WELL TESTING Lecture Note

M-14 Sunday, 11 Jan 2015

Well Testing and Interpretation

Introduction
Well Testing Procedures and Hardware
Examples of Typical Flow regimes
Conclusions

Pressure, p

Description of a Well Test

pi

t Dd
p BU

p Dd

Rate, q

p(t=0)

drawdown

t BU

build-up

Time, t

Drawdown :
Build-up :

p pi p( t )
p p(t ) p( t 0)

Well Test Objectives

EXPLORATION WELL
APPRAISAL WELL
DEVELOPMENT WELL

Well Test Objectives

EXPLORATION
Nature and rate of produced fluid
Initial pressure
Reservoir properties

Well Test Objectives

APPRAISAL
Reservoir properties
permeability
heterogeneity
reservoir boundaries

Well productivity
Fluid properties (sampling)

Well Test Objectives

DEVELOPMENT
Reservoir properties
drainage mechanism (permanent
gauges)
communication between wells

Well productivity
Average pressure

Information obtained from Well Testing

RESERVOIR DESCRIPTION
Reservoir responses
Reservoir in dynamic condition (flow lines
are established)
Large volume investigated (averaging)

Results

Permeability (horizontal k and vertical kv)

Reservoir heterogeneities
natural fractures,
layering,
change of characteristics.
Pressure (initial pi and average )
Boundaries (distance and shape)

Information obtained from Well Testing

WELL DESCRIPTION
Results
Production potential
productivity index PI,
skin factor S

Well geometry

Interpretation Methodology

input

system

O
output

Inverse problem : O / I = S
Direct problem :

I *S = O

Input Data required for Well Test Analysis

TEST DATA
Flow rate (sequence of event)
Bottom hole pressure

WELL DATA
Wellbore radius rw and geometry
Depths (formation, gauges)

Input Data required for Well Test Analysis

RESERVOIR AND FLUID PARAMETER

Formation thickness h (net)

Porosity
Formation volume factor B
Oil viscosity
Compressibility of oil co, water cw and formation
cf, water saturation Sw

c t co 1 S w c w S w c f

Types of Well Tests

PROCEDURE
Drawdown test
Build-up test
Injection test / fall-off test
Interference test and pulse test
Gas well test
Flow after flow test,
Isochronal test,
Modified isochronal test

Types of Well Tests

COMPLETION
Production test
Drill stem test (DST)

Rate, q

Pressure, p

Test Sequence (oil well)

Initial
shut-in
Clean
Variable
up
rate

Build-up
Stabilized
rate

Time, t

Clean-up period (drilling and completion fluids,

no measurement)
Initial shut-in (pressure gauge at depth, initial
pressure pi)
Variable rate (start of rate measurement)
Stabilized rate (main flow)

Surface Equipment
FLOW HEAD: flowing, killing, wireline
CHOKE MANIFOLD: positive &
adjustable
HEATER: hydrates, high viscosity
SEPARATOR: metering of three phases
TANK: oil rate
BURNER

Surface Equipment
SURFACE SETUP
Flowhead

Burner

Choke
maniflod
Heater

Gas

Rig HP
pump

Gas
manifold

Separator

Water

Air

pump

compressor

Water
Surge

Oil
Oil
manifold

tank

Burner
Transfer pump

Test Separator

Gas

Effluent

Water

Oil

THREE PHASES: oil, water and gas

RATE MEASUREMENT
Oil and water: positive displacement
Gas: orifice meter

Down Hole Equipment

PRESSURE GAUGES: memory or surface
read out
DOWN HOLE VALVE: DST, sampling
BOTTOM HOLE SAMPLER: PVT analysis
RFT, MDT: initial pressure, gradient &
contacts, permeability

Safety
EQUIPMENT: pressure, temperature, sour gas
PROCEDURE: pressure test, emergency shutdown, day / night, safe area
ENVIRONMENT: burning, oil drop out

Analysis of Simple Well Tests

Objectives of well tests
Types of well tests
Basic analysis of:
-- Pressure drawdown tests

-- Pressure build-up tests

-- Well interference tests

Types of Well Tests

Producing wells
wells
Pressure drawdown
Multiple rate
Pressure build-up
Well interference
Drill stem
Reservoir limit

Injection
Pressure fall off
Multiple rate
Injectivity
Well interference

Objectives of Well Tests

Gather transient fluid flow and pressure data in
one or more wells simultaneously
Analysis aim at understanding and quantifying
reservoir and aquifer behavior
Provide knowledge about reservoir size and
continuity
Provide estimates of in-situ properties such as
porosity, permeability, transmissibility,
productivity, injectivity and formation damage near
wellbores

Pressure Drawdown Tests

Pressure Drawdown Tests

Pressure Drawdown Tests

Example
t, Hours

0.5

1.0

1.8

12

17

25

35

50

70

95

Pwf, psig

2538

2469

2424

2382

2352

2332

2315

2313

2310

2307

2304

2302

2300

2298

2296

Pressure Drawdown Tests

Example, continued