RESERVOIR ENGINEERING II
MODULE 1
Pressure Transient Analysis
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES
2.0 HISTORY OF WELL TEST
3.0 TYPES OF WELL TEST
3.1 DRAWDOWN TEST
3.2 BUILD-UP TEST
3.3 INJECTION TEST
3.4 FALLOFF TEST
3.5 INTERFERENCE TEST
3.6 DRILL STEM TEST
4.0 EXPLORATION WELL TESTING
5.0 BASIC FLUID FLOW EQUATIONS
6.0 EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
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INTRODUCTION
Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA) is a method used in reservoir engineering to evaluate the
behavior and characteristics of a reservoir and wells through studying how pressure changes
over period of time. It will provide us with essential information about the reservoir’s property
such as porosity, permeability, and skin factor, which are used in maintaining a producing
well. Unlike static pressure measurements, transient analysis allows engineers to
understand a more dynamic reservoir behavior.
This module discusses the importance of well tests in the petroleum industry. It provides
historical overview of how well testing developed through time, from the use of basic tools to
the introduction of more advanced technologies and methods. This module also presents the
different types of well test such as Drawdown Test, Build-up test, Injection test, Fall-off test,
Interference test, and Drill Stem Test (DST), and their applications in determining the
reservoir’s condition.
Aside from well tests concepts, this module also includes basic flow equations of steady-
state, pseudo-steady-state, and unsteady-state conditions. These flow equations are used to
solve sample problems to build more understanding of the topic.
By the end of the module, students will be able to apply their learnings in evaluating well test
data for practical reservoir applications.
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1.1 Learning Objectives:
The module aims to:
1. Introduce the basic concepts and principle of Pressure Transient Analysis (PTA).
2. Explain the importance and uses of well testing in reservoir engineering.
3. Present the historical development of pressure measurement.
4. Describe the different types of well test and their applications.
5. Apply the concepts of well testing and flow equations through problem-solving.
1.2 Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to select appropriate well test methods for reservoir evaluation.
2. Interpret pressure and time data used in reservoir monitoring.
3. Apply flow equation to estimate the reservoir properties and to solve reservoir
engineering problems.
4. Analyze the effects of formation damage or stimulation on the well’s performance.
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2.0 DEVELOPMENT OF WELL TEST
The history of pressure testing in reservoir engineering is closely tied to the development of
instruments capable of accurately measuring pressures deep inside the wellbore. Early
attempts relied mainly on measuring wellhead pressures and then estimating bottom-hole
pressures through vertical flow models. This approach, however, carried large uncertainties,
particularly in multiphase flow conditions. A major breakthrough came with the introduction of
downhole recording instruments such as the Amerada gauge. This device, which housed a
Bourdon tube, a mechanical recording system with a needle scribing on a tin chart, a clock,
and a thermometer, was lowered downhole in a protective bomb for the duration of the test.
It allowed continuous recording of bottom-hole pressure, a significant advancement over
surface-only measurements, and marked the beginning of transient well testing as a
practical engineering method.
Although the Amerada gauge represented an important step forward, engineers continued to
search for more accurate and convenient systems. One surface-based solution was the
“Spida” device, which simultaneously measured surface flow rate and pressure and then
applied a computer program to estimate bottom-hole pressure. While this proved effective in
single-phase gas wells, where flow modeling was more predictable, it remained less reliable
in multiphase conditions. In parallel, service companies began experimenting with bottom-
hole venturi meters, which, by having no moving parts, offered a potential method for direct
downhole flow rate measurement. Nevertheless, flow measurement under multiphase
conditions continued to pose significant challenges, as conventional spinner-based
production logging tools provided only limited accuracy.
A major leap in technology arrived in 1976 when Hewlett-Packard introduced quartz crystal
pressure transducers with accurate temperature compensation. These tools, which could
transmit data to the surface and record digitally, offered exceptional precision even at very
high pressures. They were first applied in the North Sea, where their ability to detect very
small changes in pressure under high-pressure conditions proved invaluable. Despite their
high cost, quartz gauges quickly became an industry standard, especially in offshore
environments, because they enabled highly sensitive and reliable measurements in
situations where earlier tools were insufficient.
In the early days, engineers often relied on static bottom-hole pressure measurements,
which involved shutting in a well, sometimes for as long as 72 hours, and then recording the
pressure once it stabilized. This method was useful in high-permeability reservoirs, where
stabilization occurred quickly, but it was less effective in lower-permeability formations where
pressures required much longer times to equalize. Petroleum engineers soon realized that
the rate at which pressure built up after shut-in reflected the permeability of the surrounding
reservoir rock. This observation was a key step toward the recognition that transient
pressure behavior could reveal far more about the reservoir than static measurements. By
deliberately changing a well’s flow rate and recording the time-dependent pressure
response, engineers developed transient pressure testing, which remains the foundation of
modern well testing.
