Investigation of Wellbore Storage and Skin Effect

in Unsteady Liquid Flow

The diffusivity equation for fluid flow in terms of
dimensionless variable is
2

PD 1 PD PD

=
2 +
rD
rD rD
rD

(1)

The initial and outer boundary conditions are

PD ( rD ,0) = 0

(2)

lim { P ( r

(3)

rD

, tD )} = 0

while the inner boundary condition is

dPwD PD
CD
-(
) rD =1 = 1
dt D
rD
and

PwD

PD
= [ PD - S(
)]rD =1
rD

(4)

(5)

Eq. (4) states that the dimensionless wellbore

unloading rate plus the dimensionless sand face flow rate
must equal unity, the surface flow rate.
The wellbore unloading or storage constant, C D, is that
defined by van Everdingen and Hurst. That is,

kt
(6)
tD =
c t rw2
C represents the volume of wellbore fluid unloading or
storage, cc/atm. Storage may be by virtue of either
compressibility or changing liquid level.
2 kh (p i - p wf )
C
PwD =
CD =
2
,
q
2 hcrw ,

Eq. (5) introduces a steady state skin effect and, thus,

a pressure drop at the sand face which is proportional to the
sand face flow rate. Note from eq. (4) that
q sf
dPwD
PD
= -(
) rD =1 = 1 - C D
q
rD
dt D

where q is the constant surface flow rate, and qsf is the

sand face flow rate. Finally, the dimensionless flowing
pressure, PwD, is the same as p D (t D ) used previously by

(7)

vn Everdingen and Ramey. Thus, PwD represents the

pressure within the wellbore, while PD represents pressures
on the formation side of the skin effect.
Solution of the Equation
Solution of eqs. (1) through (5) follows readily using the
Laplace transformation. The transform of the dimensionless
flowing pressure may be written as
L[ PwD ] =

K 0 ( p ) + S p K1 ( p )
p[ p K1 ( p ) + C D p{K 0 ( p ) + S p K1 ( p )}]

(8)

where K0 and K1 are modified Bessel functions of the

second kind of zero and unit orders
Another related solution has appeared in the
petroleum literature. By using the superposition principle
and representing the well as a continuous line source, the
Laplace transform of the dimensionless well pressure may
be shown to be:

L[ PwD ] =

K0 ( p ) + S
p[1 + C D p{K 0 ( p ) + S}]

(9)

Eq. (8) can be written as:

L[PwD ] =

(10)

1
p[pC D +
]
K0 ( p )
S+
p K1 ( p )

A semi log plot of the function

S+

K0 ( p )
p K1 ( p )

versus pe

-2S

is shown in fig.1 for various values of the skin S.

It can be observed that the various curves merge into a
single straight line as pe -2S decreases for a given S value.
In practice, however, if one consider the dimensionless
pressure (PwD) range associated with each skin value, one

finds that the function plotted in fig. 1 is always in the

linear portion of the curve at that skin. As a result, the
function S + K 0 ( p ) can always be approximated by the
p K1 ( p )

semi-log straight line, i.e. by ln

2
pe -2S

Eq. (10) thus becomes:

L[PwD ]

1
p[pC D +

ln

1
2
pe -2S

(11)

By changing the variable p into z:

z = p CD
L[PwD (z)]

1
z[zC D +

ln

1
2

(12)

z / C D e 2S

The dimensionless pressure only depends upon tD/CD and

e2S. This justifies a posteriori the choice of these
dimensionless variables by Gringarten, et al. to construct
the type curves of Fig. 2

Fig. 2 Wellbore storage and skin type curves in a homogeneous

reservoir (Gringarten et al; 1979)

Definition
Suppose f (t) be a function of t defined for t > 0. Then the

integral

st
e
, f (t )dt
0

if it exists, is a function of s, say, F(s). The

function F(s) is called the Laplace transform of f (t) and is

denoted by L {f (t)}. Thus

L{ f ( t )} = F(s) = e -st f ( t )dt

0

Laplace transforms of derivatives

If, L {f (t)} = F (s), then L {f' (t)} = s F(s) f (0), provided

- st

Lt e f ( t ) = 0

Then the general formula for nth derivative is written as

L {fn (t)} = sn F(s) - sn-1f (0) sn-2 f (0) - ..- f n-1(0).
Laplace transform of integrals
t

If, L {f (t)} = F (s), then f (u )du = 1 F(s). This is used to

s
0
calculate the integral of the
any function.
Inverse Laplace transforms
If L {f (t)} = F(s), then f (t) is called the inverse Laplace
transform of F(s) and is denoted by f (t) = L-1 {F (s)}.

