Example 3-8 Calculating the Time Required to End Early-Time Radial Flow

A horizontal oil well, which is 2000-ft long, is drilled in a reservoir with the
following characteristics: /z=120ft; ^ = 0.354ft; 0=15.0%; /J0 = I.235rb/stb;
/i o =0.35cP; c f =10.0x 10"6PSi"1; =0.8mD (from well test data), v =0.2mD
(from core data). The Well is in the central elevation of the reservoir, and the
distance from the upper reservoir boundary to center of horizontal well is
20 ft. Estimate the time required to end initial radial flow.

Solution dz = (120/2) - 20 = 40 ft.

Method 1 - using Eq. 3-68

Method 2 - using Eq. 3-73

The minimum of these two values is 1.25 hr. Thus, initial radial flow
period will end in 1.25 hr.
Method 3 - using Figure 3-17

(Eq. 3-58c), assuming isotropic reservoir

(Eq. 3-63)

Knowing LD, rwD, time to end initial radial flow period given by dotted
line AA (tD 1.5 x 10~3) and after rearranging and substituting these
values in Eq. 3-85
 Therefore, the initial time required to end initial radial flow would last
between 1.25 and 3.73 hours. The reservoir engineers will have to use down
hole shut-in devices to enhance the chances of measuring the early radial
flow regime.

Example 3-9 Calculating the Time to Start and Time to End Early-Time
Linear Flow
For the well described in Example 3-8, assuming kx = ky = 0.8 mD,
calculate time to start and time to end early-time linear flow.

Solution Maximum distance of well from either top or bottom boundary is

From Eq. 3-73

From Eq. 3-76

From Eq. 3-69

Thus, this flow period will end in about 55-420 hours. This indicates that
the current well is sufficiently long compared to the reservoir height. There-
fore, it is possible to analyze pressure data of the flow period.

Example 3-10 Calculating the Time Required to Start a Pseudo-Radial Flow

For the well/reservoir data given in Example 3-9, calculate time to start
and time to end early-time linear flow.
Solution
Method 1 -from Eq. 3-70

Method 2 -from Eq. 3-71

Method 3 -from Figure 3-17, time to start pseudo-radial flow (dashed line
BB) is tD = 3.0; thus

It will take 135 to 311 days to reach pseudo-radial flow. It will be economic-
ally difficult to shut-in a well for such a long time. In this case one will have to
obtain the necessary information from an early time radial or linear flow period.

3.6 Pressure Response Equations and Methods of Analysis

Certain reservoir parameters can only be approximated during particular
flow regimes; therefore, it is important to calculate the times relating to each
of the flow regimes. Goode etal. 5 developed pressure response function at the
horizontal wellbore for conditions of both pressure drawdown and pressure
buildup. These pressure response equations published in 1985 assumed an
effective pressure point along the horizontal wellbore. Later work by Kuchuk
etal. 11 was based on pressure averaging under conditions of pressure draw-
down. These equations provide pressure response during each flow regime.

Under the Condition of Pressure Drawdown Test

Early-Time Radial Flow

The wellbore pressure response during this flow period is given by

(3-86)
where s is mechanical skin damage due to drilling and completion. Eq. 3-86
indicates that a plot of wellbore pressure, pw/ or (pt pwf), versus log t will
exhibit a semilog straight line with slope given by

(3-87)

The equivalent permeability in a vertical plane around the wellbore can be

calculated as

(3-88)

Extrapolating the semilog straight line to t = 1 hr, the following equation

is obtained:

(3-89)

where pt is the initial reservoir pressure and p\hr the pressure obtained at
t = 1 hr. Rearranging the above Eq. 3-89 gives

(3-90)

Using Eq. 3-90 one can estimate skin factor, s. If the reservoir is aerial
isotropic (kx ky kh), then using Eq. 3-87, we have

(3-91)

where ke/f ( = ^/khkv) is the effective reservoir permeability. Thus, if ke/f is

known, one can estimate producing well length, Lw. Vice versa, if producing
well length, L, is known by well logging, then one can calculate the effective
reservoir permeability. As mentioned earlier, this flow regime can be of short
duration and may be difficult to identify in field applications.

