Well Test Analysis

PTT Measurements Pressure Transient Test Measurements

Refs: Jitendra Kikani, Chapter 3, Kamal et al. SPE Monograph 23, 2009 Kuchuk, Onur, Hollaender, Chapter 1, Pressure Transient Formation and Well Testing, 2010.

Interpretation of pressure, temperature, and flow-rate measurements has significantly improved over the past 20 years because of the advent of sophisticated analytical and numerical models and computational methods. These interpretation techniques require detection of subtle and minute changes in measured quantities for diagnostic purposes.

PTT Measurements
Measurements

PTT Measurements
Pressure transient testing hardware are divided into three basic categories according to their conveyance systems: Wireline Pipe, Pipe tubing tubing, coil tubing tubing, slickline slickline, and Permanent Wireline units are sometimes combined with pipes or coil tubing. Formation testing is usually conducted with a wireline unit, and well testing is usually conducted with pipe, tubing, coil tubing, and/or permanent systems.

Surface

Mudline

Bottomhole

Slickline E-line Permanent (Memory) (SRO) Telemetry

Induction Acoustic Electromagnetic Fiber-optic

Well Test Analysis

PTT Measurements
A wide variety of surface-controlled surface and downhole equipment is available for conducting well tests. When assembled into a test string and run into the hole the downhole equipment becomes a part of the hole, production tubing and provides a means controlling the well. The downhole test string assembly for exploration well differs from that for a production well. Test string assemblies and their operational details depend on the type of well completion (open or cased-hole).

Pressure Gauges
(Source: Vella et al. 1992, Schlumberger)

Pressure Gauges
Accuracy: is the difference between a measured value and the true value generated by a reference standard DWT (dead weight tester) This is algebraic sum of of all errors tester). influencing pressure measurements. Resolution: is the minimum pressure change that can be detected by the sensor.

Pressure Gauges
Stability: is the ability of sensor to retain its performance characteristics over a relatively long period of time. The stability of the tensor is the mean drift in psi/day (or psi/hr) obtained at a given pressure and temperature.

Well Test Analysis

Why Accuracy?
It is important for: Cross well pressure comparision Gradient surveys fluid contacts Reserve estimate OGIP from pressure

Why Resolution?
It is important for: Pressure transient test interpretation Especially, high permeability reservoirs Large fractures IPR Interference testing

Resolution

Resolution
1 psi Resolution

Well Test Analysis

Why Stability?
It is important for: Long term depletion Compartmentalization Interference and well to well comparison High permeability systems

Why Stability?

Temperature Measurements
Modern electronic gauges measure temperature as part of the measurement pressure device. Temperature data collected along with pressure can be b used dt to provide id quality lit control for the pressure measurements and important understanding of wellboredominated effects. The accuracy and resolution are about of the same magnitude, ranges from 0.02 oC to 0.5oC.

Temperature Measurements
8000 psi 10oC sudden temperature change

Well Test Analysis

Flow-Rate Measurements
Surface and downhole flow-rate measurement devices are different design because they have different footprints and their measurement objectives are different (single vs vs. multiphase flow) flow). For wireline applications, flow-rate measurements generally are obtained from spinner-type flow meters. Level of accuracy in rate measurements is still poor.

Flow-Rate Measurements
Level of accuracy in rate measurements is still poor: Separator measurements now go into the computer and the sampling frequency has been improved, improved but accuracy is at best around 5%. Still most of the time only surface rates are being measured. The choke-regulated surface flow rate is estimated or measured. In some cases, it is measured sporadically in the gathering tank after separation of gas from the produced fluid.

Flow-Rate Measurements
Surface rate measurements have three main drawbacks: The fluid rate seen by the pressure sensor is quite different from that measured at the wellhead llh d or i in th the t tank. k There is considerable wellbore volume between the pressure sensor and the surface where the rate is measured. The pressure and rate measurements do not correspond to the same time span.

Flow-Rate Measurements
New production loging tools have been developed to handle cases where spinnerbased measurements are useless, especially in highly g y deviated and horizontal wells. They are useful tools, but are quite expensive, and still not measure the rates, but something else related to them, holdups and phase speeds.

Well Test Analysis

Placement of Gauges
The most appropriate location for a gauge is at the midpoint perforation (MPP) so that the appropriate reservoir thermal and density conditions are emulated. However, this is not always practical, and gauges are often placed where the profile nipple is designed into the wellbore. Sometimes, it is appropriate to place the gauge below the perforations in the rathole.

Placement of Gauges
In high-rate wells, placement below perforations may be appropriate to avoid rate dependent fractional effects on the data obtained when the gauge is placed above the MPP. Falling
Liquid Level Recorder run depth

Depth

Liquid gradient MPP

Buildup
Time

rathole

Placement of Gauges
When the gauge is not placed at the MPP, the following factors can impact the data and must be considered during data processing and q quality y control: Frictional effects manifesting as ratedependent skin. Density changes because of fluid level moving across the gauge during the test.

Placement of Gauges
Mud in rathole, which makes pressure correction difficult, or mud displacement during flow periods, which changes gradients in the middle of the test. Thermal storage causing distortion of pressure data. Some of these effects can render the test useless or, worse still, can cause reservoir information to be misinterpreted (e.g., doubleporosity, layered reservoir behaviors).

Well Test Analysis

Placement of Gauges
A number of other related dynamic wellbore phenomena can manifest as subtle changes in pressure data. These may include: Liquid influx to or efflux from the wellbore Wellbore and near wellbore cleanup Plugging Thermal effects, Condensation, Leaks Geotidal or microseismic events

Placement of Gauges
As discussed, todays electronic gauges offer high precision measurements and interpretation techniques based on pressurederivative methods that enhances or amplify any changes, hence the risk of data misinterpretation rise significantly. This calls for careful data quality control in terms of design and data cross-checks. It is always preferable to have down-hole shut-in to overcome the effects of the above mentioned phenomena on pressure data.

