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A Computer-Oriented Method of
-,
-,:~ Pressure Build-Up Analysis
"-.1
-,-, By G. C. KNUTSON'
,-
(18th Annua~ Technical Meeting, The Pet"ole"", Society of C.I.M., Ba,nt!, Alta., May, 1961)
ABSTRACT
A method of estimating reservoir pressure from pres-
sure build~up information has been developed which utiliz-
es a mathematical analysis of the measured pressures to
determine that portion of the pressure build-up history
to be employed in the bottom-hole pressure extrapolation.
The reservoir pressure is then determined by a linear
regression analysis of those data to be included. As only
the shut-in time and the measured pressures are required,
the results do not depend on correct estimates of addition-
al reservoir factors. The method does, howe~er. yield in-
formation on the basis of which estimates of reservoir
transmissibi]ity can be made.
The method can best be employed utilizing a digital
computer because of the large number of calculations re-
quired. The technique is particularly useful in the routine
analysis of pressure build-up information, because the cal-
culations can be carried out ,,·ith a minimum of engineer~
ing time.
INTRODUCTION
NUMBER of techniques for analyzing bottom-
A hole pressure build-up behaviour have been pro-
posed) many of which are based on graphical methods
of interpreting the measured pressures to obtain sta-
tic reservoir pressure. These graphical methods are
necessarily subject to limitations in the precision to
which the interpretation can be made, particularh~
in those cases where the pressure build-up extrapola-
tion is large. The application of new techniques and
instrumentation in the determination of pressure
build-up information enables relatively accurate meas-
urements to be made. The graphical methods of in-
terpretation may, therefore, be less accurate than the
basic data employed. A computer-oriented method of
analysis is advantageous in that a very precise inter-
pretation can be employed.
The increasing popularity of mathematical reser-
voir simulators for predicting reservoir performance
has increased the utility of accurate and consistent
reservoir pressure estimates. As the bottom-hole pres-
Technology, July-September, 1967, Montreal
,.
~
., J
sures of individual wells in a producing reservoir rep-
resent a dynamic equilibrium within the resel·voir at
the time the observations were made, it is particular-
ly important that reservoir pressure interpretations
be consistent relative to each other_ Because the meth-
od, as presented herein, does not require the estima-
tion of additional reservoir factors to obtain a solu-
tion (some of which may be revised during history
matching in a mathematical model on the basis of the
interpreted pressure) r a more consistent interpreta-
tion can be made amongst the various pressure meas-
urements than is possible with those techniques em-
ploying such additional reservoir factors.
PRINCIPLE
. .'
Let t be the time (in hours) that has elapsed since
tbe well was shut-in and let P = p (t) be the bottom- ~ .
hole pressure (in psi) measured in the well at time
t. It bas been shown (1) that, after a sufficient pe-
riod of time has elapsed (I.e., for t > to), the pressure ,.
can usually be represented with sufficient accuracy b.30~
the equation:
P ~ P ... - pe _·(t (I)
wbere P., is the static bottom-hole pressure (psi) and
{J and j are constants depending on the properties of
the formation and contained fluids. In the interval
,., :.
O=t~to, a considerable deviation from the above for-
mula would be expected due to the effects of well fill-
up and/or phase redistribution_ The time to is not
known a prim·i.
~. .
Th~ anaI:ysis of the pressure build-up data consists
of first rejecting those observations which obviously
fall into the interval O.:=;:t===t o and of then estimating
the parameters P W~, f3 and j from the remaining ob-
servations.
;:'McDaniel Cons"ltants (1965) Ltd., CalganJ, AI-
beria.
111
 THEORY Upon selecting the point m at which p (m, n-l) is
The time at which the well was shut-in and the closest to -1, the coefficient y is determined as the
least~squares solution of the equation
number of observations. TI, are given. The time and
the measured pressure are also given for each ob- D, ~ A - '( p, (i ~ m, .... ,0 - I) (7)
servation. The elapsed time from the instant the well The parameters P .... and {3 are then determined as
was shut-in to the instant the observation was made the least-squares solution of the equation
can then be calculated. A table of values (t" p,) (i =
1, . ", n) is thus obtained. Pi = p,,~ - ~e-Iti (i = ro , "1 n - 1) (8)

The derivatives Di = (~; (lL) (i = 2, ... n-l)

