6.

Estimate the radial directional permeability by

(8-55)

Example 8-9 8 Analyzing Pressure Drawdown Test for Horizontal Fractured

Well Using Gringarten et al. 's Type Curves
Drawdown data are presented in Table 8-12 and fluid properties are:
q = 275stb/day; /i 0 = 0.23 cP; /30 = 1.760 rb/stb; A = 12 ft; 0 = 0.30; and
ct= 30.0 x 10" 6 PSi" 1 . Calculate the radial and vertical permeabilities and
fracture radius.

Solution A log-log cross plot of Ap = (pt pwf) versus log t is shown in

Figure 8-27. The initial data formed a straight line with a half-unit slope,
which indicated a fracture reservoir. The data curve was placed over the type
curve for a constant-flux horizontal fracture at the center of interval and was

Table 8-12
Pressure Drawdown Test Data for Horizontal Fractured Oil Well

Time, Pressure, (Pi -Pwf) t

t (min) Pw/ (psig) (psig) (psig/min) Time (hr) Vt (hr05)
0.0000 4000 0 0.00
1.0000 3963 37 37.00 0.0167 0.129
5.0000 3918 82 16.40 0.0833 0.289
10.0000 3886 114 11.40 0.1670 0.409
15.0000 3860 140 9.33 0.250 0.500
20.0000 3839 161 8.05 0.333 0.577
25.0000 3819 181 7.24 0.417 0.646
30.0000 3805 195 6.50 0.500 0.707
35.0000 3789 211 6.03 0.583 0.764
40.0000 3778 222 5.55 0.667 0.817
45.0000 3765 235 5.22 0.750 0.866
50.0000 3759 241 4.82 0.833 0.913
60.0000 3740 260 4.33 1.000 1.000
75.0000 3704 295 3.93 1.750 1.118
120.0000 3645 355 2.96 2.000 1.414
150.0000 3610 390 2.60 2.500 1.581
240.0000 3540 460 1.92 4.00 2.000
285.0000 3520 480 1.68 4.75 2.179
480.0000 3440 560 1.17 8.00 2.828
720.0000 3370 630 0.88 12.00 3.464
 Match points are:

Lower limit
of drainage
area=15.48
acres

Figure 8-27. Dimensionless pressure versus dimensionless time horizontal frac-

ture (uniform flux).7

placed until a match was obtained (Figure 8-28). Estimation of radial and
vertical permeabilities and fracture radius can be obtained as follows:
1. Match points are obtained from Figure 8-27: ^M=100min,
(tD)M = 0.36, (Ap)M = 100 psi, and (pD/hD)M = 0.185 with hD = 1.58.
2. Estimate \/krkzrf from pressure match point using Eq. 8-51:

3. Determine kr/rj from time match point using Eq. 8^47:

 Initial pressure = 4000 psi
Flowing bottom-hole pressure, p Xpsi)

Slope^ =

Figure 8-28. Linear plot drawdown test data.

Therefore

(8-56)

4. Eqs. 8-51 and 8-56 provide two relationships for three unknowns. The third
relation is provided by the parameter hjy, which is read from the match:

that is

(8-57)

5. Calculate the radial permeability kr by combining Eqs. 8-47 and 8^8

as follows:

(8-58)
 6. Estimate the fracture radius, r/, by combining Eqs. 8-56 and 8-58 as
follows:

therefore r/ =
(8-59)

7. Calculate the vertical permeability, kz, by combining Eqs. 8-46, 8-51,

and 8-59 as follows:

Hence

Interrelated Data Using Gringarten etal. Type Curves

Dimensionless pressure from type curve, polho = 0.185;
Pressure change from test data, A/? = lOOpsig;
Time match point (dimensionless time), tj> 0.36;
Time match point from test data, A^ = 100.

Calculated Parameters
(krkzf5rf = 29.08mD ft, kor5/rf = 0.04mD 05 /ft;
l/rf(kr/kzf5 = O.Hfr1;
Effective horizontal permeability, kr = 3.63 mD;
Fracture radius, r/ = 46.33 ft;
Effective vertical permeability, kz 0.11 mD;
Lower limit of drainage radius, re = 463.27 ft;
Lower limit of drainage area, A = 15.48 acres.

Example 8-10 8 Rework Example 8-9 by plotting flowing bottom-hole

pressure pw/ versus yft.

Solution From Example 8-10, the match points (see Figure 8-28) are:
tM = 100min, {tD)M = 0.36, (Ap)M = 100psi, and (pD/hD)M = Ol%5 w i t h
AD = 1.5.
Figure 8-28 is a plot of pw/ versus y/i on Cartesian coordinates, and the
early time data give a straight line with slope equal to 271.81 psi/cycle.
Calculate kz, r/, and kz as follows:
 Estimate from pressure match point:

Calculate kr\rf from time match points:

Compute the vertical permeability kz by the following equation:

Calculate the fracture radius r/ from Eq. 8-49:

Determine the radial directional permeability kr from Eq. 8-52:

Estimation of Upper Limit of Permeability Thickness Product

Last point on the half-slope line may be used to estimate an upper limit
of permeability-thickness product. Using this value of permeability,
a corresponding fracture length may be calculated. The appropriate equa-
tions7 to be used are:

(8-60)

(8-61)

where Ap and t are, respectively, the pressure change and time corres-
ponding to the last available point on the half-slope line. Eqs. 8-60 and
8-61 can be used if data beyond the half-slope line are available but are not
sufficiently long to perform a type curve match or to use the semilog graph.
If the natural fractures are analyzed in this fashion, then the right-hand sides
of Eqs. 8-60 and 8-61 should be