Stehfest Algorithm
It has been pointed out that in the search for analytical
solution to the diffusivity equation a second order linear
partial differential equation the Laplace transform f (s) of
the solution f (t) has to be inverted. For situations where
this inversion is either very difficulty or impossible Stehfest
has presented an algorithm by values of t, i.e. given the
solution in Laplace space f (s) the real time solution f (t) at
a given value of t = T can be evaluated. The Stehfest
algorithm is as
ln 2 N
ln 2
f a ( T) =
Vi f
i

T i =1
T

Where, fa (T) = numerical approximation to the function

value at T i.e. f (T)
f (s) =Laplace transform of f (t)
Vi = a set of predetermined coefficients which
depend on N (an even integer).
The weighting factors, Vi, are determined from the
formula:
N
Vi = (-1)

N
i
2

min[ i ,

i +1
k=
2

k N / 2 (2k )!
N
( - k )!k!(k - 1)!(i - k )!(2k - i)!
2

It was shown by the Stehfest that the optimum value of N

depends on the Number of digits carried in the
computation. For example for N = 12 the values of Vi are
given by

Vi

Vi

-0.01666666666666

-3891705.533308

16.01666666666

7053286.333279

-1247.000000002

-8005336.499933

27554.33333318

10

5552830.499949

-263280.8333323

11

-2155507.19998

1324138.699994

12

359251.1999968

The computed inverse transforms are accurate to at

least four decimal places in most cases.
When the Stehfest algorithm is employed to evaluate the real
time function PD (tD) from its Laplace transform PD (s), it is
computed at specific values of tD sufficient to cover the range
required.
The PD function can then be plotted vs. tD on Cartesian, semilog or log-log scales and its characteristics investigated.
If required it can be represented by some convenient
numerical approximation, e.g. polynomial, cubic spline,
rational function or interpolated between the tabulated
values.

Pressure Transient data Analysis of Two Porosity System

The development of the double porosity model has, in
fact, followed the same pattern as that of the homogeneous
model, for which the basic model was first introduced (by
Theis in the 1930s), then outer boundary conditions, and
finally, inner boundary conditions when early time analysis
was developed in late 1960s.
The concept of a double porosity medium as
representative of a fissured reservoir was first introduced by
Barenblatt, et al. Their model assumed the existence of two
porous regions of distinctly different porosities and
permeabilities within the formation.

One region (the fissures) had a high conductivity and

carried the reservoir fluid to the well, whereas the other
region (the blocks) had a low conductivity and fed liquid
only to the fissures, acting as a uniformly distributed source.
As a consequence, each point in space was associated with
two pressures, namely:
(1) the average liquid pressure, pf, in the fissures in the
vicinity of the point and
(2) the average liquid pressure, pm, in the porous
blocks in the vicinity of that some point. Another assumption
was that the flow of fluid from blocks to fissures was
occurring under pseudo-steady state conditions:


q = k m ( pm - pf )

Partial Differential Equations

The basic partial differential equations for fluid flow
in a two-porosity system were presented by Warren and Root
in 1963. The model was extended by Mavor and Cinco_Ley
to include wellbore storage and skin effect. The fundamental
partial differential equations are
2

PDf 1 PDf
PDM
PDf

= (1 - )
+
2 +
rD
rD rD
t D
t D
PDM
(1 - )
= ( PDf - PDM )
t D

(1)
(2)

where is the dimensionless fracture storage parameter

(Vc) f
=
(Vc) f + (Vc) m

(3)

and is the dimensionless matrix fracture permeability

ratio:

km 2
=
rw
kf

(4)

is the inter-porosity flow shape factor in ft-2, and P D and

tD are defined in the nomenclature.

A complete mathematical definition requires additional

equations which represent the appropriate initial and
boundary conditions. For a system at constant pressure, the
initial condition is;

PDf (rD ,0) = 0

(5)

The inner boundary condition in the case of constant

producing pressure is:

PDf
PDf - S(
) rD =1 = 1
rD

(6)

where S is the skin factor. The two outer boundary

condition are considered: an infinitely large reservoir and
closed outer boundary. For an infinitely large reservoir the

condition is:

lim P
rD

Df

(rD , t D ) = 0

(7)

For closed outer boundary, the condition is:

PDf
rD

=0

(8)

rD = reD

The dimensionless flow rate into the wellbore is given by:

PDf
q D ( t D ) = -(
) rD =1
rD
and qD is defined in the nomenclature.

(9)

The cumulative production is related to the flow rate by:

d (Q D )
= qD
dt D

(10)

The above equations define completely the statement

of the problem. Compared to a homogeneous system, the
parameters and define the behavior of a two-porosity
system. is the ratio of the storage capacity of the fracture
to the total capacity of the medium.
The parameter reflects the intensity of the fluid transfer
between the matrix and the fractures, and is representative
of the geometry of the system as included in the shape
factor, .

Method of Solution
A common method for solving eqs. (1) and (2)
under the conditions given by eqs. (5)-(9) is to use the
Laplace transformation
The equations are transformed into a system of
ordinary differential equations which can be solved
analytically. The resulting solution in the transformed
space is a function of the Laplace variable, s, and the
space variable rD.
To obtain the solution in real time and space, the inverse
Laplace transform is used. This can be done several ways.