RESERVOIR TRANSMISSIBILITY
are calculated from the following equation (which
would be exact for a function of the forID P . a + It can be shm\'n (1) that reservoir transmissibility
bt + ct') : is a function of the constant /3. This relationship for
D = (tl - ti_lP (01+ I - oil + (t'+1 - tiF' (p,-tl an oil producing well is as follows:
i (2)
(tl t.-d (t'_H til [(ti ti_l) + (ti+! ti)]
The taLle of data now includes K,h = IlB.6 (9)
(t" p" D,)(i ~ 2, .... n-l).
The following equation was previously introduced
for t~to: \VELL DRAINAGE AREA EXPANSIIHLITY

P = P.. _~e-·(t (3)

The expansibility of the fluids within the well
from which we obtain, by differentiation:
2
drainage area E = o;r.. h4Jc bbl/psi cnn also be
~~ ~ ~Te-,t (4) 5.615
derived (1) from the constants /3 and y. The r~sult­
Elimination of the exponential function b~· combing ing equation of expansibility fOl" an oil producing
equations (3) and (4) gives: well is as follows:
dP
(jt ~ ,(P... - P) E ~ 0.257~l QoB o bbl/ (10)
\l', psi
or: (5)
dP
Cit = I P .....' - I P
EXAMPLE
As the parameters P ... s and y would be expected to
be positive constants, equation (5) indicates that the
quantities dP jdt and P are negatively correlated (I.e., The pressure build-up history for an oil producing
the coefficient of correlation of the data (pl, D ,) (i ::::: well is presented on Figll1·e 1, The computer program
rn, ...• n-1) sbould be equal to -1). Let p(m, n-1) be listing for this pressure build-up analysis is shown
the coefficient of conelation calculated from the fore- on Table I. The coefficient of correlation between
going data where 2==m~n-2, then dP jdt and P has also been shown on FignTc 1. A totnl
of fort~·-four observations were taken in this survey.
0-1 of which fourteen were interpreted to be within the
~ (p, - p) (D, - D) intervals O===t:::::::t o • The extrapolated reservoir pressure
i=m
p(m, n-1)
o 1 _
(6) was estimated to be 3607.1 psig on the basis of the

~
o 1
. ~ (p,_p)2 .1: (D,-D)' remaining thi rty points. The coefficient of correla~
I=m I=nl tion between dP /dt and P was calculated to be -0.9679.
..... here The root mean square deviation between the calculated
0-1 and observed pressures was DAD psi for the thirty
~ P,
n -m points included in the interpretation.
i =m
A tabulation of the observed and calculated pres-
sures and the deviations has also been shown on Ta-
D ~ --'----- D,
n-m l="-m
ble l. It has been found that, upon becoming fnrnilinr
with this tabular method of presenting results, a more
are the arithmetic means of the parameters Pi and D,.
accurate interpretation of the reliability of the results.
The resulting coefficients of correlation p(m, n-1) can be made than that obtained visually by graphical
(m ::::: 2, ... , n-2) ,',muld be expected to show the methods. This is because of the high resolution of the
following behaviour: numerical analysis. It is therefore not usually neces-
Initially, the sequence p (2, Il-1). P (3, Il-1), p (4, n-1) sary to prepare a graphical representation of the pres-
should decrease to a value slightly above -1, a value sure build-up analysis. except in those cases where
that would be reached after all those observations the reliability appears questionable. In .'luch cases, a
(i ::::: 2, 3, 4, ' .. ) havfiI been excluded which are in the graphical presentation can be helpful in deciding
interval O==::t===to and which therefore do not satisfy the which points to include in the numerical analysis.
equation In order to further emphasize the character of the
P ~ p .. _ ~-,t method. the pressure build-up data shO\vn on Table I
After a sufficient number of observations (i =: 2, have been replotted as log (P.... - P) versus t £In Fif/-
3, 4, ". , m-1) have been excluded, the sequence p(m. w'e 2. It ,...· ill be noted that this relationship plots as a
n-1), p(rn+1, n-1). p(rn+2, n-1) should then slowly straight line, similar to the Muskat method of pres-
increase, because the exclusion of further observations sure build-up analysis,
would tend to increase the effects of random errors The following additional calculations are made on
in the given observations. the basis of the f3 and y coefficien!s:

112 The Journal of Canadian Petroleum

 _. l..••:--'_. • _<--..:
;"
.-~
., .-
j "
EXAMPLJ WELL PRESSURE I BUILD - Up'
,

",.
V-
,
.111"
./ , :

,
.-/ ------- --- ------ ., .
z
o
,"
J
W
••o
, // u
00\5

I, j ~ f-

, ~
'"

" '"
~,,, .J ,~,
.,
" SHUT -IN TIME ChourI)

Fiuw'6 L-E~ctm'Ple of Well P~·sssu?·e Build-Up.

