Chapter 2 Pressure Transient Analysis in Drawdown and Buildup Final LAPTOP 2RO3OEG6s Conflicted Copy 2023 03 15

PRESSURE TRANSIENT ANALYSIS IN DRAWDOWN
AND BUILDUP
Well test is basically at all times done in a  Obtain samples for laboratory PVT
transient flow regime even though analysis
certain boundaries maybe contacted in  Determine the nature of the
the duration of the process. In this formation fluids
chapter, we will be dealing with
pressure transient analysis for
drawdown and build-up test.
Detailed reservoir information is essential

to the petroleum engineer in order to
analyze the current behavior and future
performance of the reservoir. Pressure
transient testing is designed to provide the
engineer with a quantitative analysis of the
reservoir properties. A transient test is
essentially conducted by creating a
pressure disturbance in the reservoir and
recording the pressure response at the
wellbore, i.e., bottom-hole ﬂowing 2) Types of Pressure Transient Test
pressure pwf, as a function of time.  Pressure Drawdown (Reservoir
Limit) Test
1) Objectives of Well testing  A sufficiently long production
 Measure the reservoir pressure test to achieve the desired flow
 Measure well productivity regime—while recording
 Determine the average permeability Bottom Hole Pressure (BHP)
of the reservoir and heterogeneity response versus time. It is
 Attempt to locate the position of usually use to quantify reservoir
boundaries / discontinuities/ faults pore volume (Vp)
 Determine the near wellbore  We could obtain reservoir
alteration i.e. the skin factor characteristics such as:
Permeability (K), Skin (S)
Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro
PetE 519 – Advanced Reservoir Engineering
The purpose of the initial short flow affected by some constant

period - usually 5-minutes - is to pressure outer boundaries. (gas
relieve any supercharging (excess cap or water drive)
pressure due to mud filtrate
invasion in low permeability  Pressure Buildup or Falloff Test
formations).  We could obtain reservoir
characteristics such as: Initial
Skin effect may be due to the
Reservoir Pressure (Pi),
following:
Permeability (K), Skin (S), & Ave.
1.) Mechanical skin—conventional Pressure ̅̅̅
“true” skin related to perforation 1.) Drill Stem Test (Downhole
and near-wellbore formation valve)
damage.  A test which is carried out
2.) Non-Darcy skin—an inertial downhole of the well to
pressure drop associated to obtain the bottom hole
spherical-like flow convergence to pressure while minimizing
individual perforations. (usually wellbore storage effect.
observed in dry gas wells) o E.g. Workflow: 1-
3.) Liquid drop-out skin—reduced short drawdown, 1-
mobility due to the presence of short shut-in, 1 day
condensate and the extra pressure drawdown, 30 days
drop produced by two phase flow. shut-in
4.) Pseudoskin —the geometric skin
2.) Production or Injection Well
related with the limited entry and
Test
well deviation.
 Recording pressure decline
in the reservoir by halting
Flow Regimes: injection (falloff test) or it
1.) Transient flow—reservoir could be by measuring
behaves as if it was infinite as pressure build-up while
long as the compressible zone waterflooding or gas-
does not reach the boundary of injection.
the reservoir or is nor influence ETR – Early Time Region—Dominated by
by other wells. wellbore storage effect
2.) Pseudosteady-state flow—it  Wellbore storage – surface
happens when the compressible production is primarily due
zone reaches a no-flow to fluids flowing out of the
boundaries. tubing or annulus
3.) Steady-state flow—it occurs  Reservoir is not producing
when the compressible zone is fluids (production is due
only to tubing fluids LTR – Late Time Region—dominated by

compressibility and boundary effects
expansion)  Pressure transient has
 To identify wellbore storage reached the drainage
effect, look for a unit slope boundaries of the well.
at the beginning of ETR.  Drainage area (A) and Dietz
MTR – Middle Time Region—Reservoir act shape factor (CA) can be
as infinite calculated from LTR using
 pressure transient has Cartesian plot
moved away from the  To identify LTR, look for a
wellbore into the bulk deviation on a straight line
formation of MTR in a semi log curve.
 To identify MTR, look for a
straight line in middle region
of atleast 1 cycle in a
semilog plot of Pws vs. Time.
Or a zero slope in a log-log
plot derivative—indicating
radial flow.