Intermediate-Time Linear Flow

Pressure response during this flow period is given by

(3-92)
where sz is the pseudo-skin factor caused by partial penetration in the
vertical direction, and is given by8

(3-93)

where
zw = vertical location of well, ft
h reservoir height, ft.
Eq. 3-92 indicates that a plot of Ap = pt pw/ versus \pt will exhibit a
straight line with slope given by

(3-94)

Hence, the product of producing well length square L2 and permeability

ky can be obtained from the slope given by

(3-95)

Additionally, extrapolating the straight line to y/i = 0 gives

(3-96)

where

(3-97)

Late-Time Radial Flow

Pressure response during this radial (pseudo-radial) flow period is
given by

(3-98)
 Eq. 3-98 indicates that a plot ofpwf or (pt pwf) versus log t will exhibit a
semilog straight line of slope m^ given by

(3-99)

The equivalent horizontal permeability \Jkxky can be estimated as

(3-100)

Skin factor can also be obtained by

(3-101)

where p\hr is obtained by extrapolating the late-time radial flow semilog

straight line to t = 1 hour. Eq. 3-93 gives pseudo-skin factor, sz. This can
also be estimated using Spencer function5:

(3-102)

where

rwa = apparent wellbore radius, ft

hs = horizontal well in center of reservoir, ft
hz = partial penetration in vertical direction, ft.
If the bottom and top boundaries are maintained at constant pressure
then the pseudo-radial or late-time radial flow period will not develop and
there will be steady-state flow at the late time.
Late-Time Linear Flow
Pressure response during this period, also known as pseudo-steady-state,
is given by

(3-103)

where
2xe = width of reservoir, ft
sz pseudo-skin factor due to partial penetration in a vertical direction
(Eq. 3-93 or 3-102)
sx = pseudo-skin factor due to partial penetration in the x-direction
given by

(3-104)

h = reservoir height, ft
hx = height between the well and the x-boundary, ft.
Eq. 3-103 indicates that a plot of pwf(pt pwf) versus y/i will exhibit a
straight line of slope m$ given by

(3-105)

Reservoir parameter Hx or yj^ctkyliio can be obtained as

(3-106)

Skin factor, s, can be found from

(3-107)

where/7WZ(OhF) is the pressure obtained at t = Ohr.

Under the Condition of Pressure Buildup Test
Early-Time Radial Flow

Pressure buildup response during this flow period is given by:

For infinite reservoir

(3-108)

where

Eq. 3-108 indicates that a plot of A/? versus log! r j will exhibit a
semilog straight line with slope, m\r, given by ^ '

(3-109)

The equivalent permeability in the vertical plane can be estimated by

(3-110)

Extrapolating the semilog straight line to t = 1 hour, the following equa-

tion is obtained to estimate s\

(3-111)

For finite (bounded) reservoir

(3-112)
where

Eq. 3-111 gives sm.

Intermediate-Time Linear Flow

Pressure buildup response during this flow period is given by:
For infinite reservoir (first linear flow)

(3-113)

where

A plot of Ap versus y/At will exhibit a slope given by

(3-114)

The equivalent permeability in the vertical plane can be calculated by

(3-115)

Skin factor, s, is given by

(3-116)

For finite (bounded) reservoir

(3-117)

Eq. 3-116 gives s.

Late-Time Radial Flow
Pressure buildup response during this flow period is given by:
For infinite reservoir

(3-118)

A plot of pws versus log I -^-r J will exhibit a straight line with slope
given by ^ '

(3-119)

Skin factor, s, is given by

(3-120)

For finite (bounded) reservoir

(3-121)

where

Calculate sm using Eq. 3-120. Generally, only the initial part of the
Horner plot generated by Eq. 3-121 will be a straight line.

Late-Time Linear Flow

During this flow period (infinite reservoir case does not exist) (pseudo-
radial flow) the pressure buildup response for finite (bounded) reservoir is
given by

(3-122)