Well Test Analysis

Well Test Analysis, Theory

KAPPA 1987-00
©

1
 Well Testing is Integral and Indispensable part
of Reservoir Description and Management

Well Tests
Seismic Cores/Geology Petrophysics/ Logs PVT

INTERPRETATION
KAPPA 1987-00

RESERVOIR MODEL

DEVELOPMENT
RESERVOIR MODEL + ECONOMIC MODEL = STRATEGY AND
MANAGEMENT
©

2
 Well Test Objectives
Well Tests are conducted to :

•identify produced fluids and determine their

respective volume ratios
•measure dynamic reservoir pressure and PRODUCTIVITY
temperature WELL TESTING
•obtain samples suitable for PVT analysis
•determine well deliverability
KAPPA 1987-00

evaluate reservoir parameters

•evaluate completion efficiency
•characterise well damage DESCRIPTIVE
•evaluate workover or stimulation treatment WELL TESTING
•characterize reservoir heterogenities
©

•access reservoir extent and geometry

•determine hydraulic communication between wells

3
 Interpretation Methodology
Data Loaded

Data Validation

No Differential
OK Pressure Finalised
Analysis
Yes Yes
KAPPA 1987-00

Differential
Pressure
Analysis No
Consistency

Identification
of
Validity

Identification of
©

Choice of Generation of Pattern

Flow period Diagnostic Plot Recognition Interpretation
Model

4
 Types of Test

Drawdown Test

4500
KAPPA 1987-00

900

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
©

History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time)

Description Well static, stable, shut in, open at constant flow rate

Advantages Good for limit testing as flow rate fluctuation is less

significant over long term

Disadvantages Difficult to make well flow at constant rate

If recently drilled, well may not be static or stable

5
 Types of Test

Build-up Test

4500
KAPPA 1987-00

900

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
©

History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time)

Description Well flowing at constant rate, shut in

Advantages Constant flow rate easily achieved as it is zero

Disadvantages Difficult to make well flow at constant rate

If recently drilled, well may not be static or stable

6
 Types of Test

Injection Test

5600
KAPPA 1987-00

-1 0 0 0
©

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time)

Description Well static, stable, shut in, injection at constant rate

Conceptually identical to drawdown test

Advantages Better injection rate control than production rates

Disadvantages Complicated multiphase analysis unless reservoir

fluid injected

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 Types of Test

Falloff Test

5600
KAPPA 1987-00

-1 0 0 0

0 2 4 6 8 10 12
©

History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time)

Description Well injection at constant rate, shut in

Conceptually identical to build-up test

Advantages Constant flow rate easily achieved as it is zero

Disadvantages Complicated multiphase analysis unless reservoir

fluid injected

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 Types of Test

Interference Test

4985
KAPPA 1987-00

4965

3 8 13 18 23
©

History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time)

Description One well is subjected to a drawdown, build-up,

injection or falloff and pressure is observed in a
different well or wells

Advantages Evaluates reservoir properties over a greater area

Disadvantages Requires very sensitive pressure recorders and may

take a long time

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 Types of Test

Isochronal Test

4992
KAPPA 1987-00

4982

1800
©

10 30 50 70

History plot (Pressure, G as Rate vs Time)

Description For low productivity gas wells.

Well flowed at four different rates of equal duration.
Between each flow period, the well is shut in till static
conditions are reached.
The last flow period is extended till stabilized flowing
conditions are reached

10
 Types of Test

Modified Isochronal Test

4985
KAPPA 1987-00

4965

1800

5 15 25 35 45 55 65
©

History plot (Pressure, G as Rate vs Time)

Description For low productivity gas wells.

Well flowed at four different rates of equal duration.
Between each period, the well is shut in for the same
duration as the flow period
The last flow period is extended till stabilized flowing
conditions are reached

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 Well Test Analysis Principles

Reality Model

R&D

Reservoir Rock
KAPPA 1987-00

Pressure Plots
Hydrocarbons
Mathematical
Faults equations

Analysis
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 Diffusivity Equation

Fluid flow in a porous medium is governed by:

Combining:
Darcy’s Law
Conservation of mass
Equation of state.
} Diffusivity Equation
KAPPA 1987-00

Conditions:
- Reservoir is a homogeneous, isotropic, porous medium
- Gravity effects can be neglected
- Fluid is monophasic and of small and constant compressibility
- The viscosity is constant
©

- Pressure gradients are small

- µ, ct, k and Φ are independent of pressure

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 Darcy’s law

Darcy’s Experiment

Water in h1-h2 In Darcy’s experiment,

on what did the fluid flow depend ?

