusivity. Analytical solutions of this
equation are obtained under various boundary and initial conditions for use in well
testing and well inflow performance calculations.

SOLUTION TO DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION

There are four solutions to Eq 1-12 that are particularly useful in well testing. These
solutions are:
1. Solution for a Bounded Cylindrical Reservoir
2. Solution for an infinite reservoir with a well considered to be a line source
with zero wellbore radius
3. The Psuedosteady-state solution.
4. Solution that includes wellbore storage for a well in an infinite reservoir.

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

We shall now discuss these solutions one after the other.

1.1 Bounded Cylindrical Reservoir.

Solution of Eq. 1-12 requires that we specify two boundary conditions and an initial
condition. A realistic and practical solution is obtained if we assume that;
I. a well poduces at constant rate, qB into the wellbore (q refers to flowrate in
STB/D at surface conditions, and B is the formation volume factor in
RB/STB);
II. the well with the wellbore radius, rw , is centered in a cylindrical reservoir of
radius re , and that there is no flow across this outer boundary;
III. before production begins, the reservoir.

This solution is
𝒒𝑩 𝟐𝒕 𝟑
𝒑𝒘𝒇 = 𝒑𝒊 − 𝟏𝟒𝟏. 𝟐 {𝒓𝟐𝑫 + 𝑰𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝑫 − 𝟒 +
𝒌𝒉 𝒆𝑫
𝒏
∞ 𝒆−𝜶𝒏 𝒕𝑫 𝑱𝟐𝟏 (𝜶𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝑫 )
𝟐 ∑𝒏=𝟏 𝜶𝟐 [ 𝑱𝟐 (𝜶 𝒓 )− 𝑱𝟐 (𝜶 )]} 1-13
𝒏 𝟏 𝒏 𝒆𝑫 𝟏 𝒏

For efficiency and convenience, deminsionless variables have been introduced.

𝒓𝒆
𝒓𝒆𝑫 = ⁄𝒓𝒘 1-14

and
𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟔𝟒𝒌𝒕
𝒕𝑫 =   𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝟐𝒘
1.15

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

where, the n are the roots of

𝑱𝟏 (𝜶𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝑫 ) 𝒀𝟏 (𝜶𝒏 ) − 𝑱𝟏 (𝜶𝒏 ) 𝒀𝟏 (𝜶𝒏 ) = 𝟎

and where J1 and Y1 are Bassel functions.

Note that it is not neccesarry to use Eq. 1-13 in its complete form to calculate
numerical values of pwf ; instead, we will use limiting forms of the solution in most
computations. The most important fact about Eq. 1-13 is that under the assumptions
made in its development, it is an exact solution to Eq. 1-12. It is sometimes called
the van Everdingen-Hurst constant-terminal-rate solution.

1.2 Infinite Cylindrical Reservoir with Line Source Well.

Assume that a well produces at constant reservoir rate, qB; the well has a zero radius;
the reservoir is at uniform pressure, pi , before production begins; and the well drains
an infinite area (i.e. that p pi as r ∞ ). Under these conditions, the solution to
Eq. 1-12 is:

𝒒𝑩 𝟗𝟒𝟖  𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝟐
𝒑 = 𝒑𝒊 + 𝟕𝟎. 𝟔 𝑬𝒊 (− ) 1-16
𝒌𝒉 𝒌𝒕

where, p is the pressure at distance r from the well at time t and the Ei function or
exponential integral

∞ 𝒆−𝒖
𝑬𝒊 = (−𝒙) = ∫𝒙 ( 𝒖 ) 𝒅𝒖 1-17

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

The Ei function solution is an accurate approximation to more exact solutions to the

diffusivity equation (solutions with finite wellbore radius and finite drainage radius)
for (3.79 x 105   ct rw2)/k. for times less than (3.79 x 105   ct rw2)/k, the assumption
of zero well size (i.e., assuming the well to be a line source or skin) limits the
accuracy of the equation; at times greater than (948   ct re2)/k, the reservoir’s
boundaries begin to affect the pressure distribution in the reservoir, so that the
reservoir is no longer infinite acting.

For x  10, the Ei function is zero for practical applications in flow through porous
media. For 0.01  x  10 , Ei function are determined from tables (Table 1.1) or
subroutines available in appropaite softwares.

