University

of Zakho

Well test
Lecture 01

Musa berenjkar
Petroleum Engineering Dept.
College of Engineering
University of Zakho
 About course
 Lectures weekly, Thursday .
Course will be centered on around Review of reservoir Eng 1, basic
theory and definition and well test object, description of test well test.
All students should have taken Reservoir Engineering (I) as the
course builds and requires the reservoir engineering principles.
Final exam: 50
Midterm: 30
Presentation: 15
Home work: 5

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 2

 Basic theory and current techniques for well testing
- Basic definition and concepts
- Review of basic reservoir properties
- Well test objectives
Reservoir management
Reservoir description
Wellbore storage
Types of test
• Drawdown test
• Buildup test
• DST test
2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 3
 References
• Jhon lee, well testing (1982).
• C.S. Matthews and D. G. Russell, pressure build up and flow test in wells (1967).
• Select papers from SPE journal and symposium proceedings.
• Ronald horn, modern well test analysis (1995).
• John Lee, Pressure transient testing(2003).
• Schlumberger, Well Test Interpretation (2002).
• Heriot - Watt, Well test Analysis.
• Robert Earlougher, Advances in Well Test Analysis (1977).
• D. Bourdet, Well testing and Interpretation.
• Roland Horn, Modern Well Test Analysis (1995).
• Tareq Ahmed, Advanced Res Eng.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 4

 Basic definition and concepts
 test : measurement of (i) rate, time, and pressure in controlled
condition.
Homogeneous formation: formation with rock properties that do not
change with location in the reservoir. This ideal never actually occurs,
but many formation are close enough to this situation that they can be
considered Homogeneous. Most of the models used for pressure-
transient analysis assume the reservoir is Homogeneous.
𝑘𝑖 = 𝑘𝑗 = 𝑘𝑛

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 5

 Basic definition and concepts
 heterogeneous formation: formation with rock properties changing with
location in the reservoir. Some naturally fractured reservoirs are
heterogeneous formation.
𝑘𝑖 ≠ 𝑘𝑗 ≠ 𝑘𝑛

Isotropic formation: a type of formation whose rock properties are the same
in all directions. Although this never actually occurs, fluid flow in rocks
approximates this situation closely enough to consider certain formation
isotropic.
(𝑘𝑥 = 𝑘𝑦 = 𝑘𝑧 ) 𝑖

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 6

 Basic definition and concepts
 anisotropic formation: a formation with directionally dependent properties. The
most common directionally dependent properties are permeability and stress.
Most formation have vertical to horizontal permeability anisotropy with vertical
permeability being much less (often an order of magnitude less) than horizontal
permeability.

(𝑘𝑥 ≠ 𝑘𝑦 ≠ 𝑘𝑧 ) 𝑖
 Homogeneous and isotropic reservoir is the most ideal type of reservoir.
(𝑘𝑥 = 𝑘𝑦 = 𝑘𝑧 ) 𝑖 = (𝑘𝑥 = 𝑘𝑦 = 𝑘𝑧 ) 𝑗

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 7

 Basic definition and concepts
 The heterogeneous and anisotropic reservoir is the most complex type of
reservoir.
( 𝑘𝑖 ≠ 𝑘𝑗 ≠ 𝑘𝑧 ) 𝑖 ≠ ( 𝑘𝑖 ≠ 𝑘𝑗 ≠ 𝑘𝑧 ) 𝑗

 initial reservoir pressure: reservoir pressure before any production.

 average reservoir pressure: the pressure that would be obtained if all fluid
motion ceases in a given volume of reservoir. It also is the pressure to which
a well will ultimately rise if shut for an infinite period.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 8

 Basic definition and concepts
 Static pressure: the pressure measurement in a well after has been closed
in for a period of time, often after 27 or 72 hours. When a reservoir is
discovered, the static pressure equals the initial pressure. After production
begins, the static pressure approaches the average reservoir pressure.
 drainage area: if a well is flowed until boundary-dominated flow has
been reached. A certain area will experience a pressure drop. This area is
called the drainage area of a well. The boundaries of a wells drainage area
could be physical boundaries, such as faults, or no-flow boundaries from
nearby producing wells.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 9

