Fluid Flow: Well Testing

Introduction
 Learning Objectives

ƒ During This Section You Will Learn

– The fundamental assumptions in the fluid flow
equations for single-phase liquid and gas
– The difference between transient and stabilized
flow
– How to analyze pressure drawdown tests
– How to analyze pressure buildup tests
– How to express and use the flow equations in
dimensionless form

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.2
 Why Do We Need This?

ƒ We Use Fluid Flow Equations To

– Convert material balance output to a rate
versus time forecast
– Determine current and future well
requirements
ƒ We Use Well Tests To
– Establish parameters for the fluid flow
equations
– Improve our reservoir characterization

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.3
 Purposes of Well Testing
Field Performance

Facilities Performance

Well Performance

Tubing Performance
Efficiency of Well / Reservoir Connection
WELL
TESTING
Reservoir Flow Properties
Reservoir Size and Shape
Fluid Properties (Sampling)

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.4
 How the Results are Used

ƒ Reservoir properties ƒ Understand reservoir flow behavior

– pressure ƒ Forecast well deliverability
– permeability
– limits ƒ Forecast field production
ƒ Optimize Field Development Plan
ƒ Fluid properties

ƒ Completion ƒ Identify stimulation needs

efficiency (skin) – Frac jobs
– Acidization
– Additional or re-perforation

ƒ Tubing performance ƒ Maximize well productivity

– Optimum tubing design
– Artificial lift requirements

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.5
Types of Well Tests and Possible Results

Producer Injector Observation

Wells Wells Wells

Drawdown Injectivity Interference

qp > 0 qi > 0
Pulse
Buildup Falloff
qp = 0 qi = 0 Vertical Permeability

Permeability, Porosity, Skin, Average

Pressure, Fracture Length,
Heterogeneities, Drainage Area and
Shape, Open-Flow Potential

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.6
 Data Gathering
Tubing Head Pressure
Flow rate
Record
(THP) BHP and flow rate
as function of time

Quality checks
FTHP stable or gently
Bottom Hole Pressure
declining
Flow stable (BSW, GOR, etc.
WELL constant)
TESTING
Flow rate as constant as
possible

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.7
 Interpretation

BHP
The bottom-hole pressure record...
... usually from the build-up...
Time
Pressure

Average
Boundary pressure
Skin
effects ... is manipulated to
Slope = f(permeability) calculate a number of
reservoir and wellbore
⎛ Producing time + Shut − in time ⎞
properties.
log ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ Shut − in time ⎠
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.8
 Terminology

pi, pe
p
pi - pwf
p - pwf
pwf
p
rw re

Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.9
 Unit Systems

Variable Symbol SI Practical SI Field

Permeability k m2 10-3 (μm)2 millidarcy (md)
Thickness or Length h/L m m feet
Flowrate, liquid q m3/sec m3/day bbl/day
Formation Volume Factor B rm3/sm3 rm3/sm3 rbbl/stb
Viscosity μ Pa • sec 10-3Pa • sec cp
Horner plot slope m Pa / log10 (cycle) 103Pa / log10 (cycle) psi / log10 (cycle)
Compressibility c Pa-1 (103Pa)-1 psi-1
Radius r m m ft
Skin s - - -
Pressure p Pa 103Pa psi
Wellbore storage coefficient C m3/Pa m3/103Pa bbl/psi
Porosity φ fraction fraction fraction
Time t sec hr hr

Each equation will have unique conversion constants

depending on the unit system
Reservoir Engineering
Fluid Flow: Well Testing 6.1.10