Chapter 5

Pressure Transient Testing (I)

Weibo Sui
Associate Professor
College of Petroleum Engineering, CUPB
Scope of the Chapter

What reservoir/well testing is

What can be learned from a reservoir test

How to analyze test data

Reservoir/Well Testing

Dynamic reservoir description based on measureme

nt of:

- flow rate (sandface/wellbore)

- pressure (sandface/wellbore)

- (temperature, density)
Schematic Diagram of a Well Test

separator gas

oil
choke

water

wireline
packer
perforations
pressure, temperature gauge

formation
Typical Job Sequence

Flow well at single or multiple rates for time, tp

Shut well in for pressure buildup for time, t

Measure surface flow rates of all flowing phases, an

d bottomhole p, T
Test Types

Drawdown Test
difficult to maintain constant rate
analysis unreliable
no lost production
Buildup Test
rate known, q = 0
analysis more reliable
production lost
DST (Drill Stem Test)
 Drawdown Test
102/01/01-1200 : N/A
4000. 4500. 5000. 5500. 6000.

(5500
psi)
pressure PSI

0. 10. 20. 30.

rates STB/D
1500.

(2000 STB/D, 24
hrs)
0. 500.

0. 10. 20. 30.

Time (hours)
 Pressure Buildup Test
102/01/02-0000 : N/A

(5800
psi)
5800.
pressure PSI
5400.
5000.

0. 10. 20. 30. 40.

rates STB/D
800.

(1000 STB/D, 24 (shut in for 24

hrs)
400.

hrs)
0.

0. 10. 20. 30. 40.

Time (hours)
 Multi-rate Test
102/01/04-1200 : N/A
5500.
pressure PSI
4500.
3500.

0. 20. 40. 60. 80.

rates STB/D
2000.

(2000
(1500 STB/D) (2500
STB/D) STB/D)
(1000
1000.

STB/D)
0.

0. 20. 40. 60. 80.

Time (hours)
Drill Stem Test Flow to Surface

pmud pR

Pull o
hole

Short Final buildup

p

ut of h
n

buildup
Run i

Long flow
Short flow,

le o
cleanup
Time, hr

0 3 9 15 hr
 Well Test Field Case
2000/01/27-0028 : OIL
1390.
pressure PSI
1370.
1350.
1330.

0. 10. 20. 30. 40.

600.
rates STB/D
200.
0.

0. 10. 20. 30. 40.

Time (hours)
 2000/01/26-2000 : OIL

Well Test Field Case

DP + DERIVATIVE (PSI/STB/D)
10 -2
10 -3

10 -3 10 -2 10 -1 10 0
Delta-T (hr)
Objectives for Transient Testing

Production Engineers
Average reservoir pressure
Productivity index
Skin
Rate dependent skin
Skin components
Post treatment skin after perforating, gravel packing, acid i
njection, or hydraulic fracturing
Objectives for Transient Testing

Reservoir Engineers
Reservoir characterization
Test radius of investigation
Formation permeability (vertical, horizontal)
Barriers to flow (sealing or leaky)
Shale bed boundaries
Structural limits (fault, salt dome, pinch out)
Stratigraphic limits (flow units, unconformities)
Objectives for Transient Testing

Exploration well :
confirm the exploration hypothesis;
establish a first production forecast: nature and rate of produced
fluids, initial pressure etc.
Appraisal well :
well and reservoir description can be refined (well productivity, reservoir permeability,
reservoir boundaries etc.)
Development well :
(periodic tests)
adjust the reservoir description
evaluate skin factor and the need of a well treatment, such as workover, perforation stra
tegy etc.
evaluate communication between wells (interference testing)
monitor the average reservoir pressure
Well Testing Analysis Techniques

Mathematical models

Conventional straight line analysis

Type curve analysis

pressure change type curve (semi-log plot)

pressure derivative type curve (log-log plot)

Commercial software
Mechanisms Governing Transient Testing

Diffusivity Equation (P, q, r, t)

Assumption
circular, homogeneous reservoir with uniform thickness

well located in the center of reservoir, and fully penetrated

producing intervals guarantee radial flow
slightly compressible fluid
Diagram of the Reservoir and Well
Diffusivity Equation

Derivation of the diffusivity equation

Solutions for the diffusivity equation

Limiting forms for solutions of the diffusi

vity equation

19
Derivation of the Diffusivity Equation

Continuity equation mass conservation

Darcys Law flow through porous media

Equation of state
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
u r rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

ur rddz u drdz u z rdrd (rate of mass flow into element)

{[ u x ( u x )]rddz [ u ( u )]drdz [ u z ( u z )]rdrd } (rate of mass flow out of element)

t t t
rdrd dz
(rate of accumulati on of mass within element)
dt
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
ur rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

ur rd dz u drdz uz rdrd (rate of mass flow into element)

