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Radial Flow Towards Wells: Q (R) Q B Q
Radial Flow Towards Wells: Q (R) Q B Q
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.
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.)
Q(r) = qo Bo (2-1)
qo : production (Sm3/s)
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
v (2-2)
2 r h o dr
By combining and integrating (2-1) and (2-2), we find pressure of the reservoir
qo Bo o r
p r pw ln (2-3)
2 k h rw
1
pR
V p dV
v
(2-4)
For a cylindrical drainage area, the volume i: V= r2h. Entering this and (2-3) into (2-4), we get
1 re qo Bo o r
pR pw ln 2 r h dr (2-5)
re h o
2
2 k h rw
qo 2 k h
Js
p R pw r 1 (2-6)
o Bo ln e
rw 2
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.
As the pressure falls, the reservoir fluid expands. We can quantify this with compressibility
equation:
1 dV
c (2-7)
V dp
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
Q c V (2-
dt dt
8)
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
dp dp
dQ c d V c 2h rdr (2-
dt dt
11)
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
r
2
Q r qo Bo 1
(2-12)
re
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.
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 (2-13)
2 k h rw 2 re2
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.
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
2 k h
J ps
r 3 (2-14)
o Bo ln e
rw 4
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.
1
rv 0 (2-15)
r r t
The equation of continuity (2-15), combined with Darcy's flow equation (2-2),
1 p 1 p c p
r (2-16)
r r r k p t k t
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
qo o Bo e y o c rw2
p( r ,t ) pi dy ; there: x (2-17)
4 k h x y 4kt
E1 x ln x
1 n x n
(2-18)
n 1 n n!
q B 4t 1 1 1
2
p r ,t p t D pi o o o ln D
... (2-19)
4 k h 4 tD 4 4 tD
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)
qo o Bo 4k t
pw t pi ln pi qo K ln Ct (2-20)
4 k h o c rw2
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
o Bo 4k
K and: C
4 k h o c rw2
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
kt (2-21)
t De 0.3
c re2
qo 1 4 k h
Jt
pi pw K ln Ct 4k (2-22)
o Bo
ln ln t
o c rw
2
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 pseudo-
steady-state flow over time.
qo o Bo re 3
pw t p R t ln (2-23)
2 k h rw 4
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
pw t pi ln 2t De pi ln 2 2 t Dw (2-25)
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
The skin effect and its influence on the production capacity of a well