Well Testing Analysis,
An Overview for Best Reservoir Description
Reservoir Engineering Team Lead
Amal Petroleum Company
Agenda
• Introduction to Reservoir Management
• Geological Overview
• Introduction to Well Testing
• Development of the Diffusivity Equation
• Formation Damage and Skin
• Wellbore Storage
• Drawdown Test
• Reservoir Limit Testing
• Buildup Test
• Type Curve Analysis
• Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plots
• Deliverability Tests
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Introduction to Reservoir Management
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Technology Integration based on Reservoir
Prediction Description
Geophysics
Petrophysics Geology
Reservoir
Drilling Computing
Performance Characterization
Engineering
Optimization
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Reservoir Life Cycle
DELINATION DEVELOPMENT PRIMARY
RESERVOIR SECONDARY
DISCOVERY
LIFE CYCLE
EXPLORATION ABANDONMENT TERTIARY
ASSET LIFECYCLE
EXPLORE APPRAISE DEVELOP PRODUCE ABANDON
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Data Collection & Analysis
Structure Res. Pressure
Faults Stratigraphy, Bed Res. Continuity
thickness Prod. Index
Presence of Fault
Structure Fractures
Faults Permeability
Fractures
Seismic
Geological
Depth
Well Test Lithology
F. Saturation
Porosity
Reservoir Data Base F. Contacts
Production Logging
F. Rates Coring PVT
Cum. Pro.
Performance
Inj. Data
Formation Volume Factor
Compressibilities
Relative Permeability Viscosities
Capillary Pressure Chemical Composition
Pore Compressibility Phase Behavior
Grain Size Gas Solution
Pore Size Distribution Specific Gravity
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Reservoir Management Roles
Data
• Geological
• Geophysical
Technology • Engineering Tools
• Seismic • Financial • Seismic Interpretation
• Geologic • Data Acquisition
• Geostatistics • Logging / Coring
• Engineering • Completion & Facilities
• Drilling & Compl. Integration • Geologic Modeling
• EOR • Pressure Transient
• Environmental • Reservoir Simulators
• Computer • EOR
People • Computer Software
• Management and Hardware
• Geoscientists
• Engineers
• Field
• Financial
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Geological Overview
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Origin of Oil
Accepted Theory: Organic Theory
• The source of oil is organic material.
• This material was transformed into oil.
• Once the oil is formed, it migrates from the source rock until it finds a barrier.
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
What is Petroleum?
• Multicomponent Mixture
H ETHANE H H H H H
H C H H C C H H C C C H
H H H H H H
METHANE PROPANE
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Crude Oil
Light Crude Heavy Crude
Palo Pinto Field Humble Oil Field
Petroleum North Texas Southwest Texas
Natural yellow-to-black
liquid hydrocarbon found at
and beneath the earth’s
surface.
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Sources of the PVT data
• PVT Experiments/Measurements (need fluid samples)
Surface/Subsurface Samples
• Correlations/Analog Data
• Equation of State (EOS) representation
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Classification of Rocks
IGNEOUS SEDIMENTARY METAMORPHIC
Rock-forming Source of
material
Rocks under high
Molten materials in Weathering and
temperatures
deep crust and erosion of rocks
and pressures in
upper mantle exposed at surface
deep crust
process
Recrystallization due to
Crystallization Sedimentation, burial
heat, pressure, or
(Solidification of melt) and lithification
chemically active fluids
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Accumulation of Oil & Gas in a Reservoir
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Introduction to Well Testing
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
What Is A Well Test?
• A tool for reservoir evaluation and characterization
Investigates a much larger volume of the reservoir than cores or logs
Provides estimate of permeability under in-situ conditions
Provides estimates of near-wellbore damage
Provides estimates of distances to boundaries
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
How is a Well Test Conducted?
q=0
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Well Test Concept
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Formation Damage and Skin
Drilling Fluid Damage
Fines may clog pore throats,
reducing effective permeability
Mud filtrate
invasion
Filtrate may cause
clays to swell,
causing damage
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Damage Caused by Injection
‘dirty’ incompatible
water water
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Reservoir Model of Skin Effect
Bulk
formation
Damaged
zone
ks k
rw
r
WellsTesting Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Reservoir Pressure Profile
2000
Pressure, psi
1500 Radial flow with 0 skin
1000
Dps Radial flow with damage skin
500
1 10 100 1000 10000
Distance from center of wellbore, ft
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Geometric Skin –
Converging Flow to Perforations
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Geometric Skin –
Partial Penetration
h
p
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Wellbore Storage
Fluid-Filled Wellbore - Unloading
Ei-function solution
assumes constant
Rate
Surface Rate reservoir rate
Bottomhole
Rate Mass balance
0 equation resolves
Time
problems
dpw
q qsf B
dt 24Vwbcwb
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Wellbore Storage Definition
C
q qsf B
Rising
dpw
24 liquid level
dt
144 Awb gc
C
5.615 wb g
Fluid-filled
wellbore Awb
25.65
wb
C Vwbcwb
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Principle of Fluid Flow Through Porous Medium
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Principle of Fluid Flow Through Porous Medium
• The main objective of this part is to present the mathematical relationships that
are designed to describe the flow behaviour of the reservoir fluids.
• The mathematical forms of these relationships will vary depending upon the
characteristics of the reservoir.