(8-62)

(8-63)

8.5 Summary
Based on the material presented in this chapter, the following remarks are
pertinent:
A new technique is presented to analyze data in the bilinearflowperiod.
It is shown that, during this flow period, a graph of (pwf) versus ?1/4
yields a straight line when the slope is inversely proportional to

New type curves are now available for pressure analysis of fractured oil
wells and the problem in the analysis is reduced considerably with the
use of these type curves.
Pre-fracture information about the reservoir is necessary to estimate the
fracture parameters.
The type curve analysis method must be used simultaneously with the
specific analysis methods (pwf) versus f1/4, (pwf) versus r1/2, and (pwf)
versus log t to produce reliable results.
 References and Additional Reading
1. Agarwal, R. G., Al-Hussainy, R., and Ramey, HJ., Jr., "An Investiga-
tion of Wellbore Storage and Skin Effect in Unsteady Liquid Flow.
I. Analytical Treatment," Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (1970) 10, 279-290.
2. Earlougher, R. C, Jr., and Kersch, K. M., "Analysis of Short-Time
Transient Test Data by Type-Curve Matching," /. Pet. Tech. (1974) 26,
793-800.
3. McKinley, R. M., "Wellbore Transmissibility from Afterflow-Dominated
Pressure Buildup Data," paper SPE 2416, 45th Fall Meeting of AIME,
Houston, TX.
4. Raghavan, R., Cady, G. V., and Ramey, H. J., Jr., "Well Test Analysis
for Vertically Fractured Wells," /. Pet. Tech. (Aug. 1972) 1014-1020;
Trans. AIME, 246.
5. Gringarten, A. C, Ramey, H. J., Jr., and Raghavan, R., "Pressure
Analysis for Fractured Wells," paper SPE 4051 presented at the
SPE-AIME 47th Annual Fall Meeting, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 8-11,
1972.
6. Gringarten, A. C, Ramey, H., Jr., and Raghavan, R., "Unsteady-State
Pressure Distribution Created by a Well with a Single Infinite-
Conductivity Vertical Fracture," Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (Aug. 1974) 347-360;
Trans. AIME, 257.
7. Gringarten, A. C, and Ramey, H., Jr., "Unsteady-State Pressure Dis-
tribution Created by a Well with a Single Horizontal Fracture," Soc. Pet.
Eng. J. (Aug. 1974) 413^26; Trans. AIME, 257.
8. Amanat U. C, Pressure Transient Test Analysis User's Handbook,
Advanced TWPSOM Systems Inc., Houston, TX, Vol. 8, Oct. 1995.
 Chapter 9
Flow Regime
Identification and
Analysis Using
Special Methods

9.1 Introduction
Transient behavior of oil well with a finite-conductivity vertical frac-
ture has been simulated by Cinco et al. Usually it is assumed that
fractures have an infinite conductivity; however, this assumption is weak
in the case of large fractures or very low-capacity fractures. Finite-
conductivity vertical fracture in an infinite slab is shown in Figure 91.
Transient behavior of a well with a finite-conductivity vertical fracture
includes several flow periods. Initially, there is a fracture linear flow
characterized by a half-slope straight line; after a transition flow period,
the system may not exhibit a bilinear flow period, indicated by a one-
fourth-slope straight line. As time increases, a formation linear flow
period might develop.
Eventually, in all cases, the system reaches a pseudo-radial flow period.
Pressure data for each flow period should be analyzed using a specific
interpretation method such as
AI/J versus (Z)1^4 for bilinear flow
Aip versus (t) ' for linear flow
and
Aip versus log t for pseudo-radial flow

9.2 Fracture Linear Flow Period1'4'8

During this flow period, most of the fluid entering the wellbore comes
from the expansion of the system within the fracture and the flow is
 Wellbore

Impermeable
boundaries

Figure 9 - 1 . Finite-conductivity vertical fracture in an infinite slab reservoir (after

Cinco and Samaniego, 1978).2

essentially linear, as shown in Figure 9-2. Pressure response at the wellbore

is given by

(9-1)

(9-2)

Eq. 9-2 indicates that a log-log graph of pressure difference against

the time yields a straight line whose slope is equal to one-half. A graph
of pressure versus the square root of time also gives a straight line whose
slope depends on the fracture characteristics excluding the fracture half-
length, Xf.

Figure 9-2. Fracture linear flow.1

 The fracture linear flow ends when

(9-3)

This flow period occurs at a time too early to be of practical use.

9.3 Bilinear Flow1'4'8

It is a new type of flow behavior called bilinear flow because two linear
flows occur simultaneously. One flow is linear within the fracture and the
other is in the formation, as shown in Figure 9-3. The dimensionless well-
bore pressure for the bilinear flow period is given by

(9-4)

This equation indicates that a graph of pWD versus (tDxf)llAr produces a

straight line whose slope is 2A5/[(kfbf)D]05, intercepting the origin. Figure
9-4 presents that type of graph for different values of (kfbf)D. The existence
of bilinear flow can be identified from a log-log plot of Ap versus At from
which the pressure behavior for bilinear flow will exhibit a straight line
whose slope is equal to one-fourth to the linear flow period in which the
slope is one-half. The duration of this period depends on both dimensionless
fracture conductivity, (kfb/)D, and wellbore storage coefficients (dimension-
less storage capacity), CfD/. For buildup analysis of bilinear flow period, the
pressure drop may be expressed as

(9-5)

Figure 9-3. Bilinear flow.2