Horner Time

Horner time is a time function used to specifically analyze buildup test data. Horner time is defined as the
special case of superposition (radial) time for a single, constant rate flow period followed by a shut-in (i.e.
a buildup). It is derived as follows.

Superposition in time of the radial flow equation for the case of a buildup test is as follows:

The constant rate solution (for oil or water) for analyzing radial flow data is:

Superposing this equation:

For the constant rate of q, starting at time zero:

For the constant rate of -q, starting at time tc:

Summing these, yields:

The time function in this equation is called Horner time defined as:

By plotting pws versus Horner time on a semi-log (radial) plot, radial flow buildup data appears as a
straight line and can thus be analyzed to determine permeability (k) and apparent or total skin (s'). Note
that based on the above definition, Horner time decreases as shut-in time(delta time) increases, and
as shut-in time approaches infinity, Horner time approaches the limit of one. Due to this inverse
relationship with shut-in time, the time axis on the semi-log (radial) plot is plotted in reverse so that
increasing shut-in time is still represented from left to right.

Since Horner time is based on the radial flow equation, it should only be used for analyzing radial flow.
For linear or bilinear flow, linear or bilinear time functions should be used instead for analysis. Horner
time is valid only when the reservoir is infinite-acting and the rate prior to shut-in was constant. When the
rate has not been constant, superposition radial time should be used instead.
Flow Regimes
Flow of fluid in the reservoir flows in different ways at different times. This is often a function of the shape and
size of the reservoir. In this section, the basic flow regimes are categorized in terms of which time region they
occur, and what kind of wellbore (vertical or horizontal) was used to drill into the formation.

The following are typical derivative and pressure-time plots with the different time categories marked:

 Early Time (E.T.)

 Steady State (S.S.)

 Pseudo-steady State (P.S.S.)

Specific flow regimes that occur within each of the flow regime categories are listed below (for both vertical and
horizontal wells):

Wellbore
Configuratio Early Time Middle Time Transition Late Time
n
 Wellbore  Radial Flow  Single No  Pseudo-
Storage Flow Steady
Boundary State Flow
 Linear
Fracture  Linear  Steady
Flow Channel State Flow
Vertical Flow
Wells  Bilinear
Fracture
Flow

 Spherical
Flow

 Wellbore  Horizontal  Linear  Pseudo-

Horizontal Storage Radial Flow Channel Steady
Wells Flow State Flow
 Vertical
 Wellbore
Configuratio Early Time Middle Time Transition Late Time
n
Radial Flow
 Steady
State Flow
 Linear
Horizontal
Flow

 Elliptical
Flow

 Wellbore  Early Linear  Pseudo-

Storage Flow(toward Steady
fractures) State Flow
 Vertical
Radial Flow  Early Radial
within the Flow(around
fractures each fracture
prior to
Multi-  Linear Flow interference
Fractured within the between
Horizontal fractures fracs)
Wells
(MFHWs)  Compound
 Bilinear Flow
Linear Flow

 Late Radial
Flow(around
MFHW &
fracture
network)

Hydraulically Fractured Reservoirs

In general, a fracture could be classified as an infinite conductivity fracture when the dimensionless
fracture conductivity is greater than 300, i.e., FCD . 300.

There are four flow regimes, as shown conceptually in Figure 1.71, associated with the three types of
vertical fractures. These are:

(1) fracture linear flow;

(2) bilinear flow;

(3) formation linear flow;

(4) infinite-acting pseudoradial flow.

These flow periods can be identified by expressing the pressure transient data in different types of
graphs. Some of these graphs are excellent tools for diagnosis and identification of regimes, since test
data may correspond to different flow periods.

The specialized graphs of analysis for each flow period include:

• a graph of Δp vs. sq rt of time for linear flow;

• a graph of Δp vs. sq rt of time for bilinear flow;

• a graph of Δp vs. log(time) for infinite-acting pseudoradial flow.

These types of flow regimes and the diagnostic plots are discussed below.

Fracture Linear Flow.

This is the first flow period which occurs in a fractured system. Most of the fluid enters the wellbore
during this period of time as a result of expansion within the fracture, i.e., there is negligible fluid
coming from the formation. Flow within the fracture and from the fracture to the wellbore during this
time period is linear and can be described by the diffusivity equation as expressed in a linear form and is
applied to both the fracture linear flow and formation linear flow periods.

Bilinear Flow.

