Fluid Flow: Well Testing

Flow Equations in Dimensionless Form

 Problems With Conventional Analysis

ƒ Semilog straight line analysis is often difficult

because the radial flow straight line doesn’t exist or
cannot be correctly identified
– Wellbore effects
– Reservoir boundaries
– Other non-radial heterogeneities
ƒ Current techniques focus on comparing actual data to
solutions for KNOWN theoretical systems
– Desired parameters can then be calculated
ƒ Two Techniques
– Type curve matching by hand or with software
– Analytical history matching using software
– Both require the use of dimensionless variables

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.2
 Dimensionless Variables – Field Units
Liquid Pseudopressure Pressure
Squared
Dimensionless Pressure PD
khΔp khΔm( p ) khΔp 2
141.2 qμB 1424qT 1424 qμ z T
Dimensionless Time tD
(based on wellbore radius) 0.0002637 kt same as liquid same as liquid
can also be based on area A φμct rw2
or fracture half length xf
141.2qμB 1424qT 1424qμ z T
Dimensionless Rate qD khΔp khΔm( p ) khΔp 2
Dimensionless variables permit theoretical solutions to be readily converted
into dimensional values (time, pressure, rate) for any given set of reservoir
conditions.
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.3
 Flow Equations in Dimensionless Form

The transient radial equation

162.6qBμ ⎡ kΔt ⎤
pwf = pi − ⎢log φμc r 2 − 3.23 + 0.87 s ⎥
kh ⎣ t w ⎦
Becomes

PD = 0.5 [ln (t D )+ 0.809]+ s

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.4
 Flow Equations in Dimensionless Form

The pseudosteady state radial equation (field units)

141 . 2 qB μ ⎧ ⎛ re ⎞ 3 ⎫
p − p wf = ⎨ ln ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − + s ⎬
kh ⎩ ⎝ r4 ⎠ 4 ⎭

Becomes
⎛ re ⎞ 3
p D = 2 π t DA + ln ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ − + s tDA = 0.0002637 kt
φμct A
⎝ rw ⎠ 4
Where tDA is based on the production time t required to deplete
area A from initial pressure to the current average pressure

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.5
 Other Dimensionless Groups

Dimensionless Radius

r
rD =
rw
Dimensionless Wellbore Storage Coefficient

0.8936C
CD = (Field Units)
φμct rw
2

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.6
 Converting to Dimensionless Variables
qB μ ⎛ φμ ct r 2 ⎞
Transient pi − p = ei ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ S.I. units
Line Source 4πkh ⎝ 4 kt ⎠
Solution
2πkh 1 ⎧ 1 φμ ct rw2 r 2 ⎫
Re-arrange ( pi − p ) = ei ⎨ ⋅ ⋅ 2⎬
qB μ 2 ⎩4 kt rw ⎭

2πkh kt r
Dimensionless pD = ( pi − p) tD = rD =
Variables qBμ φμ ct rw2 rw

1 ⎛ 0.25 ⎞
Substitute pD = ⋅ ei ⎜⎜ ⎟
2 ⎟
2 ⎝ tD rD ⎠

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.7
The Transient Radial Solution in Graphical Form

10

pD

Must use ei
log approximation
solution in
valid
this range
0.1

0.01
0.1 0.5* 1 10 25 100 1000 10000
tD
rD2
tD
* Line source solution valid for > 0. 5
rD2
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.8
 Interference Test r >> rw

q Shut-in

Active Observation
well well

Δp
Time
increasing

r Δt
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.9
 Type Curve Matching an Interference Test

kh
pD = pi − p
141. 2qμB
Field Units
tD 0. 000264k
= Δt q = flowrate of active well
rD2 φμc t r 2
p = pressure at observation well
r = distance between active well
Constant Variable
and observation well
log( a. b ) = log( a ) + log( b )

log ( p D ) =
⎛
log ⎜⎜
kh ⎞
⎟⎟ + log (Δ p ) log-log plot of Δ p vs. Δ t
⎝ 141 .2qμB ⎠

⎛t ⎞
log⎜⎜ D2 ⎟⎟ =
⎛ 0.000264 k ⎞
log⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + log (Δt )
has same shape as p D vs.
tD
rD2
⎝ φμct r log-log plot of
2
⎝ rD ⎠ ⎠

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.10
 Interference Matching – Step 1
Δp

Plot field data on

same scale as
Δt
Type Curve
pD
(Line Source Solution)

tD
rD2
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.11
 Interference Matching – Step 2

Overlay plots
Match curve shape pD
Choose a Match Point Δp

⎡Δp pD ⎤
⎢ ⎥ tD
Read off ⎢ tD ⎥ Δt
⎢Δt rD2 ⎥⎦
rD2
⎣ MATCH

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.12
Interference Matching – Step 3
kh
pD = Δp
MATCH
141.2qμB MATCH

⎡t D ⎤ 0 .000264 k
⎢⎣ rD2 ⎥⎦ = Δt MATCH
MATCH φμ ct r 2

S.I. Units Field Units

qBμ ⎡ p D ⎤ 141.2qBμ ⎡ p D ⎤
k= 2πh ⎢⎣ Δp ⎥⎦ MATCH h ⎢ Δp ⎥
⎣ ⎦ MATCH

k ⎡ Δt ⎤ 0.000264 k ⎡ Δt ⎤
φ= μct r 2 ⎢ 2⎥
μct r 2 ⎢ 2⎥
⎣ t D rD ⎦ MATCH ⎣ t D rD ⎦ MATCH

