Radial flow towards wells

We assume that drainage area is circular, as shown in Fig 1. The well is located in the centre.
Reservoir has constant height, and overlying and underlying layers are closed. This will be
reasonable representative for inflow to most vertical wells.

Figure 2.1: Radial influx

Most reservoirs are more or less heterogeneous. If heterogeneity is evenly distributed and the
extent of these is small when compared to reservoir size, the reservoir will likely behave as
homogenous. Thus, we assume homogeneous reservoir properties (constant height, constant
permeability, etc.)

2.1 Steady-state production (or Steady-state flow)

Steady-state means that nothing changes over time. The volume produced from the well - Qw,
will be equal to the volume of fluid passed through the reservoir from outer boundary: Qw = Qe.
Flow through the circle around the well, Q(r), will then be constant, regardless of distance. This
can quantify that
Q(r) = qo Bo
qo : production (Sm3/s)

(2-1)

Bo : Formation volume factor (m3/Sm3)

With evenly distributed inflow through the perimeter, we will have radial flow towards the well.
Radial Darcy-equation associates fluid flow to pressure

Q r
k dp

2 r h
o dr

(2-2)

By combining and integrating (2-1) and (2-2), we find pressure of the reservoir
p r pw

qo Bo o
r
ln
2 k h
rw

(2-3)

Average pressure is generally defined as

pR

1
V

p dV

(2-4)

For a cylindrical drainage area, the volume i: V= r2h. Entering this and (2-3) into (2-4), we get

pR

1 re
qo Bo o
r
ln 2 r h dr
pw
2
re h o
2 k h rw

(2-5)

By integrating (2-5), we can express steady-state productivity index as:

Js

qo

p R pw

2 k h
r 1
o Bo ln e
rw 2

(2-6)

From (2-6) follows that if the permeability, viscosity and oil formation volume factor are
independent from pressure and rate, the steady-state productivity index will be constant.

2.2 Pseudo-steady-state production (or pseudo-steady-state flow)

Most reservoirs are finite, so that the pressure drops when the oil is tapped. With "pseudo-steady-

state production", we understand that the drop in pressure over the time will be virtually the same
everywhere in the reservoir. This is achieved for most finite reservoirs.
As the pressure falls, the reservoir fluid expands. We can quantify this with compressibility
equation:
c

1 dV
V dp

(2-7)

C: compressibility of the reservoir fluid

V: volume of reservoir fluid (or volume of fluid in the reservoir - ?)
dp: pressure drop
dV: change in fluid volume per pressure drop
By pressure reduction, fluid expands and exceeds the reservoir pore volume. Additional fluid
volume is production. We can express the rate as a change in volume over the time:

dV
dp
c V
dt
dt

(2-

8)

Flow into the well corresponds to the production

Q rw qo Bo

(2-

9)
Since the reservoir is finite, there will be no flow through the outer boundary
Q re 0

(2-

10)
In between, the flow increase proportionally with the pore volume that contributes
dQ c d V

11)

dp
dp
c 2h
rdr
dt
dt

(2-

Under stationary conditions, the variables inside parenthesis in (2-11) remain a constant. With
integrating (2-11) and using (2-9), (2-10), we find the flow distribution

Q r qo Bo 1

re

(2-12)

Figure 2.2 illustrates steady-state and pseudo-steady-state flux (for production: 1000 m3/d).
Steady-state flux is constant, while pseudo-steady-state flux declines against the outer limit.

Figure 2.2: Steady-state and pseudo-steady-state influx

To find the pseudo-steady-state productivity index, we first combine and integrate Darcy's
equation (2-2) and influx relationship (2-12). This gives the pressure distribution between the
wells and the outer boundary

qo Bo o
r 1 r 2 rw2

p r p w
ln
2 k h rw 2 re2

(2-13)

Figure 2.3 compares the pressure at the desktop (2-3) and pseudo-steady-state influx (2-13). The
pressure gradient is almost the same at near wellbore (at the well bore it will be equal, since the
influxes are the same). Farther out in the reservoir significant differences are seen.

Figure 2.3: Steady-state pressure profile and pseudo-steady-state influx

By calculating the average pressure (2-4) for pseudo-stationary pressure distribution (2-13), we
find the pseudo-stationary productivity index. (The calculation is similar to that for stationary
influx (2-5), and is left as a challenge for interested readers.) The result, after omitting
insignificant contributions, is
J ps

2 k h

r 3
o Bo ln e
rw 4

(2-14)

Equation (2-14) indicates that if the permeability, viscosity and formation volume factor are
independent of pressure and rate, it will pseudo-steady-state productivity index will be constant.

