Line-source solution of the

diffusion/diffusivity equation
 Diffusion equation – oil, line-
source (transient)
Flow of a slightly compressible fluid to a vertical well located in an infinite reservoir

Geometry: vertical well that fully penetrates a reservoir with uniform thickness H, which extends
infinitely far in horizontal directions, the wellbore diameter is assumed to be infinitely small.

Reservoir properties: isotropic, homogenous, constant (independent of P) properties f, k, m, Ct.

Problem: determine P at all points including the well as a function of elapsed time since the
start of production.

𝜕𝑃 𝑘 1 𝜕 𝜕𝑃 1 𝜕 𝜕𝑃
= 𝑟 = 𝐷𝐻 𝑟
𝜕𝑡 𝜙𝜇 𝐶𝜙 + 𝐶𝑓 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟

IC: 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 0 = 𝑃𝑖 , i.e. before the production starts the entire reservoir is at Pi

BC1: lim 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 , i.e. at any time pressure at the external boundary is Pi

𝑟→∞
2𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜕𝑃
BC2: lim 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 = 𝑄, i.e. the well produces at constant rate Q at any t>0
𝑟→0 𝜇
 Diffusion equation – oil, line-
source (transient)
𝜕𝑃 1 𝜕 𝜕𝑃
= 𝐷𝐻 𝑟
𝜕𝑡 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟
Use Boltzmann transformation to convert PDE (diffusion equation) to ODE

𝜕𝑢 𝑟
1 𝑟2
= 2𝐷
𝜕𝑟 𝐻𝑡
Define new variable 𝑢 = And from here: ൞𝜕𝑢
𝐷𝐻 4𝑡 𝑟2 𝑢
=− =−
𝜕𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 2 𝑡

𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑃 𝑢 𝜕𝑃
LHS: = = − 𝑡 𝜕𝑢
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑢

1 𝜕 𝜕𝑃 𝐷𝐻 𝜕𝑢 𝜕 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑃 𝐷𝐻 𝑟 𝜕 𝑟 𝜕𝑃 1 𝜕 𝜕𝑃
RHS: 𝐷𝐻 𝑟 = 𝑟 = 𝑟 = 𝑢
𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑢 𝑟 2𝐷𝐻 𝑡 𝜕𝑢 2𝐷𝐻 𝑡 𝜕𝑢 𝑡 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢

𝑢 𝜕𝑃 1 𝜕 𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃 𝜕 𝜕𝑃
Combining LHS and RHS: − 𝑡 𝜕𝑢 = 𝑢 𝜕𝑢 −𝑢 = 𝑢
𝑡 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢
 Diffusion equation – oil, line-
source (transient)
𝜕𝑃 𝜕 𝜕𝑃 1 𝑟2
2nd order ODE! −𝑢 = 𝑢 Where 𝑢 =
𝐷𝐻 4𝑡
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢

Transformation of IC and BCs

IC: 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 0 = 𝑃𝑖 ; 𝑡 = 0 implies 𝑢 → ∞ therefore ICnew: lim 𝑃 𝑢 = 𝑃𝑖
𝑢→∞

BC1: lim 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 ; 𝑟 = ∞ implies 𝑢 → ∞ therefore BC1new: lim 𝑃 𝑢 = 𝑃𝑖

𝑟→∞ 𝑢→∞

2𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑃 𝑟 𝜕𝑃 𝑟 2 𝜕𝑃 𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑄
BC2: lim 𝑟 = 𝑄; 𝑟 = 𝑟 = 𝑟 = 2 = 2𝑢 =
𝑟→0 𝜇 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑟 𝜕𝑢 2𝐷𝐻 𝑡 𝜕𝑢 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 2𝜋𝑘𝐻

𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑄
therefore BC2new: lim 𝑢 𝜕𝑢 = 4𝜋𝑘𝐻
𝑢→0

𝜕𝑃
Define another new variable: 𝑦 = 𝑢 𝜕𝑢

𝜕𝑦
And the equation becomes: −𝑦 = 1st order ODE!
𝜕𝑢
 Diffusion equation – oil, line-
source (transient)
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑃
−𝑦 = Where 𝑦 = 𝑢
𝜕𝑢
𝜕𝑢