Transient testing soon proved far more powerful than static methods, as it provided not only
reservoir pressure but also permeability, skin factor, and information on reservoir boundaries
and heterogeneities. The 1980s saw the adoption of log-log diagnostic plots and pressure
derivative analysis, which allowed engineers to better identify flow regimes. Later, type-curve
matching became standard practice, and in the 2000s, pressure-rate deconvolution
techniques were introduced, enabling the interpretation of longer and more complex
datasets. These methods helped engineers better understand reservoir connectivity and
late-time boundary effects.
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As the oil and gas industry entered the 2000s, permanent downhole gauges, or PDGs,
were increasingly installed in wells to provide continuous, high-resolution pressure and
temperature data. Unlike memory gauges, which required intervention for data retrieval,
PDGs enabled long-term surveillance without repeated well shut-ins. Around the same time,
advances in fiber-optic sensing brought new capabilities to well monitoring. Distributed
Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems allowed
engineers to capture temperature and acoustic data along the entire wellbore. With the help
of advanced algorithms, these data streams could be used to infer fluid movement, fracture
behavior, and even distributed pressure, offering a more detailed view of reservoir
performance than point sensors could provide.
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3.0 TYPES OF WELL TEST
There are several types of well tests depending upon the purpose, the reservoir, and the
information the reservoir engineers require.
3.1 Drawdown Test
The well is initially shut-in for a period of time till the pressure is stabilized. The well is
then produced at a constant rate and decrease in pressure (shown in the picture below). The
signature left by the decrease in pressure during the "draw-down" of fluid is analyzed to
determine well and reservoir characteristics. In a practical setting, it could be difficult to
produce the well at a constant rate for an extended period of time.
Figure 1: Pressure transient response during drawdown.
3.2 Build-up Test
In order to conduct this test, the well is produced steady for a period of time, from a few
days to months, followed by shut-in. The shut-in period is determined by the transmissibility
of formation and test objectives. As a result, reservoir pressure builds up around the well,
which can be monitored and recorded continuously until stabilization in pressure is obtained.
Analysis of initial, middle, and late time response in pressure provides a wealth of data
pertaining to the well and reservoir drainage area, including formation trans-missibility, skin
effects, drainage radius, fluid front location, and reservoir heterogeneity.
Figure 2: Pressure transient response during buildup.
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3.3 Injection Test
This describes a test involving measuring the fluid injection rate through the well into the
reservoir at a controlled rate and the corresponding pressure increase due to injection. This
kind of test is very important in assessing the well and reservoir capacity to inject fluid.
Figure 3: Injection Test
3.4 Fall-off Test
This describes well shut-in following fluid injection into the reservoir. During a fall-off test,
bottomhole pressure decreases. A fall-off test follows an injection test.
Figure 4: Fall-off Test
3.5 Interference Test
The interference well test involves two or more wells, where one well is produced for a
period of time and any pressure response is monitored in adjacent wells. This test provides
valuable information regarding the degree of communication between two wells that is
directly related to the effectiveness of waterflood or enhanced oil recovery operations in
conventional reservoirs. In addition, the test is also conducted in unconventional coalbed
methane reservoirs to determine the degree of heterogeneity, as well as face and butt cleat
permeability. The test aids in the optimization of well location and spacing between the wells.
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3.6 Drill Stem Test (DST)
As a well is newly drilled, the first test that is traditionally performed is the drillstem test.
The test is performed to assess the potential of the well. It involves at least two sequences of
flow period followed by periods of shut-in and pressure buildup, where the response in
pressure is recorded and analyzed. The final shut-in period is longer in order to allow shut-in
pressure to approach static reservoir pressure. In addition to reservoir pressure, formation
permeability and skin around the well may be determined by this test. A fluid sample is
collected as part of the drillstem test for analysis.
Figure 5: Drill Stem Test assembly
4.0 Exploration Well Test
This type of test is aimed at evaluating the overall characteristics of the reservoir. It is
primarily used to collect fluid samples, measure the initial formation pressure, determine gas
well productivity, estimate the distance to reservoir boundaries, and calculate well-controlled
reserves. Since exploration-well tests are typically conducted while the drilling rig remains
on-site, they can be very costly. However, the information gained provides critical input for
making major investment decisions.
A drill stem test (DST) is a temporary completion of a wellbore techniques. It is a type of
temporary completion that is used to evaluate the formation and inspect a reservoir's
properties. Data obtained from a DST include the following:
● fluid samples
● reservoir pressure (P*)
● formation properties
● permeability (k), skin (S), and radius of investigation (ri)
● productivity estimates, including flow rate (Q)
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● hydrodynamic information
Equipment of the Drill-Stem Test tool
The drill-stem test (DST) tool consists of four essential components that are standard in
every assembly, regardless of the service company that manufactures it. These components
include (1) pressure recorders, (2) test valves, (3) hydraulic bypass or equalizing valves, and
(4) packers. A general schematic of the DST tool is presented in Figure (1).
1. Pressure Recorders:
These are the “brain” of the DST tool, measuring well pressures across different ranges.
They can detect very low pressures and handle high pressures up to about two-thirds of the
well’s maximum.