In practice, we find out that most wells have reduced permeability (damage) near the
wellbore resulting from drilling or completeion operations. Many other wells are
stimulated by acidization or hydraulic fracturing. Eq. 1-16 fails to models such wells
properly; its derivation holds the explicit assumption of uniform permeability
throughout the drainage area of the well up to the wellbore. If the damage or
stimulated zone is considered equivalent to an altered zone of uniform permeability
(ks) and outer radius (rs), the additional pressure drop across this zone (ps) can be
modeled by the steady-state radial flow equation.

Thus,

𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝒓𝒔 𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝒓𝒔
∆𝒑𝒔 = 𝟏𝟒𝟏. 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 ( ) − 𝟏𝟒𝟏. 𝟐 𝐥𝐧 ( )
𝒌𝒔 𝒉 𝒓𝒘 𝒌𝒉 𝒓𝒘

Therefore,

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝒌 𝒓
∆𝒑𝒔 = 𝟏𝟒𝟏. 𝟐 ( − 𝟏) 𝐥𝐧 ( 𝒔 ) 1-19
𝒌𝒔 𝒉 𝒌𝒔 𝒓𝒘

Eq. 1-19 simply states that the pressure drop in the altered zone is inversely
proportional to ks rather than to k and that a correction to the pressure drop in this
region (which assumed these permeability, k, as in the rest of the reservoir) muat be
made.

Combining Eqs. 1-17 and 1-19, we find that the total pressure drop at the wellbore
is:

𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝟗𝟒𝟖   𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝟐𝒘

𝒑𝒊 − 𝒑𝒘𝒇 = −𝟕𝟎. 𝟔 𝑬 (− ) + 𝒑𝒔
𝒌𝒉 𝒊 𝒌𝒕

𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝟗𝟒𝟖   𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝟐𝒘 𝒌 𝒓

𝒑𝒊 − 𝒑𝒘𝒇 = −𝟕𝟎. 𝟔 [𝑬𝒊 (− ) − 𝟐 ( − 𝟏) 𝐥𝐧 ( 𝒔 )] 1-20
𝒌𝒉 𝒌𝒕 𝒌𝒔 𝒓𝒘

For r = rw , the argument of the Ei function is sufficiently small afer a short time
that we can use the logarithmic approximation, thus the drawdown is;

𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝟏𝟔𝟖𝟖   𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝟐𝒘 𝒌 𝒓

𝒑𝒊 − 𝒑𝒘𝒇 = −𝟕𝟎. 𝟔 [ 𝐥𝐧 ( ) − 𝟐 ( − 𝟏) 𝐥𝐧 ( 𝒔 )] 1-21
𝒌𝒉 𝒌𝒕 𝒌𝒔 𝒓𝒘

It would convenient to define a skin factor, s, in terms of properties of the equivalent

altered zone.

𝒌 𝒓
𝐬 = ( − 𝟏) 𝐥𝐧 ( 𝒔 ) 1-22
𝒌𝒔 𝒓𝒘

Therefore, drawdown is:

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
PTE 511 Reservoir Engineering III: Well Testing Engr. Shadrach O. OGIRIKI

𝒒𝑩𝝁 𝟏𝟔𝟖𝟖   𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝟐𝒘

𝒑𝒊 − 𝒑𝒘𝒇 = −𝟕𝟎. 𝟔 [ 𝐥𝐧 ( ) − 𝟐𝒔] 1-23
𝒌𝒉 𝒌𝒕

If a well is damaged, (k ks), s will be positive, and the greater the contrast between

k and ks , and the deeper into the formation the damage extends, the larger the
numerical values of s.

If a well is stimulated (k ks), s will be negative, and the deeper the stimutaion, the

greater the numerical value of s. Rarely does a stimulated well have a skin factor
less than -7 or -8, and such skin factor arise only for well deeply penetrating
highlyconductive hydraulic fractures.

Note:
If a well is neither daaged nor stimulated, (k = ks), s=0.

Use Eq. 1-23 to calculate pressures at the sandface of a well with altered zone.

Use Eq. 1-17 to calculate pressure beyond the altered zone in the formation
surrounding the well.

Reference

1. Amarat U. Chaudhry (2004): Oil Well Testing Hand Book. Gulf Professional
Publishing
2. Dake L.P. (1998): Fundamentals of Reservoir Engneering. Shell Learning and
Development, and Elsevier.
3. John Lee (1981): Well Testing. SPE Text Book Series.

Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria