PETE 324

Lecture 21
Rosalind Archer

Analysis of Drawdown Tests

21.1

Infinite-acting radial flow in a

homogenous reservoir is governed by:
p wf

qB
kt
pi 162.6
3.22 0.8686s
log
2
kh c t rw

This is of the form:

p wf p1hr m log( t )

21.2

Analysis of Drawdown Tests

where:
qB
m 162.6
kh

k
p1hr p i m log
3.22 0.8686s
2
c t rw

This implies the pressure data should form

a straight line on a semilog plot.

21.3

Analysis of Drawdown Tests

Analysis procedure
Plot all data!
Fit a straight line to the data, remembering this
solution does not account for radial flow which
may distort the early time data. If the pressure
derivative is also plotted it should be at a
constant level during infinite-acting radial flow
(m=2.303Dp)
Use the slope of the semilog straight line (m) to
determine permeability (k)
Use the value of p(1hr) [read from the semilog
straight line] to determine skin (s).

21.4

Analysis of Drawdown Tests

If the data departs from the semilog straight line in late

time in indicates the presence of boundaries:

21.5

Analysis of Drawdown Tests

Time can be related to radial distance in a

well test via the concept of the radius of
investigation:
rinv 2.434 10

kt
c t

This can be used to estimate the distance

to the reservoir boundary based on the time
at which the pressure data departs from the
semilog straight line.

21.6

Analysis of Buildup Tests

Pressure buildup tests involve recording

pressure data while a well is shut in after a
period of flow.

21.7

Analysis of Buildup Tests

The pressure response for a buildup can be

constructed by using superposition and the
drawdown solution.
An fake injection well (located at the same
location as the production well) is turned on at
t = tp. Its rate is -q.
t p Dt
qB

p ws p wf (Dt 0) 162.6
log( t p ) log
kh
Dt

k
3.22 0.8686s
log
2
c t rw

21.8

Analysis of Buildup Tests

This implies a plot of pws versus (tp+Dt)/Dt

should be a straight line. (Horner plot)

21.9

Analysis of Buildup Tests

Analysis procedure
Plot all data (p versus (tp+Dt)/Dt)
Fit straight line to middle time region (early
time is distorted by wellbore storage).
Find slope (m) and extrapolation
of straight line
k
to pws(1hr)
qB
k 162.6
mh
p (1hr) p (Dt 0)

k
p
wf
s 1.151 ws
log
3.22
log
2
m
t p 1

c t rw

21.10

Analysis of Buildup Tests

Average reservoir pressure is estimated

using p* (extrapolated from the straight line
on the Horner plot) using the MatthewBrons-Hazebrok (MBH) technique (not
covered).
Remember Dt =t-tp i.e. time since the well
was shut-in.

21.11

Analysis of Buildup Tests

In practice the production time (tp) may be

unknown. Rather than assuming a value
for tp it is ignored. This is strictly valid if the
reservoir has been produced to
pseudosteady state conditions.
Miller-Dyes-Hutchinson (MDH) analyzed
this situation.

21.12

Analysis of Buildup Tests

qB
log Dt
p ws p wf (Dt 0) 162.6
kh

k
3.22 0.8686s
log
2
c t rw

21.13

Analysis of Buildup Tests

qB
k 162.6
mh
p ws (1hr) p wf (Dt 0)

k
s 1.151
log
3.22
2
m
c t rw

21.14

Variable-Rate Tests

The pressure response of a test with a

sequence of variable flow rates can also be
constructed using superposition.

pi p wf

n
162.6
(q j q j1 ) log( t t j1 )

kh j1

q n B k

162.6
3.22 0.8686s
log
2
kh c t rw

21.15

Variable-Rate Tests

It is convenient to normalise both sides of

this equation by the current flowrate:

p i p wf
n (q j q j1 )
162.6
log( t t j1 )

qn
kh j1
qn

B k
3.22 0.8686s
162.6
log
2
kh c t rw

21.16

Variable-Rate Tests

This equation is a straight line (Odeh-Jones

plot):
y mx b

where:
n

(q j q j1 )

j1

qn

log( t t j )

(p i p wf )
y
qn
B
m 162.6
kh
k

b m log
3.22 0.8686s
2
c t rw

21.17

Wellbore Storage

Definition of wellbore storage coefficient:

Fluid filled wellbore

Cs c wb Vwb

Rising or falling liquid level

A wb
144
Cs
5.615 (g / g c )

Wellbore Storage

21.18

During wellbore storage dominated flow the

following pressure-time relationships hold:
Drawdown
p wf

qB
pi
t
24 Cs

Buildup
p ws

qB
p wf (Dt 0)
Dt
24 Cs

21.19

Wellbore Storage

Dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient

5.615 C
CD
2
2 c t hrw

21.20

Type Curve: Pressure

21.21

Type Curve: Press. Derivative

Last Words

21.22

Be consistent!
whatever is characterized as wellbore storage,
radial flow etc on one plot e.g. Cartesian must
be consistent with the presentation of the data
on all other plots e.g. semilog/Horner.