• The primary reservoir characteristics that must be considered include:
Types of fluids in the reservoir
Flow regimes
Reservoir geometry
Number of flowing fluids in the reservoir
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Development of the Diffusivity Equation
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
The Diffusivity (Flow) Equation
• Describes the flow of fluid in a porous medium
• Combines the:
Continuity Equation
Equation of state for slightly compressible liquids
Darcy’s law (Flow Equation)
Assumptions
Horizontal Flow
Homogeneous
Viscosity, permeability, porosity and total compressibility are independent of pressure
Constant Temperature
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
The Diffusivity Equation
1 p c t p
r
r r r k t
• The diffusivity equation is obtained by combining:
- The continuity equation
- The equation of state for a slightly compressible liquid
- Darcy’s law
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
The Line Source solution (Ei-function solution)
• For x > 10.9,
Ei(-x) = zero for all practical reservoir engineering calculations.
• Log approximation
When the parameter x in the Ei-function is less than 0.01,
• At the well (r = rw), then
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Pressure Profile During Drawdown
2000
t=0 ri ri ri ri
t = 0.01 hrs
t = 1 hr
Pressure,
psi
t = 100 hrs
t = 10000 hrs
1000
1 10 100 1000 10000
Distance from center of wellbore, ft
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Principle of Superposition
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Principle of Superposition
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Principle of Superposition
Two types:
• Superposition in Time
• Superposition in Space
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
What is a pressure transient test?
• A pressure transient test is a testing method used to indirectly determine
reservoir and well-related properties.
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Drawdown Test
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Drawdown Test
• The drawdown test is run by producing the well at a constant flow rate while continuously
recording bottom hole pressure.
• Properly run drawdown tests may provide information about:
formation permeability
skin factor
reservoir volume communicating with the well
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Reservoir Limit Testing
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Reservoir Limit Testing
The system shape factor is estimated from:
CA = 5.456 (m/m*) exp [2.303(P1hr – Pint)/m]
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Buildup Test
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Buildup Test - Rate History
q
Actual
0
0 tp Dt
0
0
0 tp + Dt
Sum of 2 t=0
constant +
rate events
0 Dt
-q
D t= 0
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Buildup Pressure Response
0
Pressure normally declines
during production...
tp + Dt
…but rises during the
0
‘injection’ (buildup) period...
Dt
…yielding a pressure curve that is the
sum of the two rate curves:
0
tp Dt
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Type Curve Analysis
Dimensionless Variables
qB 948 ct r 2
p pi 70.6 Ei
kh kt
r
rD
r
2 rw
kh pi p 1 r
Ei w
141.2qB 2 0.0002637 kt
4
ct rw
2
kh pi p
pD tD
0.0002637 kt
141.2qB ct rw2
1 rD2
pD Ei
2 4tD
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Gringarten Type Curve
100
PD
Similarities of curves make
matching difficult
0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Pressure Type Curve
100
CDe2s=1060
10
CDe2s=100
pD
0.8936C
CD
CDe2s=0.01 ct hrw2
0.1
0.01
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000
tD/CD
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Derivative Type Curve
100
CDe2s=1060
10
CDe2s=100
tDpD'
0.5
0.1
CDe2s=0.01
0.01
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000 100000
tD/CD
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plots
The Diagnostic Plot
Pressure change (Dp)
Pressure derivative (Dp )
Elapsed time (Dt ), hrs
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Time Regions on the Diagnostic Plot
Pressure change, derivative, psi
Early-time Middle- Late-time
region time region
region
Elapsed time, hrs
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Volumetric Behavior
Fluids from outside ‘recharge’ tank
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Radial Flow
Wellbore
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Linear Flow
Vertical wellbore Fracture
Linear flow
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Bilinear Flow
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Spherical Flow
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Spherical Flow
Vertical wellbore
Few perforations
open
Spherical flow
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Flow Regimes on the Diagnostic Plot
Pressure change, derivative, psi
Radial
flow
Wellbore
storage Spherical flow Recharge?
Elapsed time, hrs
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Typical Outer Boundary Patterns
• Infinite acting
• Composite reservoir
• Constant pressure boundary
• No flow boundaries
• Pseudo-steady state
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Homogeneous Reservoir, partially penetrating vertical well
completion with wellbore storage and skin effects
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Dual porosity reservoir, vertical well completion
with wellbore storage and skin effects
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Single No Flow Boundary
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Cases of Invalid Tests
• Insufficient shut-in time to obtain transient flow period.
• Data completely dominated by wellbore storage.
• Insufficient shut-in time prior to static survey.
• Erroneous pressure due to low rock permeability.
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Deliverability Tests
Deliverability Testing
• Deliverability testing, sometimes known as back pressure testing, is
used to compute the absolute open flow potential (AOF) of gas wells.
• The AOF is the theoretical production rate if the sand face pressure
was reduced to atmospheric pressure.
• Deliverability testing is also used for production forecasting, facility
design, and gas contract negotiation.
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Flow-After-Flow Tests
• (Referred to as gas backpressure or four-
point tests)
• Producing the well at a series of different
stabilized flow rates.
• Measuring the stabilized bottomhole
flowing pressure at the sandface.
• Typically, with a sequence of increasing
flow rates.
Well Testing Analysis, Mohamed A. Abd El-Moniem
Thank You