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 Geothermal Resources Council, TRANSACTIONS, Val. 10, September 1986

GEOTOOL: A COMPUTER PACKAGE TO A I D

GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIR ASSESMENT

R o d r l g u e z , G . (I) S a r m i n a , I . (1) Iglesias, E. ('I and A r a g 6 n , A . (2)

1. I n s t i t u t o d e I n v e s t i s- a c i o n e s E l g c t r i c a s 2 . C o m i s i d n Federal de E l e c t r i c i d a d
P . 0 . BOX C - 2 3 0 , P . 0. Box 7 4 0 ,
C u e r n a v a c a , Morelos,M~xico,62050 Morelia, Michoacbn, Mexico

ABSTRACT operate the programs interactively, to aid

in various tasks related to geothermal
This paper describes a software reservoir evaluation.
package, GEOTOOL, designed to help
characterization and assesment of The current version of GEOTOOL
geothermal fields. GEOTOOL offers includes :
numerics and graphic technique integrated
in a user-friendly and interactive system. Analytical tools to calculate stabilized
The package performs a wide variety of temperatures, geotherhometers, chemical
tasks that are often tackled without the indexes, enthalpy, water- and
help of a computer. A great advantage of steam-flowrates, and water density.
GEOTOOL is that it is linked to SIGEO, a
comprehensive geothermal database package Analytical and graphical toola to support
that stores most of the information pressure tests analysis of homogeneous and
pertaining to all the Mexican geothermal double-porosity geothermal reservoirs:
fields. Furthermore, the results obtained Type-curve method, pressure test by
by means of GEOTOOL can be stored for Horner'6 and by the MDH method, and
later use in SIGEO. GEOTOOL is operating two-rate and variable-rate pressure tests.
in a VAX/VMS computer system.
Graphics tools to display: production
output curves, time-evolution of different
INTRODUCTION variables, profiles of different variables
versus depth and 3-D distributions of
Two years ago we developed a different variables in the field.
computerized system to manage information
on exploration, development and GENERAL STRUCTURE OF THE PACKAGE
exploitation of geothermal resources in
Mexico. The system, called SIGEO, is The general structure of GEOTOOL is
described in detail by Sarmina (19831, and depicted in fig. 1. GEOTOOL has two
Rodriguez and Sarmina (1985). It consists structural levels: the first level is
of three components: (a) the database, constituted of 11 modules, which are the
(b) a set of input programs, and (c) a set user view of the package. The second
of output programs to produce reports. level includes various general-purpose
SIGEO has been built to allow the subroutines which are used by the modules.
definition of new types of data and n e w
reports associated with the new data. In LEVEL 1: m-
its current version, up to 9000 variable
types can be defined together with a great TypE:cuRvEs STABILIZED TEMPEFKCUU3S
variety of reports. HOFW3R'S METHOD GEoTHERElMMETERs
MDH MEZHOD PRODUCTION OUTPUT CURVES
Even though SIGEO is very flexible to 'IMI-RATE EWX4 TEST VERTICAL PROFILE PLxrrs
admit new types of data and to produce WTIPILE-RA2E TEST 3-D DISTRIBUTION
many user-defined reports, it only TIME EvoulTION
supports reports in tabular format;
moreover, it lacks the capacity to perform I z v E L 2 : suBR[xlTINEs
calculations with the data. To complement x-Y PI#rs ENTHATSY CXCUIATION
SIGEO's capabilities we have designed and 3-D -ICs GJATER AND STEAM
implemented a package of computer
PROFILES ETDJRATES
programs, GEOTOOL, which includes STRAIG'I¶-lL m FITTING WATER DENSITY
analytical computations, graphics
B-SP- FITI'ING
subroutines in 2 and 3 dimensions and the
necesary software to allow the'user to F i g . 1.- General Structure of GEDIOOL.

