Reservoir Engineering I: Introduction To Well Testing

Reservoir Engineering I
Introduction to Well Testing

Arron Singhe
Production
rate
t1 t
Bottom-hole
The Local Content People

pressure
pws
pwf
t1 t
Time
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTS
Types of Welltests
Wellbore Storage
DRAWDOWN TEST
BUILD-UP TEST
OTHER TESTS

INTRODUCTION
Returning from his round-the-world cruise, the Victorian

naturalist Charles Darwin was heard to mutter:
If Mother Nature can, She will tell you a direct lie!
Nevertheless, well testing is the most direct interface

with Mother Nature.

INTRODUCTION
During a Well Test, a pressure disturbance in the reservoir is

created and the response to changing production conditions is
monitored at the well bore.
Response is characteristic of the reservoir properties

we can infer reservoir properties from response
Inverse problem (analyze model response to input)
Leads to ambiguity
Measured response is the pressure response to a specific flow rate
(Flow rate response to a given pressure history is called Decline
Curve Analysis)

WELL TEST OBJECTIVES
Reservoir Evaluation
Deliverability (volumetric average reservoir pressure)
Properties (k or kh, s)
Size (drainage pore volume, aquifer support)
Reservoir Management
Monitor condition of wells
Identify candidates for stimulation, workover
Track Fluid movement
Reservoir Description
Flow barriers
Faults
Fluid contacts

WHY WELL TESTING?
We have only limited data about the reservoir (from seismic, well
logs, fluid and rock samples). Most data concentrates on the
area near the wells
Well Testing …
 is one method to collect rock information for inter-well volume
of the reservoir
 provides a method to predict the displacement process at the
beginning of the life of the reservoir
 provides a mean to predict the behaviour of individual wells

TYPES OF WELL TESTS
Drawdown Test
Buildup Test
Injection Test
 Same as Drawdown Test, only fluid injection
Falloff Test
 Same as Buildup Test, only after injection
Interference Test
Other tests (RFT, MDT, DST, …)

WELL TEST CONCEPTS
When testing a well, we provide an input Impulse (usually a

change in flow rate) and measure the response (usually a
change in pressure)
Reservoir response is governed by

Permeability
Skin effect
Wellbore storage coefficient
Distance to Boundaries
Fracture properties, ...

WELL TEST CONCEPTS
Develop a mathematical model that matches the reservoir response
 2 p 1 p  2 p  ct p
  2 
r 2
r r z k t
Assumptions (in analytical well test models)
Reservoir:
Homogeneous
Isotropic
Horizontal of uniform thickness
Fluid:
Flow is single phase
Slightly compressible
viscosity, compressibility are constant

Flow:
Darcys law applies (laminar flow)
No gravity effects
SOLUTIONS TO THE DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION
Constant-Terminal-Rate Solution
70.6  qo o Bo  948   o ct r 2 
pr , t   pi   Ei   
kh  kt 
 The mathematical function Ei is called the exponential integral
and is defined by

e u
Ei  x     du
x
u
x x2 x3
 ln x    
1! 2  2! 3  3!

For x < 0.01, Ei(-x) can be approximated by (error less than 0.6%)
Ei  x   ln 1.781x 
SOLUTIONS TO THE DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION
162.6  qo  o Bo   kt  
pr , t   pi   log 
2 
 3.23
kh 
  o t  c r 
 For most transient flow calculations (well testing), the

reservoir engineer will be most interested in the behavior of
the bottom-hole flowing pressure, pwf, at the wellbore.
 Therefore, we can formulate the equation at r = rw
162.6  qo o Bo   kt  
pwf t   pi   log   3.23
2 
kh    o ct rw  

 Or, if the skin factor is included, then
162.6  qo o Bo   kt  
pwf t   pi  
 log 
2 
 3.23  0.87 s 
kh 
  o t w 
c r 
WELLBORE STORAGE
Controlling the flow rate is usually done at the wellhead valve or flow
line
Because of the volume in the wellbore, a constant flow rate at the
surface does not ensure that the rate is entirely produced from the
formation.
This effect is called wellbore storage
When the well is opened for flow, the pressure in the wellbore
drops. This causes the fluid to expand and therefore the initial
surface flow rate is not from the formation, but to some extent
from the expansion of the fluid stored in the wellbore.
qsurface  q formation
 q formation  qwellbore

WELLBORE STORAGE
Fluid Expansion
Drawdown test: when opening the well to flow, then the flow will
come from wellbore expansion first (due to decompression)
As the production time increases, the wellbore contribution
decreases and the formation rate increases until it eventually
equals the surface flow rate
The reverse is true in case of pressure build-up tests.