 Primary reservoir characteristics
 types of fluids in the reservoir
I. incompressible fluids
II. Slightly compressible fluids
III. Compressible fluids

 flow regimes
I. Steady-state flow
II. Unsteady state flow
III. Pseudo steady state flow

 reservoir geometry
I. Linear flow
II. Radial flow
III. Spherical and hemispherical flow
2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 10
 types of fluids in the reservoir
 The isothermal compressibility coefficient is essentially the controlling factor in
identifying the type of the reservoir fluid. In general, reservoir fluids are classified
into three groups:
I. incompressible fluids; V= fluid volume
𝑘𝑔
II. slightly compressible fluids; 𝜌= fluid density (𝑚3)
III. compressible fluids. p= pressure (psi)
c= isothermal compressibility
1
coefficient ( )
𝑝𝑠𝑖
−1 𝜕𝑉 −1 𝜕𝜌
𝐶= In terms of fluid density: 𝐶 =
𝑉 𝜕𝑃 𝑉 𝜕𝑝

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 11

 Incompressible fluids
An incompressible fluid is defined as the fluid
whose volume or density does not change with
pressure. That is

∂V/∂p = 0
∂ρ/∂p = 0

Incompressible fluids do not exist; however, this

behavior may be assumed in some cases to
simplify the derivation and the final form of
many flow equations.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 12

 Slightly compressible fluids
 These “slightly” compressible fluids exhibit small changes in
volume, or density, with changes in pressure. Knowing the
volume Vref of a slightly compressible liquid at a reference
(initial) pressure pref , the changes in the volumetric behavior
of this fluid as a function of pressure p can be mathematically
described by integrating Equation:
−1 𝜕𝑉
𝐶=
𝑉 𝜕𝑃 Where
P = pressure, psia
𝑝 𝑉
𝑑𝑉 V = volume at pressure,psia
−𝑐 𝑑𝑝 = 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 = initial (reference) pressure, psia
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝑉 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 = fluid volume at initial (reference)
pressure ,psia
𝑉
exp 𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 − 𝑝 =
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 exp[(𝑐(𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 − 𝑝))] → 𝑉 = 𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 [1+ c(𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 −p)]

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 13

 example
 If the initial pore volume in an oil reservoir is 1 million barrels, how many
barrels will the pore volume decrease due to a 10 psi pressure drop?

−1 𝜕𝑉
c= 10 * 10−6
𝐶= V= 106 bbl
𝑉 𝜕𝑃 ∆𝑃 = 10 𝑝𝑠𝑖

∆𝑉 = ?

Solution: ∆𝑉 = 10 ∗ 10−6 * 106 *10 = 100 bbl

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 14

 Compressible fluids
 These are fluids that experience large changes in
volume as a function of pressure. All gases are
considered compressible fluids. The isothermal
compressibility of any compressible fluid is
described by the following expression:

For gas ideal

Z=1
1
𝑐𝑔 = 𝑝

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 15

 Fluid density

ρ ref = density at initial

(reference) pressure p ref.

ρ = density at pressure p.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 16

 flow regimes

 There are basically three types of flow

regimes that must be recognized in order to
describe the fluid flow behavior and reservoir
pressure distribution as a function of time.

I. steady-state flow;
II. unsteady-state flow;
III. Pseudo steady-state flow.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 17

 steady-state flow
 The flow regime is identified as a steady-state flow if the
pressure at every location in the reservoir remains
constant, i.e., does not change with time.
Mathematically, this condition is expressed as:
𝜕𝑝
𝑖= 0
𝜕𝑡

This equation states that the rate of change of pressure (p)

with respect to time (t) at any location i is zero. In
reservoirs, the steady-state flow condition can only occur
when the reservoir is completely recharged and supported
by strong aquifer or strong gas cap or pressure
maintenance operations.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 18

 unsteady-state flow
 Unsteady-state flow (frequently called transient
flow) is defined as the fluid flowing condition at
which the rate of change of pressure with respect
to time at any position in the reservoir is not zero
or constant. This definition suggests that the
pressure derivative with respect to time is
essentially.
𝜕𝑝
𝜕𝑡 𝑖= F(x , t)

 It occurs when the radius of investigation and the effect of

pressure drop caused by production have not reached the
reservoir boundary.
2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 19
 Pseudo steady-state flow
 When the pressure at different locations in the
reservoir is declining linearly as a function of time,
i.e., at a constant declining rate, the flowing condition
is characterized as pseudo steady-state flow.
Mathematically, this definition states that the rate of
change of pressure with respect to time at every
position is constant, or:

𝜕𝑝
𝜕𝑡 𝑖= constant

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 20

 Reservoir geometry
 The shape of a reservoir has a significant effect on its flow behavior. Most reservoirs
have irregular boundaries and a rigorous mathematical description of their geometry is
often possible only with the use of numerical simulators. However, for many
engineering purposes, the actual flow:

I. linear flow;
II. Radial flow;
III. spherical and hemispherical flow.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 21

 Linear flow
 Linear flow occurs when flow paths are parallel
and the fluid flows in a single direction. In
addition, the cross-sectional area to flow must
be constant. in Figure shows an idealized linear
flow system. A common application of linear
flow equations is the fluid flow into vertical
hydraulic fractures as illustrated:

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 22

 Radial flow
 In the absence of severe reservoir heterogeneities, flow
into or away from a wellbore will follow radial flow
lines a substantial distance from the wellbore. Because
fluids move toward the well from all directions and
coverage at the wellbore, the term radial flow is used to
characterize the flow of fluid into the wellbore. Figure
shows idealized flow lines and isopotential lines for a
radial flow system.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 23

 Spherical and hemispherical flow
 Depending upon the type of wellbore completion
configuration, it is possible to have spherical or
hemispherical flow near the wellbore. A well with a
limited perforated interval could result in spherical flow
in the vicinity of the perforations as illustrated in Figure A
well which only partially penetrates the pay zone, as
shown in Figure B could result in hemispherical flow.
The condition could arise where coning of bottom water
is important.

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 24

 Review SS FLUID FLOW EQUATIONS equation
𝑘𝐴 𝑃2 −𝑃1 𝑆𝑇𝐵
 q= - 1.127 , , linrar
𝜇𝐵𝑜 𝐿 𝐷𝑎𝑦

𝑘ℎ 𝑃𝑒 −𝑃𝑤 𝑆𝑇𝐵
 q= 7.08 𝑟 , , Radial
𝜇𝐵𝑜 ln 𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑦
𝑟𝑤

𝑘 𝑃𝑒 −𝑃𝑤 𝑆𝑇𝐵
q= 14.16 , spherical
𝜇𝐵𝑜 1 − 1 𝐷𝑎𝑦
𝑟 𝑤 𝑟𝑒

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 25

 diffusivity equation

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 26

 Review USS Flow of slightly compressible Fluids
 diffusivity equation :
6.328 𝑘 𝑑2 𝑝 1 𝑑𝑝
Linear → 𝜂 = , =
𝜙𝜇𝑐 𝑑𝑥 2 𝜂 𝑑𝑡
6.328 𝑘 𝑑2 𝑝 1 𝑑𝑝 1 𝑑𝑝 𝑓𝑡 2
Radial → 𝜂 = , 2+ =  In the equation unit diffustion is ( 𝑑𝑎𝑦)
𝜙𝜇𝑐 𝑑𝑟 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝜂 𝑑𝑡
6.328 𝑘 𝑑2 𝑝 2 𝑑𝑝 1 𝑑𝑝 K= darcy
Spherical → 𝜂 = , 2+ = 𝜇= cp
𝜙𝜇𝑐 𝑑𝑟 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝜂 𝑑𝑡 𝜙= porosity
c= isothermal compressibility
1
coefficient (𝑝𝑠𝑖)

In the well test :

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 27

 Raduis of investigation

 the radius of ri tentatively describes the

distance that the pressure has moved into
the formation.

 Radius: 𝑟 2 𝑖𝑛𝑣 = 4𝜂𝑡

 Linear: 𝐿2 𝑖𝑛𝑣 = 2𝜂t

 Spherical: 𝑟 2 𝑖𝑛𝑣 = 6𝜂t

2/14/2023 Musa Hamid 28

 example
 radius of investigation if t= 10
day? If t=10 hr?

Find : 𝜂 = ?
Find : q= ?

6.328 𝑘 6.328 ∗0.01

𝜂= = =?  𝑟 2 𝑖𝑛𝑣 = 4𝜂𝑡?
𝜙𝜇𝑐 0.2 ∗0.5∗2∗10−5

2/15/2023 Musa Hamid 29