To solve the equation: separate variables and integrate between u=0 and arbitrary value:

𝑢 𝑦 𝑢
𝑑𝑦 𝑦 𝑢
− න 𝑑𝑢 = න −𝑢 = 𝑙𝑛 𝑦 𝑢 = 𝑦 0 𝑒 −𝑢
𝑦 𝑦 0
0 𝑦 𝑢=0

𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄
From BC2new: lim 𝑢 𝜕𝑢 = lim 𝑦 = 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑦 0 =
𝑢→0 𝑢→0 4𝜋𝑘𝐻

𝜇𝑄 −𝑢
𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑢
And: 𝑦 𝑢 = 𝑒 =
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜕𝑢 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑢
 Diffusion equation – oil, line-
source (transient)
𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑢 1 𝑟2
= Where 𝑢 =
𝜕𝑢 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑢 𝐷𝐻 4𝑡

This equation can be directly integrated to find 𝑃 𝑢 . Cannot start integration at 𝑢 = 0, because
we don’t know P at 𝑢 = 0. We do know P at 𝑢 = ∞, that is 𝑃 𝑢 = ∞ = 𝑃𝑖

𝑃 𝑢 𝑢 ∞
𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑢 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑢
න 𝑑𝑃 = න 𝑑𝑢 𝑃 𝑢 = 𝑃𝑖 − න 𝑑𝑢
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑢 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑢
𝑃𝑖 ∞ 𝑢
∞
𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑢
Recall the definition of u: 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − න 𝑑𝑢
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑢
𝑟2
4𝐷𝐻 𝑡

∞
𝑒 −𝑥 𝜇𝑄
The exponential integral function is: −𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = න 𝑑𝑥 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + 𝐸𝑖 −𝑢
𝑥 4𝜋𝑘𝐻
𝑢
Valid for any x, including x=u
 Diffusion equation – oil, line-
source (transient)
We can summarise the problem:
𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + 𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = 𝑃𝑖 − −𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 (1)
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝜋𝑘𝐻
∞
𝑒 −𝑥
where −𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = න 𝑑𝑥 (2)
𝑥
𝑢

1 𝑟 2 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2 (3)
and 𝑢= =
𝐷𝐻 4𝑡 4𝑘𝑡

Assume that we want to know the pressure at a certain distance r from the centre of
the well, at some time t.

(a) Use these values of r and t to compute a value of u from eq.(3).

(b) Look up the value of -Ei(-u) from a table or graph of the exponential integral
function (see next page).
(c) The pressure at (r, t) is then given by eq. (1).
 Exponential integral function,
− 𝑬𝒊 −𝒖
u 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
×1 0.219 0.049 0.013 0.0038 0.0011 3.60×10-4 1.20×10-4 3.80×10-5 1.20×10-5

×10-1 1.82 1.22 0.91 0.7 0.56 0.45 0.37 0.31 0.26

×10-2 4.04 3.35 2.96 2.68 2.47 2.3 2.15 2.03 1.92

×10-3 6.33 5.64 5.23 4.95 4.73 4.54 4.39 4.26 4.14

×10-4 8.63 7.94 7.53 7.25 7.02 6.84 6.69 6.55 6.44

×10-5 10.94 10.24 9.84 9.55 9.33 9.14 8.99 8.86 8.74

×10-6 13.24 12.55 12.14 11.85 11.63 11.45 11.29 11.16 11.04
For example:
×10-7 15.54 14.85 14.44 14.15 13.93 13.75 13.6 13.46 13.34
If 𝑢 = 0.03 → 𝑢 = 3 ∙ 10−2
×10-8 17.84 17.15 16.74 16.46 16.23 16.05 15.9 15.76 15.65
Then, −𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = 2.96
×10-9 20.15 19.45 19.05 18.76 18.54 18.35 18.2 18.07 17.95

