MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND PETROLEUM STUDIES

NAME REG NO. STUDENT NO. CONTRIBUTIONS

SAMBWA TAHIR 21/U/12864/PS 2100712864 Compiled and
discussed number 3
KYAKA ETHAN 21/U/07019/PS 2100707019 Complied and
WASSWA discussed number 2
MURUNGI RUTH 21/U/1308 2100701308 Compiled and
NAMAYANJA discussed number 1

LECTURER: MR. WYCLIFF KAWULE

COURSE UNIT; PETROLEUM PRODUCTION METHODS
COURSE CODE: PGP 4201
PROBLEM 1
A well is producing from a saturated reservoir with an average reservoir pressure of 2550 psia. A
stabilized production indicated that the well produced 305 STB/day at a flowing bottomhole
pressure (FHBP), pwf of 2800 psia.
Calculate;
i. The oil rate for a flowing bottom hole pressure of 1850 psia and reservoir pressure
below bubble point pressure.
ii. The oil rate for a flowing bottom hole pressure of 1850 psia assuming an
undersaturated oil reservoir.
iii. On the same graph, construct IPR curves depicting the relationship between flowing
bottom hole pressure and flow rate for a reservoir pressure above and below bubble
point pressure.
SOLUTION
Average reservoir pressure, Pr = 2550 psia
Current flow rate, Qo = 305 STB/day
Current FBHP = 2010 psia
i) When the reservoir pressure is below the bubble point pressure
Using Vogel’s equation:

[ ( ) ( )]
2
Pwf Pwf
Qo = Qomax 1−0.2 −0.8
Pr Pr

At Pwf = 2010psia
Qo

[ ( ) ( )]
2
Qomax = Pwf Pwf
1−0.2 −0.8
Pr Pr

305

[ ( ) ( )]
2
Qomax = 2010 2010
1−0.2 −0.8
2550 2550

305
Qomax = 2
[1−0.2 ( 0.7882 )−0.8(0.7882) ]
305
Qomax =
0.3454
Qomax = 883.0342STB/day
For Pwf = 1850psia

( ) ( )]
2
Pwf Pwf
Thus, Oil rate, Qo = Qomax[1−0.2 −0.8
Pr Pr

[ ( ) ( )]
2
1850 1850
Qo = 883.0342 1−0.2 −0.8
2550 2550

Qo = 883.0342[ 1−0.2 ( 0.7255 )−0.8 ( 0.7255 )2 ]

Qo = 383.0772STB/day

ii) For an undersaturated oil reservoir, when the reservoir pressure is above the bubble point
pressure.
The Productivity Index, J is constant.
From flow rate, Qo = J ( Pr−Pwf )
Qo
The productivity index, J =
Pr −Pwf
305
J=
2550−2010
= 0.5648 STB/day/psia
Therefore, the oil rate when FBHP, Pwf = 1850psia is:
Flow rate, Qo = J (Pr−Pwf )
Qo = 0.5648(2550-1850)
Qo = 395.36STB/day

iii) IPR Curves using Vogel’s method and Constant J method

Vogel observed that when the pressure drops below the bubble point pressure, the IPR deviates
from that of the simple straight-line relationship. Therefore, below bubble point pressure Vogel’s
Inflow Performance relationship is where the equation is:
 [ ( ) ( )]
2
Pwf Pwf
Qo = Qomax 1−0.2 −0.8
Pr Pr

Above the bubble point pressure, where the productivity index is constant, the Constant J method
is applied where the general equation is:
Qo = J (Pr−Pwf )

For known values of Pwf , the corresponding values for the flow rate are obtained as in the table
below for constant J and Vogel’s method.

[ ( ) ( )]
2
Pwf Pwf
Qo = 883.0342 1−0.2 −0.8 and Qo = 0.5648(2550-Pwf)
2550 2550

The above equations are to be used to determine the flow rate, Qo at corresponding FBHP
values. The highest value of FHBP will be equal to the average reservoir pressure, and this will
actually produce no flow at all in the well. As the FBHP decreases to zero, the corresponding
flow rate will rather increase until the absolute open flow rate, Qomax is obtained.
A table of results obtained from Vogel’s method and constant J method.