This flow period is called bilinear flow because two types of linear flow occur simultaneously. As
originally proposed by Cinco (1981), one flow is a linear incompressible flow within the fracture and the
other is a linear compressible flow in the formation. Most of the fluid which enters the wellbore during
this flow period comes from the formation. Fracture tip effects do not affect well behavior during
bilinear flow and, accordingly, it will not be possible to determine the fracture length from the well
bilinear flow period data. However, the actual value of the fracture conductivity FC can be determined
during this flow period. The pressure drop through the fracture is significant for the finite conductivity
case and the bilinear flow behavior is observed; however, the infinite conductivity case does not exhibit
bilinear flow behavior because the pressure drop in the fracture is negligible. Thus, identification of the
bilinear flow period is very important for two reasons:

(1) It will not be possible to determine a unique fracture length from the well bilinear flow period data. If
this data is used to determine the length of the fracture, it will produce a much smaller fracture length
than the actual.

(2) The actual fracture conductivity kfwf can be determined from the bilinear flow pressure data.

Formation Linear Flow.

At the end of the bilinear flow, there is a transition period after which the fracture tips begin to affect
the pressure behavior at the wellbore and a linear flow period might develop. This linear flow period is
exhibited by vertical fractures whose dimensionless conductivity is greater that 300, i.e., FCD . 300. As in
the case of fracture linear flow, the formation linear flow pressure data collected during this period is a
function of the fracture length xf and fracture conductivity FC. The pressure behavior during this linear
flow period can be described by the diffusivity equation as expressed in linear form.

Infinite-acting Pseudoradial Flow.

During this period, the flow behavior is similar to the radial reservoir flow with a negative skin effect
caused by the fracture. The traditional semilog and loglog plots of the transient pressure data can be
used during this period.

Horizontal well flow regimes

Circular Boundaries

Closed Circle
The well is at the center of a reservoir limited by a sealing circular boundary, radius re. Unlike linear faults,
this model has a radial symmetry and can be solved without the need for image wells:

Fig. 2-1 Circular Boundaries

When the boundary is seen during a drawdown, the pressure response will transition
from radial flow to pseudo-steady state flow, corresponding to depletion. During
pseudo-steady state flow, Dp is proportional Dt, for a constant flowrate, so there will
be a straight line on a linear plot and a unit slope straight line on the log-log plot. The
derivative is also proportional to Dt, and also follows a unit-slope straight line.

The build-up response is actually the difference between 2 drawdown responses, at

the same point in space but shifted in time. When the pseudo-steady state
approximation holds for both responses thepressure becomes constant, equal to the
average reservoir pressure, and the derivative tends to zero.

The drawdown response in a closed circle (or any closed reservoir) is unmistakable,
a unit-slope straight line in late time, on both the log-log and the derivative.
The build-up response is the same as for a constant pressure circular boundary, as
seen below.(It is too steep to be a linear constant pressure).
 Fig. 2-2 Closed Circular Boundary

Constant Pressure Circle:

The geometry is the same as for the closed circle, but the pressure at the boundary
radius (re) is constant. The model again has radial symmetry, and is solved with no
image wells.

The qualitative behavior is the same as for a constant pressure linear boundary,
namely a pressure stabilization indicated by a plunging derivative, but for a circular
boundary the trend is sharper.

Drawdowns and build-ups look the same:

Fig. 2-3 Constant pressure circle

Parallel Faults (Channel)

The well is either between parallel faults or in a channel:

Fig. 4-1 Parallel Faults

The late time behavior will be linear flow, resulting in a 1/2-unit slope on both the
log-log and derivative plots, as for a fracture in early time. Before that there may
be infinite-acting radial flow, and there may be a doubling of the derivative due to
the first fault being a lot closer than the second:
 Fig. 4-2 Parallel Faults

Note that the 360/ rule still applies to the total jump in the derivative; in this case,
when  is 0°, it is infinite, and the derivative increases continually at a 1/2-unit slope.

Intersecting Faults

If the first fault is far enough away, infinite-acting radial flow is established after
wellbore storage. Until a fault is seen, it will have no effect on the pressure curve.
Similarly, the first fault will always cause the derivative to double, as until it is seen
the second fault will have no effect. The final stabilization level is determined by the
angle between the faults :

If the well is centered (1), there will be a single jump to the final stabilization, at
a value 360/ times the initial radial flow stabilization. If the well is much closer to
one fault (2), the single fault doubling of the derivative may be seen before a
second jump.
 Fig. 2-3 Constant pressure circle

When at least one of the faults is a constant pressure, the pressure will stabilize
and the derivative will tend to zero. The constant pressure boundary will dominate
the pressure response, so that nothing more distant will be observed.