Transient Flow Regimes: E.g. Tandem square root plot of Pws

versus √ √ is an example
Courtesy: Amanat U. Chaudhry
of linear flow specialized plot
1.) Early-Time Radial Flow
 Log-Log Derivative plot
2.) Intermediate-Time Linear Flow
3.) Late-Time Radial Flow
Using Specialize Plot
 We could identify the following

flow regimes base on the slope
of the derivative.
Credit: fekete.com

Summary of flow regime diagnostics on derivative signatures

(Courtesy of Welltest Design & Analysis by George Stewart)
“observation” well. It’s only

difference with interference test
 Interference Test
is the shutting-in and opening of
 Test for multiple wells where
the observation well during the
one of these wells could be an
process.
“active well”—use for
injecting/producing; and
 Use in reservoir with high
another well would be the
mobility and high
“observation well”—where
pressure response is recorded. diffusivity
 It helps determine the reservoir
continuity and directional 3) Well Test Models
permeability.  Well test interpretation:
 Use in reservoirs with low fluid
mobility ( ) and low diffusivity 1.) Category I — simple
( ) homogeneous reservoir
model which contains a
 Pulse Test - horizontal or vertical vertical well with skin.
 Similarly it is use for multiple
wells with “active” &
2.) Category II — more Cs= Wellbore storage coefficient

complicated models which qsf = Sandface Flow-Rate
uses a procedure that is qs = Surface Flow-Rate
extended to comprise the
determination of reservoir
description parameters such Wellbore Material Balance:
as heterogeneity,
boundaries, layering, and
where: |
anisotropy.
Simplified Model of Liquid Wellbore Storage:

 Wellbore Storage Inner Boundary
Well is considered to be a tank of volume, Condition:
V ,filled with a fluid of compressibility,C, |
Where: Cs=cV

 ETR: Dietz SSS Shape Factors:

; For a well in the centre of a circular
drainage area, purely radial and at
Semi-Steady State flow the inflow is:
---in field units
(̅ )
and * +
and
 LTR: or
Conditions/Assumptions:
For Dimensionless:
1.) Based on depletion and
compaction only
2.) No aquifer influx or gas cap
effect
3.) Pressure above bubble point
i.e. single phase
[ ]
4.) constant rate
̅)
where: cumulative In Actual variables:
production
[
Therefore:
̅ ]
where: where ϒ = Euler’s constant
In Dimensionless: Plot of Pwf vs. Time in Cartesian:

̅
(See the Plot on the next page)

 Porosity & permeability are

constant and independent of
pressure
 Saturated with single phase(fluid) ;
constant viscosity; small & constant
compressibility
5) Radial Flow Theory

a) The Basic Flow Equations
 Continuity
=-
 Darcy
4) Assumptions in Radial flow Model Superficial Radial Velocity would

 Well completed over the entire become:
formation with uniform thickness
 Homogeneous & isotropic porous
medium
b) Fluid of Constant Compressibility
 Impermeable barriers (above &
below) where:

, - d) Dimensionless Form of the Diffusivity

Therefore:
Equation
( ) ( )
Where hydraulic
diffusivity is
c) Initial and Boundary Conditions

For initial and boundary conditions
( )
---linearized radial (infinite reservoir case):
I.C. @
flow equation
To obtain the solution of a second- B.C.1@

order PDE of the parabolic type an
initial condition and two boundary B.C.2@
conditions must be indicated:
1.) Initial Condition
The solution in terms of pressure, p(r,t):
{ }
2.) Boundary Condition @