TABLE I "
SU~H~RY OF PRESSURE BUILD-UP C~LCUL4TIONS "
w~~tll~~ih~~~~ PRESSURE B~II1~tiU~9_0D HOURS DATE 1110/1965
"
FIRST PRESSURE POHlT-
LAST PRESSur.:E POHlT-
15 /olIN 19.00 HOURS
0 Hltl 1l.OD HuURS
DATE
DATE
Iflll/19bS
71101196$ "

,
TOI.l.L rlUl~BER OF MEASUIlED PRESSURE POINTS
tJUI18EIl OF POINTS USED Itl EXTRAPOLATION "
30
"
E'KTlU.POLol.TEO SHTIc RESERVOiR. PRESSURE
ROOT IIE.l.tl SOU.Il.RE DEVIll.Tlml
CALCULATED CCEFFICIEtlT OF CORREllI.Tmll

8ihft.ll.C~6~~~~l~~lJt -
0_9~3 ..5ao 02
0.1015"00-01
<'607.1
0."0
-0.91>79
pS IG

':.\
DeSERVED CALCUL.HEO
"
HOtHH
'" HOUR
tq.oa
"IItIUTE
LS_
PRESsuRE PRESSURE DEVIATION , "-
1O. l.
,,- 3376.30 3514.03 -137.73

"" ~
,,-
10_ l. 19.00
,,- 3456.00 351".27 -56.27

,.,-,- ,-
l_ 19_00 3476.50 351'-.50 -38.00
,,-
10_ 20.00 3462.10 3514.74 -32.6" ,
10.
2D.00
'n.oo ,.
3D. 3';'91.30
349~.BO
3515.21
3515.67
-23.9l
-l6_87 .,.J'._ f--'.'.
". ,.
,-
..,
l_ 2l.DO 30. 3503.20 3516.1'- -l2.94
,- ,-,.
10_ l_ 22.DO 3505.50 3516.60 -ll.lD
".
10_
,.,-,.
23_DO
24.DO
,.,-
3510.2D
3513..00
3517.51
3518."2
-7 _3 L
-5.42
351~.30
•
~
1O. 2.00 3520.20 -3.90
,,-
10.
,.,- 4.00
8.00 ,.,. 3519.10
3523.90
3521.95
3525.34
-2.85
-1_44 CAlCUlATEO-
10.
". ,-,- 12.00
1~.00 ,.,- 3526.60
35n.60
352B .60
3531.72
0.00
-0.12
I
REL.ATlONSHIP

,-,- ,.,.,.
1O. 20.00 3534.70 3534.12 -0.02
". 24-.00 3537.50 3537.61 -0.11
-,'':;

