Fluid Flow through Porous Media 1

Sh. Kord 1
 Model
• Physical model
• Simplifying assumptions

• Mathematical model
• Choosing an appropriate element
• Governing equation
• Mass balance
• Momentum balance (Darcy’s law)
• Equation of state
• Initial and Boundary conditions
• Infinite acting
• Constant rate production
• Constant pressure production
• Finite acting
• Constant rate production
• Constant pressure production
• Solutions
• Laplace space solutions
• Time domain solutions
• Simplified solutions

• Applications (Drawdown (single rate & multi rate), Reservoir limit test, Build up,
Superposition (time & space), …),

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 2 Sh. Kord

 Mathematical Model-Governing Equation

ft psia cp 1/psia

1 ∂  ∂p  ϕµ ct ∂p
  r  =
r  ∂r  ∂r  0.0002637 k ∂t
0.0002637 k
Hydraulic Diffusivity η= hr
φµ ct
md
ct = c f + co S o + cw S w
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 3 Sh. Kord
 System of Units

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 Validation condition

This equation can only be applied when the following condition

is satisfied:

For example, when the product is 0.1, the solution has about 5%
error.

Therefore, this form is suitable for liquids and we have to drive

another form for gases.

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 Identification process

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 Key Regions

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 Key Regions

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 Key Regions

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 Key Regions
The reservoir can be divided into three key regions. These regions can be
referred to in either physical or mathematical terms, as shown in the below
Table.

Physical Terminology Mathematical Terminology

Region I The wellbore and near-wellbore The inner boundary

conditions at wellbore

Region II The reservoir beyond the wellbore The basic model

(Reservoir Structure)

Region III The pressure/flow conditions at the The outer boundary

outer extent of the well-drainage conditions
area

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 10 Sh. Kord

 Dimensionless Variables for Radial Flow

1 ∂  ∂p   φµct  ∂p 1 ∂  ∂pD  ∂pD

r  =    rD  =
r ∂r  ∂r   k  ∂t rD ∂rD  ∂rD  ∂t D

Using the following variables

r = rch rD
• Dimensionless Radius r = rw rD
t = tcht D φµct rw2
• Dimensionless Time t= tD
k
pi − p = pch pD qµB
• Dimensionless Pressure pi − p = pD
2πkh
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 11 Sh. Kord
 Dimensionless Variables for Radial Flow

Constant production rate boundary condition:

The inner boundary condition:

k (2πhrw )  ∂p   ∂p D 
Bq =    rD  = −1
µ  ∂r  rw  ∂rD  rD =1
The outer boundary condition with no flow boundary:

 ∂p   ∂p D


 = 0
  =0
 ∂r  r →re  ∂rD  reD

The initial condition:

p (r , t = 0) = pi pD (rD , t D = 0) = 0

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 12 Sh. Kord

 Dimensionless Variables for Radial Flow
 bbl 
 cp 
( pi − p )
1  1 day  1 kh
1 psi = pD =
141.2  2π md × ft  141.2 Bqµ
 
 

 ft 2 cp/psi  0.0002637 k
1 hr = 0.0002637  tD = t
 md  rw φµct
2

1 md = 9.869233 × 10-16 m2
1 bbl = 0.1589873 m3
1 psi = 6894.757 Pa
1 ft = 0.3048 m
1 cp = 0.001 Pa s
1 day= 24×3600 s
1 hr = 3600 s
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 13 Sh. Kord
 Initial And Boundary Conditions
Radial Flow In a Circular Reservoir

Initial Condition : p = pi , t = 0, r ≥ rw

Well production Flow regime Inner Boundary Outer Boundary

Condition conditions
Constant rate Infinite acting  ∂p  µ qBo
  =− ( p)
r →∞ = pi
 ∂r  r
w
2π rw hk
Constant rate Finite acting  ∂p  µ qBo  ∂p 
(Bounded)   =−   =0
 ∂r  r
w
2π rw hk  ∂r  r →re
Constant pressure Infinite acting
( p) rw = p wf ( p)
r →∞ = pi

Constant pressure Finite acting  ∂p 

(Bounded) ( p) = p wf   =0
 ∂r  r →re
rw

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 Reservoir Behavior

Why
parallel?

