Introduction to Well Testing 1
Introduction to Well Testing
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Introduction to Well Testing 2
Introduction to Well Testing
Instructional Objectives
1. List 4 objectives of well testing.
2. Define testing variables.
3. Compute compressibility of reservoir
systems.
Upon completion of this section, the student should be able to:
1. List 4 major objectives of well testing.
2. Define, give the units for, and specify typical sources
for each of the following variables: net pay thickness, porosity,
saturation, viscosity, formation volume factor, total compressibility,
wellbore radius.
3. Be able to compute the total compressibility for different reservoir
systems.
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Introduction to Well Testing 3
Introduction To Well Testing
Outline
• Applications and objectives of well
testing
• Development of the diffusivity equation
• Definitions and sources for data used
in well testing
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Introduction to Well Testing 4
What Is A Well Test?
• A tool for reservoir evaluation and
characterization
– Investigates a much larger volume of
the reservoir than cores or logs
– Provides estimate of permeability
under in-situ conditions
– Provides estimates of near-wellbore
condition
– Provides estimates of distances to
boundaries
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Introduction to Well Testing 5
How Is A Well Test Conducted?
q=0
A well test is conducted by
• Changing production rate at a well
• Measuring resulting pressure response at the same well or
another well
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Introduction to Well Testing 6
Well Test Applications
• Exploration
• Reservoir engineering
• Production engineering
• Exploration
Is this zone economic?
How large is this reservoir?
• Reservoir engineering
What is the average reservoir pressure?
How do I describe this reservoir in order to
– estimate reserves?
– forecast future performance?
– optimize production?
• Production engineering
Is this well damaged?
How effective was this stimulation treatment?
Why is this well not performing as well as expected?
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Introduction to Well Testing 7
Well Test Objectives
• Define reservoir limits
• Estimate average drainage area
pressure
• Characterize reservoir
• Diagnose productivity problems
• Evaluate stimulation treatment
effectiveness
• Define reservoir limits
– Distances to boundaries
– Drainage area
• Estimate average drainage area pressure
• Characterize reservoir
– Permeability
– Skin factor
– Dual porosity or layered behavior
• Diagnose productivity problems
– Permeability
– Skin factor
• Evaluate stimulation treatment effectiveness
– Skin factor
– Fracture conductivity
– Fracture half-length
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Introduction to Well Testing 8
Types of Well Tests
q
Single-Well Multi-Well
Single well tests
Drawdown test –Produce a well at constant rate and measure the
pressure response.
Buildup test – Shut in a well that has been producing and
measure the pressure response.
Injection test – Inject fluid into a well at constant rate and
measure the pressure response.
Injection-falloff test – Shut in an injection well and measure the
pressure response.
Multi-well tests
Interference test – Produce one well at constant rate and
measure the pressure response at one or more offset wells.
Pulse test – Alternately produce and shut in one well and
measure the pressure response at one or more offset wells.
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Introduction to Well Testing 9
Development of the
Diffusivity Equation
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Introduction to Well Testing 10
The Diffusivity Equation
• Describes the flow of
– A slightly compressible fluid
– Having constant viscosity
– In a porous medium
– At constant temperature
• Obtained by combining
– Continuity equation
– Equation of state for slightly compressible liquids
– Flow equation - Darcy’s law
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Introduction to Well Testing 11
The Continuity Equation
ρv)1
(Aρ ρv)2
(Aρ
m = ( Aρv )1 − ( Aρv )2
The continuity equation is a restatement of the conservation of matter.
That is, the rate of accumulation of fluid within a volume element is given
by the rate at which the fluid flows into the volume minus the rate at which
the fluid flows out of the volume.
Nomenclature
A = Cross-sectional area open to flow, ft2
m = Rate of accumulation of mass within the volume, lbm/sec
v = Fluid velocity, ft/sec
ρ = Density of fluid, lbm/ft3
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Introduction to Well Testing 12
Equation of State for a Slightly
Compressible Liquid
ρ = ρ o e c (p −po )
This equation describes the change in density with pressure for a
liquid with small and constant compressibility.