[ 〈 〉]
wellbore
 Constant Rate Inner
Boundary Condition:
Choosing rw as a characteristic
| dimension of position and tD as a
characteristic time, the dimensionless
independent variables are:
or alternatively use:
( ) ; ;
3.) External Boundary Condition

 Infinite Reservoir
Dimensionless differential system
becomes:
 Bounded reservoir
( )
|
 Constant Pressure Outer I.C. @

Boundary:
B.C.1 @

The dimensionless working equations

for transient flow with a well-bore skin
B.C.2 @ effect:
[ ]
Particular Solution could be obtained
from general solution:
( )
In actual variables and parameters:
e) The Line Source Analytical Solution in [

an Infinite Reservoir
( );
∫ ]
where -Ei(-x) is a standard This formula is the basis for constant

mathematical function called the rate drawdown analysis
“exponential integral”.
When x is small, i.e. x < 0.01

-Ei(-x) = Ei(x) = - ln( x)
where is Eulers constant and has a

value of 1.781 or e0.5772.
The general analytical solution is:
. /
g) SPE Field Units

Re-arranging and entering the Using strict metric S.I.Units, we have:
numerical value of . Production rate, qs: m3/s
[ ( ) ] Formation thickness, h: m
Permeability, k: m2
which is valid only for: Viscosity, m: Ns/m2
Pressure, p: Pa
f) Well-bore Damage and Improvement Radius, r : m
Effects Time, t : s
Compressibility, ct: Pa-1
Using SPE Field Units, we have: Exponential integral solution using an

Production rate, qs: stbbl/day algorithm:
Formation thickness, h: ft
If
Permeability, k: md
Viscosity, m: cp
Pressure, p: psia
Radius, r : ft
where:
Time, t : hr
a0 = - 0.57721566
Compressibility, ct: psia-1
a1 = 0.99999193
a2 = - 0.24991055
a3 = 0.05519968
h) The Depth of Investigation and Radius
a4 = - 0.00976004
of Drainage
a5 = 0.00107857
On a dimensionless basis, the pressure
ε(x) <
behavior of the reservoir is indicated on
a plot of pressure drop versus well-bore
If
radius at specific times.
where:
a1 = 8.5733287401
a2 = 18.059016973
a3 = 8.6347608925
a4 = 0.2677737343
b1 = 9.5733223454
b2=25.6329561486
b3 =21.0996530827
b4 = 3.9584969228
ε(x) <
6) Typical Drawdown Pressure Behavior

a) Pressure Drawdown Analysis in
Infinite-Acting Reservoirs

From this equation, when lnt = 0 & t = 1

the semi-log plot should produce a
straight line of slope m and intercept
Pt=1.
For Dimensionless Drawdown equation:
And could be converted to log10:

[
In actual variables in field units it becomes:

[
| |
]

For well in a Closed Circle the Early Time Region (ETR), Middle Time Region
(MTR), and Late Time Region (LTR) Pressure
Derivative Diagnostics is:
Behavior
Computing for the Dietz Shape Factor from the 𝑞𝐵𝑡

𝑃𝑤𝑓 𝑃𝑖
Intercept of the Cartesian Plot: 𝜑𝐶𝑡 𝐴
𝑞𝐵𝜇 𝐴
[ ( )
𝑘 𝑟𝑤
= [ ] 𝐶𝐴 𝑠]
where:
m = semilog slope (psi/cycle) 𝑑𝑃𝑤 𝑞𝐵
Pt=1 = semilog intercept (psia) 𝑑𝑡 𝐶
m* = cartesian slope (psi/hr)
Pt=0 = cartesian intercept (psia)
𝑞𝐵𝜇 𝑘𝑡
Note that calculations using this method are 𝑃𝑤𝑓 𝑃𝑖 [ ( ) 𝑠]
𝑘 𝜑𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤
very prone to errors.
Plot Signatures of boundary effects or sealing Example 11.