399
Rodrzguez et al.
Each module performs a particular mentioned above. In some cases the
task, as described in the next section.. results are converted from the
The modules are interactive and International System of units to the one
user-friendly (menu driven), such that, used by CFE in the fields.
their execution does not require any
special training. The data required by Graphics. With the data from the database
the modules are automatically taken from and/or the results obtained, a module is
the SIGEO database. For that, the user able to output graphics. Under user
has only to provide: the geothermal field commands the module displays the graphics
identifier, the well key, the test or on a CRT screen or creates a temporal file
variable identifiers and the appropriate to send the graphics to an appropiate
dates. printer later. All graphics are drawn
using several types of broken or continous
The general-purpose subroutines lines.
include graphics routines to plot Y vs X
charts, profiles, contour lines, and 3-D MODULE DESCRIPTION.
surfaces. These subroutines were built by
means of PAGRA, a basic graphics package In the following paragraphs we
developed in-house (Lebn and Carmona, describe the currently implemented 11
1983). Additionally, GEOTOOL has various modules. First, we present five modules
subroutines to perform analytical which are specific to aid pressure test
calculations (e.g., straight line fitting, analysis. Then, the rest, which perform a
curve fitting by p-splines, enthalpy variety of tasks ranging from
calculations, etc.1. determination of stabilized temperatures
to geochemical calculations.
Fig. 2 shows the general interaction
environment of a module of the package. Type curves. This module plots the data
of injectivity or buildup tests in the

n standard log-log form. An example is

shown in fig. 3. The plots are drawn on
transparent paper in the standard scale
used by most published type curves. These
include Earlougher & Kersch (19741,
Agarwal, Al-Hussainy & Ramey (19701, and
Bourdet & Gringarten (1980). The
necessary downhole flowing pressures and
corresponding times are obtain from SIGEO.

\Tmm [ - D W

Fig. 2.- I n t e r a c t i o n E n v i r o m t of a Module

All modules include the following c

processes: ;
I I I I I I l l I 1 I I I I I I

Input. The data are taken from SIGEO,

where they have been validated; GEOTOOL Fig. 3. Example of standard log-log
assumes they are correct. The validation plot, in this case, for the type-curve of
process consists of checking the values Earlougher and Kersch.
against validity ranges established by the
user. The data from SIGEO is always in Horner'e method. This module is specific
the International System of units. f o r the analysis of buildup and falloff
tests by Horner's (1951) method. The
Calculations. These are performed required data, taken from SIGEO are:
according to the selected module. In all injected flowrate, injection time, flowing
cases, the user can store the results in downhole pressure and elapsed time for
the database if the results are going to each pressure reading. Under user
be used later. Additionally, the modules commands the module graphically displays
validate the results by the process on the CRT screen a plot of

400
 Rodrlguez et al.
Pwf VS log( (tp+At 1 /At) required data are taken from SIGEO. The
user interaction with, and the results
(nomenclature at the end of the paper). produced by this module are the same as
The user provides the time interval for the Homer's module, except that the
unaffected by wellbore storage that he plot displayed is that of
wishes to analyze (see fig. 4 ) . To chose pwf vs log(At1.
this interval, the user can resort to the
log-log plotting capabilities of the --rate Flow Test. This module is
module described in the preceding specific for the analysis of two-rate flow
paragraph. Using the selected points the tests (Russell, 1963). The data taken
module adjustes a least square straight from the database are: the well radius in
line to them, and displays the results on the production zone, the flowrates
the screen (see fig. 5). Interact.ively, (q I q ), the time interval tl
the user can terminate the session here or duriAg which'the well produced at the rate
select another interval for analysis, 9 and the downhole flowing pressure
and/or eliminate individual data points at 'the running testing time At.
and repeat the process until he is Optionally, the flowrates can be computed
satisfied. This module outputs the by means of the usual sharp-edged orifices
absolute value of the slope of the (James, 19651, or by the lip pressure
straight line m, the intercept b, and the (James, 1970) methods. The module
transmissivity Kh/p. performs the necessary computations to
display on the screen a plot of
Pwf vs
log((tl+Atl/At)+(q2/ql)log(At) (1)