Nomenclature
c = Compressibility, psi-1
p = Pressure, psi
ρ = Density of fluid, lbm/ft3
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Introduction to Well Testing 13
Flow Equation - Darcy’s Law
kA∆p
q=
µL
or, in differential form,
k x ∂p
ux = −
µ ∂x
Nomenclature
A = Cross sectional area open to flow, cm2
k = Permeability, darcies
L = Length of flow path, cm
p = Pressure, atm
∆p = Pressure difference between upstream and
downstream sides, atm
q = Flow rate, cm3/sec
ux = Flow velocity, cm/sec
x = Spatial coordinate, cm
µ = Viscosity, cp
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Introduction to Well Testing 14
The Diffusivity Equation
1 ∂ ∂p φµc t ∂p
r =
r ∂ r ∂r k ∂t
• The diffusivity equation is obtained by combining
- The continuity equation
- The equation of state for a slightly compressible liquid
- Darcy’s law
• Other transient flow equations may be obtained by combining
different equations of state and different flow equations
- Gas flow equation
- Multiphase flow equation
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Introduction to Well Testing 15
Data Used in Well Testing
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Introduction to Well Testing 16
Formation Volume Factor
Vres
Bo =
Vsurf
• The formation volume factor is the volume of fluid at reservoir
conditions necessary to produce a unit volume of fluid at
surface conditions.
• Symbol – Bo, Bg, Bw
• Units – res bbl/STB, res bbl/ Mscf
• Source – Lab measurements, correlations
• Range and typical values
– Oil
• 1 – 2 res bbl/STB, Black oil
• 2 – 4 res bbl/STB, Volatile oil
– Water
• 1 – 1.1 res bbl/STB
– Gas
• 0.5 res bbl/Mscf, at 9000 psi
• 5 res bbl/Mscf, at 680 psi
• 30 res bbl/Mscf, at 115 psi
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Introduction to Well Testing 17
Viscosity
v + dv
dy v
F
µ≡
dv
A
dy
• Viscosity is a measure of resistance to flow. Specifically, it is
the ratio of the shear stress to the resulting rate of strain within
a fluid.
• Symbols
µo, µg, µw
• Units – cp
• Source – Lab measurements, correlations
• Range and typical values
- 0.25 – 10,000 cp, Black oil
- 0.5 – 1.0 cp, Water
- 0.012 – 0.035 cp, Gas
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Introduction to Well Testing 18
Fluid Compressibility
1 ∂Vo ∂ ln(Vo )
co ≡ − =−
Vo ∂p ∂p
• Compressibility is the fractional change in volume due to a unit
change in pressure.
• Symbol – co, cg, cw
• Units – psi-1, microsips (1 microsip = 1x10-6 psi-1)
• Source – Lab measurements, correlations
Typical Values
• Oil
– 15x10-6 psi-1, undersaturated oil
– 180x10-6 psi-1, saturated oil
• Water
– 4x10-6 psi-1
• Gas
– 1/p, Ideal gas
– 60x10-6 psi-1, at 9000 psi
– 1.5x10-3 psi-1, at 680 psi
– 9x10-3 psi-1, at 115 psi
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Introduction to Well Testing 19
Porosity
• Porosity is the ratio of volume of pore space to bulk volume of
rock.
• Symbol - φ
• Units
– Equations - fraction
– Reports - % (or fraction)
• Source
– Logs, cores
• Range or Typical Value
– 30%, unconsolidated well-sorted sandstone
– 20%, clean, well-sorted consolidated sandstone
– 8%, low permeability reservoir rock
– 0.5%, natural fracture porosity
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Introduction to Well Testing 20
Permeability
qµ L
k=
A∆p
• Permeability is the measure of capacity of rock to transmit
fluid.
• Symbol
– k
• Units
– Darcy or millidarcy (md or mD)
• Source
– Well tests, core analysis
• Range
– 0.001 md - 10,000 md
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Introduction to Well Testing 21
Pore Compressibility
1 ∂φ ∂ ln(φ )
cf ≡ =
φ ∂p ∂p
• Pore volume compressibility is the fractional change in porosity
due to unit change in pressure.
• Symbol – cf
• Units – psi-1, microsips
• Source – Lab measurement, correlation, guess
• Range or Typical Value
– 4x10-6 psi-1, well-consolidated sandstone
– 30x10-6 psi-1, unconsolidated sandstone
– 4 to 50 x 10-6 psi-1 consolidated limestones
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Introduction to Well Testing 22
Net Pay Thickness
Shale
h1 Sand
h2
h3
h = h1 + h2 + h3
• The net pay thickness is the total thickness of all productive
layers in communication with the well.