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 Dimensionless Variables for Linear Flow

 ∂2 p   φµct  ∂p  ∂ 2 p D  ∂pD
 2  =   
 ∂x  ∂t
=
 ∂x   0.0002637 k  ∂t
2
 D  D

Using the following variables

x
xD =
• Dimensionless length A
0.0002637 k
• Dimensionless Time tD = t
φµct A
• Dimensionless Pressure pD =
k A
( pi − p )
2π (141.2) Bqµ
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 16 Sh. Kord
 Dimensionless Variables for Linear Flow

Constant production rate boundary condition:

The inner boundary condition:

 ∂p D 
  = −1
 ∂xD  xD =1
The outer boundary condition with infinite acting

p D ( x D → ∞, t D ) = 0

The initial condition:

pD ( xD , t D = 0) = 0
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 17 Sh. Kord
 Solution of the Diffusivity Equation
Assumptions in the development of diffusivity equation:
• Homogeneous and isotropic reservoir
• Horizontal fluid flow with negligible effects of gravity
• Single phase fluid
• Isothermal and laminar flow

Common solutions of the diffusivity equation:

• The well as a line source located in an infinite reservoir of cylindrical shape
• The solution for a bounded cylindrical reservoir
• Modified solutions that consider skin and wellbore storage
• Pseudo steady state flow in a cylindrical reservoir with boundaries
• Generalized solution for various reservoir shapes
• Pseudo pressure approach for highly compressible flow

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 Solution of the Diffusivity Equation

Common scenarios in which the fluid flow models requires modification:

• Multiphase flow

• Gas condensate reservoirs

• Development of turbulency in gas wells

• Horizontal wells

• Other cases

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 Solution of the Diffusivity Equation

van Everdingen- Hurst Constant Terminal Rate Solution

Bounded Cylindrical Reservoir (Exact Solution)

 −α n t D  ( )
2

qµB  2t D ∞
J12 α n reD
 2 + n(reD ) − + 2∑ 2 2
3 e
pwf = pi − 141.2
kh  reD

4 [
n =1 α n J 1 (α n reD ) − J 1 (α n ) 
2 

]

αn Are the roots of J 1 (α n reD )Y1 (α n ) − J 1 (α n )Y1 (α n reD ) = 0

Approximate Solutions

1. Infinite cylindrical reservoir with line-source well

2. Bounded cylindrical reservoir, pseudo steady-state flow
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 Line-source & Finite-wellbore Solutions
• The solution to the diffusivity equation that results when the well (inner) boundary
condition is treated as a cylinder of finite radius instead of treating the well as a line
source.

• The solution to differential equations treating the well as a vertical line through a
porous medium. The solution is nearly identical to the finite-wellbore solution. At
very early times, there is a notable difference in the solutions, but the differences
disappear soon after a typical well is opened to flow or shut in for a buildup test,
and in practice the differences are masked by wellbore storage.

Line-source: the well has zero radius Finite-wellbore

 ∂p  µ qBo  ∂p  µ qBo
  =−   =−
 ∂r  r →0 2π rw hk  ∂r  r
w
2π rw hk

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 21 Sh. Kord

Solution of the Diffusivity Equation; Bounded Reservoir

The summation of exponentials and Bessel functions is negligible

after a large time
 φµ ct re2 
For example for: t > 948  
 k 
 

qµB  2t D 3
pwf = pi − 141.2  2 + n(reD ) − 
kh  reD 4

141.2qBµ  0.0005274 k  re  
pwf = pi −  t + n  − 0.75
 φµ ct re
2
kh  rw  
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 22 Sh. Kord
 Infinite Cylindrical Reservoir with Line-Source Well
Assumptions:
Well produces at constant rate
Well has zero radius
Reservoir is at uniform pressure
Well drains an infinite reservoir
1  φµ ct r 2 

pD = − Ei − 948
2  k t 

qBµ   φµ c r 2

pwf = pi + 70.6 Ei − 948
t w

kh  k t 
 

The assumption of
zero wellbore 
5
φµ c r 2
  φµ c r 2
 The reservoir is
limits the accuracy 3.79 ×10
t w
 < t < 948  t e
 no longer
 k   k 
of the solution     infinite acting