The simplest method is to look for the function and

the inverse in well known tables for Laplace transforms.
In the present work, the inverse was found by using
an algorithm for approximate numerical inversion of the
Laplace space solution. This algorithm was presented by
Stehfest in 1970 and has been used with success by many
authors.
L[ PwD ] =

K 0 [ pf (p) ] + S pf (p) K1[ pf (p) ]

p[ pf (p)K1 ( pf (p) ) + C D p{K 0 ( pf (p) ) + S pf (p) K1 ( pf (p) )}]

(11)
where

(1 - )p +
f ( p) =
(1 - )p +

Eq. (11) can be approximated in all practical cases by:

1

P Df (z) =
z[z + {ln

2
zf (z) /(C D ) f + m e

-1
}
]
2S

(12)

In eq. (12), on the other hand, the Laplace variable z is

defined with respect to the ratio of the dimensionless time
to the dimensionless wellbore storage constant. This ratio
is independent of storativity and is simply written as:
tD
kh t
= 0.000295
CD
C

Warren and Roots f function is now given by:

(1 - )z + (C D ) f + m
f (z) =
(1 - )z + (C D ) f + m

(13)

At early times (z) the f function is equal to and eq.

(12) becomes
1

P Df (z) =
z[z + {ln

2
z /(C D ) f + m e

-1
}
]
2S

At late times (z0), the f function is equal to unity and

eq. (12) reduces to:

P Df (z) =
z[z + {ln

2
z /(C D ) f + m e

-1
}
]
2S

At intermediate times, the f function reduces to (CD)f+m

and eq. (12) becomes:
1

P Df (z) =
z[z + {ln

2
e

-1
}
]
- 2S

Our investigation of this problem indicates that the

pressure response of the double porosity reservoir with
transient block to fissure flow is indeed very different from
that with pseudo-steady state flow.
It is possible to show that the pressure solution for
transient flow from blocks to fissures is given as
f ( p) = +

(1 - )
3(1 - ) p
tanh
3p

for horizontal slab blocks, and

1 15(1 - )p
15(1 - )p
f ( p) = +
[
coth
- 1]
5p

for spherical blocks.

At intermediate times, during the transition period,

f(p) is no longer constant, but becomes equivalent to:

3p for slab, and

3
5p for spheres

For the transient inter-porosity flow model, with

slab shaped matrix and with fracture skin:

a tanh(a )
f ( p) = + [
]
3p 1 + SF a tanh(a )

where

3(1 - )p
a=

For the transient inter-porosity flow model with

spherically shaped matrix with fracture skin:

b coth(b) - 1
f ( p) = + [
]
5p 1 + SF{b coth(b) - 1}
where

15(1 - )p
b=

Wellbore storage and skin

Decline Curve Analysis Using Type Curves for Dual

Porosity System
Transient Rate Solutions
Two types of two porosity systems are considered: the
unbounded reservoir and the closed, bounded reservoir.
The solutions for the unbounded system have appeared
elsewhere in the literature. The solutions for the bounded,
closed system are given below.
Infinite Outer Boundary

q D ( p) =

pf (p) K1 ( pf (p) )
p{K 0 ( pf (p )) + S pf (p) K1 ( pf (p) )}

(1)

When the well has zero skin above equation reduces to

q D ( p) =

pf (p) K1 ( pf (p) )

(2)

pK 0 ( pf (p ))

This equation is for a finite radius constant pressure

source in an infinite system.
Three flow period are now considered: early time,
intermediate time, and late time. At early time, t0,
p, f, and eq. (2) inverts to:

t D -1/ 2
qD =
[ ]

(3)

At intermediate time, , controls the flow, f/p, and eq.

(2) inverts to:
K1 ( )
qD =
(4)
K ( )
0

At late time, t, p0, f1 and eq. (2) inverts to:

1
qD =
(1 / 2)[ln t D + 0.809]

(5)

When the well has a +ve skin, at early time eq. (1) inverts
to:
1
qD =
(6)
S
The intermediate time solution with +ve skin is:

qD =

K1 ( )
[ K 0 ( ) + S K1 ( ) ]

(7)

The late time solution with +ve skin is;

1
qD =
(1 / 2)[ln t D + 0.809] + S

(8)

Closed Outer Boundary

The solution for the dimensionless flow rate, qD, in
Laplace space is given by;

qD =

pf (p)[I1 ( pf (p) reD )K1 ( pf (p) ) - K1 ( pf (p)reD )I1 ( pf (p) )]

p{K1 ( pf (p)reD )I 0 ( pf (p) ) + I1 ( pf (p) reD )K 0 ( pf (p) ) - pf (p) p[K1 ( pf (p)reD )I1 ( pf (p) ) - K1 ( pf (p) )I1 ( pf (p) reD )]}