Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Introduction
The primary purpose of testing a well is to determine whether the
formation contains oil, gas or water. One of these Testes is Drill Stem
Test, DST is short term open hole production tests, run while drilling,
to evaluate potential producing zones, DST data is used to predict the
commercial productivity of a specific zone and is useful in proving
reserves and is used to provide extrapolations and clues to reservoir
characteristics such as damage and permeability.

History
The history of the DST goes back to1926, when E.C and M.O
.Johnston developed the first commercial down hole testing tools. The
two brothers were working in the Oil Fields in Arkansas, USA.

Information available from DST

➢ Productivity Index (PI).
➢ Possible detection of barriers (Faults, pinchouts, etc.).
➢ The radius of investigation (re).
➢ Oil Rate (STB/day).
➢ Net pay thickness (ft).
➢ Design the optimum completion.
➢ Static and flowing bottom-hole pressure this pressure
Transient Data informs the following calculations:
1. The average effective permeability of the zone.
2. A well bore damage ratio.
3. Skin factor.
4. Depletion.
5. The transmissibility of the formation.
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

How the Test is Run ?

1. Hole filled with drilling mud.
2. Drill stem pipe is lowered down the well.
3. The packers are then expanded to close the well above and below
the formation.
4. The perforated pipe is opened in DST and the formation fluids
into and up DST.
5. The pressure is continuously being measured by DST.
6. The perforated pipe is opened and closed several times and fluid
pressure builds up and drops are recorded.
7. These records used to calculate (K, P, and S).

The Main Components of DST

Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

The Main Function of Components

Tool Function
Tubing or drill pipe Provides flow path to surface
Compensates for expansion or contraction of the
Slip joint
string
Drill Collar Provides weight for Downhole tools
Provides an independent method of circulation and
Circulating valve secondary reversing circulates out string contents at
end of the test
Surface readout Monitors downhole pressure and temperature events
Controls formation flow, isolates cushion and
Downhole valve
performs other functions
Minimizes surge or swab effects and traps reference
Reference tool
hydrostatic pressure in PCT valve.

Records pressure and temperature versus time

Recorder
during the test

Jar Provides up strain to free stuck tools

Safety joint Provides back off facility if string becomes stuck
Packer Isolates between annuals and formation
Perforated pipe Provides flow path for formation fluids
Avoids accumulation of debris on top of the firing
Debris sub
head
Tubing Spaces out tools
Firing head Initiates the firing sequence
Spacer Separates guns from the firing head(safety device)
Perforating gun Contains perforating charges
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Basic theory and analysis procedure.

It has been found that the pressure buildup theory basic
assumptions which are radial flow, infinite reservoir, and single
compressible fluid are fairly well suited to DST conditions ands the
procedures of analysis is as follows:

Step Procedure
1 Plot the pws .vs. log[(t+∆t)/t] where t is in hours
2 Fit the data points to straight line
3 Determine the value of the slope, m, psi/cycle
4 Extrapolate the plot to get the static formation pressure.
Calculate the product of kh as follows
5
kh= 162.6qμ6
m
Calculate skin factor

6  
 P1hr − Pwf(Δw= 0) tp + 1 k
S= 1.151 + log( ) − log + 3.23
 m tp 
 φμc rw 2 

Calculate pressure drop across the skin as following:

7
∆ps= 141.2qμ4 S
kh
Calculate damage ratio:

Jideal P − pwf
=
8 Jactual p − pwf − Δps

P is the extrapolated line to(tp + Δt)=1

Δt

rD = 0.029  kt
9 φμct
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Pressure charts
The DST Chart

A drill stem pressure chart is simply a graphical record of Downhole

pressure versus time. It shows:

• Line AB - increasing hydrostatic pressure of the mud column as

the tools are run to test depth, The initial hydrostatic pressure
is read at point B, Packers are set.
• Line BC - the tool is opened.

• Line CD The initial flow period.

• Line DE The initial shut in period (static reservoir pressure can
be obtained using the Horner method),The use of real time can
tailor the shut-in to obtain maximum amount of data in the
shortest time.

• Line EF The tool is opened (re-opened following initial shut-

in).
• Line FG The final flow period.
• Line GH Final shut in (can be analyzed using Horner method).
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

• Line HI After final shut-in, the mud column or hydrostatic

pressure is allowed back into the test interval and the packers
unseated.
• Line IJ Shows decreasing hydrostatic pressure as tools are
removed from the Wellbore
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Typical DST Charts

Virtually no permeability

The lack of pressure buildup during the two

shut-in periods (lines DE and GH) and the
accompanying low flow pressure during the final
flow period (line FG) suggests virtually no
permeability within the interval tested.

Excellent permeability

The initial and final shut-in curves (lines DE

and GH) stabilize almost immediately after the
tool is closed, and the two flow periods (lines CD
and FG) indicate high flow pressures and a high
rate of fluid entry to the test tool.

Deep Formation Damage

The drastic difference in shut-in curve

development between the first (line DE) and final
(line GH) shut-in periods indicates that damage is
not confined to the well bore but extends out into
the tested formation. The formation has cleaned
up during the final flow period (line FG), so
pressure buildup response is faster and more
evident on the final shut in that on the first.
 Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Average Permeability

Average permeability is suggested by the

shape of the two shut-in curves (lines DE and
GH) and the indicated influx of fluid during
the final flow period (line FG).

Well bore Damage

With some exceptions, wellbore damage may

be indicated by the shape of the shut-in curves
(lines DE and GH) – specifically by a very
sharp rise following the flow period (1), a
shore curve radius (2), a reasonable flat slop
(3), and a high differential between the flow
pressure and the shut-in pressure (4).

Drawdown

A decrease of three percent or more

between the initial shut-in pressure (E) and the
final shut-in pressure (H), combined with rapid
decline in final flow pressure (F,G) indicates
substantial reservoir depletion and warrants
careful evaluation. This chart is the result of a
gas test. If liquid were being recovered the
bottom-hole flow pressure would increase.
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Field Example
First Shut In

Full Test Diagram

Diagnostic Diagram
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Horner Plot

Second Shut In

Full Test Diagram

Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Log-log plot (Diagnostic Plot)

Horner plot
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Linear plot

Results From Analysis

Properties First Shut-in Second Shut-in

Permeability (md) 43 17
Skin (Dimensionless) -7.35 302
Productivity Index (STB/D/PSI) 0.2 0.027
Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure
3318 541
(PSI)
Oil Rate (STB/DAY) 200 100
Net Pay Thickness (FT) 100 389
Kh (md.ft) 3690 1588

Recommendation regarding flowing and shut-in periods.

1. Take a double shut-in Test. This will permit a much

more accurate extrapolated formation pressure.
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

2. The final shut-in time should be as long as possible

but should also be consistent with rig time cost and
safe hole conditions.
3. Measure the mud weight several times during the
circulation period immediately prior to running the
DST in order to get in accurate and representative
mud weight over the entire length of the well.
4. Record accurately inside diameter of drill collars and
drill pipe used in the testing string; the location,
relative to the bottom of the hole, of all pressure
gauges used; and the number and location of packers
used.

Conclusions
1. Formation capacity (Kh) can be determined by DST
long before completion and before any drawdown due
to production takes place.
2. Effective permeability and well pore damage can be
calculated at the well site by using DST.
3. Barriers such as faults, pinchouts, changes in formation
permeability, can sometimes be detected by proper
analysis of DST charts
Drill Stem Test Petroleum Seminar

Reference
1. Google search
2. Pressure build up & flow test in well, by D.G RUSSEL
3. SPE papers
4. Shlumberger papers
5. Well file, Viba co