Slope, m= 195

Slope,

Shut-in time, At (hours)

Figure 5-17.

1. Calculate the permeability k using Eq. 5-57:

2. Using Eq. 5-60 and

where m is the slope of the straight line and

Therefore, (Ap)skin = 4203 - 3519 - 0.869(195)(0.5)[ln(21968.32)

= -231
3. Calculate the skin factor using Eq. 5-58:
 Next Page

Table 5-6
Pressure Buildup Data

Shut-in
Time Time pressure, Pws Pwf Apq=pm-pwf + At(^)
, . x V^V pseudo
At (hr) At (min) P ws (psig) (psig) (psig)
O 0 3519 0 0.0
0.15 9 3680 161 161.3
0.20 12 3723 204 204.4
0.30 18 3800 281 281.6
0.40 24 3866 347 347.8
0.50 30 3920 601 601.9
1 60 4103 689 686.0*
2 100 4250 731 735.0*
4 240 4320 801 808.5
6 360 4340 821 832.3
7 420 4344 825 838.2
8 480 4350 821 836.0
12 720 4364 845 867.6
16 960 4373 854 884.1
20 1200 4379 860 897.6
24 1440 4384 865 910.0
30 1800 4393 869 925.4
40 2400 4398 879 954.2
50 3000 4402 883 977.0
60 3600 4405 886 998.8
72 4320 4407 888 1023.4

4. For the beginning of pseudo-steady state using Eq. 5-59:

5.6 Multiphase Buildup Test Analysis

Basic buildup equations can be modified to model multiphase flow. For
an infinite-acting reservoir, the buildup equation becomes

(5-61)
 Previous Page

Table 5-6
Pressure Buildup Data

Shut-in
Time Time pressure, Pws Pwf Apq=pm-pwf + At(^)
, . x V^V pseudo
At (hr) At (min) P ws (psig) (psig) (psig)
O 0 3519 0 0.0
0.15 9 3680 161 161.3
0.20 12 3723 204 204.4
0.30 18 3800 281 281.6
0.40 24 3866 347 347.8
0.50 30 3920 601 601.9
1 60 4103 689 686.0*
2 100 4250 731 735.0*
4 240 4320 801 808.5
6 360 4340 821 832.3
7 420 4344 825 838.2
8 480 4350 821 836.0
12 720 4364 845 867.6
16 960 4373 854 884.1
20 1200 4379 860 897.6
24 1440 4384 865 910.0
30 1800 4393 869 925.4
40 2400 4398 879 954.2
50 3000 4402 883 977.0
60 3600 4405 886 998.8
72 4320 4407 888 1023.4

4. For the beginning of pseudo-steady state using Eq. 5-59:

5.6 Multiphase Buildup Test Analysis

Basic buildup equations can be modified to model multiphase flow. For
an infinite-acting reservoir, the buildup equation becomes

(5-61)
where
qt = total flow rates of oil, gas, and water (bbl/day) and is given by

(5-62)

q0 = oil flow rate (stb/day)

/S0 = oil formation volume factor (rb/stb)
qg = gas flow rate (mscf/day)
Rs = solution gas oil ratio (scf/stb)
/3g = gas formation volume factor (rb/mscf)
qw = water flow rate (stb/day)
/3W = water formation volume factor (rb/stb)
\t = total mobility (mD/cP) and is given by

(5-63)

Total system compressibility ct is estimated by using the equation:

(5-64)

It can be determined from the slope m o f a buildup test run on a well that
produces two or three phases simultaneously by the following equation:

(5-65)

Perrine16 has shown that it is also possible to estimate the permeability to

each phase flowing from the same slope, m:

(5-66)

(5-67)

(5-68)

The skin factor s is estimated using the following equation:

(5-69)
where co is given by

(5-70)

Values of (dRs/dp) and (d(30/dp) are obtained as the slopes of laboratory

determined curves of Rs and /3O versus p; the slope is drawn at the estimated
average pressure:

(5-71)

Applications of these equations are illustrated by the following example.

Average reservoir pressure, p, is calculated just as for a single-phase reservoir.

Example 5-11 Analyzing Multiphase Pressure Buildup Test

A buildup test is run in an oil well that is below saturation pressure and
producing oil, gas, and water simultaneously. Well, rock, and fluid properties
evaluated at average reservoir pressure during the test include the following.
The pressure buildup data were recorded in Table 5-7.

Table 5-7
Multiphase Pressure Buildup Analysis (Single-Rate Test; tp = 3232.65 h)

(',+Af) At Pws (Pws Pwfo) Pws (Pws Pwfo) n

Time, At (hr) At [(1+Ar)/*,] (psig) (psig) (psia) (psia) (ft)
0.00 497 0 512 0 0
0.25 12,931.61 0.25 558 61 573 61 25
0.40 8082.63 0.40 637 140 652 140 32
0.60 5388.76 0.60 667 170 682 170 39
1.00 3233.65 1.00 696 199 711 199 51
2.00 1617.33 2.00 734 237 749 237 72
3.00 1078.55 3.00 759 262 774 262 88
4.00 809.16 4.00 779 282 794 282 102
5.00 647.53 4.99 793 296 808 296 114
6.00 539.78 5.99 806 309 821 309 125
7.00 462.81 6.98 818 321 833 321 135
8.00 405.08 7.98 827 330 842 330 144
9.00 360.18 8.98 837 340 852 340 153
10.00 324.27 9.97 845 348 860 348 161
11.00 294.88 10.96 854 357 869 357 169
12.00 270.39 11.96 861 364 876 364 176
 qo = 245stb/day, qg = 489 mscf/day, qw = 38stb/day, Rs = 685scf/stb,
Po = 1.300 rb/stb, pg = 1.4801 rb/mscf, pw = 1.02rb/stb, C0 = 8.64 x 10~6
psi" 1 , cg = 3.70 x 10- 4 PSi" 1 , cw = 3.60 x 1 (T 6 psi" 1 , cf = 3.50 x 10" 6
psi" 1 , s0 = 64%, sg = 2%, sw = 34%, A = 38 ft, 0 = 17%, rw - 0.30 ft, re =
1520 ft, /x0 = 1.5 cP, /xg = 0.0299 cP, and/i w = -0.7OcP. Estimate the multi-
phase flow permeabilities, s, and flow efficiency based on the average
pressure.