The results are automaticaily checked to

Fig. 4. CRT display of the
for interval selection.
be within user-established ranges. At
this stage, the user may select to either
display or print plots of the flowrate vs.
time, and of p
proceed straight q o xi!&akd'fFkis?r &
carry on the analysis, a proper time
interval must be selected as in previous
modules. When the selected interval is
input, the module: (a) fits a straight
line to the data in the interval; (b)
displays a plot of expression (1) on the
screen; and (c) computes and displays the
data points slope a, the intercept b, the
transmissivity Kh/)r, the skin factor S,
and the false pressure pk which can be
used to estimate the average reservoir
pressure. The process can be repeated for
another interval, at the user's will.
Multiple-rate test. This module helps
analyze multiple-rate tests by Odeh's
(1965) method. The data requirements and
the capabilities of this module are
similar to those of the preceding one,
except that a plot of
'Pi'pwf /qN vs

with the sum taken from j=1 to N, is

produced. As before, the options to
compute the flowrates from field
measurements, to display or print plots of
Ffg. 5. Straight line fitted to the
linear portion of the semilog plot. flowrate vs time, and of p vs time,
exists. Also as before, t 6 interval in
which a least squares straight line has to
MDH Method. This module helps analyze be fitted to the data, must be selected by
drawdown and buildup, and injectivity and the user. The results obtained in t h i s ,
falloff pressure tests by the MDH method module are: the slope a, the intercept b,
(Miller, Dyes and Hutchinson, 1950). As the transmissivity Kh/p, and the skin
in the module previously described, the factor S.

401
Hodrlguez et al.
Production output curves. This module water flowrate, steam flowrate, total
computes the enthalpy and the water and (water and steam) flowrate, steam quality
steam flowrates from field measurements derived from the steam chemical analysis,
taken during production tests, and plots enthalpy calculated from wellhead
them. The necessary field data are: measurements, enthalpy based on the
atmospheric pressure at the field, saturation temperature given by the
wellhead pressures, lip pressures, geothermometers, chemical indexes and
diameter of the discharge pipe, weirbox geothermometers. The last three are
dimensions, water head in the weirbox, computed in this module, the rest are
water density, gaslsteam ratio, and obtained from SIGEO.
diameter of the chocking orifice. The
enthalpy and the water and steam rates are
computed by the lip pressure method
(James, 19701, at atmospheric pressure,
and at separation pressures of . 8 and 1.0
ma. These results are checked against
user-established validity ranges. The
module produces the following graphics:
water and steam flowrate vs. wellhead
pressure for the three separation
pressures metioned in the preceeding
paragraph, enthalpy vs. we 1lhead
pressure, and chocking orifice diameter
vs. wellhead pressure (the last two for
separation at atmospheric pressure).

Stabilized temperatures. This module

computes the stabilized temperature of the
formations penetrated by the well, from Fig. 6. Example of time evolution of a
temperature data gathered during drilling. variable.
The method used f o r the computations is
that of Horner (e.g., Chiang and Chang, Vertical-profile plots. This module '

1979). The drilling fluid circulation generates graphics to show the profile of
time, depth, the times at which the a variable versus the depth of the well
temperatures are measured, and the (fig. 7). The necessary data are taken
corresponding downhole temperatures are from SIGEO. The currently available
input from the database. The resulting variables for plotting are: downhole
stabilized temperatures are stored in the pressure, downhole temperature, stabilized
database for future use, such as plotting temperature, and percentages of
vertical profiles or the 3-D distribution hydrothermal alteration of several
of these temperatures. minerals in the lithologic column of the
well.
Geothernornetera and chemical Indexes. The
geothermometers and chemical indexes are
computed by this module on the basis of
the chemical analysis of separated brines.
The available geothermometers are:
Na-K-Ca (Fournier and Truesdell, 19731,
silica (Fournier and Rowe, 1966) and
revised silica (Fournier and Potter, 1982)
The computed chemical indexes are: Na/K,
K/Na and Ca/Na. The user can select the
geothermometers and indexes he wishes to
obtain. The results are generated in
tabular form, and stored in temporal files
which can be displayed on the screen or
sent to a printer; they can also be
permanently stored in SIGEO.
Tire evolution o f variables o f interest.
The behavior of a variable versus time can Fig. 7. Example of a profile.
be plotted with this module (fig. 6).
The available observation periods in the 3-D distribution of variables. The module
module are: one month, one year and produces 3-D representions of the spacial
several years. The currently available distributions of selected variables.
variables for plotting are: reinjection There are two options: 2-D contour lines
temperature, downhole temperature, and 3-D surfaces. The data for both
downhole pressure, wellhead pressure,