FBHP, Pwf (psia) Qo (STB/day) Qo (STB/day)

Vogel’s method Constant J method
2550 0 0
2300 148.9827 141.2
2050 284.5276 282.4
1800 406.3583 423.6
1550 514.7236 564.8
1300 609.4024 706
1050 690.5121 847.2
800 758.1147 988.4
550 812.0725 1129.6
300 852.4955 1270.8
0 883.0342 1440.24

IPR curves depicting the relationship between flowing bottom hole pressure and flow rate for a
reservoir pressure above and below bubble point pressure.
 IPR CURVES ABOVE(Constant J) AND BELOW BUBBLE
POINT(Vogel's)
3000

2500

2000
PWf (psia)

1500

1000

500

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600
Q0 (STB/day)

Constant J Vogel's
PROBLEM 2
A well is producing from a saturated reservoir with an average reservoir pressure of 4100 psia. A
stabilized production indicated that the well produced 610 STB/day at a flowing bottom hole
pressure of 3200 psia. Construct the current well IPR and a future well IPR when the average
reservoir pressure is 3000 psia using the Standing method.
SOLUTION
Standing noted that Vogel’s equation could be modified to:
q0
q0 , max (
= 1−
Pwf
Pr )(
1+0.8
Pwf
Pr )
…….. (i)

From Eqn (i), productivity index;

J=
q 0 ,max
Pr (
1+ 0.8
Pwf
Pr )
….(ii)

Standing then defined the zero-drawdown productivity index as; ( Pwf =0 )

¿ q 0 , max
J =1.8 ……(iii)
Pr

Substituting q 0 ,max from Eqn (iii) in Eqn (i) gives

q 0=
J ¿ Pr
1.8
1−
Pr(
Pwf
1+0.8
Pwf
Pr )( )
This equation can be used to calculate well rates, q 0 where
J*= zero draw down productivity index
Pr = average reservoir pressure

Pwf = flowing bottom hole pressure

At current well conditions, using the stabilized flow test data, where; q 0=610 STB/day ,
Pr = 4100psia, and Pwf =3200 psia

Current maximum flow rate;

q0
q 0 ,max =

( 1−
Pwf
Pr )( 1+ 0.8
Pwf
Pr )
 610
q 0 ,max =
(1− 3200
4100 )( 1+0.8
4100 )
3200

q 0 ,max =1710.7274 STB/day

Current zero draw down productivity index;

¿ q 0 ,max
J p=1.8
Pr

J ¿p=1.8 ( 1710.7274
4100 )
¿
J p=0.7511STB /day / psi a

The current IPR is generated by applying the following equation;

q 0=
J ¿p P r
1.8 (1−
P wf
Pr )(
1+0.8
P wf
Pr )
The table below shows values of flow rate with their corresponding flowing bottom hole pressure
at current reservoir pressure of 4100 psia.

Pwf ( psia) q 0 (STB/day)

4100 0

3500 421.3488

3000 727.6917

2000 1218.2476

1000 1545.9633

500 1648.7561

0 1710.8389
 Current IPR using Standing Method

4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
Pwf (psia)

2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
q0 (STB/day)

¿
Standing suggested that the future zero drawdown productivity index, J f can be estimated from
¿
the present value J p using the expression below:

[ ]
2
¿ Pr f
¿
J =J
f p
Prp

At Future average reservoir pressure of 3000 psia

Future zero drawdown productivity index;

[ ]
2
3000
J ¿f =0.7511
4100
¿
J f =0.4021 STB /day / psi a

The future IPR is generated by applying the following equation;

q 0=
1.8 (
J ¿f Pr f
1−
Pwf
Prf )(
1+0.8
Pwf
P rf )
The table below shows values of flow rate with their corresponding flowing bottom hole pressure
at Future reservoir pressure of 3000 psia

Pwf ( psia) q 0 (STB/day)

3000 0

2500 186.1574

2000 342.5296

1500 469.1167

1000 565.9185

500 632.9352

0 670.1667

Future IPR using Standing Method

3500

3000

2500

2000
Pwf (psia)

1500

1000

500

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
q0 (STB/day)
 Combined Current and Future Well IPR using Standing Method
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
Pwf (psia)

2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
q0 (STB/day)

Current Well IPR Future Well IPR

PROBLEM 3
A four-point stabilized flow test was conducted on an oil well producing from a saturated
reservoir at 3450psia average reservoir pressure.
Q0 (stb/day) Pwf (psia)
263 3170
383 2890
497 2440
640 2150

i. Construct a current IPR using the Fetkovich method

ii. construct a future IPR when the reservoir pressure is 2200 psia using the Fetkovich method.
iii. Construct a future IPR when the reservoir pressure is 2200 psia using the Klines and Clark
method.

SOLUTION

From Fetkovich, Qo =C (P2−P2Wf )n ........... (i)

Where Qo = flow rate, P= average reservoir pressure, Pwf = Flowing bottom hole pressure and n
= darcy exponent to account for non-darcy or turbulent behavior in the well.
Taking log on both sides of equation (i)
2 2
log Q0=log C+n log (P −PWf )

Q0 (stb/day) Pwf (psia) log Q0 ( P2-PWf2) Log ( P2-PWf2)

263 3170 2.41995575 1853600 6.26801602

383 2890 2.58319877 3550400 6.55027728
497 2440 2.69635639 5948900 6.77443667
640 2150 2.80617997 7280000 6.86213138

The graph below shows a plot of Log ( P2-PWf2) against log Q0

 plot of log (P2-Pwf2) against log Q0
7

f(x) = 1.59132755582258 x + 2.43421648875464

6.8

6.6
log (P2-Pwf2)

6.4

6.2

5.8
2.4 2.45 2.5 2.55 2.6 2.65 2.7 2.75 2.8 2.85
log Q0

The slope can be obtained as below;

From the graph, the equation of the line is y = 1.5913x + 2.4342 which is in the form of y=mx+c
where m is the slope.