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.13
Drawdown Type Curves with Wellbore Storage and Skin

100

CDe2s
pD 20
10 15
10
10
10 8
6 10
10 10
4
10 3
10 2
10
10 3
1

0.1
0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000
tD
CD
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.14
 Type Curve Matching – Step 1

Δp pD

Δt tD
CD

“Field Plot” Type Curves

Recorded data Known response trends for

transient radial flow

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.15
 Type Curve Matching – Step 2

pD
Δp CD e 2s

tD
CD
Δt

Slide overlay to match a CDe2s curve. ⎡ ⎤

⎢Δp pD ⎥
⎢ CDe 2s ⎥

Pick a match point and note the match parameters ⎢ tD ⎥

⎢ Δt CD ⎥
⎣ ⎦ MATCH
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.16
Type Curve Analysis – Getting the Answers

S.I. units Field units Solve for

2πkh
[ pD ]MATCH = qB μ
ΔpMATCH kh
141. 2qB μ
ΔpMATCH k

⎡ tD ⎤ 2 π kh 0.000295kh
= Δ t MATCH ΔtMATCH C
⎢ ⎥ μC μC
⎣ CD ⎦ MATCH

C 2s 0 .8936 C 2 s
[C e 2s
] =
2πφhct rw2
e e s
D MATCH
φ hc t rw
2

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.17
 Derivative Type Curves

ƒ Sometimes difficult to identify unique match

on standard log-log type curves
ƒ Tiab and Kumar (1980) and Bourdet et al
(1983) introduced type curves with
derivative functions included with the
pressure change curves
ƒ Matching two curves simultaneously reduces
ambiguity
ƒ Need frequent high resolution pressure data
to get good derivatives

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.18
Radial Storage and Skin Drawdown Type Curve
With Derivative

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.19
 The Real Power of Derivative Curves

ƒ The values of the pressure derivative dp/[dln(t)]

have very specific values for identified flow regimes
ƒ From the previous slide
– During wellbore storage dp/[dln(t)] = 1
– During radial flow dp/[dln(t)] = 0
ƒ Therefore inspection of the log-log derivative type
curve allows us to properly identify flow regions for
further analysis
– NOW I CAN FIND THE RIGHT SEMILOG LINE!!!!!
ƒ This is one of the basic work processes in computer
aided interpretation

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.20
 Flow Period Identification
Based on Type Curve Derivative Slope
tD tD dP D
log ( )... vs ...log ( )
CD CD d( tD )
CD
1) Well Bore Storage : tD
PD =
=> Derivative slope = 1 CD

2) Transient Radial Flow : 1 t

PD ≈ ln ( D )
=> Derivative slope = 0 2 CD

3) Linear Flow : tD
PD ≈
=> Derivative slope = 0.5 C D

4) Pseudo steady state : tD

PD ≈
=> Derivative slope = 1 CD
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.21
 Log Time Derivative Slopes
A
Simultaneous presentation of
B data by:

C log Δp vs. log Δt and

D log (t x dp/dt) vs. log Δt

E
• A 1 Full WBS or Semi Steady State Flow (Boundary)
• B 0.5 Linear Flow (e.g. Hydraulic Fracture, Channel sand)
• C 0.25 Bi-Linear Flow (Hydraulic Fracture with Finite Conductivity)
• D 0 Transient Radial Flow
• E -0.5 Spherical Flow

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.22
 Typecurve Plotting – Buildup Tests

ƒ Typecurves were originally developed for drawdown data

(t Δt )
ƒ If buildup data are used: plot versus Agarwal equivalent time t e =
p

(t p + Δt )

ƒ te significantly compresses the buildup time scale so:

ƒ compute pressure derivatives with respect to te and plot versus

elapsed shut-in time Δt

ƒ or ensure that tp prior to shut-in >= 10x planned shut-in time

ƒ If tp is long enough to have reached pseudosteady state flow then the

buildup response plotted versus shut-in time Δt is equal to the
drawdown response. In other words in that case you don’t need to
use te (but it won’t hurt you either)

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.23
One More Use for Dimensionless Variables

ƒ Some Tests Such as Reservoir Limits or Gas

Well Deliverability Require Flow Periods That
Reach Pseudosteady State or Are At Least
“Sufficiently Stable”
ƒ Time to Stability Depends on
– Rock and fluid properties
– Drainage area size and shape
– Well location relative to boundaries
ƒ Can be Estimated Using Dimensionless Time
Concepts
ƒ Discussed in Well Productivity Chapter

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.24
 Well Testing Golden Rules
ƒ Determine test objectives and value
ƒ Inform all staff involved about objectives and
key elements of the test before the start
ƒ Design the test beforehand – estimate the
magnitude of pressure change, “expected”
curve shape
ƒ Account for wellbore storage effects. Do you
need bottomhole shut-in?
ƒ Obtain ALL relevant geologic and operational
data to help constrain the test interpretation
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.6.25