Advanced Well Testing Analysis &

Design using Software application

By: Kareem Abouelfetouh

Chapter 1

Introduction
Importance of Pressure & Production Data
Analysis
 What Is A Well Test?
• A tool for reservoir evaluation and
characterization

 Investigate a much larger volume of the

reservoir than cores or logs
 Provides estimate of permeability under
in-situ conditions
 Provides estimates of near wellbore
condition
 Provides estimates of distances to
boundaries
Well Test Applications
• Exploration

• Reservoir Engineering

• Production Engineering
 Well Test Objectives
• Define reservoir limits ( drainage Area & Distance to
boundaries )

• Estimate Average drainage area pressure

• Characterize reservoir ( K, S, reservoir model)

• Diagnose productivity problem (tightness, K & S)

• Evaluate stimulation treatment effectiveness

• Evaluate communication between wells and between

layers
 Types of Test
Type of tests is governed by the test objective.

•Transient tests which are relatively short term tests are used
to define reservoir characteristics.
– Drawdown Test

– Build-up Test

– Injection Test

– Falloff Test

– Interference Test

– Drill Stem Test

 •Stabilized tests which are relatively long duration tests are used
to define long term production performance.

– Reservoir limit test

– AOF (single point and multi point)

– IPR (Inflow Performance Relationship)

 Basic Definition & Concepts

 During a well test, a transient pressure response that is created

by a temporary change in production rate is measured.

 The well response is usually monitored during a relatively

short period of time compared to the life of the reservoir.

 In most cases, the flow rate is measured at surface while the

pressure is recorded down-hole.
 Single-, Multiwell Tests
q
Well is
allowed to
produce
normally

Sensor is
lowered
into well

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 Single-, Multiwell Tests

Well is shut in,

pressure is
measured

08/11/2024 11
 Types of Test-Drawdown Test

– Conditions
• An static, stable and shut-in is opened to flow
• flow rate is supposed to be constant
(for using traditional analysis)

– Objective
• To obtain average permeability of
the reservoir
rock within the drainage area of the
well
• To assess the degree of damage or
stimulation
• To obtain pore volume of the
reservoir
•To detect reservoir in homogeneity within the
 Kinds of Well Tests
q
Produce well Plot
at constant pressure
rate response

Lower Pwf
sensor
into well
t

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 Types of Test-Buildup Test

– Conditions
•A well which is already flowing (ideally constant
rate) is shut-in
•Down hole pressure measured as the
pressure builds up

– Objective
•To obtain average permeability of the reservoir
rock within the drainage area of the well
• To assess the degree of damage or stimulation
•To obtain initial reservoir pressure during the
transient state
•To obtain the average reservoir pressure over the
drainage area of the well during pseudo steady
state
 Kinds of Well Tests
Shut in well
Plot
Produce
pressure
well at
response
constant
rate

Lower Pws
sensor
into well
t

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 Types of Test-Injection Test

– Conditions
•An injection test is conceptually identical to
a drawdown test, except flow is into the
well rather than out of it.

– Objective
•Injection well testing has its application in
water flooding, pressure maintenance by
water or gas injection, gas recycling and EOR
operations.
•In most cases the objective of the
injection test is the same as those of
production test (k,S,Pavg).
•Determination of reservoir heterogeneity
and front tracing.
 Kinds of Well Tests

Plot
pressure
Inject fluid response
into well at
constant rate p

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 Types of Test
• Falloff Test:
– A pressure falloff test is usually proceeded by an injectivity test of a long
duration. Injection then is stopped while recording the pressure. Thus, the
pressure falloff test is similar to the pressure buildup test.

• Drill Stem Test (DST):

–It is a test commonly used to test a newly drilled well (since it can only be
carried out while a rig is over the hole.
–In a DST, the well is opened to flow by a valve at the base of the test tool,
and reservoir fluid flows up the drill string.
–Analysis of the DST requires the special techniques, since the flow rate is
not constant as the fluid rises in the drill string.
 Kinds of Well Tests
q=0
Shut in well
Measure
Inject fluid pressure
into well at response
constant rate
p

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 Flow‐After‐Flow Test

–In this testing method, a well flows

at a selected constant rate until
pressure stabilizes - i.e., pseudo steady
state is reached.

–The stabilized rate and pressure are

recorded; rate is then changed and the
well flows until the pressure stabilizes
again at the new rate. The process is
repeated for a total of three or four
rates.
 Isochronal Test
– An isochronal test is conducted by flowing a well at a fixed rate, then
shutting it in until the pressure builds
up to an unchanging (or almost unchanging) value, P¯.

–The well then is flowed at a second rate for the same length of
time, followed by another shut-in, etc.

–If possible. the final

flow period should be
long enough to achieve
stabilized flow.
 Modified Isochronal Test
–The objective of modified isochronal tests is to obtain the same data as
in an isochronal test without using the sometimes lengthy shut-in periods
required for pressure to stabilize completely before each flow test is run.

–In the modified isochronal test shut-in periods of the same duration as
the flow periods are used. and the final shut-in BHP (Pws) before the
beginning of a new
flow period is used
as an approximation
to P¯ in the test analysis
procedure.
PTA: Multi-well Tests
• Flow rate is changed in one well

• Pressure response is measured in one or more other wells

• Directional variations of reservoir properties (orientation of natural fractures)

• Presence or lack of communication between two points in the reservoir

• Ratio of the porosity-compressibility products of the matrix and fracture systems

1. Interference tests
– The active well is produced at a measured, constant rate throughout the test
– (Other wells in the field must be shut in so that any observed pressure response can be
attributed to the active well only.)
2. Pulse tests
– The active well produces and then, is shut in, returned to production and shut in again
– Repeated but with production or shut-in periods rarely exceeding more than a few
hours
– Produces a pressure response in the observation wells which usually can be
interpreted unambiguously (even when other wells in the field continue to produce)
 Single-, Multiwell Tests

Well is
shut in . . . pressure is
measured at
Sensor is offset well(s)
lowered
into
offset
well

08/11/2024 24
 Multiwell Tests

. . . measure pressure
response at offset
well(s)

Produce
one well at
constant
rate . . .
p

t
08/11/2024 25
 Multiwell Tests
q
. . . measure
pressure
response at
offset well(s)
Alternately
produce and
shut in one
well . . . p

t
08/11/2024 26
 .Input Data and frequency
Requirement data.
 BHFP from (Memory gauges)

 Rate

 PVT (Ct., viscosity, and FVF )

 Time

08/11/2024 27
 Crude Oil Gravity
The crude oil density is defined as the mass of a unit volume of the
crude at a specified pressure and temperature.
 Crude Oil Viscosity

Dead-Oil Viscosity

The dead-oil viscosity is defined as the viscosity of crude oil at atmospheric

pressure (no gas in solution) and system temperature.

Saturated-Oil Viscosity

The saturated (bubble-point)-oil viscosity is defined as the viscosity of

the crude oil at the bubble-point pressure and reservoir temperature.

Undersaturated-Oil Viscosity

The undersaturated-oil viscosity is defined as the viscosity of the crude oil at a pressure above
the bubble-point and reservoir temperature.
 Introduction
Well bore storage concept

Fig-2 Well bore storage concept

08/11/2024 34
 Introduction
Skin Factor
The permeability of the formation near the wellbore can change and lead to additional resistance.
The resistance results can be expressed by

Fig.3 Skin factor concept .

08/11/2024 35
 Introduction
Apparent Wellbore Radius:
 Apparent wellbore radius can be introduced along with skin factor.

𝑟 𝑤𝑎 ≡𝑟 𝑤 𝑒
−𝑠
𝒔=− ln
𝒓 𝒘𝒂
𝒓𝒘 ( )

08/11/2024 36
 Introduction
Steady state Flow:-
 Constant pressure boundary in water drive reservoir & Oil reservoir

q=Constant.

Fig.4 pressure distribution during steady state flow.

08/11/2024 37
 Introduction
Pseudo steady state :
 Is a kind of transient flow. the wells in a closed reservoir.

08/11/2024 38
 Introduction
Boundary dominated flows

 well producing in a closed reservoir.

 Well producing at a constant BHFP.

Fig.6 Pressure distribution during Boundary dominated flow.

08/11/2024 39
 The Diffusivity (Flow) Equation
Describes the flow of fluid in a porous medium
 Combines the:

1) Continuity equation
2) Equation of state for slightly compressible liquids
3) Darcy’s law

• Assumptions
• Horizontal flow.

• The reservoir is Homogeneous and isotropic.

• Viscosity, perm, porosity and total compressibility are
independent of pressure.
• Constant temperature.
 1) The Continuity Equation;
The Law of Conservation of Mass; Mass in – Mass Out = Accumulation = Mass after – Mass Before

m   Av 1   Av 2

2) Equation of State for a Slightly Compressible Liquid;

Specifies the dependence of fluid density on the fluid pressure and temperature.

C  P  Po 
  oe
3) Darcy’s Law Flow Equation;

kAp
q
L
The Diffusivity Equation;
p k
General form:  0.0002637 2 p
t ct

p k 1    p 
Radial form:  0.0002637   r 
t ct r  r  r 

p k 2 p
Linear form:  0.0002637
t ct x 2
Ei-Function Solution to the Diffusivity Equation;
qB  948ct r 2   e u
p  pi  70.6 Ei    Ei  x    du
kh  kt  x u
The Ei-function solution to the diffusivity equation assumes line source well (finite size of wellbore can be
neglected).