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 23 Sh. Kord

 Infinite Cylindrical Reservoir; Log Approximation

qBµ  φµ ct rw2 

pwf = pi + 70.6 Ei − 948
kh  k t 
 
∞
e −u  ≈ n(1.781x ) for x < 0.02 (error ≈ 0.6%)
− Ei (− x ) = ∫ du = 
x
u ≈ 0 for x > 10.9

qBµ  1.781φµ ct rw 
2

pwf = pi + ln 
4πkh  4k t 

162.6qBo µ    
pwf (t ) = pi −  k
log t  − 3.23
kh   φµ c r 2  
t w 
162.6qBo µ    
pi − pwf (t ) = log(t ) + log
k  − 3.23
2 
kh   φµ c r
t w  
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 24 Sh. Kord
 Drawdown Test

162.6qBo µ   k  
pi − pwf (t ) = log(t ) + log  − 3.23
kh   φµ c r 2  
 t w 

pwf (t ) = a + m log(t )

162.6qBo µ
m=−
kh
162.6qBo µ   k  
a = pi − log  − 3.23
2 
kh   φµ ct rw  

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 25 Sh. Kord

 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

For:  φµ ct re2 
t > 948  
 k 
 

qµB  2t D 3
pwf = pi − 141.2  2 + n(reD ) − 
kh  reD 4

141.2qBµ  0.0005274 k  re  3 
pwf = pi −  t + n  − 
 φµ ct re
2
kh  rw  4 
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 26 Sh. Kord
 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

During this period we can find by differentiation:

∂pwf 0.0744qBo
=−
∂t φ ct re2
V p = π re2 hφ

∂pwf 0.234qBo
=−
∂t ctV p

During this time period, the rate of pressure decline is inversely proportional to
the liquid-filled pore volume, Vp. This result leads to a form of well testing
sometimes called reservoir-limits testing, which seeks to determine reservoir
size from the rate of pressure decline in a wellbore with time.

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 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

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 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

141.2qBµ  0.0005274 k  re  3 
pwf = pi −  t + n  − 
 φµ ct re
2
kh  rw  4 

Another form of the above equation is useful for some

applications. It involves replacing original reservoir pressure, Pi,
with average reservoir pressure, Pav, within the drainage volume
of the well. The volumetric average pressure, within the drainage
volume of the well can be found from material balance. The
pressure decrease resulting from removal of qB RB/D of fluid
for t hours (a total volume removed of 5.615qBt/24 ft3) is

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 29 Sh. Kord

 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

141.2qBµ  0.0005274 k  re  3 
pwf = pi −  t + n  − 
 φµ ct re
2
kh  rw  4 

_
∆V 5.615 qB(t 24 ) 0.0744 qBt
pi − p = = =
ctV 2
(
ct π re hφ )
φ ct hre2

By combining the above two equations the time dependent term

can be canceled:

_
141.2qBµ   re  3 
pwf =p − n  − + S 
kh   rw  4 
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 30 Sh. Kord
 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

_
141.2qBµ   re  3 
pwf =p − n  − + S 
kh   rw  4 

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 31 Sh. Kord

Steady-state, constant rate production from a cylindrical source well
in a reservoir with constant pressure outer boundaries

Constant production rate boundary condition:

The inner boundary condition:

 ∂p D 
  = −1
 ∂rD  rD =1

The outer boundary condition pD (rD = reD , t D ) = 0

The initial condition: pD (rD , t D = 0) = 0

141.2qBµ   re 
pwf = pi − n 
kh   rw 
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 32 Sh. Kord
 Transient linear flow, constant rate production from a hydraulically
fractured well

 ∂ 2 p D  ∂pD
 =
 ∂x  ∂t
2
 D  D

The initial condition:

pD ( xD , t D = 0) = 0

The outer boundary condition with infinite acting

p D ( x D → ∞, t D ) = 0

 ∂p D 
The inner boundary condition:   = −1
 ∂xD  xD =1
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 33 Sh. Kord
 Transient linear flow, constant rate production from a hydraulically
fractured well

 xD2   xD 
pD ( xD , t D ) = 2
tD
exp −  − xD erfc − 
π  4t D   2 t 
 D 
For special case of xD=0:

qB µt
pwf = pi − 4.064
hL f kφct

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 34 Sh. Kord

 Flow equations for generalized reservoir geometry;
Considering Skin and Wellbore storage

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 35 Sh. Kord