Solution From plots of P0, Rs versus pressure at average pressure in the

buildup test:

The production rates prior to the buildup test were given. From the plot
of pws versus log((tp + At)/At) (Figure 5-18), the slope of the MTR, m, is
120psi/cycle and that/?i/, r , at the instant of shut-in, was 497psig. From these
data, the following reservoir parameters can be estimated as follows:

End of wellbore
storage effects

Slope, m = 120 psi/cycle

Shut-in pressure, pws (psi)

Figure 5-18. Multiphase pressure buildup data plot.

 Permeability to each phase can be determined from the slope of the MTR
using Eqs. 5-66 through 5-68

To calculate the total mobility, Xt, wefirstneed the totalflowrate qt using

Eq. 5-62:

Then using Eq. 5-65,

To calculate the skin factor s, we first need c0 and Cf.

Then from Eq. 5-64,

and from Eq. 5-69,

 5.7 Afterflow Analysis Using RussePs Technique
Russell2 presented a theoretical method for analyzing the pressure
response during the afterflow period in order to determine kh and s. In
some cases, however, afterflow analysis provides a valuable means of
obtaining information about the reservoir. For instance, in several areas
in the Middle East, wells are capable of producing in excess of
50,000 mbbl from limestone reservoirs. Because of very high kh values,
which lead to very rapid pressure buildups, and the fact that in many
cases the wells produce through casing, the afterflow period can com-
pletely dominate the pressure buildup and afterflow analysis is the only
method of determining the essential reservoir parameters. Figure 5-19
shows the pressure buildup dominated by afterflow which distorts the
early part of the Horner buildup plot.
McKinly,18'21 Ramey and Cobb,12 and Earlougher and Kersch19 have also
presented afterflow analysis technique relying on the use of type curves.
Of all these methods, which is the most reliable is a question that is still
unanswered. Afterflow analysis by type curves matching techniques as
discussed in Chapter 7. The analysis method that will be described in this
section is of Russell.2 He developed a theoretical equation describing how
the bottom-hole pressure should increase as fluid accumulates in the well-
bore during the buildup. As a result of this, he determined that the correct
way of plotting the pressure during the part of the buildup influenced by
the afterflow was

Buildup dominated by afterflow

Shut-in pressure, pws

Figure 5-19. Pressure buildup plot dominated by afterflow.

 (5-72)

in which Ap = pws pwf (At = O), CF is a correction factor to allow for the
gradually decreasing flow into the wellbore. This correction factor, CF, must
be selected by trial and error so that the resulting plot is linear. The plot
should be made only for values of At measured after 1 hour of closed I time.
Having chosen the correct values of CF, the slope of the straight line is
measured (m = psi/ log cycle) and the formation permeability can be deter-
mined using the following equation:

(5-73)

The skin factor s can be calculated using Eq. 5-74:

(5-74)

The following example illustrates the use of this method.

Example 5-12 Analyzing AfterflowPressure Buildup Test Using Russell's

Technique
The pressure-time data were recorded in a 12-hours pressure buildup test and
are listed in Table 5-8. The production data, reservoir, and fluid properties
are as follows: Np = 30,655 stb, qo = 225stb/day, /3O = 1.295, /x0 = 0.58 cP,
0 = 0.19, ct = 18.5 x 10-6PSi"1, h = 12ft, rw = 0.29ft.
Horner plot versus log ((tp + At)/At) does not become linear, even for the
largest values of At, and therefore the afterflow analysis techniques must be
used to analyze this test. Estimate the formation permeability and skin
factor s using Russell's technique.

Solution This technique to analyze afterflow as suggested by Russell2

(1966) can only be applied for pressures measured after At 1 hour. In
Table 5-9, several values of the parameters or correlation factor c have been
selected in an attempt to liberalize the plot of Eq. 5-72.
As shown in Figure 5-20, the correct value of parameter c to
obtain a linear Russell's plot is c = 2.1. Since the slope of this line is
151psi/log cycle, then the formation permeability k can be evaluated
using Eq. 5-73 as
 Table 5-8
Pressure Buildup Data for Afterflow Analysis

Shut-in time, At (min) Shut-in pressure, pws (psi)

0 1600
20 1920
40 2160
60 2350
90 2525
120 2650
150 2726
180 2779
210 2822
240 2852
270 2879
300 2910
360 2935
420 2960
480 2980
540 2998
600 3011
660 3022
720 3035

The value of (A/?/(l - 1/cAt)) at At = 1 hour can be read from the

linear plot as 1329 psi. Therefore the skin factor can be calculated
using Eq. 5-74 as

5.8 Pressure Buildup Tests Preceded by Two

Different Flow Rates
Pressure buildup behavior preceded by two different flow rates can be
described as

(5-75)