2.3 Transient flow

After the start-up, or change in rate, constant influx around the well will soon be established.
Gradually, flow and pressure gradient propagate further out. The equation of continuity expresses
such changes over the time. In a radial reservoir
1
rv 0
r r
t

(2-15)

The equation of continuity (2-15), combined with Darcy's flow equation (2-2),
1 p
1

r

r r r
k p

p c p

k t
t

(2-16)

For homogenous reservoir and constant production, pressure change in time and space can be
estimated by solving (2-16). At constant production, until the outer boundary is reached, the
solution becomes1

p( r ,t ) pi

qo o Bo e y
dy

4 k h x y

pi - initial pressure
t- time

; there: x

o c rw2

(2-17)

4kt

(Pa)
(s)

The exponential integral in (2-17) is approximately by series expansion2

E1 x ln x

n 1

= Eulers konstant;

1 n x n

(2-18)

n n!

( = 1.781....)

We can then write equation of pressure (2-17)

p r ,t p t D

q B
pi o o o
4 k h

ln 4 t D 1 1 1

4 t D 4 4 t D

...

(2-19)

kt

There dimensionless time: tD, is defined as: t D c r 2

o

Figure 2.4 illustrates how the pressure drop, calculated by equation (2-19), propagates through
the reservoir

Figure 2.4: Pressure profile by transient flow

After a short time period, at well bore radius, the higher order terms become negligible. Well
bore pressure may be approximated from (2-19)
pw t pi

qo o Bo
4k t
ln
pi qo K ln Ct
4 k h o c rw2

(2-20)

For a given well the parameter groups: K transmissivity and: C storetivity can be considered
constants relate to other. These relate to other reservoir- and fluid parameters as
K

o Bo
4k
and: C
4 k h
o c rw2

The simplification above (2-20) is considered acceptable in the time period

kt
100
From: t Dw
o c rw2
kt
0.1
To: t De
c re2

The lower time limit: tDw, is associated with the omitting of the higher order terms of (2-19). The
upper time limit: tDw, is associated with the assumption of infinite reservoir. When the pressure
change is noticeable at the outer boundary, the reservoir will no longer behave as infinite.
After a somewhat longer period of time, pressure will stabilize and then fall steadily over the
entire drainage area. The time it takes to reach such pseudo-stationary conditions, is associated to
dimensionless time as follows
t De

kt
0.3
c re2

(2-21)

From (2-20), we can formally express "transient productivity index"

Jt

qo
1

pi pw K ln Ct

o Bo

4 k h

4k
ln
ln t
2
o c rw

(2-22)

In other words, within transient area the relationship between production and pressure drop will
decline over time. Figure 2.5 below shows how transient productivity index approaches pseudosteady-state flow over time.

Figure 2.5: Transient effect on productivity index

In Figure 2.5 is well radius and distance to the outer boundary assumed as follows: rw = 0.1m
and re = 300 m. Transient productivity index is assumed (or calculated with) by (2-22) and
pseudo-steady-state by (2-14).

2.4 From transient to pseudo-steady-state influx (optional)

We have previously derived pseudo-steady-state influx (2-12). Since pseudo-steady-state means
that the pressure falls steadily in the reservoir, we can express pressure variation in time and
space as follows
pw t pR t

qo o Bo
2 k h

ln

re 3

rw 4

(2-23)

Previously, we derived the relationship between the reservoir and production time (1-9). This is
reproduced below (we define now producing as negative)
B
p R t pi o qot
(2-24)
cV
By combining (2-23) and (2-24), we can describe pressure change after pseudo-steady-state
conditions are met

qo o Bo re 3
qo o Bo re 3
rw2
ln 2t De pi
ln 2 2 t Dw (2-25)
pw t pi
2 k h rw 4
2 k h rw 4
re

We have a relatively simple solution for the transient response (2-20) and pseudo-steady-state
response (2-25). In the between period, the response is influenced by the outer boundary, but still
not have reached the pseudo-steady-state state. This transition period is defined by the upper
limit for the (2-20) and (2-21):
0.1 t De 0.3
(2-26)
Of course, it is also possible to predict pressure response in transition period3. However, this is
more complicated than the relatively simple relationships presented above. For most reservoirs
transition area will be relatively short.

References
1

Mattews, C.S. and Russell, D.G.

Pressure Buildup and Flow Tests in Wells
SPE Monograph vol.1, Henry L. Doherty series
SPE of AIME, N.Y. 1967

2 Abramowitz, M. & Stegun, I. A. (eds.)

Handbook of Mathematical Functions
Dover Publications, inc., NY, 1972

van Everdingen, A.F.:

The skin effect and its influence on the production capacity of a well
Petr. Trans. of AIME, vol 198. 1953, p 172