• Net pay includes any rock that has sufficient vertical
permeability to allow fluid to move to a layer from which it may
be produced.
• Thickness is measured perpendicular to bed boundaries.
• Symbol – h
• Units – ft
• Source – logs
• Range or Typical Value
– May be as small as 5 ft or even less
– May be as large as 1,000 ft or more
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Introduction to Well Testing 23
Net Pay Thickness
Case 1 Case 3
Case 2 Case 4
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Introduction to Well Testing 24
Saturations
H2O
• Saturation is the fraction of pore volume occupied by a
particular fluid.
• Symbol – So, Sw, Sg
• Units – fraction or %
• Source – logs
• Range or Typical Value
– 15 to 25% – connate water saturation in well-sorted,
coarse sandstones
– 40 to 60% – connate water saturation in poorly sorted,
fine-grained, shaly, low-permeability reservoir rock
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Introduction to Well Testing 25
Wellbore Radius
rw
• Wellbore radius is the size of wellbore.
• Symbol
– rw
• Units
– feet
• Source
– Bit diameter/2
– Caliper log
• Range or Typical Value
– 2 to 8 in.
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Introduction to Well Testing 26
Total Compressibility
c t = c f + S o c o + S w c w + S gc g
• The total compressibility is the sum of pore compressibility and
saturation weighted fluid compressibilities.
• Symbol – ct
• Units
– psi-1, microsips
• Source
– Calculated
• Range or Typical Value
– See exercises
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Introduction to Well Testing 27
Exercise 1
Introduction to Well Testing
List 4 Objectives of Well Testing
List 4 objectives of well testing. List as many as possible without
referring to the notes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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Introduction to Well Testing 28
Exercise 2
Introduction to Well Testing
Define Variables Used In Well Testing
Define, give the units for, and name a common source for each of
the following variables used in well testing. Complete as much of
this exercise as possible before referring to the notes.
1. Porosity
2. Water saturation
3. Total compressibility
4. Oil compressibility
5. Formation volume factor
6. Viscosity
7. Wellbore radius
8. Net pay thickness
9. Permeability
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Introduction to Well Testing 29
Exercise 3
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for Undersaturated
Oil Reservoir
Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume
solution gas/oil ratios do not include stock tank vent gas.
Undersaturated oil reservoir (above the bubblepoint)
Sw = 17%, TDS = 18 wt %, oil gravity = 27°API,
Rso = 530 scf/STB, gas gravity = 0.85, Tf = 185°F,
p = 3500 psi, cf = 3.6×10-6 psi-1
Tsep = 75°F, p sep = 115 psia
From fluid properties correlations,
pb = 2803 psi
co = 1.158 x 10-5 psi-1
cw = 2.277 x 10-6 psi-1
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Introduction to Well Testing 30
Exercise 4
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for Saturated
Oil Reservoir
Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume
solution gas/oil ratios do not include stock tank vent gas.
Saturated oil reservoir (below the original bubblepoint)
Sw = 17%, Sg = 5%, TDS = 18 wt %, oil gravity = 27°API,
Rso = 530 scf/STB, gas gravity = 0.85, Tf = 185°F,
p = 2000 psi, cf = 3.6×10-6 psi-1
Tsep = 75°F, p sep = 115 psia
From fluid properties correlations,
pb = 2803 psi
co = 1.429 x 10-4 psi-1
cg = 5.251 x 10-4 psi-1
cw = 4.995 x 10-6 psi-1
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Introduction to Well Testing 31
Exercise 5
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for Low-Pressure,
High-Permeability Gas Reservoir
Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume a dry
gas.
Low-pressure, high-permeability gas reservoir
Sw = 20%, gas gravity = 0.74, Tf = 125°F, p = 125 psi,
cf = 3.6×10-6 psi-1, cw = 4 x 10-6 psi [Tf is outside range of
correlations]
From fluid properties correlations,
cg = 8.144 x 10-3 psi-1
cw = 4x10-6 psi-1
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Introduction to Well Testing 32
Exercise 6
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for
High-Pressure, Low-Permeability
Gas Reservoir
Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume a
dry gas.
High pressure, low permeability gas reservoir
Sw = 35%, TDS = 22 wt %, gas gravity = 0.67, Tf = 270°F,
p = 5,000 psi, cf = 20×10-6 psi-1
From fluid properties correlations,
cg = 1.447 x 10-4 psi-1
cw = 3.512 x10-6 psi-1
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