×10-10 22.45 21.76 21.35 21.06 20.84 20.66 20.5 20.37 20.25

×10-11 24.75 24.06 23.65 23.36 23.14 22.96 22.81 22.67 22.55

×10-12 27.05 26.36 25.96 25.67 25.44 25.26 25.11 24.97 24.86

×10-13 29.36 28.66 28.26 27.97 27.75 27.56 27.41 27.28 27.16

×10-14 31.66 30.97 30.56 30.27 30.05 29.87 29.71 29.58 29.46

×10-15 33.96 33.27 32.86 32.58 32.35 32.17 32.02 31.88 31.76
 Dimensionless pressure and time
𝜇𝑄
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + 𝐸𝑖 −𝑢
4𝜋𝑘𝐻
∞
𝑒 −𝑥 1 𝑟 2 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2
where −𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = න 𝑑𝑥 and 𝑢= =
𝑥 𝐷𝐻 4𝑡 4𝑘𝑡
𝑢
1 𝑘𝑡
Dimensionless time: 𝑡𝐷 = 4𝑢 = 𝜙𝜇𝐶 𝑟 2
𝑡

2𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑃𝑖 −𝑃
And the dimensionless pressure drawdown: ∆𝑃𝐷 = 𝜇𝑄
1 1
In terms of tD and PD, the line-source solution takes the form: ∆𝑃𝐷 = − 𝐸𝑖 −
2 4𝑡𝐷

The usefulness of dimensionless variables is that they allow the pressure drawdown
to be plotted and discussed in a form that is applicable to all reservoirs, without being
restricted to specific values of the permeability, porosity, etc. These parameters are
accounted for by the definitions of the dimensionless variables.
 Instantaneous pulse of injected
fluid
Assume: a finite amount of fluid is injected into a well over a very small period of time dt

The problem of injecting fluid is mathematically equivalent to producing fluid, except for the “-”
sign. This problem also introduces the important concept of superposition.
We start injecting fluid at a rate Q (m3/s) at time t = 0 (t is the elapsed time)
∞
𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑥
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − 𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = 𝑃𝑖 + න 𝑑𝑥
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑥
𝑟2
Injection 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡

Imagine that we stop injecting fluid after a small amount of time 𝛿𝑡. This is equivalent to
injecting fluid at a rate Q starting at t = 0, and then producing fluid at a rate Q (or, equivalently,
injecting at a rate -Q) starting at time 𝛿𝑡, while keeping injecting at Q.
𝑟2
∞ ∞ 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡−𝛿𝑡
−𝑥
𝜇𝑄 𝑒 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑥 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑥
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + න 𝑑𝑥 − න 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑃𝑖 + න 𝑑𝑥
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑥 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑥 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑥
𝑟2 𝑟2 𝑟2
4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡−𝛿𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡
 Instantaneous pulse of injected
fluid
𝑟2
4𝐷𝐻 𝑡−𝛿𝑡
𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑥
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + න 𝑑𝑥
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑥
𝑟2
4𝐷𝐻 𝑡

But if 𝛿𝑡 is small, then the two limits of integration are close together, and we can use the
𝑥
following approximation: ‫ 𝑥׬‬2 𝑓 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 ≈ 𝑓 𝑥1 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 . In our case it gives:
1

2
𝜇𝑄 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 −4𝐷𝑟 𝑡 𝑟2 𝑟2
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 ≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ∙ 𝑒 𝐻 ∙ −
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑟 2 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 − 𝛿𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡

2
𝜇𝑄 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 −4𝐷𝑟 𝑡 𝑟 2 𝛿𝑡
≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ∙ 𝑒 𝐻 ∙
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑟 2 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 2

2
𝜇𝑄𝛿𝑡 𝑡 −4𝐷𝑟 𝑡
≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ∙ 𝑒 𝐻
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑡 2
𝑟2
𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛 −
The product 𝑄𝛿𝑡 is the volume of injected fluid, 𝑉𝑖𝑛 : 𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 ≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ∙𝑒 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡
4𝜋𝑘𝐻𝑡
 Instantaneous pulse of injected
fluid
𝑟 2
𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛 −
4𝐷
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 ≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ∙𝑒 𝐻𝑡
4𝜋𝑘𝐻𝑡
2𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑃𝑖 −𝑃
Use similarity with the dimensionless pressure drawdown: ∆𝑃𝐷 = 𝜇𝑄
2
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑃 − 𝑃𝑖 1 −4𝐷𝑟 𝑡
= 𝑒 𝐻
𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛 𝑡

The pressure build-up at r will be the product of two terms:

(a) an exponential term that increases with t, then levels off to a value of 1 as 𝑡 → ∞;

(b) a 1/t term that decays to zero as 𝑡 → ∞. 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑃 − 𝑃𝑖

𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛

𝑡
 Instantaneous pulse of injected
fluid
𝑟 2
𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛 −
4𝐷
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 ≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ∙𝑒 𝐻𝑡
4𝜋𝑘𝐻𝑡
It is reasonable to identify the time at which the pressure build-up reaches its
maximum value as the time “at which the pressure pulse has arrived at location r”.
This time is found by setting 𝑑𝑃/𝑑𝑡 = 0
2 2 2
𝜕𝑃 𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛 1 −4𝐷𝑟 𝑡 1 𝑟2 −
𝑟
4𝐷 𝑡
𝜇𝑉𝑖𝑛 1 𝑟2 −
𝑟
4𝐷
ቤ = ∙ − 2∙𝑒 𝐻 + ∙ ∙𝑒 𝐻 = ∙ − 2+ ∙𝑒 𝐻𝑡
𝜕𝑡 𝑟 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑡 𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 2 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 3

𝜕𝑃 1 𝑟2
ቤ =0 →− 2+ =0
𝜕𝑡 𝑟 𝑡 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 3
𝑟2 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2
The time required for a pressure pulse to travel a distance r is: 𝑡= =
4𝐷𝐻 4𝑘

4𝑘𝑡
The distance r over which a pressure pulse will travel during time t is: 𝑟 = 4𝐷𝐻 𝑡 =
“radius of penetration” of the pressure pulse 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡

Pressure pulses obey a diffusion equation, not a wave equation. Rather than travelling at a constant speed,
they travel at a speed that continually decreases with time. To prove this, differentiate the above equation with
respect to time, and observe that the “velocity” of the pulse, 𝑑𝑟Τ𝑑𝑡, decays like 1ൗ 𝑡.
 Applicability of line-source
solution
The line-source solution assumes that the wellbore radius is “zero”, when in reality it
is always non-zero. Does this cause a problem in practice?

Not really; we can use the line-source solution as soon as the “radius of penetration” of the
pressure pulse, as predicted by the line-source solution, is greater than rw, the wellbore radius.
The time required for the pressure pulse to travel at least a distance rw (starting from the
“infinitely-small” hypothetical borehole at 𝑟 = 0) is:

𝑟2 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
𝑡> = Or, in terms of the dimensionless time 𝑡𝐷𝑤 > 0.25
4𝐷𝐻 4𝑘

For a typical reservoir and liquid HC:

𝐶𝑡 = 10−10 1ൗ𝑃𝑎
𝜙 = 0.2
𝜇 = 0.001 𝑃𝑎 ∙ 𝑠
𝑟𝑤 = 0.1𝑚
𝑘 = 10−14 𝑚2

Then the line-source approximation will become valid after an elapsed time of only 0.005 s!
 Logarithmic approximation of
line-source solution
∞
𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄 𝑒 −𝑥 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + 𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = 𝑃𝑖 − න 𝑑𝑥 𝑢=
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝑥 4𝑘𝑡
𝑢

For sufficiently small values of u, which is to say, large values of t, the exponential integral
essentially becomes a logarithmic function, which makes it very easy to use.

• For large times, u will be small, and we can break up the integral into two parts:
∞ 1 ∞
−𝑥 −𝑥
𝑒 𝑒 −𝑥 𝑒
−𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = න 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝑑𝑥 + න 𝑑𝑥
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑢 𝑢 1
• Use the Taylor series for exp(−𝑥) in the first integrand:
1 𝑥 𝑥2 𝑥3
1
𝑒 −𝑥 1− + − +⋯
න 𝑑𝑥 = න 1! 2! 3! 𝑑𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
𝑢 𝑢
• Break up integral into a series of integrals:
1 1 1 1 1
𝑒 −𝑥 1 1 1 1
න 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝑑𝑥 − න 𝑑𝑥 + න 𝑥𝑑𝑥 − න 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + ⋯
𝑥 𝑥 1! 2! 3!
𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢
 Logarithmic approximation of
line-source solution
1 1 1 1 1
𝑒 −𝑥 1 1 1 1
න 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝑑𝑥 − න 𝑑𝑥 + න 𝑥𝑑𝑥 − න 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 + ⋯
𝑥 𝑥 1! 2! 3!
𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢 𝑢

