2/17/2018

PMRE 6006: Well Testing

DST

Credit hour 3
Duration 14 weeks Lecture + Lab/Tutorial

Instructor
Dr. Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman
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Drill Stem Test (DST)

 DST is a temporary well completion test undertaken before or after casing is run.
 More often it is done before casing is run, i.e., in new wells
 It enables us to look "deeper" into the reservoir than the other wellbore measurement methods such
as wireline logging or logging while drilling
 Very important for FDP
 First real indication of flow potential of the target formation (pi, kh/µ, k, s, drainage area, q, etc)
 DST assembly is a set of measurement, control, and sample tools placed at the end of drill string.
 In some cases the DST assembly may be placed at the bottom of tubing
 DST assembly consists of:
 one or more packers to isolate the test zone
 a flow control valve
 a continuous pressure recording device
 a fluid sample chamber
 and a perforated anchor for the fluids entering the tool string
 The assembly is run into the hole with empty drill pipe or tubing
 In some cases a carefully designed water, diesel, or nitrogen cushion is used

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Water and/or
hydrocarbons Hydraulic valve
recovered in closed
drill pipe during
this flow period
Bypass ports open

Expanded Packer deflated

packer to avoid
swabbing
Pressure
recorded
in both
flow and
shut-in
periods

Main Flow Period Shut In Period Tripping out (or in)

FpfP = final pre-flow pressure

FFP = final flowing pressure
4 FHP = final hydrostatic pressure
FSIP = final shut-in pressure
IFP = initial flowing pressure
Pre-flow

Main FSI IHP = initial hydrostatic pressure

ISI period
flow or IpfP = initial pre-flow pressure
period
Final
flow ISI = initial shut-in
Pressure

IHP ISIP = initial shut-in pressure

FHP
ISIP 5
6
3 FSIP

1
4
FFP

IpfP 2 FpfP IFP Time (~hours)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Conventional DST recorder

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• Tool is run into the hole, the increasing hydrostatic pressure of

the mud column is recorded by the pressure gauge (AB)
• The initial hydrostatic pressure is measured at B
• Once the tool reaches the depth of formation to be tested, the
packer is set and the hydraulic valve is opened.
• Because of the empty drillpipe above, the tool is exposed to
atmospheric pressure, causing the sudden drop or shock (C).
• Fluid enters the drillpipe during the pre-flow or initial flow
A typical DST chart period (CD) causing some pressure rise.
• This pre-flow period is usually short (5-10 min.)
• Valve is closed to end initial flow period (D) to create the initial
shut in period, and a pressure buildup is recorded. The pressure
approaches the original formation pressure (E).
• This initial buildup period usually lasts for 30 to 60 minutes.
• Valve is opened again for the final flow period, lasting 60 to 180
minutes onshore and 8+ hours offshore (FG).
• Valve is again closed for a final shut-in period. Thus a final
buildup is recorded(H).
• Then the packer is released, the final hydrostatic pressure is
imposed by the mud column (I).
• The tool is retrieved from the hole and the gradual decrease of
hydrostatic pressure is recorded (IJ).

Sample Report
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Pressures are at test depth

Hydrostatic pressure
Tool open
Initial flowing pressure
Final flowing pressure
Tool closed
Shut-in pressure

Pipe recovery

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Types of DST
 Open hole (more frequent)
 Cased hole
 Conventional Bottom hole test
 Conventional Straddle test

Conventional Bottom hole Test

 uses conventional packers- solid rubber
packers that expand and maintain a good
sea
 run when the zone to be tested is located
near the bottom of the open hole
 assembly is run in the hole to bottom. With the
tool on bottom, weight is applied to the tool
(20,000 to 30,000 lb) by lowering the drillstem.
This causes a compression packer to be set
above the test zone and the hydraulic valve
to be opened

Types of DST (contd)

Conventional Straddle Test

 A conventional straddle test is run when the zone
to be tested is not near bottom or when it is to be
isolated from other potentially productive zones
which are also located below the packer.
 This test is often used when a well has been drilled
to bottom, the hole is in good condition, and
several zones within the wellbore are to be tested.
 This test has become more popular in some areas
because it is more economical to drill the entire
well, run one log, and then conduct the DSTs.
 The test zone is isolated with straddle packers. The
straddle packers isolate the zone not only from the
mud column, but also from the other potentially
productive zones.