2. Test Valve:
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Positioned above the hydraulic by-pass valve, it allows reservoir fluids into the drill pipe
when the packer is set, blocks drilling mud from entering, and preserves recovered fluids
during tool retrieval.
3. Hydraulic By-Pass Valve:
This valve relieves borehole pressure by providing space for drilling mud to pass around the
packer during tool movement. It allows mud under hydrostatic pressure to flow through the
packer mandrel and equalizes pressure around the packer, making retrieval to the surface
easier.
4. Packers:
Packers in DST tools are temporary and retrievable, unlike permanent ones. Made of
compressible rubber-like materials, they expand against the borehole wall to seal the
annulus and stop fluid movement. This helps direct formation fluids into the drill pipe,
improving production. Packers are placed above the perforation zone and set in the hole by
rotating the drill pipe from the surface.
In addition to the basic component of the DST tool there are other auxiliary components
that most of the modern DST assemblies are composed of, which include the following:
1. Shut-in Pressure Valve – Controls shut-in periods during testing, prevents
packer unseating, avoids pressure equalization, and helps retain recovered fluids.
2. Disk Valve – Prevents drilling mud from entering the pipe while running in
hole; ruptures by a dropped go-devil to allow packer setting and tool opening.
3. Reverse Circulating Valve – Enables safe reverse circulation to recover fluids
to surface tanks and conditions annulus mud during the test.
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4. Jar – A hydraulic tool that delivers impact blows to free a stuck packer or DST
tool.
5. Safety Joint – Allows safe unscrewing and recovery of the DST tool when
stuck, ensuring data and fluid samples are brought to surface.
6. Anchor Shoe (Nozzles) – Hard, durable tool head that leads the DST tool,
breaks fluid surface tension, reduces buoyancy, absorbs damage, and anchors tool weight
at the well bottom.
7. Bottom Hole Choke – Restricts downhole flow, maintains backpressure below
the packer, and reduces hydrostatic pressure on it.
Do you want me to make these even shorter (just one-line functions) for quick revision, or
keep them as above?
Designing the DST PLAN
In order to ensure that the desired information are delivered by the DST test detailed
considerations must be given to a number of factors. Taking in consideration the following
factors increase the probability of success of the test:
1. Test Interval (Hole to Test):
Determine the depth/TD and formation type based on logging and geophysical data.
2. Packer Selection & Seal Location:
Choose the right packer type and size according to well conditions (open/cased hole,
formation type). Use caliper logs to locate seals.
3. Choke Selection:
Ensure safety by selecting suitable top and bottom-hole chokes, with the bottom choke
usually smaller to control flow.
4. Test Duration:
Pre-assign specific time periods for packer setting, valve operations, flow, and shut-in
stages.
5. Pressure Gauges:
Use at least two gauges (below and above the choke) capable of recording beyond
maximum well pressure for accuracy.
6. Tool Component Placement:
Place circulation valve above test valve, jars near the packer, and safety joints below
pressure recorders to protect data.
7. Cushion Use (Water/Gas):
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Apply cushions to avoid sudden pressure release, protect formation integrity, and prevent
plugging.
Executing DST test and interpreting DST pressure chart.
The easiest way to explain the Drill-Stem Testing (DST) procedure is by examining a typical
DST pressure chart for an open hole (see Figure below) and outlining its different segments.
Once all the necessary factors for conducting a DST have been considered, as discussed in
the previous section, the test plan is ready to be executed. Before lowering the tool into the
well, the tester places the test chart into the recorder and establishes the baseline,
representing zero pressure (0 psig), shown as the blue line in the Figure . At this stage, the
well must be conditioned and filled with drilling mud. The driller then removes the entire drill
string to replace the drill bit with the DST tool, after which the string is run back into the well,
stand by stand.
1. From A to B, the tool is run into the hole with the bypass valve open, allowing
drilling mud to circulate and reducing pressure surges. The pressure gradually increases due
to the mud hydrostatic head, with fluctuations caused by pipe connections, tight spots, or
equipment adjustments.
2. At point B, the tool reaches test depth and the pressure stabilizes. The packer
is set to seal off the test interval, isolating it from the mud column. The tester valve is then
opened briefly from B to C.
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3. From C to D, the initial flow period begins, usually lasting 5–10 minutes, with
fluids entering the tool. The initial flow pressure is nearly atmospheric unless a water cushion
is used.
4. From D to E, the valve is closed for the initial shut-in period (30–60 minutes).
During this time, pressure builds up until it approaches the static reservoir pressure at point
E.
5. From E to G, the valve is reopened for the final flow period. This stage may
last several hours or even days depending on requirements, and the buildup pattern reflects
formation and fluid properties.
6. From G to H, the valve is closed again for the final shut-in period, allowing
another buildup to be recorded.
7. From H to J, the reverse circulating valve is opened to pump mud down the
annulus, killing the well and keeping formation fluids under control. The packer is then
released, and the tool is retrieved while the recorder measures the return of hydrostatic
pressure.
References
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Professional
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