Fluid Flow through Porous Media 2

Sh. Kord 1
 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 2 Sh. Kord
 Key Regions

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 3 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 µ qBo
 ∂p 
  =− ( 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

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 4 Sh. Kord

 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 J1 (α n reD )Y1 (α n ) − J1 (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
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 5 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 6 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 c r 2

pwf = pi + ln
t w

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 7 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 8 Sh. Kord

 Drawdown Test

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 9 Sh. Kord

Road Map of Reservoir Engineering of Conventional Reservoirs
Hydraulic Fracturing/Artificial Lift

Sweep and Displacement Efficiency

Well and Reservoir Performance

World
Production Reservoir
Original HC in
Place
Reserve
Estimation
Production
Optimization
EOR/IOR
Methods
Scenarios and
Predictions Management
Development
Plan Oil
Market

Reservoir Simulation
Performance Analysis Tools

Volumetric calculation Reservoir Fluid Properties

Material Balance Method Reservoir Rock Properties

Decline Curve Analysis Recovery Drive Mechanisms

Well test Analysis Reservoir Simulation Well test Analysis

Well Testing: Flow
Course
through
OutlinePorous Media 10 Sh. Kord
 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution
When the pressure disturbance reaches all drainage boundaries,
that’s the end of the transient (unsteady-state) flow regime and
the beginning of the boundary-dominated flow condition.

 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 11 Sh. Kord
 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

During this period we can find by differentiation:

∂pwf 0.0744qBo
=−
∂t φ hct 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.

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 12 Sh. Kord

 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 13 Sh. Kord

 Pseudo Steady-state Flow

∂pwf − 0.234qBo ew in the case of water

= + influx with an influx
∂t ctV p ctV p rate of ew; bbl/day

Pressure s. Time We can estimate reservoir Pore Volume

Compressibility Pressure s. Time

Pore Volume Pressure s. Time

Production rate Pressure s. Time

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 14 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 15 Sh. Kord
 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

_
∆V 0.234qBot
pi − p = =
ctV ct Aφh
_  0.234qBo 
p = pi −  t
 ct Aφh 
Note that the above expression is essentially an equation of a straight
line, with a slope of m\ and intercept of pi, as

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 16 Sh. Kord

 Pseudo Steady-state Flow Approximate Solution

_
∆V 0.234qBot
pi − p = =
ctV ct Aφh
_  0.234qBo 
p = pi −  t
 ct Aφh 
The above Equation indicates that the average reservoir pressure, after
producing a cumulative oil production of Np (STB), can be roughly
approximated by

_  0.234 Bo 
p = pi −   N p
 ct Aφh 

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 17 Sh. Kord

 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

_
141.2qBµ   re  3 
p − pwf = n  − + S 
kh   rw  4 
This equation is limited to a well centered in a circular drainage
area. A similar equation models pseudo-steady state flow in more
general reservoir shape: (Ramey and Cobb (1971))

_
141.2qBµ  1  10.06 A  3 
p − pwf =  n 2 
 − + S
kh  2  C A rw  4 
A= Drainage Area; sq ft
CA= Shape factor for specific drainage area shape and well
location, dimensionless
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 18 Sh. Kord
 Flow equations for generalized reservoir geometry

Note: Area shape factors were

used in the days prior to numerical
reservoir models. Nowadays, they
still can be useful for an approach
to simple reservoir geometries.
However, it is recommended to
use numerical reservoir models
instead of area shape factors!

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 19 Sh. Kord

 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

_
141.2qBµ  1  10.06 A  3 
p − pwf =  n 2 
 − + S
kh  2  C A rw  4 

In terms of average reservoir pressure:

_162.6 qBµ   2.2458 A 

pwf =p − log 2

kh   C A rw 
In terms of initial reservoir pressure:
_  0.234qBo 
p = pi −  t
 ct Aφh 
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 20 Sh. Kord
 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

 162.6 qBµ  2.2458 A   0.234qBo 

pwf =  pi − + log  −  t
 C A rw   ct Aφh 
2
 kh

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 21 Sh. Kord

 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

 162.6 qBµ  2.2458 A   0.234qBo 

pwf =  pi − + log  −  t
 C A rw   ct Aφh 
2
 kh

CA

Pore Volume

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 22 Sh. Kord

 Drawdown Test

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 23 Sh. Kord

 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 24 Sh. Kord

 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

exp[2.303( p1hr − pint ) m]

m
C A = 5.456
m pss

 0.234qBo 
Aφh = − t
 cm 
 t pss 
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 25 Sh. Kord
 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

_162.6 qBµ   2.2458 A 

pwf =p − log 2

kh   C A rw 
A more generalized form of Darcy’s equation can be developed by
rearranging the above Equation:

For a circular reservoir: and

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 26 Sh. Kord

 Flow equation for generalized reservoir geometry

Dimensionless form:

1   2.3458 A 
pD = 2π t DA + ln 2
 + S
2   C A rw 

Where:
0.000264 k t
t DA =
Aφµct

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 27 Sh. Kord

 Vertical Well Performance: Productivity Index and IPR

• A commonly used measure of the ability of the well to produce is the productivity
index.

• Defined by the symbol J, the productivity index is the ratio of the total liquid flow
rate to the pressure drawdown.

• For a water-free oil production, the productivity index is given by:

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 28 Sh. Kord

 Productivity Index and IPR
• The productivity index is generally measured during a production test on the well.

• The well is shut-in until the static reservoir pressure is reached. The well is then allowed to
produce at a constant flow rate of Q and a stabilized bottom-hole flow pressure of Pwf.
The productivity index is then calculated from the previous Equation.

• It is important to note that the productivity index is a valid measure of the well
productivity potential only if the well is flowing at pseudo-steady state conditions.

• Therefore, it is essential that the well is allowed to flow at a constant flow rate for a
sufficient amount of time to reach the pseudo-steady state as illustrated in Figure 7-1.

• The figure indicates that during the transient flow period, the calculated values of the
productivity index will vary depending upon the time of Pwf measurements.

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 29 Sh. Kord

 Productivity Index and IPR

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 30 Sh. Kord

 Productivity Index and IPR
• The productivity index can be numerically calculated by recognizing that J must be
defined in terms of semi-steady-state flow conditions.

• The above equations can be combined to give:

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 31 Sh. Kord

 Productivity Index and IPR

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 32 Sh. Kord

 Productivity Index and skin

q
J= _
p − pwf
Considering Skin, average permeability will be:

  re  3    re  3 
k J = k ln  −  ln  − + S 
  rw  4    rw  4 

and:
q kJ
J= =
_
p − pwf   re  3 
141.2 Bµ ln  − 
  rw  4 
Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 33 Sh. Kord
 Productivity Index

Productivity Index can be expressed in general form as:

q 0.00708k h
J= =
_
p − pwf  1  10.06 A  3 
Bµ  n 2 
 − + S
 2  C A rw  4 

Well Testing: Flow through Porous Media 34 Sh. Kord