Proceedings Eighth Uorkshop Gwthernal Reservoir Engineering

w Stanford Univermity. Stanford, Calffornir. December 19.982

SGP-TU-60

WELL TEST ANALYSIS FOR NATURALLY FRACrmRED RESERVOIRS

1

Giwanni Da Prat

INTEVEP,S .A.
Apartado 76343
CARACAS VENEZUELA 1070

ABSTRACT
pressure transient solutions for constant rate
production and transient rate analysis for con
stant pressure production are presented for a
naturally fractured reservoir. The results 02
tained for a finite no-flow outer boundary
are surprising. Initially, the flow rate
shows a rapid decline, then it becomes nearly
constant for a certain period, and finally it
falls to zero. Ignoring the presence of a c o ~
stant flowrate period in a type-curve match can
lead to erroneous estimates of the dimension1
ess matrix pressure and fracture pressure dis-
tributions are presented for both the constant
rate and constant pressure production cases.1:
terference test for-constant rate productioncan
be interpreted for long times by means of the
line-source solution. For the constant pres
sure production case, the pressure awayfrmthe
wellbore does not correlate well with the line
source solution.
INTRODUCTION
Naturally fractured reservoirs or reservoirs
with double porosity behavior as they are corn_
monly referred consist of heterogeneous porous
media where the opening (fissures andfractures)
vary considerably in size. Fractures and open
ings of large size form vugs and interconnected
channels, whereas the fine cracks form blocksy5
tems which are the main body of the reservoir.
The porous blocks store most of the fluid in
the reservoir and are often of low permeability, and
whereas the fractures have a low storagecapacity
and high permeability. Most of the fluid flow
will occur through the fissures with the blocks
acting as fluid sources.
f' D
These systems have been studied extensively in
the petroleum literature. One of the firstsuch
studies was published by Pirson(1.953).In1959
Pollard presented one of the first pressuretran
sient models available for interpretationofwell where w is the dimensionaless fracture storage
test data from two-porosity systems. The mostcorn_ parameter :
plete analysis of transient flow in two-porosity
I systems was presented by Barenblatt and Zheltap
-
(1960) The Warren m a d Root (1963) study is
.. widely considered to be the forerunner of modern
interpretation of two-porosity systems. The be
havior of fractured systems has long been a toe
ic of contrwersy. Warren and Root and mzemi
(1969) have indicated that the graphical techni
que proposed by ~ollardis susceptible to error
caused by approximations in the mathematical
model-nevertheless, the pollard method is still
used. The most complete study of two-porosity
systems appears to be the Mavor and Cinco- Ley
-- Study in 1979. This study considers wellbore
storage and skin effect, and also considers prz
duction, both at constant rate and at constant
pressure. However, little information is pre-
sented concerning the effect of the size of the
system on pressure build-up behavior.
In this paper a literature review is presented
bn the basic solutions which can be applied in
dealing with pressure transient analysis natural
ly fractured reservoirs.
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
The basic partial differential equations for flu
id flow in a two-porosity system were presented
by Warren and Root in 1963. The model has been
extended by Mavor and Cinco Ley (1979) toinclude
wellbore storage and skin effect. Da Prat (1981)
extended the model and developed a method todg
termine the permeability thicknes product.Kh.
Deruyck et all(1982) applied with success the
karren and Root model to study interference data
from a geothermal field.
The basic partial differential equations are:Da
Prat (19_31).
(1 - w ,ap,
= UPDf- P*)
a tD
and t aie defined in the nomenclature.
D
(W e
w (3)
+ ccq
and con&ols the interporosity flow and is
given by
2 (4)
bu- k m rw