{[ ur ( ur )]rd dz [ u ( u )]drdz [ u z ( u z )]rdrd } (rate of mass flow out of element)
t
rdrd dz
t t
(rate of accumulation of mass within element)
dt
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
u r rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

t
[ ( ru r )ddz ( u )drdz ( u z )rdrd ] t t
rdrd dz

dt
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
u r rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

Dividing by rdrd dz :
( ru r ) ( u ) ( u z ) t t
[ ] t


rdr d dz t
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
ur rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

Taking the limit as dr , d , dz , dt 0 :

1 (ru r ) 1 (u ) (u z ) ()
0
r r r z t
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
u r rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

For a fully penetrated well, we can assume that u and u z are zero :
1 (ru r ) 1 (u ) (u z ) ()
0
r r r z t
Continuity Equation Mass Conservation

u z rdrd ( u z )rdrd

u drdz ( u )drdz
u r rddz ( u r )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

This leaves:
1 ( rur ) () 0
r r t

Continuity Equation in Radial Coordinates

Darcys Law Flow Through Porous Media

Darcy's law for flow through a porous medium

k dp
is given by u
dL
Substituting in the continuity equation
1 rk r dp
( ) 0 in radial coordinates.
r r dr t
Note that we have not assumed that k r k z .

28
Darcys Law Flow Through Porous Media

If we now assume that kand have no spatial variation,

we have

k1 p
(r )
r r r t

On the left hand side:

p p p
( r ) (r ) r
r r r r r r

29
 Equation of State - Liquid

For liquids, we note that the isothermal liquid compressib ility is given by
1 V 1
c ( )T . Since m / V , we have also that c ( )T .
V p p
p p
Applying the chain rule for differenti ation, c
p
Specifical ly,
2
p p p p p
( r ) (r ) r (r ) rc
r r r r r r r r r

Noting that liquid compressib ility is small and assuming also that
pressure gradients are small, especially when squared,
p p
( r ) (r )
r r r r
30
 Equation of State - Liquid

( ) p p
Note also that
t t t p t p t
p
ct
t
1 d
for ct c c f where c f
dp
In general, ct S g cg So co S wcw c f . For oil flowing at
pressures above the bubble point pressure, S g 0.
Substituting for spatial and temporal derivative terms,
k 1 dp p
( r ) c
r r dr t
31
Diffusivity Equation - Liquid

k
Dividing by , we have

1 p ct p
(r )
r r r k t
k
The ratio is called the diffusivity coefficient
ct
and is given the symbol, .
1 p 1 p
(r )
r r r t

32
Diffusivity Equation

Derivation of the diffusivity equation

Solutions for the diffusivity equation

Limiting forms for solutions of the diffusi

vity equation

33
Reservoir Fluid Flow Regime

Transient flow

Pseudo-steady-state flow

Steady-state flow
Transient Flow

Pressure wave has not reached the reservoir boundary, res

ervoir acts like infinite. dp/dt varies with r, t.
Pseudo-Steday-State Flow (PSS)

Pressure wave has reached the reservoir outer boundary, the

re is no flow across the outer boundary. dp/dt = const.
 Steady-State Flow (SS)

Pressure wave has reached the reservoir outer boundary, the o

uter boundary pressure is constant, and the rate of fluid flow i
nto the reservoir at the outer boundary is equal to the well pro
duction rate. dp/dt = 0.
 Solution for the Diffusivity Equation

Constant terminal rate solution (inner boundary)

(Well testing analysis)
Outer boundary
Infinite reservoir (Transient flow)

Bounded cylindrical reservoir

no-flow outer boundary (PSS)

constant-pressure outer boundary (SS)

Well treatment
Line source well (rw 0)

Cylindrical source well (rw 0)

Constant terminal pressure solution (inner boundary)

(Aquifer influx model)
Bounded cylindrical reservoir, constant-pressure outer boundary (SS)

Diffusivity equation:
1 p
r 0
r r r

2 kh p
B.C. 1 q r at r rw
B r
B.C. 2 p pe at r re
Bounded cylindrical reservoir, constant-pressure outer boundary (SS)

From the diffusivity equation

1 p
r 0
r r r
we have
p
r C
r
Separation of variables and integration yield
r r dr r
rw dp C rw r p p wf C ln
rw
Applying the inner boundary condition, at r rw
k p p qB
q 2 rh r C
B r r 2 kh
Therefore we have
qB r
p pwf ln (SI Unit)
2 kh rw
Bounded cylindrical reservoir, no-flow outer boundary (PSS)

Diffusivity equation:
1 p
r C
r r r

2 kh p
B.C. 1 q r at r rw
B r
p
B.C. 2 =0 at r re
r
Bounded cylindrical reservoir, no-flow outer boundary (PSS)

Applying the material balance equation using compression definition,

ct V dp dV

or
dp dp qB
ctV qB
dt dt ct re2 h
Substitute into diffusivity equation,
1 p ct qB 1 p qB
r r
r r r k ct re2 h r r r re2kh
Integration yields,
p qB r 2
r C1
r 2 re kh
2

According to outer boundary condition,

qB re2 qB
0= C C
2 re2 kh 2 kh
1 1
Bounded cylindrical reservoir, no-flow outer boundary (PSS)