faults: Estimate the oil permeability, skin factor and
additional pressure drop due to skin from the
drawdown data of the figure below.
The following details are available:
h = 130 ft φ = 20% rw = 0.25 ft
pi = 1154 psi qs = 348 STB/d
Bo = 1.14 bbl/STB μo = 3.93 cp
-6 -1
ct = 8.74x10 psi
Credit: 2009

Solve for the skin factor.
[
| |
]
[
| |
Step 5.
Calculate the additional pressure drop.
| |
| |
Pressure Build-Up Test

Step 1. 7) Principle of Superposition
Estimating the value of pressure, p at t = 1  Any linear combination of particular
hour in the semilog plot. solutions is also a solution.
p1hr = 954 psi  Based on the fact that the diffusivity
equation is linear.
Step 2.  Superposition is summation of all
Determine the slope of the transient flow line:
individual parts (responses) that
m = -22 psi/cycle
contribute to the total system.
Step 3.
Calculate the permeability. Two types of Superposition:
1. In Space (Multiple-Well Situations)
2. In Time (Variable Rate Situations)
Step 4.

Superposition In Space:
In visualizing the method of superposition, we
consider a system of three wells where the [ ( . /)]
production of each well affects the other two.
[ ( . /)]
For calculating the total change in pressure at

point A, we take the sum of the change in
pressures in all three wells, where well A is our
observation well and we take change in
pressures from both directions (both wells
The pressure drop at well A due to its own giving us twice the skin if present around well
production is given by the log approximation A).
to the Ei function solution expressed as:
( )
Where:
[ ( )
]
Since we have:
where t = time in hours
S = skin factor . /
k = permeability, mD
qA = oil flow rate from well A, STB/day a change in pressure (pi-p) in a single well can
be calculated using the solution to the
The additional pressure drops at well 1 due to diffusivity equation:
the production from wells B and C must be
written in terms of the Ei function solution . /
since the log approximation cannot be applied
in calculating the pressure at a large distance, r
If we take the three well system previously
from the wellbore where x > 0.1.
stated, the total pressure drop in point A will
[ ( . /)] now be:
Applying the above expression to calculate the

additional pressure drop due to the two wells:

[ ( ) ] . /
[ ( . /)]
[ ( . /)]
Superposition In Rates:
Example 12.
Assume that the three wells as shown in the

figure are producing under a transient flow
cnditionfor 15 hours. The following additional
data is available:
qs1 = 100 STB/day qs2 = 160 STB/day
qs3 = 200 STB/day pi = 4500 psi
Bo = 1.20 bbl/STB ct = 20x10-6 psi-1
Swell1 = -0.5 h = 20 ft
Φ = 15% k = 40 mD
rw = 0.25 ft μo = 2.0 cp
 At time T1 the rate is changed from q 1
r1 = 400 ft r2 = 700 ft
to q2
If the three wells are producing at a constant
 Change in rate = q2-q1
flow rate , calculate the sand face flowing
 Time dependent inner boundary
pressure, pwf at well 1.
condition
For t > T1
{ }
Pressure change Pressure drop due

due to base rate q1 to rate change at T1

Solution: a6 = -0.12333524
Step 1. a7 = 1.0832566x10-2
Calculate the pressure drop at well 1 caused by a8 = 8.6709776x10-4
its own production
[ ]
( )
[ ( ) Step 3.
] Calculate the pressure drop due to production

of well 3.
[ ( )
]
[ ( . /)]
Step 2.
[ ( )]
Calculate the pressure drop at well 1 due to
the production of well 2: x > 0.1, same as in well 2.
[ ( . /)]
Step 4.
[ ( . /)]
Calculating the total pressure drop at well 1 by
[ ] adding the three pressure of the three wells.
Since x > 0.1, we can use the table to

approximate the value of Ei(x) or use the
equation below as presented in Chap.1.
Step 5.
[ ]
Calculate pwf at well 1.
[ ]
with the coefficients a1 through a8 having the

following values:
a1 = -0.33153973
a2 = -0.81512322
a3 = 5.22123384x10-2
a4 = 5.9849810x10-3
a5 = 0.662318450