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Types of DST (contd)

Casing Tests
 The casing DST is run after casing has been set
and cemented.
 The casing is perforated opposite the zone
which is then tested.
 Perforating may take place before the test
tools are run, or perforating capability may be
included in the test tool itself.
 cased hole tests are safer and more easily
controlled.
 Deeper, deviated, and high pressure wells are
often cased before testing.
 When cased hole testing is done, tubing can
often be used in place of drillpipe.
 The downhole test assembly includes a
retrievable packer set directly above the
perforations, slips, and a slotted or perforated
tail pipe

DST Interpretation- Qualitative

 DST Interpretation can be broadly classified as
 Qualitative Analysis: recognizing the shape of the plot to
identify different properties and condition
 Quantitative analysis: apply mathematical models and
interpretation techniques to estimate different properties and
conditions.

 Qualitative analysis can reveal the following:

 Permeability
 low permeability formations (Fig a) produce buildup curves that
suggest the pressure is beginning to stabilize ("pressure starts
around the curve"). They have very low pressure increases, if
any, during the flow periods. There will be a weak blow at the
surface, small fluid recovery, and fairly low flowing pressures.
 average permeability formations (Figure b) exhibit better
developed buildup curves during the shut-in periods and some
pressure buildup during the flow periods. There should be a
good blow, moderate fluid recovery, and increased pressures
from one flow period to the next.
 high permeability formations (Figure c) will have high flow rate
(strong blow), high flowing pressures, and rapid stabilization of
pressure during buildup. The one shown here has stabilized with
the flow pressure almost equal to the final shut-in pressure

Figure 1

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DST Interpretation- Qualitative (contd)

 Wellbore damage
 Wellbore damage exhibits (Figure 2) a
weak blow at the surface, very little
recovery, low flowing pressures
 a sharp pressure rise after the tool is shut in
 a short radius pressure transition during
buildup followed by a flat pressure
increase
 Fluid depletion during the test is minimal. If
the wellbore cleans up during the test,
then there will be a change in the
character of the curves from that shown in
Figure 2 to one of those shown in Figure 1 .

Figure 2

DST Interpretation- Qualitative (contd)

 Depletion
 In a normal DST, a drop in pressure between
the initial and final stabilized shut-in values
indicates a limited or finite reservoir
provided the initial value has not been
affected by supercharging
 The produced fluids have caused a
measurable depletion ("drawdown") of the
reservoir. A pressure change of 1.5% or
greater is considered serious and more
careful evaluation or retesting is warranted.
A barrier effect or nearby production may
also cause the same effect to be recorded.

Figure 3

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DST Interpretation- Qualitative (contd)

 Reservoir barrier
 Figure 4 shows example of a decrease in
pressure buildup levels between the initial
and final flow periods.
 These are caused by a reservoir barrier or a
permeability problem as opposed to
depletion. The change in the slope of the
buildup curve indicates a reduction in
transmissibility some distance from the
wellbore

Figure 4

DST Interpretation- Qualitative (contd)

 Other information that may be obtained are (not discussed in detailed here)
 Fluid Recovery
 Liquid, Gas, Multi-phase

 Anchor plugging
 Tool plugging

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DST Interpretation- Qualitative- Example

A). Virtually No Permeability

On this chart, the lack of pressure buildup during
the two shut-in periods (lines DE and GH) and the
accompanying low pressure during the final flow
period (line FG) suggest virtually no permeability
within the interval tested.

B). Deep Formation Damage

In this example, the drastic difference in the shut-
in curve development (lines DE and GH) indicates
that damage is not confined to the wellbore but
extends out into the test formation. The formation
has cleaned up during the final flow period (line
FG), so the pressure buildup response from the
formation is faster and more evident on the final
shut-in (line GH) than it was on the first (line DE).

DST Interpretation- Qualitative- Example (CONTD)

C). Depletion
A decrease of 1.5 percent or more between the
initial shut-in pressure, (E), and the final shut-in
pressure (H), combined with a rapid decline in
downhole pressure, indicates substantial reservoir
depletion, and warrants careful evaluation. This
chart is the result of a gas test--if liquid were
being recovered, the bottomhole flow pressure
would increase.

D). Wellbore Damage

With some exceptions, wellbore damage may be
indicated by the shape of the shut-in curves (lines
DE and GH)--specifically: 1) a very sharp rise
following the flow period; 2) a short curve radius;
3) a reasonably flat slope; and 4) a high
differential between the flow pressure and the
shut-in pressure.

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DST Interpretation- Qualitative- Example (CONTD)

E). Excellent Permeability
This chart suggests a zone of excellent
permeability. The initial and final shut-in curves
(lines DE and GH) stabilize almost immediately
after the tool is closed. The two flow periods (lines
CD and FG) indicate high flow pressure and a high
rate of fluid entry to the test tool.

F). Average Permeability

Average permeability is suggested on this chart by
the shape of the two shut-in curves (lines DE and
GH) and the indicated influx of fluid during the
final flow period (line FG).