A h1 Manometer difference (h1 - h2)

KAPPA 1987-00

h2 Flow area A
L Length L
Constant K

Water out
h1 - h2
©

q = KA
L
more

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 Darcy’s law

Darcy’s Law Linear Flow Oil Field Units

∂p qµ
= −887.2
∂x kA
KAPPA 1987-00

Darcy’s Law Radial Flow Oil Field Units

∂p qµ
r = 141.2
©

∂r kh

Darcy, Henri-Philibert-Gaspard
b. June 10, 1803, Dijon, France
d. Jan. 3, 1858, Paris

French hydraulic engineer who first derived the equation (now known as Darcy's law) that
governs the laminar (nonturbulent) flow of fluids in homogeneous, porous media and who
thereby established the theoretical foundation of groundwater hydrology.After studying in
Paris, Darcy returned to his native city of Dijon, where he was entrusted with the design
and construction of the municipal water supply system. During the course of this work, he
conducted experiments on pipe flow and demonstrated that resistance to flow depended
on the surface roughness of the pipe material, which previously had not been considered
a factor. Planning to use the technique of water purification by filtration through sand, he
also studied cases in which the pipe was filled with sand. From the data gathered, he
derived the law that bears his name. The darcy is the standard unit of permeability.

Additional reading: http://www.philosophika.com/hofmann/DARCY.html

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 Conservation of Mass

Mass can not be created or destroyed

KAPPA 1987-00

What goes in = What comes out + What is left behind

©

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 Conservation of Mass
∂x
∂y
∂z

x x + ∂x
KAPPA 1987-00

mass in – mass out = accumulation = mass after – mass before

©

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 Equations of State

The accumulation is governed by the EOS

Single phase Liquid flow

1 dV
Compressibility c = -
V dP
KAPPA 1987-00

Single phase (non-ideal) Gas flow

PV = znRT
©

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 Diffusivity Equation

∂p k
General form in US field units = 0.0002637 ∆p
∂t Φµct

∂p k 1 é ∂ æ ∂p öù
Radial flow in US field units = 0.0002637 çr ÷
∂t Φµct r êë ∂r è ∂r ø

∂p k ∂2 p
KAPPA 1987-00

Linear flow in US field units = 0.0002637

∂t Φµct ∂x 2

Where p formation pressure, psi Φ porosity

r radial distance to wellbore, ft ct total compressibility, psi-1
t time, hr µ viscosity, cp
©

∆p Laplace operator kr permeability, mD

The equation shows the influence of time and distance on the pressure
conditions

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 Reservoir Models

A reservoir model is the superposition of

Boundary reservoir, inner, and outer boundary conditions

Reservoir
The well test pressure behaviour starts with the
well conditions
Well
KAPPA 1987-00

After the well conditions, the reservoir

determines the pressure behaviour

Eventually the effects of the reservoir

boundaries will be felt at the well
©

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 Defining the problem

Line Source Well

∂p k 1 é ∂ æ ∂p öù
= 0.0002637 çr ÷
∂t Φµct r êë ∂r è ∂r ø

Initial condition p(t = 0, r ) = pi

KAPPA 1987-00

é ∂p ù Qµ
Well condition lim êr = 141.2
ë ∂r r →0 ,t kh
©

Infinite condition lim r →∞ [ p(r , t )] = pi

conditions

21
 Dimensionless Variables

Dimensionless variables are introduced

• to simplify the reservoir models

• to provide model solutions independent of units
KAPPA 1987-00

These models incorporate physical variables such as pressure, distance,

time. It would be futile to solve these problems for all combinations of
variables.
©

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 Dimensionless Variables

Permeability, viscosity, compressibility, porosity,

formation volume factor and thickness are all
constant.

Dimensionless parameters are designed to eliminate

KAPPA 1987-00

the physical variables that affect quantitatively, but

not qualitatively, the reservoir response.
©

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 Dimensionless Variables

kh
Dimensionless pressure pD = ∆p
. qBµ
1412

0.000264 k
Dimensionless time tD = ∆t
Φµ ct rw 2
KAPPA 1987-00

r
Dimensionless radius rD =
rw

And others
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 Diffusivity Equation

Re-writing the radial diffusivity equation (line source)

in dimensionless terms
∂pD 1 é ∂ æ ∂pD öù
= ç rD ÷
∂t D rD êë ∂rD è ∂rD ø

é ∂p ù
KAPPA 1987-00

Well condition lim êrD D = −1

ë ∂rD r →0 ,t D

Initial condition p(t D = 0, rD ) = 0

Boundary condition lim r →∞ [ pD (rD , t D )] = 0i

©

The rate of pressure change is a function of some parameters

and the curvature of the pressure around the point

25
 Pressure Profile, Drawdown

- The distortion of the pressure profile when a well is opened

and flowing (drawdown) is initially described by Darcy’s law.