8.) Theory of Pressure Buildup Analysis from the system is considered

negligible
In such case we can calculate dimensionless
pressure using a logarithmic approximation:
Hence we can approximate the pD from the

Where we have the following conditions: equation;
q1 = 1; tD = tpD + ΔtD; q2 – q1 = -q; tD – T1D = { ( ) }
ΔtD
Then:
with this equation by the logarithmic
{ ( ) approximation of pD:
}
( ( ) )
In this case this will give us:
Simplifying we have:
{ ( )
}
Take note that pD represents the dimensionless 𝑡𝑝 𝑡
pressure and that in ideal buildup tests (no Where the term
𝑡
flow), the pws is not affected by skin factor.
Is called the Horner time function
In general we have this equation having the Ei

function: This equation shows a linear relationship
between pws and the Horner time function and
thus called the Horner buildup equation.
∑ * ( ( )
Inverse Problem of Parameter Estimation
)+ (Superposition in Rates formula)
The linearity of the Horner Buildup Equation
can be graphically shown by constructing a
semi-log plot of Pws versus ln((tp + Δt)/Δt)
Infinite-Acting Radial Flow
Assumptions: Which is also shown by the Horner Buildup
 Reservoir is infinite-acting (the Equation expressed in a point-slope form of a
reservoir boundaries has not been felt) straight line (y = mx + b):
 Along the duration of producing the
well, the amount of fluids removed

Where the term is the slope (m) of the Schematic Flow-rate and Pressure Behavior for
line and is the intercept (b) which can be an ideal Buildup
expressed as p*
Giving us:
with and
This gives way to the calculation of the average

reservoir permeability k for a known reservoir
thickness h, and sandface with constant
flowrate qs:
Semilog (Horner) Plot for a Buildup
We can also express the equations in SPE field

units:
As a natural logarithm (ln):
Determination of the Skin Factor
Or in log base 10 (log):
Base on the last flowing pressure

:
The flowing pressure prior to shut-in (i.e. t = tp)

where: qs = STB/day µ = cp k = md t = hr is represented by:
h = ft p = psi m = psi/cycle *

Where which can be extrapolated Expressed in SPE field units we have:

from the semilog Horner plot, and the flow Natural log form (ln):
equation is in the form of a straight line
with the . /
slope
Then flowing pressure prior to shut-in for

infinite-acting reservoirs (i.e. t = tp) is Log base 10 form:
represented by:
[ /
Slope of the Horner plot at MTR
Example 13.
Solving for the Skin factor (S) we have: The following table shows pressure buildup
data from an oil well with an estimated
drainage radius of 2,640 ft. Before shut-in, the
[
well had produced at a stabilized rate of 4,900
] STB/day for 310 hours. Calculate the average
permeability and skin factor based on the
following reservoir data.
Depth = 10,476 ft rw = 0.354 ft

h = 482 ft ct = 220.6x10-6 psi-1
. / qo = 4,900 STB/day pwf (Δt = 0) = 2761 psi
μ = 0.2 cp φ = 0.09
Bo = 1.55 bbl/STB Casing ID = 0.523 ft
Or in this form where m is intrinsically
Tp = 310 hours
negative:
. /

[ ( ) ]
( ) ]
Solution:
Step 1.
Plot pws versus (tp + Δt)/ Δt on a semi-log scale.
Step 2.
Identify the correct straight line portion of the
curve and determine its slope m. In this case,
m = 40 psi/cycle.
Step 3.
Determine pws after 1 hour from the straight-
line portion of the curve to give: p 1hr = 3266
psi.
Step 4.
Using the formula, calculate the average
permeability and skin factor.