Substitution yields,
p qB 1 r
2
r 2 kh r re
Integration again
qB r r2 rw2
p pwf ln 2 2
2 kh rw 2re 2re
rw2
The term 2 0 since rw = re . At r re , we have
2re
qB re 1
pe pwf ln
2 kh rw 2
By defining the volume averaged reservoir pressure,
qB re 3
p pwf ln (SI Unit)
2 kh rw 4
Infinite reservoir, line source well (Transient)

Diffusivity equation:
1 p ct p
r
r r r 0.0002637k t

I.C. p pi at t 0
p 141.2q B
B.C. 1 r at r rw
r kh
B.C. 2 p pi at r
 Infinite reservoir, line source well (Transient)

The dimensionless groups are defined as

kh
pD pi p
141.2qB
r
rD
rw
re
reD
rw
0.0002637kt
tD
ct rw2
Infinite reservoir, line source well (Transient)

Dimensionless diffusivity equation:

1 pD pD
rD
rD rD rD tD

I.C. pD rD , tD 0 0
pD
B.C. 1 lim rD 1
r 0
rD
B.C. 2 pD rD , tD 0
Solution Derivation
Using the Boltzman Transform

Boltzman transform given by

rD 2
D
4t D
Assuming that pD f D and using the chain rule,
the transformed diffusivity equation is
2
d pD dpD
D 2
1 D 0
dd
D D

The result is an ordinary differential equation (ODE).

47
Solution Derivation
Using the Boltzman Transform

Initial condition:
lim pD ( D ) 0
D

Constant-rate inner boundary condition:

pD 1
lim D (line source)
D 0
d D 2

Infinite outer boundary condition:

lim pD ( D ) 0
D

48
Solution Derivation
Using the Boltzman Transform
dpD
For pD , the 2nd-order ODE becomes 1st-order ODE:
d D
dpD
()p
D 1 D D 0
dD
dpD 1 D
Separation of variables: dD
pD D

D ln
Integrating both sides: lnpC D D
1
ln D C 1 D C C1e D
Rearranging: pD e D
e e
D D

49
Solution Derivation
Using the Boltzman Transform
From the inner boundary condition
pD C1e D 1
lim D lim D C1
D 0
d D D 0 D 2
dpD 1 e D
Thus pD
d D 2 D
pD 1 D e y 1 e y
Integratin g gives 0
dp
2 y
dy
2 D y

dy

1 e y 1
and p D dy Ei ( D )
2 D y
2
2
1 rD
p D Ei ( )
2 4t D
50
 Infinite reservoir, line source well (Transient)

By Boltzmann's Transformation or Laplace Transform,

1 rD2
pD rD , tD Ei
2 4tD
The Exponential Function Ei is
e y
Ei x dy
x y
In field units, the solution becomes
qB 948 ct r 2
p pi 70.6 Ei
kh kt
 Applicability of line source solution

In the time range of

3.975 105 ct rw2 948 ct re2
t
k k
We can use line source solution to substitute more accurate
cylindrical source solution (rw 0).
3.975 105 ct rw2
t wellbore radius has effects on p
k
948 ct re2
t p wave reaches outer boundary
k
Diffusivity Equation

Derivation of the diffusivity equation

Solutions for the diffusivity equation

Limiting forms for solutions of the diffusi

vity equation

53
Limiting Forms
The line source solution,
1 rD 2
pD ( rD , tD ) Ei( ),
2 4t D
rD 2
For 0.01, the exponential integral is found by Ei Table.
4t D
rD 2
For 0.01, the exponential integral is approximated by
4t D
1 rD 2 1 4t 1 t
pD ( rD , tD ) Ei( ) (ln D2 ) (ln D2 0.80907)
2 4t D 2 rD 2 rD
1 1 1
Euler's constant, ... lim - 1 n ln 0.57722
n
2 3 n
In field units,
70.6qB kt
p pi ln 2
kh 1688 c r
t 54
Flow States Transient
SI Units:
qB r2
p r, t pi Ei( )
4 kh 4 t

Field Units:
qB 948 ct r 2
p r, t pi 70.6 Ei
kh kt
Limited form:
70.6qB kt
p r, t pi ln 2
kh 1688 c r
t
In log10 :
162.6qB k
p r, t pi log t log 3.23
kh ct r 2

Flow States Pseudo-Steady State (PSS)
SI Units:
qB r r2
p r pwf ln 2
2 kh rw 2re

qB re 3
p pwf ln
2 kh rw 4
Field Units:
141.2qB re 3
p pwf ln
kh rw 4

(Field Unit)

56
Flow States Steady State

SI Units:
qB r
p r pwf ln
2 kh rw
qB re
pe pwf ln
2 kh rw
Field Units:
141.2qB re
pe pwf ln
kh rw

(Field Unit)

57
Exercise

Sketch the pressure profile as a function of ln r for

Steady state

Pseudo-steady state

Transient state

58