1 1 1
𝑒 −𝑥 1 1 1 𝑥2 1 𝑥3
න 𝑑𝑥 = ln 𝑥 ቚ − 𝑥 ቚ + อ − อ +⋯
𝑥 𝑢 𝑢 2! 2 3! 3
𝑢 𝑢 𝑢

1 1
= ln 1 − ln 𝑢 − 1−𝑢 + 1 − 𝑢2 − 1 − 𝑢3 + ⋯
2! 2 3! 3
1 2 1 3 1 1
= − ln 𝑢 + 𝑢 − 𝑢 + 𝑢 +⋯− 1− + −⋯
2! 2 3! 3 2! 2 3! 3

Finally, combining everything together:

∞ 1 ∞
−𝑥 −𝑥
𝑒 𝑒 −𝑥
𝑒 1 2 1 3
−𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = න 𝑑𝑥 = න 𝑑𝑥 + න 𝑑𝑥 = − ln 𝑢 − ln 𝛽 + 𝑢 − 𝑢 + 𝑢 +⋯
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 2! 2 3! 3
𝑢 𝑢 1
∞
1 1 𝑒 −𝑥 The term ln 𝛽 looks messy, but it is merely a
Where: ln 𝛽 = 1 − + −⋯ −න 𝑑𝑥
2! 2 3! 3 𝑥 number that does not depend on u.
1
 Logarithmic approximation of
line-source solution
∞
1 1 𝑒 −𝑥
𝛾 = ln 𝛽 = 1 − + −⋯ −න 𝑑𝑥 = ln 1.781 = 0.5772 Euler-Mascheroni Constant
2! 2 3! 3 𝑥
1

Both 𝛾 and 𝛽 are sometimes known as “Euler’s number”, so be careful when reading the
literature on this topic!
1 1
We can further simplify −𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = − ln 𝑢 − ln 𝛽 + 𝑢 − 𝑢2 + 𝑢3 + ⋯
2!2 3!3
if we can find conditions under which the power series terms are negligible.

1 2 1 3
Recall, that large t implies small u, so that: 𝑢 − 𝑢 + 𝑢 +⋯<𝑢 Works for 𝑢 < 5.3
2! 2 3! 3

If we want the power series terms to be, say, two orders of magnitude less than 𝛾 (which itself is
~1), then we need:

𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2 𝑘𝑡
𝑢= < 0.01 Or 𝑡𝐷 = > 25
4𝑘𝑡 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2
 Logarithmic approximation of
line-source solution
So, if the dimensionless time is greater than about 25, we have:
∞
𝑒 −𝑥
−𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 = න 𝑑𝑥 ≈ − ln 𝑢 − ln 𝛽
𝑥
𝑢

And
𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + 𝐸𝑖 −𝑢 ≈ 𝑃𝑖 + ln 𝑢 + ln 𝛽
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝜋𝑘𝐻

𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄 𝜇𝑄 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2 𝛽
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 + ln 𝑢 + ln 𝛽 = 𝑃𝑖 + ln 𝑢𝛽 = 𝑃𝑖 + ln
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 4𝑘𝑡

𝜇𝑄 4𝑘𝑡
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2 𝛽
 Logarithmic approximation of
line-source solution
𝜇𝑄 4𝑘𝑡
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln Logarithmic (Jacob’s) approximation
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2 𝛽
𝛽 = 1.781 Using semi-log plots requires transformation:

𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡 1
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln ln 𝑎 = log10 𝑎
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2 log10 𝑒

𝜇𝑄 𝑘𝑡
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln + 0.809
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2

1
∆𝑃𝐷 = ln 𝑡𝐷 + 0.809
2
 Estimating permeability and
storativity
𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡
𝑃 𝑟, 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟 2

At the wellbore:
𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡 𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘
𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln = 𝑃𝑖 − ln 𝑡 + ln
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2

If we plot 𝑃𝑤 𝑡 vs. ln 𝑡 , the data will (at large enough values of 𝑡) fall on a straight line!