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,
 A complete mathematical definition requires a9
ditional equations which represent the appro
piate initial and boundary conditions.
-The initial boundary conditions is:
For a well producing at a constant pressurethe
inner boundary condition is:
(6I
Where S is the skin factor
For a well producing at a constant flow rate
the condition is: . value of A.Then
where : u
' 1
The skin effect con ition s:
'fVD 'fD - [2 I rD=l
Two outer boundary conditions are considerated
in this study: an infinitely large reservoir
and a closed outer boundary. For an infinitely
large reservoir, we have:
lim pfD (rD, t,) = 0 (10)
r +W
D
For the closed outer boundary, the conditionis
-apD
=o
(11)
arD I rD ZreD
The dimensionless flow-rate into the wellbore
,.141.2 q y B
kfh (pi pwf)- (13)
METHOD OF SOLUTION
A common method for solving Eqs. 1 and 2 is to
use the Laplace transformation. The equations
are transformed into a system of ordinary di
fferential equations which can be solved analy
tically. The resulting solution in the trans-
formed space is a function of the Laplace va
riable s, and the space variable,rD. To obtain
the solution in real time and space the inver-
se Laplace tranform is used. In the present
work, the inverse was found by using an algo
rithm for approximate numerical inversion of
the Laplace space solution; This algorithm was
presented by Stehfest (1970).
TRANSIENT PRESSURE SOLUTIONS-CONSTANT FLOWRATE
PRODUCTION
The solutions for the dimensionless wellbore
pressure from either an infinite or a closed
outer boundary system have appeared in several
- places in the literature (see Mavor and Cinco-
Ley (1979) and Da Prat (1981). Fig. 1 showsthe
solution for p
two values of &%nd
for an infinite system for
several values of 1 (Ci,= o
and skineffect = 0 ) . At early times, pfvD de-
pends on $ and W. For a given value of l , as
time increases a period is reached whereinthe
pressure tries to stabilize due to flow from
the matrix. After this transition period, the
solution becomes the same as that for a homog=
neous system. Fig. 2 shows the solution fprthe
dimensionless wellbore pressure for a well lo-
cated in a closed outer boundary system. At
early times the
(assuming skin effect = o and
sition period to finally meet the solution for
a homogeneous system. Fig. 3 shows the wellbare
storage ehect on the Horner plot for a
rosity system where (IF 0.01 and 1 = 5.10 .
is seen that low values of CD have a large im-
It
pact on the initial straight line making impo-
ssible the evazuation of 0 . For large valuesof
C , not only the initial straight line,butalso
&e transition zone is obscured by wellbore
storage.
-
The analysis of interference tests in two pore
sity - systems has been the subject of study
for many years. These tests can be used to pro
vide information such as-mobility thicknesspro
duct, k h , and the porosity-compressibility -
FI
thickness product, @Cth. Kazemi (1969), based
on the two-porosity model of Warren and Root,
presented results for the fracture-pressuredis-
tribution in the reservoir. In Kazemi's work,
the wellbore response to an interference test
is dependent on the pressure variations in the
fractures, rather than in the matrix. Hence, -
this study is limited to the case where the
wells used in the tests are completed in the
fractures. Streltswa-Adams (1976) considered
both fracture and matrix pressure distribution
and pointed out the importance of differencing
matrix flow and fracture flow in the analysis
of test m d e on fractured formations.Recently
Deruyck et a1 (1982) presented a systematic
approach for analyzing interference tests in
reservoir with double porosity behavior and
- field tests conducted in a geothermal reser
voir are discussed to illustrate the method.
-
Fig. 4 shows the solution for the dimensionless
- fracture pressure us t& for several values
of W and 8. The parame er e is equal to 1 r2D.
It was found to be a correlating group. Fig. 5
shows the solution for the dimensionless matrix
- pressure for several values of the parameters
8 ( = 1%~) and 0 .
TRANSIENT RATE SOLUTIONS-CONSTANT PRESSURE PRO-
DUCTION
Although decline curve analysis is widely used,
methods specific to naturally fractured reser-
voirs do not appear to be available. Fig. 6
shows the dimensionless flowrate functions for
a well produced at a constant pressure from a
two-porosity system where (I)c 0.01 and A= 10-5.
-120-
 Fetkovich (1980) observed t h a t for hanogeneous F r a u W n 1 and the total s t o r a t i v i t y , the frac-
systems a t the onset of depletion (a type of ture s t o r a t i v i t y is:
:iJ pseudosteady state) a l l solutions*for various
values of t develop exponential r a t e decline,
ana convergg t o a single curve. This statement
is not t r u e f o r two-porosity systems a s ashown
i n Fig. 6. It can be seen t h a t the solutionsdo
not converge t o a single line. Log-log type -
curve matching t o analize rate-time data canbe e
applied t o naturally fractured systems. Howe - -A = 10
-6
ver, the relationship between and t is K
controlled by o and A, a s w e l l % by othep pa- also fran the relation o = a 2 r2 =
rameters. Thus more than one type-- may be kf .
necessary. Figs. 7 to 20 show the solutionsfor
different values of o and A. e kf
C(kmm- =
In the case of hanogeneous systems, interfere; r2
ce t e s t s have been used with success in many
.,
cases, Earlougher (1977) For wells producing
a t constant inner pressure, Ehlig-Econanides
(1979) observed that, unlike t h e constant r a t e
solution, the pressure distribution f o r cons - Thus, i f Inn can be obtained from core analysis,
then the shape f a c t o r a i s equal to:
t a n t inner pressure does not correlate withthe
line-source solution. A different solution re-
s u l t s for each value of rD. Considering the ho
mogeneous reservoir solutxon, a particular ca-
se of the naturally fractured reservoir solu
tion, it can be expected t h a t the same depen
dence on r applies f o r two-porosity systems.
-- The shape factor a can provide information
about the effective block size i n the system.
-
D
Fig. 2 1 shows p v s t /r 2 for the case of DISCUSSION AND CCNCLUSIONS
r = 1000, and %eralDvafues of w and 1. Fig.
29 shows the Solution for the dimensionless ma_ This work presents basic solutions t h a t can be
t r i x pressure p vs tp
2, f o r a well produ- used t o analyse pressure or flawrate transient
cea a t a consta- inner Dpressure. data fran a naturally fractured reservoir. The
model used assumes pseudo steady s t a t e flow -
INTERFERENCE EXAMPLE fran matrix t o fractures. According t o the li-