~
1O. ".00 3540.'-0 3540.36 0.02
1O.
". ~:
B.OO
,-
,.,.
35-"2.90
~~~~:~~
-0_ 13

,.,-,.
~2. DO 3545.'-0 -0_16
1O. 11>_00 3547.60 35"6.03 -0."3
". ,.,.
20.00
,. 3550.10 3550.39 -0.29

,.,.,- ~~~~:~~
~
1O. 24.00 3552.30 -D.35
,,-
10_
to_
'-.00
6.00
355'-.50
3556.80 3556_90
-0.32
-0.10 , .,
~:
12..00
,- 355~.00 355B.90 0.10
". ,.,.,. '.
,-,.
'"~
16.00 3551.30 3560_82 0.48
,,-
10. lO.OO
2".00
3563.30
35~5.l0
3562.6~
3564_43
0.64
0_77
10.
1O_ ,-,.
5_ 4_00
8.00 ,.,- 3566.90
3568.50
356~.13
3561.77
0.77
0.73
10.
". ,- 12_ 00
16.00
,.,-
,.
3569.90
3571.30
3569.33
3570.84
0.57
0.46
~:
10. 20.00 3572.70 3512.26 U.42
1O_
,. 24.00
,-,-,-
35"13.30 3~7~.61 -o.~ (
,.,-,-
10. ".00 ~:>( . . . 90 ~~I~.OO -U.1U
".,-
\,. B.OO
L2.00
,-,.
3~(6.00
3577.20
~~ 16.26
3577.51
-U.<:tl
-U.:H ~
'0 ., ., ,,, ,"
,,-
10. ,-,- 16.00
20.00
,,.-
35"18.30
3579.40
3518.69
3579.82
-0.:'9
-0.42 " SHUT - '"
,. 24.00
,.
3580.50 35BO."1 -0.41 IN TIME, I Chllu .. ]

,,-.
10_ 4.00 :='581.60 3581.95 -0. 3~
Figu.re 2.-EzC1I11Lple of Well Pressure Build-Up Plotted ::.. -.
".
10_
6.00
lL.OO ,- 3582."10
3583.90
3582.96
3583.66
-u.26
0.22 as log (Pu:~ - P) vs t.
~, "

Additional data given: q" 313 bbl/day Calculations;

Bo L78 res bbl/st bbl 118.6 x 313 x L78 x 0.223
Koh = 158 md It
93.346
h 33.5 feet
7.3 % 0_2579 x 313 x L78
<I> E
93.346 x 0.0101548 = 15L8 vol/vol/psi
S. 27 %
C, 21.6 X 10- 6 vol/volfpsi
C (0.27 x 3.0 + 0_73 x 21.6 + 3_D) x 10-'
19.58 X lO-G vol/vol/psi
C•. 3.0 x 1O-1i vol/vol/psi
I 15L8 x 5.615 = 2.380 feet
C. 3.0 x 10-G vol/vol/psi "\j" x 33.5 x 0_073 x 19.58 x 10
Uo 0.223 cp Drainage area 409 acres

Technology, July-September,. 1967, Montreal 113 ,.

 CONCLUSWNS
l.-The accuracJ' to which bottom-hole pressure
observations can be made justifies the use of high-
resolution methods in the analysis of these data. A
computer-oriented method of analj'sis is therefore
advantageous in that a \'er~! precise interpretation
can be employed.
2.-The increased use of mathematical reservoir
simulators for predicting reservoir performance has
increased the utilit~· of accurate and consistent re-
servoir pressure estimate~.
3.-The portion of the p-ressure build-up curve to be
employed in the anal~'sis can be determined by mathe-
matical methods, using only the measlIl'ed pressures
and shut-in times.
..1 .-The least-squares analysis employed for esti-
mating reservoir pressure and additional factors rela-
tive to formation and fluid properties enables a COll-
sistent interp-retation of the '-best-fit" solution to be
obtained.
5.-Formation flo,..' capacity and well drainage area
expansibility can also be determined by this method.
ACKNO'''''LEDGMENTS
The writer would like to express his appreciation
to Mr. Karl Dieter for his assistance in the mathema-
tical derivation of this method.
REFERENCE
(1) Lal'son, V. C., "Understanding the l\luskat u.iethod
of Analyzing Pl'eSsul'e Build-Up Curves," Jom·n. of
Canadian Pd/'oleum T('clmolo.qy, VoL 2, No.3, 1963.
DisCUS5iotl. is inyited on papers appearing in the JOllYUal.
Discussion on any paper will not be considered after six
months from date of publication.
114
NOMENCLATUItE
a constant = JP.. ."
oil formation volume factor, res bblfst bbl
effective fluid compressibility, vol/vol/psi
oil compressibility, vol/vol/psi
reservoir rock compressibilitv. PV /PVIpsi
formation water compressibility "ol/vol/psi
dP
Di
dt
E well drainage area exp:msibility. bbl/psi
e 2_718
h formation thickness, feel
K. effective formation permeability to oil, md
m number of first points induded in reservoir pressure
interpretation
n total number of obscn'<ltions
p p (.) = pressure observation at time t
P arithmetic mean pressure. psi
t>... static bottom-hole pressure. psi
q. oil producing rate prior to shut-in, BOPD
r. radius of well drainage area. feet
t time elapsed since shut·in, hours
t anthmetic mean time, hours
Uo oil viscosity, cp
~ formation porosity
~ constant
) constant
p coefficient or correlation between Di and pi
G. C. Knutson graduated in petraleum engineering
from the University of Alberta In 1956. Upon gradua-
tion, he was employed by Texaco Explorotian Company
as a field engineer. and then returned to the University
of Alberta in 1957 for postgraduate studies. Mr. Knut-
son was employed by Impenol Oil Limited as a reservoir
engineer for the period between 1957 through 1961,
during which time he spent a year on assignment with
the Jersey Production Research Company in Tulsa. In
1962, he joined McDaniel Consultants (1965) Ltd., and
in 1965 he was appointed director of engineering of
that firm.
The Journal of Canadian Petroleum