- The “bending” of the pressure profile is concave, and the

“diffusivity Equation” describes how quickly it will evolve within
the reservoir Distance from the well
KAPPA 1987-00
©

B25
Pressure

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 Pressure profile, Build-up

- When the well is shut in, Darcy’s law shows that the profile is flat and “bent”
around the wellbore, but unaltered away from the well
- This produces a pressure profile which is “convex” around the well, but still
“concave” further out in the reservoir as the diffusion due to the previous
drawdown continues
- For radial flow the inflexion point is a circle that moves away from the well as
the build up progresses
Distance from the well
KAPPA 1987-00
©

B25
Pressure

27
KAPPA 1987-00
©
Infinite Acting Radial Flow

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KAPPA 1987-00
©
Infinite Acting Radial Flow

Radial flow line

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 Solving the line source problem

Solved in Laplace space and inverted analytically

1 æ r2 ö
pD (rD , t D ) = − Ei ç − D
2 è 4t D

70.6Qµ é æ 948.1Φµct r öù
2

p ( r , t ) = pi −
KAPPA 1987-00

− Ei ç − ÷
kh ëê è kt ø

Infinite Acting Radial Flow, the Semilog Approximation

©

tD 1é t ù
for 100, pD ≈ êln D2 + 0.80907
rD2 2 ë rD

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 Skin Effect
Skin is an additional pressure change due to
heterogenities close to the wellbore

It is a deviation from the ideal inflow.

Possible causes

Pressure drop from undamaged flowing pressure (+ve skin)

KAPPA 1987-00

•Invasion of mud filtrate or cement during drilling or completion

•Non-ideal perforations - too low shot density - plugged
•Limited entry - partial penetration
•Limited entry - partial completion
•Turbulent gas flow
©

Pressure increase from undamaged flowing pressure (-ve skin)

•Acidization or stimulation

31
 Skin Effect

Partial Penetration Partial Completion

KAPPA 1987-00

hw

h h hw
zw
zw
©

Skin factor due to the partial penetration or partial completion depends on

h
penetration ratio h and the distance zw from the bottom of the reservoir
w

32
KAPPA 1987-00
Skin Effect

Positive skin Negative skin

Damaged well Improved well
©

33
 Skin Effect

Skin Factor

Skin factor is a variable used to quantify the

magnitude of the skin effect

It is a dimensionless variable
KAPPA 1987-00

kh
S= ∆ps
. qBµ
1412
©

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KAPPA 1987-00
Wellbore Storage

When we open the master valve at the beginning of a welltest,

the well may produce at a constant rate at the surface.

However, the flow rate from the reservoir in to the wellbore may
not be constant at all.
©

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KAPPA 1987-00
©
Wellbore Storage or Afterflow

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 Wellbore Storage or Afterflow

During the wellbore storage effect

Pressure is linear function of time

∆p = C ∆t
KAPPA 1987-00

Where C is the Wellbore storage coefficient

Dimensionless wellbore 0.8936 C

CD =
©

storage constant φ ct rw 2 h

37
 Infinite Acting Radial Flow

Once the wellbore storage effects are over,

and before outer boundary effects are detected,
the reservoir acts as if it were infinite
KAPPA 1987-00

.
©

38
 Infinite Acting Radial Flow

The Semi-log Approximation

1
p D (t D ) =
2
[
ln t D + 0.80907 + 2 S ]

Replacing dimensionless variables

162.6 qBµ k
pwf = pi − ê log t + log + 0.8686S − 3.2275 ú
KAPPA 1987-00

kh Φµ ct rw 2

162.6 qBµ
(p i− )
pwf =
kh
ê log t + log
k
Φµ ct rw 2
+ 0.8686S − 3.2275 ú

162.6 qBµ
©

This is the equation of a straight line with slope =

kh

39
 Infinite Acting Radial Flow
MDH Analysis
MDH Plot - used for analyzing 1st drawdown in a test sequence

162.6 qBµ
(p
i− )
pwf =
kh
ê log t + log
k
Φµ ct rw 2
+ 0.8686S − 3.2275 ú

∆p m
KAPPA 1987-00

162.6qBµ
m=
kh

162.6qBµ
kh =
m
pi − p1hr k
©

S = 1151
. ê − log + 3.227 ú
m Φµ ct rw 2

40
 Principle of Superposition

Principle of Superposition

The response of a system to a number of perturbations

is exactly equal to the sum of the responses to each
perturbation as if they were present by themselves
KAPPA 1987-00