PRESSURE RESPONSE (DRAWDOWN)

RADIUS OF INVESTIGATION
 The radius of investigation, ri, is the distance that the

pressure transient (disturbance) has moved into the
formation following a rate change in the well.
 The radius depends on the formation properties, fluid
properties and the time elapsed since the rate change
 For a homogeneous, cylindrical reservoir, the radius is
given by
k t
ri 
948     ct
Permeability in [mD], time in [hr], ct in [1/psi]
 This equation can be used to estimate how long should

the well test be run
 Alternatively, this equation can also be applied to
estimate the time it will take to reach a boundary, re, of a
tested reservoir
RADIUS OF INVESTIGATION
Example 11.4
 A well test of an exploration well should ensure that at
least 1000 ft into the formation will be drained from the
flow test.
 How long should the test be designed, when the following
preliminary data is available:
k = 100 md,  = 0.17,  = 9.2 cp, ct = 1.172x10-5 1/psi
 From
k t
ri 
948     ct
 follows
948     ct  ri
2
t

k
948 0.17  9.2  1.172x105  10002

100
 174 hrs
OUTLINE RADIUS OF INVESTIGATION

INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTS  For the previous example, the radius of investigation

DRAWDOWN TEST would change with time as follows
BUILD-UP TEST
OTHER TESTS

 For a drainage of about 100 m, the test does not need
more than 1 day, but for a radius of about 300 m, the test
needs to performed for about 1 week!
DRAWDOWN TEST
 A pressure drawdown test is a series of bottom-hole
pressure measurements made during a period of flow at
constant production rate
 Usually, the well is shut-in prior to the flow test for some
period of time
Sufficient to allow the pressure to equalize throughout the
formation (static pressure)
 A schematic of a drawdown test
Flow Period
Flow Rate
Shut-In

Flowing Pressure
Time, t
DRAWDOWN TEST
The typical objectives of drawdown tests are

to obtain the average permeability, k, of the reservoir
rock within the drainage area of the well
to assess the damage/stimulation (skin factor) induced
in the vicinity of the wellbore through drilling and
completion operations
In some cases, the objective is also to determine the

pore volume of the drainage area of the well

DRAWDOWN TEST
 The pressure solution of the well in an infinite acting

reservoir (during transient state) is
162.6  qo o Bo   kt  
pwf t   pi   log   3.23  0.87 s 
2 
kh    o ct rw  
 This can be re-arranged to
162.6  qo o Bo    
pwf t   pi   log t   log
k
 
2 
 3.23  0.87 s 
kh    o ct rw  

 which is the equation of a straight line and can be written as:
pwf  a  m  log(t )
OUTLINE DRAWDOWN TEST

INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTS
pwf  a  m  log(t )
DRAWDOWN TEST
BUILD-UP TEST  where

OTHER TESTS
162.6  qo o Bo   k  
a  pi  
 log 
2 
 3.23  0.87 s 
kh    o ct rw  
 and the slope m is given by

162.6  qo o Bo
m
kh
 A plot of pwf versus time t on a semilog graph should yield
a straight line with a slope m in psi/cycle

DRAWDOWN TEST
 Semilog Graph (also called MDH plot – Miller-Dyes-Hutchinson)

Plotting pressure vs. log t gives a typical plot:
Early deviation caused

by wellbore effects
pwf [psi]
pIhr
162.6 qB
Slope = kh
Beginning of deviation at

end of transient period
0.1 1.0 10 100

Flow time, t [hrs]
DRAWDOWN TEST
 From the semilog graph, the slope m must be read off. Then, from
162.6  qo o Bo
m
kh
 We can find the average permeability from
162.6  qo o Bo
k
mh
m is in psi/cycle

