Flow Regimes and the

Diagnostic Plot
 The Diagnostic Plot
Instructional Objectives
1. Identify time regions.
2. Identify flow regimes.
3. List factors that affect pressure
response in early time.
4. List boundaries that affect pressure
response in late time.
 The Diagnostic Plot
Pressure change, derivative, psi

Elapsed time, hrs

Time Regions on the Diagnostic Plot
Pressure change, derivative, psi

Early-time Middle- Late-time

region time region
region

Elapsed time, hrs

 Flow Regimes
• Common geometric shapes

• Different flow patterns may appear at

different times in a single test

• Flow regimes follow sequence within

model
Volumetric Behavior
 Pressure change, derivative

Time
1
Volumetric Behavior
 Volumetric Behavior
qBt
Wellbore p =
Storage 24C

0.0744qBt 141.2qB   re  3 
Pseudosteady- pi − pwf = +  
ln   − + s 
State Flow ct hre2
kh   rw  4 

General Form p = mV t + bV
Volumetric Behavior

General Form p = mV t + bV

p (mV t + bV )
Derivative t =t
t t
= mV t
Radial Flow
 Pressure change, derivative

Time
Radial Flow
 Radial Flow

162.6qB   kt  
Vertical Well p = log   − 3.23 + 0.869s 
2 
kh   ct rw  

General Form p = m log (t ) + b

 Radial Flow

General Form
p = m log (t ) + b

p (m log (t ) + b )

t =t
Derivative t t
m
=
2.303
Linear Flow
 Pressure change, derivative

Time
2
Linear Flow

1
 Linear Flow
12
16.26qB  kt 
Channel p =  
khw  ct 

12
4.064qB  kt 
Hydraulic
p =  
Fracture khLf  ct 


General Form p = mLt1 2 + bL

 Linear Flow

General Form p = mLt1 2 + bL

Derivative t
p
=t
(
 mLt1 2 + bL )
t t
1
= mLt1 2
2
Bilinear Flow
 Pressure change, derivative

Time
4
Bilinear Flow

1
 Bilinear Flow

12
44.1qB  1 
14
  t 
Hydraulic p =  
Fracture  wk f   c k 
h    t 

General Form p = mBt1 4 + bB

 Bilinear Flow

General Form p = mBt1 4 + bB

Derivative t
p
=t
(
 mBt1 4 + bB )
t t
1
= mBt1 4
4
Spherical Flow
 Pressure change, derivative

2
Time
Spherical Flow
 Spherical Flow

 ct rp2 
q  
Spherical Probe (RFT) pi − pwf =  1− 
4krp  kt 
 

General Form p = bS − mS t −1 2
 Spherical Flow

General Form p = bS − mS t −1 2

Derivative t
p
=t
(
 bS − mS t −1 2 )
t t
1
= mS t −1 2
2
 Flow Regimes on the
Diagnostic Plot
Pressure change, derivative, psi

Radial
flow
Wellbore
storage Spherical flow Recharge?

Elapsed time, hrs