The Jse of type-curve matchhg w i l l be i l l u s

t r a t e d w i t h a simulated injection t e s t . ~ u r i n g
an interference test, water was injected i n t o
a w e l l for 400 hours. The pressure response in
a w e l l 250 f t away was observed during the in-
jection process. Reservoir properties and the
observed pressure data are given in table 1.
The pressure change was graphed as a function
of time on tracing paper and then placed over
Fig. 4 (see Fig. 23). FrCnn the match, 0 and 8
can be obtained as parameters. Frcm Fig. 23,
e= 1 and (P 0.01- The fracture permeability is
- terature the solutions assuming transient flow
have been presented by many authors: Raghavan
and Ohaeri(1981) presented declining r a t e type
curves f o r a constant producing pressure De
ruyck e t a1 (1982) presented solutions f o r t h e
-
pressure distribution throughout a reservoir
with double porosity behavior consideringboths
- pseudo-steady state flow and transient interpg
rosity flow. The ahthors concluded based on
f i e l d examples t h a t the pseudo-steady stateand
- the transient interporosity flow models are
shown t o yield consistent interpretations.

given by: Fran the solution presented i n this work t h e f z

llowing conclusions can be derived:
141.2 qB p (3)
E141.2(-100) ( 1 ) (1) 0.4
1) The i n i t i a l decline i n flawrate is often
kf = h Ar? 480 (-10)
not representative of the f i n a l state of
= 1.2 ma depletion.

Fran the time - tDhg match, the t o t a l stor= 2) The fracture permeability
tivity,
kf; t o t a l stora
t i v i t y is obtained:
{ (I@) + (4 c) 1; and the shape factor
m f
aancan be obtained fran type curve m a t -
c
ching .
= 0.000264 (1.2) 100 3) Both dimensionless matrix pressure and f r a c
i‘ c
(- 1
(250) 1.5 t u r e pressure are necessary f o r proper and
l y s i s of interference t e s t s .
= 3.38 psi-’ 4) For constant-rate production interference

L,
-121-
 t e s t s can te -1ised:at long-tiaei w i i g 0= Ax 2, correlating group, dimensialess.
D
the line-source a o l u t i a ~ .

5) ~n analyzing interference t e s t s f o r cons - AQWOWLEDMENT

tant-inner-pressure production, a d i f f e r e n t My sincere thanks t o Henry Ramey J r . of S t a n -

solution f o r the pressure distribution re
s u l t s f o r each value of r a d i a l distance,rD.
- ford university f o r h i s guidance during t h i s
study and INTEVEP, S.A. f o r permission t o pu-
The pressure function does not correlate b l i s h this paper.
with t h e line-source solution. REFERENCES

NOMENCLATURE Barenblatt, G.I. and P l e l t w , IU. P.: (1960) -

A= mainage area, f t 2
"on the Basic low -ations
=.
of Homogeneous Li
quids i n Fissured &ksn (in Russian),
-
B= formation volume factor, RB/STB Akad. Nauk SSSR.
C= canpressibility, psi"
h= formation thickness, f t Da P r a t , G.: (1981) "Well T e s t Analysis f o r N&
k- permeability, md
pws= wellbore pressure during the build-up pe-
t u r a l l y Fractured Fksser~oirs~, Ph.D Disserts -
tion, Stanford University.
riod, psi
-
p= average reservoir pressure, psi
Deruyck, B., Bourdet, D., ~a mat, G., m y , -
H. (1982) "Interpretation of interference t e s e
pD= dimensionless wellbore pressure
in reservoirs w i t h double porosity Bhavior -
k- h Theory and f i e l d examples", paper SpE 11025prg

141.2 qm
S
(Pi - Pw' sented at the 1982 annual f a l l meeting, SPE of
Aime, New Orleans, LA, Sept. 26-29.
= dimensionless fracture pressure
'fD Earlougher, R.C. ,Jr. (1977) "Advances i n Well
pa- dimensionless matrix pressure T e s t Analysis, xonograph Series, SPE of AIME,
q= volumetric rate, B/D Dallas, 5.
9 ~ ' ; dimensionless flawrate
FetkOVich, M.J.: (1980) "Decline Curve Analy -
sis Using Type-Curves", J. Pet. Tech. 1065.