DRAWDOWN TEST
 Similarly, when the slope m is known, we can solve the equation

162.6  qo o Bo    
 log t   log
k
pwf  pi    3.23  0.87 s 
2 
kh    o ct rw  
 Typically, for t = 1 hr, the pwf at 1 hour must be read from the graph.
 Then, the equation can be solved for the skin factor s:
p p  k  
s  1.151  i 1hr
 log    3.23
 2 
 m   ct rw  
 The pressure at 1 hr must be from the semilog straight line.

This is necessary to avoid calculating an incorrect skin by using pressures
influenced by wellbore storage effect.
 If the drawdown test is long enough, pwf will deviate from the semilog straight
line and make the transition from transient to pseudo-steady state.
SEMI-LOG PLOT (MDH PLOT)

Allows to calculate kh and s
 Estimate slope and p(1hour) from plot
MDH Plot
5900
5400
4900
Pressure [psi]
4400

3900
3400
2900
1.00E-02 1.00E-01 1.00E+00 1.00E+01 1.00E+02
Time [hrs]
LOG-LOG DIAGNOSTIC PLOT (DRAWDOWN)
The log-log plot has its primary objective to identify the period of
the wellbore storage effects.
It can be shown that during the time when wellbore storage effects
dominate, a log-log plot will show a straight line of unit slope (i.e.
one cycle of pressure per cycle in time)
As soon as the pressure points fall below the unit straight line,
the period of wellbore storage domination ends.
From there on, standard semi-log analysis methods can be

applied.
As a rule of thumb, the transient period starts 1 ½ cycles in

time after the pressure points start to deviate from the unit
slope on the log-log plot
 Transition period between wellbore storage an transient period

(infinite acting) is about 1 ½ time cycles
Log-Log: Pressure and Pressure Derivative
10000
Wellbore Storage Transition Infinite Acting

delta p
1000

100
1,00E-02 1,00E-01 1,00E+00 1,00E+01 1,00E+02
delta t
 As shown, the log-log diagnostic

plot contains not only the
pressure values, but also the
pressure derivative
 The pressure derivative is

essentially the rate of change of
pressure with respect to time (i.e.
the slope of the semi-log plot)
 Using this additional information,

the log-log plot can be used to
show the information from the
semilog plot

PRESSURE DRAWDOWN TEST
 Plot the measured pressure values vs log(t)

 Determine the slope, m, of the transient period
 Calculate the average permeability:
q = [bbl/d]
qBoi   = [cp]
kh  162.3 h = [ft]
m
m =[psia/cycle]
 Calculate the skin:

 p  pt 1hour  k 
s  1.151  i   log  3.2274 
 m   c r
t w
2

Example 11.1: Drawdown Test

 Measured Data
time pressure time pressure time pressure

hour psia hour psia hour psia
0 3001.5 8 2737.4 60 2657.1
1 2919.6 9 2727.6 70 2654.7
2 2868.1 10 2714.4 80 2652.2
3 2826.8 15 2686.8 100 2649.1
4 2810.1 20 2678.9 120 2630.3

5 2784.0 30 2669.4 144 2613.2
6 2767.7 40 2664.5 168 2595.5
7 2753.5 50 2660.3 192 2577.3
Pressure Drawdown
qB
2950.0
k  162.3  Reservoir Data
hm Boi=1.32
2900.0
108.2  9.2 1.32 oi=9.2 cP
 162.3 
2850.0
68.9  42.27 h=68.9 ft
q=108.2 STB/d
 73mD
2800.0
pressure, psia
Slope m from plot

2750.0 m = 19.6*ln(10) = 45
psi/cycle
2700.0
2650.0

y = -19.613Ln(x) + 2737.8
2600.0
2550.0
0.1 1 10 100 1000
time, hr
Data for skin calculation:
Pi=3001 psi; Boi=1.32; oi=9.2 cp; h=68.9 ft;

q=108.2 STB/d; =0,17; ct=8,27e-6 1/psi; rw=0,328 ft
Resulting in
 pi  pt 1hour  k 
s  1.151    log  3.2274
 m  ct rw
2