This solution is valid only for r > rw .

It predicts the pressure response in the reservoir as a function of both time t and distance from the center
of the wellbore r.
Short times or large distances = large x
Long times or short distances = small x

For short times, x > 10, pressure response predicted by

the Ei-function is negligible.
For long times, x < 0.01, pressure response may be
calculated using the logarithmic approximation to the Ei-
function.

For intermediate times, 0.01 < x < 10, the full Ei-function
must be used to calculate the pressure response.

Short-Time Approximation for Ei-Function Solution

948 ct r 2
p  pi (large radius or small time) kt
 10

Long-Time Approximation to Ei-Function Solution

qB  1688   ct r 2  948 ct r 2

p  pi  162.6 log10    0.01
kh  kt  (small radius or large time) kt
Well Test Models
1-Volumetric Behavior
1-Volumetric Behavior
2-Radial Flow
2-Radial Flow
2-Radial Flow
 Radial and homogeneous infinite acting

• When infinite acting

radial flow IARF is
established , the derivative
stabilizes and follows a
horizontal line .

• On a semi-log plot ,
those points associated
with the horizontal
derivative follow a straight
line of slope m.
3-Spherical Flow
3-Spherical Flow
3-Spherical Flow
3-Spherical Flow
4-Linear Flow
4-Linear Flow
4-Linear Flow
5- Infinite-acting reservoir
 Infinite-acting reservoir
100
Drawdown Type Curve

10
Dimensionless pressure

No boundaries encountered
1

0.1

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time
6- Sealing Fault

(If so, far away….)

No-flow boundary

Producing well
Superposition in space

Producing wells

Radial flow pattern

Apparent no-flow boundary between wells
Superposition in space

Producing well
Image well

Equal distances from

no-flow boundary

Real no-flow boundary

 Sealing fault
100

10
2M
Dimensionless pressure

1
M

0.1

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time
7- Intersecting sealing faults

“Wedge” reservoir

No-flow boundaries

Producing well
 Intersecting sealing faults
100
Drawdown Type Curve

10
Dimensionless pressure

The narrower the angle, the

longer to reach new horizontal (360/) x M
1
M
Derivative levels off at
0.1
(360/) x (derivative of infinite-acting response)

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time
 Intersecting sealing faults
100
Buildup Response
Derivative with respedt to equivalent time,
plotted against shut-in time
10
Dimensionless pressure

Drawdown 8
tpD=10
tpD=107
1

tpD=106
5
tpD=10

0.1
Derivative, drawdown curves similar

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time function
8- Channel reservoir

No-flow boundaries

(Effects of ends
not felt )

Producing well
 Channel reservoir
100
Drawdown Type Curve Slope  1/2
10
Dimensionless pressure

Slope = 1/2

0.1

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time
 Channel reservoir
100
Buildup Response
Derivative with respect to equivalent
time, plotted against shut-in time
10
Dimensionless pressure

tpD=108
Drawdown
tpD=107
1

tpD=106
5
tpD=10

0.1 Derivative curve shape resembles

drawdown curve shape

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time function
9- Closed circular boundary

No-flow boundary

Producing well
 Closed circular boundary
100
Drawdown Type Curve

10
Unit slope may be seen
Dimensionless pressure

earlier if two zones with

different permeability
Both slopes approach unit
are present
1 slope at late times
(pseudosteady-state flow)

0.1
Reservoir limits test yields
pore volume of interval

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time
 Closed circular boundary
100
Buildup Response
Derivative with respect to
10
equivalent time
Dimensionless pressure

Drawdown

1 Slope drops sharply

for very small values
of producing time
0.1
before shut-in
tpD=105 ttpD =107,10
7 8 8
pD=10 ,10

tpD=106
0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless equivalent time
Circular constant-p boundary
Possibly strong aquifer
supporting pressure Constant-pressure
equally from all directions boundary

Producing well
 Circular constant-p boundary
100
Drawdown Type Curve

10
Dimensionless pressure

 Pressure approaches
1
constant value at late times
 Derivative falls exponentially
0.1

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless time
 Circular constant-p boundary
100
Buildup Response
Derivative with respect to equivalent time
10
Dimensionless pressure

Derivative falls off rapidly

0.1
Drawdown
5 6
tpD=10 tpD=10 tpD=107,108

0.01
1E+03 1E+04 1E+05 1E+06 1E+07 1E+08 1E+09
Dimensionless equivalent time
Flow Regimes