1987-2005 - 050118

Well Testing A Definition

A well test is a period of time during which

the rate and/or pressure of a well is
recorded in order to estimate well or
reservoir properties, to prove reservoir
productivity, or to obtain general dynamic
reservoir data.

1987-2005 - 050118

Objectives of Well Testing

A well test might be performed for one or more of the following reasons:
Identification of the in-situ reservoir fluids
Evaluation of near-wellbore reservoir properties
Determination of well productivity
Collection of representative reservoir fluid samples
Identification and characterization of faults and boundaries
Determination of reservoir limits

 1987-2005 - 050118

Conducting Well Tests

Most well tests consist of changing the rate, and

observing the change in pressure caused by this
change in rate. To do this, there are four basic
requirements for a pressure transient test:
1. We need to be able to measure time
2. We need to be able to measure rate
3. We need to be able to measure pressure
4. We need to be able to control rate

1987-2005 - 050118

Oil Production Test History

From

To
4

 1987-2005 - 050118

First Oil Discoveries

?
Just after the discovery of the
existence of hydrocarbon
reservoirs, the oil prospectors and
producers did not know more
about oil than the first gold miners
about gold

1987-2005 - 050118

First Oil Discoveries

A well was drilled in a location by

instinct and was produced to the max.
Without knowing why, from where and
how the oil was flowing.

 1987-2005 - 050118

First Oil Production

The objective was to maintain the highest production

rate as long as possible.
It was known that the production was linked to the
well head pressure.
The influence of other nearby producing wells was
neglected .
The evaluation of the connected volume (reserves?)
was not a major concern.

1987-2005 - 050118

First Oil Well evaluations

The well value was given by its production :

The production test did not exist.

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 1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test History

State-of-the-Art in the 1920s:

Empirical approaches based on production and pressure decline
extrapolations were developed:

The relationship between pressure and rate

Well Productivity Index and rate potential from the Well Head
Pressure

The first Bottom Hole Pressure data are measured

1987-2005 - 050118

1920's: Purely Empirical

Objective was purely economic, not technical.

From: Estimation of
Underground Oil
Reserves by Oil-Well
Production Curves
Cutler (1924).

10

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First Steps in Well Test Analysis

One concept was perfectly clear:
The higher is the rate the greater is the pressure drop:

4500

4000
500
250
0
26/04/1910

28/04/1910

30/04/1910

02/05/1910

04/05/1910

06/05/1910

History plot (Pressure [psia], Liquid Rate [STB/D] vs Time [hr])

11

1987-2005 - 050118

First Steps in Well Test Analysis

Or:
The higher is the rate the faster is the pressure decline:

4700

4200

3700
500
250
0
26/04/1910

28/04/1910

30/04/1910

02/05/1910

04/05/1910

06/05/1910

History plot (Pressure [psia], Liquid Rate [STB/D] vs Time [hr])

12

 1987-2005 - 050118

The Evolution of the Well Test Analysis

From 1924

To 2004

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1987-2005 - 050118

Beginning of Well Test Analysis

1929: Pierce and Rawlins first relation between rate and BHP
1930s
1936 Rawlins and Shellhardt: AOFP
1935 Theis: mathematical model
1937 Muskat : Use of BHP extrapolation

The relationship between the pressure and the production

rate became imperative.
Test designs were developed to address this problem: the
multi-rate tests.
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 1987-2005 - 050118

Beginning in Well Test Analysis

The well test objective was still to establish the relation of the stabilized
production rate and its corresponding flowing pressure:

-5000
5000
2500
0
26/04/1910

28/04/1910

30/04/1910

02/05/1910

04/05/1910

06/05/1910

History plot (Pressure [psia], Liquid Rate [STB/D] vs Time [hr])

15

1987-2005 - 050118

Beginning in Well Test Analysis

There was no drive to establish a relation between the production

rate and the formation properties.
These properties were measured experimentally and were not yet
the objectives of a test.

The test designs are limited to measure stationary behaviour:

Steady State or Pseudo Steady State

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 1987-2005 - 050118

Beginning in Well Test Analysis

In the 1940s, efforts are made to understand and determine

the parameters governing the fluid flow in the reservoir
formation.
The Darcys law and diffusivity equation are the base of this
search (1856!).
These dynamic parameters could be accessed during the
transient pressure behaviour.

17

1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Analysis in the 1950s

1950 : Miller Dyes Hutchinson: permeability and skin
determination from drawdown transient behaviour

4900

kh, skin
4700

4500
-2

MDH plot: p [psi] vs log(dt)

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Well Test Analysis in the 1950s

1951. Horner permeability and damage determination from
a build-up analysis

Extrapolated
pressure

4850

4650

kh, skin
4450

Horner plot: p [psi] vs log(tp+dt)-log(dt)

19

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Well Test Analysis in the 1950s

Still, the Horner and MDH methods assumed a certain type of flow
regime for the equation to be valid:

Infinite Acting Radial Flow

4850

4650

4450

Horner plot: p [psi] vs log(tp+dt)-log(dt)

20

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Well Test Since the 1950s

The well tests become then a sequence of production periods
and build up where both are analysed.

2800

1800

1250
0
-1250

10

20

30

History plot (Pressure [psia], Liquid Rate [STB/D] vs Time [hr])

21

1987-2005 - 050118

Gas Well Test Improvements

1955: Cullender: isochronal test it is a transient Gas test but not
to get the dynamic parameters, only the Well Potential

4992

4982

1800

10

30

50

70

History plot (Pressure, Gas Rate vs Time)

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Well Test Diagnosis Evolution

1960s : first type curves (Ramey, McKinley, Argawal etc) to
diagnose the flow regime.

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1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Diagnosis Evolution

Or for specific models: i.e. McKinley

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 1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Diagnosis Evolution

The conventional methods dominated until the late 70s and the
type curve matching remained a confidential method, made by
hand :

25

1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Diagnosis Evolution

1970s : new type curve presentation and introduction
of their use in Oil fields. (A.C.Gringarten D. Bourdet et al)

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 1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Diagnosis Evolution

1982 : Introduction of the derivative type curve (D.Bourdet)

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1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Analysis Computerization

The introduction of the derivative allowed the computerization of
the modern WT analysis methods:

Log-Log plot: dp and dp' [psi] vs dt [hr]

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 1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Analysis Latest Development

1990s - : Computer Modelling/ Matching/ Forecasting

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1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Analysis: Present - Future

The increasing computing power of PCs and recent developments in

numerical methods, re-vitalised old tools: numerical modelling.
This allows us to use real physics:

make a grid on-the-fly

include changing reservoir thickness and porosity
create reservoir models respecting the real geometry
regress on the parameters (numerically)
include pressure dependant permeability
use real gas flow equations (especially in tight reservoirs)
use material balance in depleting gas reservoirs
multi-phase with proper rel perms.
....
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 1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Analysis: Present - Future

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1987-2005 - 050118

Well Test Analysis: Future

End of Analytical?
Numerical Only...

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