 3001 2737.8   69  
 1.151    log 2 
 3.23

 0.17  9.2  8.27x10  0.328 
6
 45  
 1.58
PRESSURE BUILDUP TEST
Pressure buildup analysis describes the increase in wellbore

pressure with time after a well has been shut in.
One of the principal objectives of this analysis is to determine

the static reservoir pressure (without waiting weeks or months for
the pressure in the entire reservoir to stabilize)
Pressure buildup testing requires shutting in a producing well.

Before shut-in, the well should produce at a constant, stable flow
rate.

The pressure is measured immediately before shut-in and during
the shut-in period.
 After a period of constant production, the well is shut in and

the bottom hole pressure measured
shut-in well pressure, pws
Production
rate
t1 t
Bottom-hole
pressure
pws

pwf
t1 t
Time
A pressure buildup test is described mathematically by using the

principle of superposition:
The total pressure drop at any point in a reservoir is the sum

of the pressure drops at that point caused by flow in each of
the wells in the reservoir
Using this method, we can treat any number of wells flowing at

constant rate in an infinite-acting reservoir
Before the shut-in, the well flows at a constant flow rate of q for tp days.
At time tp, a second well which is superimposed over the location of the first
well is opened to flow at a constant rate of –q for a time dt, whereas the first
well is allowed to continue to flow at q.

Adding the effects of both wells, the result is that a well has been allowed to
flow at a rate of q for tp days and was shut-in for a time dt.
 In real life, the time of production, tp, is not accurately known, because
the flow rate may not be constant.
 Therefore, the point of shut-in can be estimate from the stabilized well
flow rate, qo, and the cumulative oil production before shut-in, Np
Np
tp 
qo
 Applying the superposition principle to a shut-in well, the total
pressure change, (pi - pws), that occurs during the shut-in period, dt, is
essentially the sum of the pressure change caused by the constant
flow rate q and that of –q.
  k  t p  t   

162.6  qo o Bo
pws  pi   log 2 
  3.23  0.87 s 
kh    o ct rw  
162.6   qo o Bo   k  t  
  log   3.23  0.87 s 
2 
kh    o ct rw  
162.6  qo o Bo   k  t p  t   
pws  pi   log 2 
  3.23  0.87 s 
kh    o ct rw  
162.6   qo o Bo   k  t  
 
 log 
2 
 3.23  0.87 s 
kh    o ct rw  
Simplifying this equation leads to
162.6  qo o Bo   t p  t 
pws  pi   log 
kh   t 
where

pi is the initial reservoir pressure in psi
pws is the well shut-in pressure during buildup in psi
tp is the flowing time before shut-in in hours
dt is the shut-in time in hours
162.6  qo o Bo   t p  t 
pws  pi   log 
kh   t 
This equation was introduced by Horner in 1951.
It suggests that a plot of pws versus log((tp+dt)/dt) would

produce a straight line with intercept pi and slope m
162.6  qo o Bo
m
kh

These plots are commonly referred to as Horner plots
Note that on the Horner plot,

the shut-in time increases from right to left
at the Horner time of unity (1), the pws is equal to pi

Horner Plot
2120
2100
2080
2060
Pressure psia
y = -4.9112Ln(x) + 2116.1
2040
2020
2000
1980

1960
1940
100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
(tp+dt)/dt
 Plot the measured pressure values versus log(Horner-time)

 Determine the slope, m of the transient period
 Calculate the average permeability:
q = [bbl/d]
qBoi   = [cp]
kh  162.3 h = [ft]
m m =[psia/cycle]
 Calculate the skin:
 pt 1hour  pwf ,t 0  k 

s  1.151    log  3.2274
 m   ct rw
2


 The value of p1hr must be taken from the straight line!
OUTLINE PRESSURE BUILDUP TEST

INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTS Example 11.2 – Buildup Test