Therefore, log (P 2−P2Wf )=1.5913 logQ 0+2.4342

From above, the slope of the straight line = 1.5913

Darcy exponent, n=1/slope=1/1.5913=¿ 0.6284
n = 0.6284
Q0 263
From equation (i), C= 2 2 n
= 0.6284
=0.0303
(P −P ) wf ( 3450 −31702 )
2

C = 0.0303 STB/day/psi2
The current well performance will be given by

Qo =C (P2−P2Wf )n

Qo =0.0303(34502−P2Wf )0.6284

Table showing flow rates with corresponding flowing bottomhole pressure

Pwf(psia) Q0 (stb/day)
3450 0
3000 348.8580
2500 530.3353
2000 654.6329
1500 742.3185
1000 801.3533
 500 835.5653
0 846.7860

The plot below shows the current IPR using Fetkovich method

current IPR
4000

3500

3000

2500
Pwf (psia)

2000

1500 current IPR

1000

500

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
Q0 (STB/day)

ii) when reservoir pressure is 2200psia

In order to estimate future well rates as reservoir pressure falls it is necessary to
estimate future values for C and n. Fetkovich assumed that the value of the exponent n
remained constant with changes in pressure and that the performance coefficient C
was a linear function of average reservoir pressure.
Pf
C f =C p
Pp

Where p and f subscripts refer to the present and future values respectively
Cp = 0.0303, Pf =2200 psia, P p=3450 psia

( )
Pf 2200
C f =C p =0.0303 =0.01932
Pp 3450

The future flow rate can therefore be obtained from;

Qo =C f (P f 2−P2Wf )0.6284

Qo =0.01932(2200 2−P2Wf )0.6284

Table showing corresponding flow rates at future pressures

Pwf(psia) Q0 (STB/day)
2200 0
2000 102.0526
1750 163.4510
1500 207.0736
1250 240.0900
1000 265.2167
750 283.8226
500 296.6813
250 304.2404
0 306.7354

The plot below shows the future IPR obtained from Fetkovich method when the reservoir
pressure is 2200psia.

future IPR
2500

2000

1500
Pwf (psia)

1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Q0 (STB/day)

Combined current and future IPR curves using Fetkovich method

 Combined current and future IPR curves
2500

2000

1500
Pwf (psia)

current IPR
Future IPR
1000

500

0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Q0 (STB/day)

iii. construct a future IPR when the reservoir pressure is 2200 psia using the Klines and
Clark method

( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
n P P P
=1+0.0577 1− −0.2459 1− +0.503 1−
nb Pb pb Pb

But P=2200 psia, Pb = 3450 psia, nb = 0.6284

( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
n 2200 2200 2200
=1+0.0577 1− −0.2459 1− + 0.503 1−
0.6284 3450 3450 3450

n = 0.6363

( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
C P P P
=1−3.5718 1− + 4.7981 1− −2.3066 1−
Cb Pb pb Pb

( ) ( ) ( )
2 3
C 2200 2200 2200
=1−3.5718 1− + 4.7981 1− −2.3066 1−
0.0303 3450 3450 3450

C = 0.006849 STB/day/psi2

( )
Pf 2200
C f =C p =0.006849 =0.004367
Pp 3450

Cf = 0.004367 STB/day/psi2
Well performance when average reservoir pressure is 2200 psia
Qo =C f (P f 2−P2Wf )0.6363

Qo =0.004367 (22002−P2Wf )0.6363

Table showing flow rates at future pressures

Pwf (psia) Q0 (STB/day)
2200 0
2000 25.6922
1750 41.3940
1500 52.5976
1250 61.0974
1000 67.5761
750 72.3785
500 75.6998
250 77.6531
0 78.2979

Plot showing future IPR curve with Klines and Clark’s method

Future IPR curve with Klines and Clark's method

2500

2000

1500
Pwf (psia)

future IPR
1000

500

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Q0 (STB/day)
References

Amyx, J. W., Bass, D. M., & Whiting, R. L. (1960). Petroleum reservoir engineering: Physical
properties. McGraw-Hill.

Guo, B., Lyons, C. W., & Ghalambor, A. (2007). Petroleum production engineering: A
computer-assisted approach. Gulf Professional Publishing.

Clegg, J. D. (Ed.). (2007). Petroleum engineering handbook: Volume IV, Production operations
engineering. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Ahmed, T. (2010). Reservoir engineering handbook (4th ed.). Gulf Professional Publishing.

Kawule, W. (2025). Petroleum production methods lecture notes. Department of Geology and
Petroleum Studies, Makerere University.