In well test analysis, the Principle of Superposition in

Time allows us to determine the reservoir response to
a well flowing at a variable rate by using only constant
rate solutions
©

41
 Principle of Superposition – Build-up

Build-up Superposition

5 70 0
4 5 00

+ =
42 0 0
KAPPA 1987-00

0
90 0 900

-1 0 0 0

5 15 25 35 5 15 25 35 5 15 25 35

History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time) History plo t (Pressure, L iquid Rate vs Time) History plot (Pressure, Liquid Rate vs Time)

1000 STB/D 1000 STB/D 1000 STB/D

Flow rate Injection Flow for 12 hours
For all 36 hours For last 24 hours Build-up for 24 hours
©

The well is producing at q until time tp, we want to find the pressure at time
(tp+∆t)
- As equations are linear (not normally true) we can use
the principle of superposition

The pressure change due to a combination of previous production periods is equal to the superposition of
individual changes due to each production phase

- The shut-in pressure at time (tp+ ∆t) is mathematically equivalent to a

continuation of the drawdown at rate q, combined with an injection at rate -q
from time tp

42
 Principle of Superposition – Build-up

Build-up Superposition
tp
pi

pressure ∆PDD ∆PBU

∆t
KAPPA 1987-00

q
drawdown (q) from time 0
flowrate time
injection (-q) from time tp
-q tp
©

The well is producing at q until time tp, we want to find the pressure at time
(tp+∆t)
- As equations are linear (not normally true) we can use
the principle of superposition

The pressure change due to a combination of previous production periods is equal to the superposition of
individual changes due to each production phase

- The shut-in pressure at time (tp+ ∆t) is mathematically equivalent to a

continuation of the drawdown at rate q, combined with an injection at rate -q
from time tp

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 Principle of Superposition – Build-up

Build-up Superposition
tp
pi

pressure ∆PDD ∆PBU

∆t
tp

( ) ( )
pDBU = pqD t pD − [ pD t pD + ∆t D − pD ( ∆t D )]
KAPPA 1987-00

drawdown (q) from time 0

flowrate time
-q 1412
= pi −
. tqB
é (
µ ê 1 ç k injection
t p + ∆t (-q) from )
k∆ttime t
÷ú p
pWS ln 2 − ln
p
kh ê2 ç Φµ ct rW 2
Φµ ct rW ÷ ú
ë

pws = pi −
162.6qBµ
log
(
t p + ∆t )
kh ∆t
©

162.6 qBµ
This is the equation of a straight line with slope =
kh

The well is producing at q until time tp, we want to find the pressure at time
(tp+∆t)
- As equations are linear (not normally true) we can use
the principle of superposition

The pressure change due to a combination of previous production periods is equal to the superposition of
individual changes due to each production phase

- The shut-in pressure at time (tp+ ∆t) is mathematically equivalent to a

continuation of the drawdown at rate q, combined with an injection at rate -q
from time tp

44
 Infinite Acting Radial Flow
Horner Analysis
Horner Plot - used for analyzing a build-up after a constant rate Dd

pws = pi −
162.6qBµ
log
(
t p + ∆t )
kh ∆t
KAPPA 1987-00

162.6qBµ
m=
kh
162.6qBµ
kh =
(t p + ∆t ) m
log
∆t

é p1hr − p w f tp + 1 k
S = 1.151 ê + log çç ÷÷ − log + 3.227 ú
©

êë m tp Φ µ c t rw 2 ú

If reservoir is truly infinite, extrapolated p*=pi

45
 Principle of Superposition – Multi-rate
KAPPA 1987-00
©

46
 Principle of Superposition – Multi-rate

Expanding the build-up superposition technique for

multiple rate changes, the equation with the semi-log
approximation is

162.6qBµ n−1
qi − qi −1 n−1
pmr (tn + ∆t ) = pi − ( logê ∆t j − ∆t ú − log ∆t )
i =1 qn − qn−1
KAPPA 1987-00

kh j =1

m Superposition Function
©

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