DRAWDOWN TEST  Measured Data
BUILD-UP TEST Production time tp =13416 hours
OTHER TESTS
time pressure time pressure time pressure

hour psia hour psia hour psia
0.00 1962.0 6.70 2030.0 44.82 2088.1
1.00 1962.4 13.41 2082.2 67.34 2090.1
1.12 1964.8 14.91 2082.7 135.35 2093.5
1.68 1974.9 16.77 2083.3 150.56 2094.0
2.23 1983.6 19.17 2083.9 194.20 2095.2
2.68 1990.9 22.37 2084.7 227.12 2096.0

3.35 2001.0 26.85 2085.6 343.59 2098.0
4.47 2012.6 33.58 2086.7 462.07 2099.4
2120.00 Reservoir Data:

y = -4.9069Ln(x) + 2116.1 Boi=1,28
2100.00 oi=9.2 cP
h=68.9 ft
2080.00 q=241 bbl/d
Slope m from plot:
2060.00 m = 4.9069*ln(10) = 11
2040.00
2020.00
qB
2000.00 k  162.6 
hm
241 9.2 1.28
1980.00
 162.6 

68.9 11
1960.00
 609mD
1940.00
100000.00 10000.00 1000.00 100.00 10.00
Data for skin calculation:

Pwf(dt=0)=1962 psi; Boi=1.28; oi=9.2 cP; h=68.9 ft;
=0.17; ct=1.172e-4 1/psi; rw=0.328 ft
Resulting in
p1hour= -4.9069*ln(13417)+2116.1 = 2069 psia
 pt 1hour  pwf , t 0  k 

s  1.151    log  3. 2274
 m   c r
t w
2

 2069  1962  591  
 1.151    log 2 
 3.2274

 11   0.17  9.2  1.127  104
 0. 328  
6
When a well is shut in for a pressure build up test, the well is usually
closed at the surface rather than at the bottom hole.
Even though the well is shut in, the reservoir fluid continues to flow
into the wellbore for a while
This effect is called “after-flow” and caused by well bore storage
effects.
After-flow has a significant influence on the pressure buildup data.
During the period of wellbore storage effects, the pressure data points fall
below the semi-log straight line.
2120
2100
Deviation from straight
2080
line caused by wellbore
storage and skin 2060
Pressure psia

y = -4.9112Ln(x) + 2116.1
2040
2020
2000
1980
1960
1940
100000 10000 1000 100 10 1
(tp+dt)/dt
PRESSURE RESPONSE IN AN INTERFERENCE TEST
Production
qA
rate
qB=0
t
Bottom-hole
pressure

pwsB
t
Time
PRESSURE RESPONSE IN AN OBSERVATION WELL
7
tL1 5 8
3 p4
Pressure
4
1 2 6
p1
tL4
Pulse number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Rate

q>0 q>0 q>0 q>0 q>0
Start of tp Time

pulse test
tc
DRILLSTEM TEST (DST)
A drillstem test (DST) helps to estimate formation and fluid properties

before completion of a well.
A DST is a temporary completion of the well
The DST tool is an arrangement of packers and valves placed at the end of
the drill pipe.
It is used to isolate zones of interest and to let it produce into the drillpipe.
A fluid sample is also obtained during the test and can be used to describe
the fluid types
The valves can be controlled from the surface enabling to have a sequence

of flow periods followed by shut-in periods.
A pressure recorder records the pressures during flow and shut-in periods
Schematic of a typical DST
C J
B F
Pressure
E G
A D K
Time
• At Point A, the tool is lowered into the hole

•

Between A and B the increasing mud-column pressure is recorded
• At Point B the tool is at the bottom
• When the packers are set, the mud column is compressed and a still higher
pressure is recorded at Point C
C J
B F
Pressure
E G
A D K
Time
• The tool is then opened for an initial flow period and the pressure drops to Point D.
• As fluid accumulates in the drillpipe above the pressure gauge, the pressure rises.

• Finally, at Point E, the well is shut in for an initial buildup test
• After a suitable shut-in period (Point F), the well is reopened for a second flow
period, from Point G to Point H.
C J
B F
Pressure
E G
D K
A
Time
• The final flow period is followed by a final shut-in period from Point H to Point I.

