PENGANTAR TEKNIK

RESERVOIR
WELL TESTING

Rahmadi Hidayat, M.Eng.

Department of Geological Engineering
Gadjah Mada University
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Well Testing
A technique and method for the evaluation of
well conditions and reservoir characteristics.
Involves producing a well at a constant rate or
series of rates, some of which may be zero
(well closed in), while simultaneously taking a
continuous recording of the changing pressure
in the well bore using some form of pressure
recording device.

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Descriptive Testing
DST (Drill Stem Testing)
RFT (Repeat Formation Testing)

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Uses of Descriptive Testing
Evaluate Reservoir parameters
Skin, Flow Efficiency, Productivity index
Permeability
Reservoir pressure
Characterize reservoir heterogeneity
Reservoir extent/geometry
Hydraulic communication

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Anatomy of DST Tool

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 FpfP = final pre-flow pressure
FFP = final flowing pressure
FHP = final hydrostatic pressure
FSIP = final shut-in pressure
IFP = initial flowing pressure

Pre-flow
Main FSI IHP = initial hydrostatic pressure
ISI period
flow or IpfP = initial pre-flow pressure
period
Final ISI = initial shut-in
flow ISIP = initial shut-in pressure
IHP
Pressure

FHP
ISIP 5
6
3 FSIP

1
4
FFP
IFP
IpfP 2 FpfP Time (~hours)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Conventional DST recorder 6

1.As the DST tool is lowered down the hole, the hydrostatic tool measures the
increasing weight of the water/mud column in pounds per square foot (PSI).
After the tool reaches either total depth (TD) or the desired depth of the test it
is opened to atmospheric pressure and a pressure drop is recorded almost
instantaneously. This is done to relieve the hydrostatic pressure from the
annular space within the tested interval. 7
2. The length of the pre-flow (sometimes called initial flow) is determined by the surface
blow monitored on the drill floor according to the following observations:
- About 5 minutes in duration if the permeability is estimated to be > 15 md.
- About 10 minutes in duration if the permeability is estimated to be > 15 md.
If the pre-flow period is too short the hydrostatic pressure will not be dissipated and the
following shut-in period may be under the influence of hydrostatic pressure.
At the end of the pre-flow period the tool is closed and the pressure below the packer is
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allowed to build up. This is called the initial shut-in pressure (ISIP).
The purpose of the initial shut-in period is to record the reservoir pressure before any
production has occurred. It is important to have an initial shut-in period long enough to
extrapolate a maximum reservoir pressure. Many times it is too short to determine a
reliable extrapolated reservoir pressure. This can make it more difficult to determine if
the reservoir is of limited areal extent.

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3. When the initial shut-in period is complete, the tool is again opened. The purpose of this
second flowing period (Main Flow) is to allow reservoir fluid and gas to enter the drill
string. Analysis of the final flow data will help determine the flowing capabilities of the
tested reservoir. Depending on conditions, when the tool is opened the pressure will drop
from reservoir pressure to the pre-flow pressure and will record the weight of the
formation fluid entering the drill string. If gas is present the flowing pressure will reflect the
upstream pressure of the gas flow.
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4. The duration of the final flow period (Main Flow) should be about 60 to 180 minutes,
depending on conditions and estimated permeability. The air blow at the surface will indicate
whether formation fluid or gas is entering the drill string. If gas flows to the surface a stabilized
measured rate is desirable for proper reservoir evaluation.
When the final flow period is concluded the tool is again closed for a second shut-in period (Final
Shut-in Period) which stops the flow of fluid and gas into the drill string. The pressure below the
packer is then allowed to build. The duration of the Final Shut-In Period should be about 1.5 to 2
times as long as the Main Flow (second flowing period), depending again on conditions and
estimated permeability. In low permeable zones, longer shut-in times are necessary for proper
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reservoir evaluation.
5. The purpose of this second shut-in period (Final Shut-in Period) is to once again measure
the reservoir pressure after a certain amount of production has occurred. Remember,
during this test period, fluid and/or is not being recovered. Only pressure is being
measured. Proper evaluation of the second shut-in data will help determine if the tested
reservoir is of limited areal extent. Skin damage, permeability, radius of investigation, and
other reservoir parameters can also be determined.
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6. At the end of the Final Shut-in Period, the packer is released which allows the drilling
fluid to flow from the borehole annulus and into the test zone. Hydrostatic pressure is then
recorded for a second time. Because the pressure should be equalized (sometimes the
packer gets stuck), the packer can be easily be unseated from against the borehole walls so
the tool can be recovered.

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Example of
DST Report

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Type of Well Test

Producing wells Injection wells

Pressure drawdown Pressure fall off
Multiple rate Multiple rate
Pressure build-up Injectivity
Well interference Well interference
Drill stem
Reservoir limit
Pressure Drawdown Tests
Shut in the well until pressure reaches static
level & then flowing the well at a constant rate
,q & measuring Pwf.

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Pressure Drawdown Tests
Advantages:
Suitable in new wells
No need to lose production
Permeability, Skin, reservoir size can be
determined
Disadvantages:
Difficult to maintain constant production rate.
Long shut in so that Pi is achieved is required. So
suitable in new wells.
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Pressure Build-up Tests
Most preferred well testing technique
The well is first produced at a constant rate till
pressure is stabilized and then the well is shut in
Pressure is recorded as a function of time

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Pressure Build-up Tests
Advantages:
Precise control of rate
P* can be determined
Disadvantages:
Loss of production due to shut in.

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