Placement of Gauges
These effects and their impact can be mitigated by taking certain precautions, such as: It is always preferable to have down-hole shut-in. shut-in Running multiple gauges at the same depth in a bundle carrier. Running gauges at multiple depths. Collecting casing pressure and tubing head pressure separately.

Placement of Gauges
Horizontal Well Test Example form Kuchuk, Onur, Hollaender, 2010

Well Test Analysis

Datum Correction
Datum correction provides a common basis for comparision of well and reservoir pressures across a given field or even a basin. This correction is necessary when computing average reservoir pressures or extrapolated pressures from Horner plots (i.e. material balance computations). However, it is not necessary to perform datum correction for all BHPs that are measured for use in computing permeability, skin, and other reservoir properties.

Datum Correction
For average reservoir pressures datum level is normally chosen as half the oil volume of the reservoir is above and half below (why?): This makes the resultant pressure at this datum level to reflect the volumetric average oil (or gas) zone pressure. This is important for material balance and oil (or gas) in place calculations. (50 to 100 ft changes in datum level will have small effect on the results of material balance.) To make these calculations we need to know oil (and/or gas) density (or gradients), and as well as the oil/water/gas contacts or extend of the boundaries.

Datum Correction

Pressure Correction
Pressures are often corrected from measurement level to the datum level by using a so-called tubing gradient. This would be the case in cases water is in the gauge depth. Make static gradient surveys when lowering or pulling back the bomb. Also, we need to have the densities of water and oil.

Matthews and Russel (SPE Monograph 1, 1967)

Well Test Analysis

Pressure Correction

Generic Gauge Recommendations

(Kikani, 2009, SPE M. 23)

Matthews and Russel (SPE Monograph 1, 1967)

Electronic gauges are common today and should be used because of their superior precision and resolution. In situations where packers are being set and/or tabulars are perforated, pressures above reservoir pressure can be anticipated for short durations. Select proper gauge rating to accomadate these conditions. Always run backup gauges, preferably in a bundle carrier.

Generic Gauge Recommendations

(Kikani, 2009, SPE M. 23)

Generic Gauge Recommendations

(Kikani, 2009, SPE M. 23)

For long term installation, gauge drift characteristics should be considered in selecting the gauge. In reservoirs with temperature above 350oF (177oC), run at least four gauges, preferably using different gauge technologies. For critical jobs, calibrate gauges before use (most multiuse gaugesa are calibrated every 6-12 months).

Run the gauges as close to perforations as possible, especially in prolific gas wells. If condensate is expected to drop out in the well and form a liquid layer, use a pressure and d a diff differential ti l gauge t to monitor it th the fl fluid id movement and density changes. Use surface pressure and temperature data along bottomhole data to resolve ambigous wellbore effects. Run static and flowing gradient surveys before and/or after a test is complete.

Well Test Analysis

Summary on PT Testing
PT Testing is a well/reservoir description and evaluation method used to obtain in-situ dynamic well/near well/reservoir properties. It is certainly a valuable tool that, like all other indirect determination methods, should be used with understanding of the physical and mathematical concepts and the inherent nonuniqueness of the model and its parameters.
Modified from Kamal et al. (SPE Monograph Vol. 23, 2009)

Summary on PT Testing
It should be used with a complete understanding of the geological and operational aspect of the field. It is often necessary to run several types of transient tests and to integrate their results with other characterization methods to obtain a valid description of the reservoir.
Modified from Kamal et al. (SPE Monograph Vol. 23, 2009)

Summary on PT Testing
Interpretation of all PT tests rely on: identifying flow regimes, calculating initial reservoir system properties from these flow regimes, and history hi t matching t hi the th entire ti test t t through th h th the use of an appropriate interpretation model, and nonlinear regression. Most of the models currently in use are analytical, but technology is moving toward to the use of numerical modeling (or numerical well testing in general).

Summary on PT Testing

Derivatives and deconvolution make PTT interpretation p analysis y a reliable tool for well/reservoir characterization.

Well Test Analysis

Summary on PT Testing
BUTs (Source: Kuchuk, Onur, Hollaender, 2010; Pressure Transient
Formation and Well Testing)

Summary on PT Testing
BUTs Surface and downhole conditions considerably affect the pressure gauge and rate measuring device performance. Therefore, it is important to assess these conditions when selecting gauges and a data acquisition system.

Selecting a proper test type and measurement system is one of the most important step in PT Testing. Pressure accuracy and resolution have improved considerably, but the same cannot be said for flow rate measurements. A downhole and/or surface data acquisition system should deliver the data at specified accuracy, resolution, and drift to achieve the test objective.

Summary on PT Testing
BUTs The reservoir model can also be used to assess effects of accuracy, resolution, and drift on the test objective and interpretation. For instance, instance using the reservoir model model, we can determine what the minimum pressure gauge and drift should be to estimate the fault conductivity and distance to an active well at a reasonable testing duration from an interference test.

Summary on PT Testing
BUTs Pressure gauge accuracy and resolution of pressure and rate data affect pressure derivative and deconvolution considerably. Once the testing hardware and acquisition sytem with gauges are selected and placed downhole, current testing hardware systems do not allow us to change or modify them.

Well Test Analysis

Summary on PT Testing
BUTs Therefore, they have to be evaluated and selected carefully because it will be very costly to change the downhole hardware after setting it in the wellbore.