• Then, the packers are released and the hydrostatic pressure of the mud column
is again imposed on the pressure gauge (Point J)
• The testing tool is the removed from the hole (Point J to Point K)
The initial flow period is usually short (5 to 10 min)

The initial shut-in period (usually 30 to 60 min) is designed to let the
pressure build back to true static formation pressure
The second flow period is designed to capture a large sample of fluid

and to draw down the pressure in the formation to the maximum
distance and extent (usually 30 min to several hours)
The second shut-in period is designed to obtain good pressure build-up

so that formation properties can be estimated
In addition, comparison of the final pressure from the second build-up with the first

build-up can indicate that pressure depletion has occurred in the reservoir and that the
well has been tested in a small reservoir
The second shut-in period is about the same length as the second flow
period
REPEAT FORMATION TESTER TEST (RFT)
RFT … Repeat Formation Tester (since mid-1970’s)
Originally designed for fluid sampling

Provides pressure – depth profiles across reservoir sections
At the appraisal stage:
run initial RFT: open-hole tool run prior to setting the casing
helps to locate phase-contacts, especially when also run in water bearing formation
At development stage:

enables dynamic pressure surveys,

to identify lateral and vertical pressure communication under dynamic conditions
(important for water or gas injection)
to calibrate numerical simulation models,
RFT, MDT & DST TESTS
MDT … Modular formation Dynamic Tester
Successor to RFT Tool

Used for down-hole fluid sampling
Adds a “pump-through” facility to sample while flowing
Vertical pressure – depth profiles
Drawback: relatively small sample volumes

RFT, MDT & DST TESTS
Example 11.3: RFT tests in field appraisal

 Two Wells were drilled and tested. Well A was down-dip in the aquifer, but
nevertheless, the RFT tool was run over an interval of 160 ft to ascertain
the water pressure regime. Well B was more fortunate and discovered oil
with a specific gravity of 0.646 relative to water. Estimate the depth of the
water-oil phase contact!
Well A Well B
Depth [ft.ss] Pressure [psia] Depth [ft.ss] Pressure
[psia]
6075 2662 5771 2602

6091 2669 5778 2604

6108 2677 5785 2608
6220 2725 5800 2610
6232 2731 5806 2612
5813 2614
RFT EXAMPLE

Reservoir Engineering I: Introduction To Well Testing

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Reservoir Engineering I: Introduction To Well Testing

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Reservoir Engineering I

Introduction to Well Testing

The Local Content People

The Local Content People

Returning from his round-the-world cruise, the Victorian

If Mother Nature can, She will tell you a direct lie!

Nevertheless, well testing is the most direct interface

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During a Well Test, a pressure disturbance in the reservoir is

Response is characteristic of the reservoir properties

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WELL TEST OBJECTIVES

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WHY WELL TESTING?

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TYPES OF WELL TESTS

Other tests (RFT, MDT, DST, …)

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WELL TEST CONCEPTS

When testing a well, we provide an input Impulse (usually a

Reservoir response is governed by

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WELL TEST CONCEPTS

Develop a mathematical model that matches the reservoir response

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SOLUTIONS TO THE DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION

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SOLUTIONS TO THE DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION

 For most transient flow calculations (well testing), the

 Therefore, we can formulate the equation at r = rw

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PRESSURE RESPONSE (DRAWDOWN)

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 The radius of investigation, ri, is the distance that the

Permeability in [mD], time in [hr], ct in [1/psi]

 This equation can be used to estimate how long should

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OUTLINE RADIUS OF INVESTIGATION

CONCEPTS  For the previous example, the radius of investigation

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The typical objectives of drawdown tests are

In some cases, the objective is also to determine the

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 The pressure solution of the well in an infinite acting

 This can be re-arranged to

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OUTLINE DRAWDOWN TEST

BUILD-UP TEST  where

 and the slope m is given by

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 Semilog Graph (also called MDH plot – Miller-Dyes-Hutchinson)

Early deviation caused

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0.1 1.0 10 100

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 Similarly, when the slope m is known, we can solve the equation

 The pressure at 1 hr must be from the semilog straight line.

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