402
 Rodrfguez et al.
options are the values of the variables at The module has the following options to
the coordinates of the wells, and in present 3-dimensional surfaces: 8
certain cases, at a given depth. The different views (north-south, east-west,
module uses p-splines (Hayes and nw-se, ne-sw, and their reciprocals);
Halliday, 1974) to interpolate values for three contour precisions; contour lines
coordinates uniformly distributed on the can be drawn on the surface and projected
X-Y plane. The variables are the on the Y-X plane. The elevation from
following: topography (related to sea which the 3-D surfaces are viewed is set
level), stabilized temperature, reservoir automatically by the module, to avoid
pressure, enthalpy calculated
wellhead measurements, gas/steam ratio,
from posible problems of perspective
Additionally, the user can request a
.
mass . production, steam quality, "ZOOM" to amplify selected areas from the
geothermometers and chemical indexes. In display. Fig. 9 shows an example of a
the case of contour lines it is posible to 3-D surface.
select up to 8 isovalues and up to 8 types I

of lines (continous, discrete, mix, etc.). CONCLUSIONS.

There are three types of contour *
precision, regular, fine and very fine, We have developed a computer package
that allow the user to save computer time designed to aid in the assesment of
at the expense of contour precision, if geothermal fields. The outstanding
desired. Fig. B shows an example of a characteristics of the package are, its
contour line plot. user-friendliness, and its ability to
compute results from data stored in the
SIGEO database, to store these results
back in SIGEO, and to plot a great number
of useful graphs. Furthermore, the .
architecture of GEOTOOL is flexible as to
permit the definition of new modules to
perform additional tasks not currently
implemented. This package is an important
complement to SIGEO that significantly
enhances its usefulness.
NOMENCLATURE
b: intercept on semilog plot
Kh/)r: transmissivity
m: slope of linear portion of
semilog plot
Pi: initial pressure

Pwf: flowing downhole pressure

Fig. 8. Example of contour lines.
p*: false pressure
9: f lowrate
S: skin factor
t: elapsed time
t . the time interval elapsed until
j' jth. mesurement was taken
t equivalent time well was on
P: production or injection before
shut-in
tl: the time interval t during
which the well produced at the
rate 91
At: running testing time
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was sponsored by CFE under
contract GPG-016/84. The authors are
particularly indebted to R. Molinar,
project manager for CFE, for his support
Fig. 9. Example of a 3-D Surface. and encouragement. Many thanks are also
given to VI Arellano at IIE for valuable
comments and discussions.

403
RodrPguez et al.

REFERENCES James, R.? 1970. Factors controlling

borehole performance. Geothermics,
Agarwal, R.G., Al-Hussainy, R. and Ramey, special issue: U.N. Symp. on the
H.J., Jr., 1970 (sept.). An Development and Use of Geothermal
investigation of wellbore storage and Resources, v. 2, p. 1502-1515..
skin effect in unsteady liquid flow:
I. Analytical treatment. SOC. Pet. Lebn, G. and Carmona, P., 1983. PAGRA, A
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Technical Conference and Exhibition
of the Society of Petroleum Miller, C.C., Dyes, A.B. and Hutchinson,
Engineers, Dallas, Texas. C.A.? Jr., 1950. The estimation of
permeability and reservoir pressure
Chiang, C.Y. and Chang, C.R.Y., 1979. from bottom-hole pressure build-up
Application of the Horner method to characteristics. Trans.? AIME, v.
the estimation of static reservoir 189, p. 91-104.
temperature during dr i11ing
operations. Proc. 5th. Stanford Odeh, A.S. and Jones, L.G., 1965 (aug.).
Workshop Geothermal Reservoir Pressure drawdown analysis,
Engineering, p. 337-342. variable-rate case. J. Pet. Tech.,
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Ehrlougher, R.C. and Kersch, K.M., 1974
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transient test data by type-curve Use of computari2ed systems for the
matching. J. Pet. Tech., p. decision making process in geothermal
793-800. energy. Author's papers, EPRI/IIE
Geothermal Conference and Workshop,
Fournier, R.O. and Roue, J.J., 1966. Session 5.
Estimation of underground
temperatures from the silica content Russell, D.G., 1963 (dec.). Determination
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1225-1275.
Fournier, R.O. and Potter, R.W., 1982
(nov.). A revised and expanded
silica (quartz) geothermometer.
Geothermal Resouraces Counc i 1
Bulletin, p. 3-12.
Hayes, J.G. and Halliday, J., 1974. The
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wells. Proc. Third World Pet.
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James, R., 1965. Metering of steam-water
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404