r= radius, f t
Kazemi, H.: (1969) APressure Transient m l y
sis of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs", , .T
-
-
r n wellbore radius, f t
W
AIME. 256, 451-461.
r = dimensionless radius , rfiw
D MVW, M.J., and ChCO-Ley, E.: (1979) "Tran -
r 5 reservoir outer boundary radius, f t s i e n t Pressure Behavior of Naturally Fractured
e Reservoirsn, Paper SPE 7977, presented a t the
r dimensionless outer boundary radius ,rehw 1979 California Regional Meeting, SPE of AIME,
eD"
Ventura, California, Apr. 18-20.
S= skin e f f e c t
t= time, hours
dimensionless t i m e Pirson, J. Silvan: (1953) "Performance of Frac
tD= tured O i l Reservoirs", Bull. h e r . Assn. Pe-5.
-7
a01. (21, 232-244.

Pollard, P.: (1959) nEvaluation of Acid Trat -

tn =$, dimensionless ments from Pressure Build-Up Analysis", Trans.,
tAD A AIME, 216, 38.
&= s h u b i n time, h r
Raghavan, R., and Ohaeri, C.U.: (1981) "unstea-
dy Flow t o a W e l l Produced a t constant Pressure
Subscripts
in a Fractured Reservoir", paper SPE 9902 pre
sented a t the SPE 1981 California Regional we-
-
fa fracture
m= matrix ting, Bakersfield, California, March 25-26.
De dimensionless
Streltsova-Adams , T.D. : (1976) nHydrodynamics
of Groundwater Flow i n a Fractured Formation*,
Greek
Water Resources Research, z,No. 13, 405.
p= viscosity, cp
I$= porosity, fraction Stehfest, H.: (1970) "Algorithm 368, Numerical
a= interporosity, flow shape factor, f t ' l Inversion of Laplace hansforms", D-5, Ccmmuni- I .

cations of the ACM, 2, No. 1, 47-49.

akm rw2 , dimensionless
A= Warren, J.E. , and Root, P.J.: (1963) "The Behc
kf vior of Naturally Fractured Fksservoirs" @E J , .
w= (44 f , dimensionless 245-255.

-122-
 Ehlig-Econddes, C.A. t (1979) "Well T e s t Ana-
l y s i s f o r Wells Produced a t a Constant Pressu-
re", Ph.D. Dissertation, Stanford University.

I
, -
TABLE I

t p, ' AP = Pi-Pw
hours (psis) (psi 1
0 0 -
4.7 11 -11
6.1 11 -1 1
115
16.5
12
12.5
-12
-12.5
-t +AI
AI
26 5 13.5 -13.5 Fis. 3. Wellbore storage e f f e c t i n horner build-
46 155 -1% 5.
65
98
135
17
195
22
-17
-19.5
-22
(W O . O l , X = 5.10 -',
up, i n f i n i t e two porosity system
S = 0)

200 26 -26
265 29 -29
400 33.5 -33.5

I -
.1 1.-

! ?

%r
Fig. 4. v s t /r 2 f o r a w e l l producing a t
k s t a n t D f l g w r a t e from an i n f i n i t e l y
I n . . ! ' " ! " ' large two-porosity system.
,kl too m4 IO'

Fig. 1. 'fD
tD
vs tD f o r a w e l l produced a t cons -
t a n t flowrate f r a n an i n f i n i t e l y large

Fig.5. -
, , , , ,p v s t /r 2 f o r a w e l l producing at a
canstantDflawrate
D f r a n a naturally fraz
tured reservoir.
10

~ i g 2.. pfD v s tDfor a w e l l produced at cons-

tant flowrate fran a bounded, two-porl!
s i t y system (reD= 5 0 )

-123-
 1

101
I.r,p-al*

Fig. 6.
Dimensionless flowrate functions far a
well produced at a constant pressure
fran a two-porosity system (UP 0.01,
A= loe5).
 E

10"

16'

Id'

16'

I 1 !
102
' !'''I1
10'
I !
10'
' 10.
' '
c

10-1

*D
I
10-2

10' m' 10. 10'

lo
Fig. 19. qD vs tD W = 0.1, x = 10- 5

-125-
 10-3 10-2 10-1 ioo 10’ 102
L C -
‘0
‘02
102 10. 108 108
tD
Fig. 20. qD vs tD -9 FS.23. Type-curve matching for interference
w = 0.1, h = 10 example.

lo-’
10-2 100 10’
.
Fig. 21. pf D v s tD/r 2 for a w e l l produced a t
c a s t a n t d e r pressure fran an i n f i -
n i t e l y large, two porosity system.

Fig. 22. pm vs t /r 2
D D for a w e l l producing a t
at constant flowrate fran a naturally
fractured reservoir.

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