DST Interpretation- Quantitative

 Theories and techniques developed for pressure transient analysis

 Conventional or Semi-log
 Type curves
 Computer aided
 Information obtained
 initial reservoir pressure
 transmissibility
 flow capacity
 effective permeability
 skin factor
 damage ratio
 productivity index
 radius of investigation

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DST Interpretation- Quantitative (contd)

DST Interpretation- Quantitative (contd)

 2. For wells that do flow to surface, we may estimate the average flow rate by metering the
volume produced after it passes through the separator or, alternately, retaining and
measuring the produced fluids in a tank. The average flow rate, in stock tank barrels, is the
volume produced, divided by the time during which production at the surface took place. In
both cases, the measured volumes must be corrected for BSW (basic sediment and water)
content, temperatures different than 60°F meter correction factor, and any shrinkage that
occurred after metering.
 The above discussion applies only when the actual variation in flow rate is not substantial.
Strictly speaking, the methods of analysis we have discussed apply only for a constant
production rate preceding the buildup test. If production rate variation is significant, one of
several variable rate analyses should be utilized.

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2,200
DST Interpretation: Semi-log Analysis p* = pi
DT (hr) Dt+tp/Dt Pws DT (hr) Dt+tp/Dt Pws
0.017 6.70 406.62 0.100 41.0 1,618.78 2,000
0.033 3.85 597.08 0.117 35.3 1,644.08
0.050 2.90 808.59 0.133 31.0 1,667.36
0.067 2.42 1,005.90 0.150 27.7 1,686.60
0.083 2.14 1,175.90 0.167 25.0 1,704.80 1,800
0.100 1.95 1,327.70 0.200 21.0 1,734.15
0.117 1.81 1,452.20 0.233 18.1 1,758.44
0.133 1.71 1,548.40 0.267 16.0 1,778.67

pws
1,600
0.167 1.57 1,695.10 0.300 14.3 1,796.90
0.200 1.48 1,792.30 0.333 13.0 1,813.09
0.233 1.41 1,854.00 0.367 11.9 1,826.24
0.267 1.36 1,896.50 0.400 11.0 1,838.39 1,400
0.300 1.32 1,927.90 0.433 10.2 1,848.51
0.333 1.29 1,951.10 0.467 9.6 1,857.62
0.367 1.26 1,968.30 0.500 9.0 1,865.71
0.400 1.24 1,982.50 1.000 5.0 1,940.60 1,200
0.433 1.22 1,993.60 1.500 3.7 1,975.01
0.467 1.20 2,003.80 2.000 3.0 1,997.27
0.500 1.19 2,010.80 2.500 2.6 2,011.44
0.583 1.16 2,025.00 3.000 2.3 2,022.57 1,000
0.667 1.14 2,036.10 3.500 2.1 2,030.67 1 10 100
0.750 1.13 2,044.20 4.000 2.0 2,036.74 (DT+tp)/Dt
0.833 1.11 2,050.30 4.500 1.9 2,041.80
0.917 1.10 2,054.40 5.000 1.8 2,045.85 tp 1, hr 0.095 m2 = 220 k= 3 mD
1.000 1.10 2,058.40 5.500 1.7 2,047.87 tp 2, hr 4 p 1hr = 1950 s= -1.44
1.083 1.09 2,061.40 6.000 1.7 2,049.90 q tot, STB 23.14 pi = 2100
1.167 1.08 2,064.50 6.500 1.6 2,051.92 Q1, STB/D 355
1.250 1.08 2,065.50 7.000 1.6 2,055.97
1.333 1.07 2,067.50 7.500 1.5 2,057.99
Bo 1 initial reservoir pressure = pi = p* = 2100 psia
ϕ 0.08
1.417 1.07 2,069.50 8.000 1.5 2,061.03
µ 0.9
1.500 1.06 2,070.60 8.500 1.5 2,062.04
ct 5.00E-06
1.533 1.06 2,071.60 9.000 1.4 2,063.05
h 30
9.500 1.4 2,065.08
rw 0.26
10.000 1.4 2,065.08
pwf = 1176
10.500 1.4 2,066.09 Source: Chapter 9, Well Test Analysis by M A Sabet, Gulf Publishing Co., 1991

DST Interpretation: Semi-log Analysis (Contd)

ri 2= 3 X 10.5 /(948 X 0.08 X 0.9 X 5 X 10-6)

ri = 304 ft

Δpskin = 0.869 m s = 0.869 X 220 X -1.44

= -275 (improved condition)

FE = 2100 – 1176 + 275 / (2100 – 1176)

= 1.29

DR = 1/1.29 = 0.77

Hydrostatic pr = 0.052 X ρ X d

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