PRACTICAL # 13

Object: Demonstration on Isochronal Test.

Theory:
The isochronal test is a series of single-point tests developed to estimate stabilized deliverability
characteristics without actually flowing the well for the time required to achieve stabilized
conditions at each different rate. This article discusses the implementation and analysis of the
isochronal testing for gas well deliverability tests. Both the Rawlins and Schellhardt and Huppert
analysis techniques are presented in terms of pseudo pressures.

Isochronal test procedure and analysis

The isochronal test is conducted by alternately producing the well then shutting it in and allowing
it to build to the average reservoir pressure before the beginning of the next production period.
Pressures are measured at several time increments during each flow period. The times at which the
pressures are measured should be the same relative to the beginning of each flow period. Because
less time is required to build to essentially initial pressure after short flow periods than to reach
stabilized flow at each rate in a flow-after-flow test, the isochronal test is more practical for low-
permeability formations. A final stabilized flow point often is obtained at the end of the test. Fig.
1 illustrates an isochronal test.

Figure 1 Isochronal Test Analysis

The isochronal test is based on the principle that the radius of drainage established during each
flow period depends only on the length of time for which the well is flowed and not the flow rate.
Consequently, the pressures measured at the same time periods during each different rate
correspond to the same transient radius of drainage. Under these conditions, isochronal test data
can be analyzed using the same theory as a flow-after-flow test, even though stabilized flow is not
attained. In theory, a stabilized deliverability curve can be obtained from transient data if a single,
stabilized rate and the corresponding BHP have been measured and are available.

The transient flow regime is modeled by

....................(1)

where ps is the stabilized BHP measured before the test. The transient equation can be rewritten in
a form similar to the stabilized equation for a circular drainage area. To start this process, write

....................(2)

Further, a transient radius of drainage is defined as

....................(3)

By substituting Eq. 3 into Eq. 2 and rearranging, the transient solution becomes

....................(4)

which is valid at any fixed time because rd is a function of time and not of flow rate. rd has no
rigorous physical significance. It is simply the radius that forces the transient equation to resemble
the pseudosteady-state equation. In addition, do not confuse rdwith ri, which is the transient radius
of investigation given by Eq. 5.

....................(5)
Similar to Houpeurt’s equations, rewrite Eq. 4 as

....................(6)

where

....................(7)

and ....................(8)

b is not a function of time and will remain constant. Similarly, the intercept at is constant for each
fixed time line or isochronal.

The theory of isochronal test analysis implies that the transient pressure drawdowns corresponding
to the same elapsed time during each different flow period will plot as straight lines with the same
slope b. The intercept a t for each line will increase with increasing time. Therefore, draw a line
with the same slope, b, through the final, stabilized data point, and use the coordinates of the
stabilized point and the slope tocalculate a stabilized intercept, a, independent of time, where (for
radial flow) the stabilized flow coefficient is defined by

....................(9)