Name: _______________________________________ Date:_______________
Section: ______________ SR Code: ____________ Rating: _______________
Problem Set No. 2
1. A constant-rate pressure-drawdown test was run on an oil well. Determine the

formation permeability, skin factor.
Porosity = 0.039
Formation volume factor = 1.136 bbl/STB
Oil production rate = 250 STB/day
Oil viscosity = 0.8 cp
Total compressibility = 17x10-6 psia-1
Reservoir thickness = 69 ft
Wellbore radius = 0.198 ft

2. For the conditions shown in the figure below, estimate the pressure at Well 1afte 7 hours of
production. Well 1 is producing with a rate of 100 STB/day and Well 2 production rate is 25
STB/day.

3. A flowing well is completed in a reservoir that has the properties:
Calculate the pressure in the well after 11 days for the following rate history.

4. A well has been producing at a constant rate of 250 STB/day. During the flow period,
bottom-hole flowing pressures were recorded as tabulated below. The following rock
properties are known:
Estimate the permeability and skin factor.

5. A new oil well produced 500 STB/day for 3 days, then was shut in for a pressure build-up
test, during which the data in the table below were recorded. Estimate the formation
permeability, initial pressure and skin

6. The well is 2600 ft deep and has 6.625” , 24 lb/ft casing (5.921” ID). The bottom-hole
pressure is 1690 psi. If the well is filled with water (c w = 4x10-6 psi-1). What is the wellbore
storage coefficient?

7. Determine the wellbore storage coefficient (Cs) from the data and table below, which were
obtained in a pressure drawdown test on an oil well.

8. The data provided in Table 1 and 2 are pertinent to a reservoir limit test (RLT) conducted in a
fully-penetrating oil well producing at a constant rate. Estimate the pore volume , (Vp) of the
reservoir.

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PRESSURE TRANSIENT ANALYSIS IN DRAWDOWN

Detailed reservoir information is essential

The purpose of the initial short flow affected by some constant

only to tubing fluids LTR – Late Time Region—dominated by

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

Transient Flow Regimes: E.g. Tandem square root plot of Pws

2.) Intermediate-Time Linear Flow

3.) Late-Time Radial Flow

Using Specialize Plot

 We could identify the following

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

Summary of flow regime diagnostics on derivative signatures

“observation” well. It’s only

2.) Category II — more Cs= Wellbore storage coefficient

Simplified Model of Liquid Wellbore Storage:

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

 ETR: Dietz SSS Shape Factors:

where: where ϒ = Euler’s constant

In Dimensionless: Plot of Pwf vs. Time in Cartesian:

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

 Porosity & permeability are

5) Radial Flow Theory

4) Assumptions in Radial flow Model Superficial Radial Velocity would

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

, - d) Dimensionless Form of the Diffusivity

c) Initial and Boundary Conditions

To obtain the solution of a second- B.C.1@

2.) Boundary Condition @

3.) External Boundary Condition

 Constant Pressure Outer I.C. @

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

The dimensionless working equations

e) The Line Source Analytical Solution in [

where -Ei(-x) is a standard This formula is the basis for constant

When x is small, i.e. x < 0.01

where is Eulers constant and has a

The general analytical solution is:

g) SPE Field Units

Using SPE Field Units, we have: Exponential integral solution using an

6) Typical Drawdown Pressure Behavior

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

From this equation, when lnt = 0 & t = 1

For Dimensionless Drawdown equation:

And could be converted to log10:

In actual variables in field units it becomes:

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

Computing for the Dietz Shape Factor from the 𝑞𝐵𝑡

Plot Signatures of boundary effects or sealing Example 11.

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

Solve for the skin factor.

Calculate the additional pressure drop.

Pressure Build-Up Test

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

For calculating the total change in pressure at

Applying the above expression to calculate the

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

Assume that the three wells as shown in the

Pressure change Pressure drop due

Department of Petroleum Engineering Compiled by: Engr. John Kevin M. de Castro

] Calculate the pressure drop due to production

Since x > 0.1, we can use the table to

with the coefficients a1 through a8 having the

Name: _________________________ Date:_

Section: SR Code: Rating: _