The slope of this line gives:

𝑑𝑃𝑤 ∆𝑃𝑤 𝜇𝑄
= ≡ 𝑚 =
𝑑 ln 𝑡 ∆ ln 𝑡 4𝜋𝑘𝐻

𝜇𝑄
𝑘=
4𝜋𝐻 𝑚
 Estimating permeability and
storativity
𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡
𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2

Note that on the semi-log plot of 𝑃𝑤 𝑡 vs. ln 𝑡 , there

are two asymptotic straight lines:
(a) At early times, 𝑃𝑤 = 𝑃𝑖 .
(b) At late times, 𝑃𝑤 slopes downward converging on
𝜇𝑄
a linear slope 𝑚 = .
4𝜋𝑘𝐻

The asymptotes intersect at t* that satisfies:

t*
Pw (early t asymptote) = Pw (late t asymptote)

𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡 ∗ 2.246𝑘𝑡 ∗ 2.246𝑘𝑡 ∗

𝑃𝑖 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln ln =0 =1
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
2.246𝑘𝑡 ∗
𝜙𝐶𝑡 =
𝜇𝑟𝑤2
 ln to log10 conversion
𝜇𝑄 4𝑘𝑡 𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡
SI units ln: 𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln + 2𝑆 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln + 2𝑆
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2 𝛽 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2

Splitting natural logarithm to isolate 𝑡 and all the constants:

𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘 𝜇𝑄 𝑘
𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln 𝑡 + ln + 2𝑆 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln 𝑡 + ln + 0.809 + 2𝑆
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2 4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2

Converting ln to log10:

𝜇𝑄 1 1 𝑘 log10 𝑒 log10 𝑒
𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − log10 𝑡 + log10 + ∙ 0.809 + ∙ 2𝑆
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 log10 𝑒 log10 𝑒 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2 log10 𝑒 log10 𝑒
1
Taking outside the bracket:
log10 𝑒

𝜇𝑄 1 𝑘
𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − log10 𝑡 + log10 + 0.351 + 0.869𝑆
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 log10 𝑒 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2

𝜇𝑄 𝑘
SI units log10: 𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − log10 𝑡 + log10 + 0.351 + 0.869𝑆
1.737𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
 Field units and ln to log10
conversion
𝜇𝑄 2.246𝑘𝑡
SI units: 𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln + 2𝑆
4𝜋𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
2.246𝑘𝑡
2 is dimensionless as long as all the units cancel out. To keep this expression
𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤
dimensionless use: 𝑘[𝑚2], 𝑡[sec], 𝜇[𝑃𝑎 ∙ 𝑠], 𝐶𝑡[1/𝑃𝑎], 𝑟𝑤 [𝑚]. Alternatively use: 𝑘[𝑓𝑡2], 𝑡[ℎ𝑟],
𝜇[𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∙ ℎ𝑟], 𝐶𝑡[1/𝑝𝑠𝑖], 𝑟𝑤 [𝑓𝑡].
When using field units: 𝑘[𝑚𝐷], 𝑡[ℎ𝑟], 𝜇[𝑐𝑃], 𝐶𝑡[1/𝑝𝑠𝑖], 𝑟𝑤 [𝑓𝑡] the following conversions have to
be applied:
1[𝑚𝐷] = 1.062 × 10−14 𝑓𝑡2
1𝑐𝑃 = 4.028 × 10−11 𝑝𝑠𝑖 ∙ ℎ𝑟

𝜇𝑄
To yield [𝑝𝑠𝑖] in convert for 𝑄: 1 𝑆𝑇𝐵 Τ𝑑𝑎𝑦 = 0.2337 𝑓𝑡3Τℎ𝑟 along with conversions above
4𝜋𝑘𝐻

70.6𝜇𝑄 𝑘𝑡
Field units and ln: 𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − ln + 2𝑆
𝑘𝐻 1688𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
162.6𝜇𝐵𝑄 𝑘
Field units and log10: 𝑃 𝑟𝑤 , 𝑡 = 𝑃𝑖 − log10 𝑡 + log10 − 3.23 + 0.869𝑆
𝑘𝐻 𝜙𝜇𝐶𝑡 𝑟𝑤2