M. Onur 28.02.

2008

PET467E-Analysis of Well Pressure Tests

2008 Spring/İTÜ
Handout No. 1

Subject: Derivation of continuity and diffusivity equations in radial coordinate system.

Consider a horizontal cylindrical reservoir with height h and assume that we have flow only
in the radial direction, r, as its cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 1. Using conservation of
mass over the control volume shown in Fig. 1, derive the continuity equation, which will
describe flow in the radial direction. Fluid velocity in the r-direction is vr [RB/(ft2-day)] and
density of fluid is ρ. Use field units. Do not consider source/sink term in the continuity
equation. Then derive the diffusivity equation for slightly compressible fluid of constant
viscosity and homogeneous reservoir in terms of pressure replacing the velocity in continuity
equation by Darcy’s equations and using the assumptions of slightly compressible fluid and
homogeneous reservoir.
r-direction
Control
volume

r-direction

r-Δr/2 r + Δr/2

Fig. 1. Cross-sectional view of cylindrical reservoir.

Solution 1: We will perform mass balance on the control volume shown in Figure 1 by
considering flow only in the r (or radial) direction. Recall that mass balance can be expressed
as

massin − massout = massaccumulated (1.1)

where mass in, mass out and accumulation terms are given by

massin = 5.615(ρv r A)r − Δr / 2 Δt (1.2)

massout = 5.615(ρv r A)r + Δr / 2 Δt (1.3)

and

massaccumlated = [(ρφ)t + Δt − (ρφ)t ]Vb (1.4)

In Eqs. 1.2 and 1.3, A term denotes the cross-sectional area in ft2 perpendicular to flow in the
r-direction. It is clear from Fig. 1 is that this cross-sectional area is a function of r as r
increases the cross-sectional area open to flow increases. Note that (A)r-Δr/2 will indicate the
cross-sectional area at r-Δr/2. In addition, Vb is the bulk volume of the CV in ft3 shown in Fig.
1. Now, we will find the expressions for the cross-sectional areas at r-Δr/2 and r+Δr/2 and for
the bulk volume Vb by taking into a consideration of the geometry of the control volume
shown in Fig. 1. Because we have a cylinder, and flow in the r-direction will be perpendicular
to the surface area of the cylinder, then the cross sectional areas:

Ar − Δr / 2 = 2 π( r − Δr / 2)h (1.5)

Ar + Δr / 2 = 2π( r + Δr / 2)h (1.6)

and the bulk volume is given by

⎡ Δr Δr ⎤
Vb = π ⎢( r + ) 2 − ( r − ) 2 ⎥ h = 2πrΔrh (1.7)
⎣ 2 2 ⎦

Using Eqs. 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 in Eqs. 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 gives

massin = 5.615(2πh )(ρv r r )r − Δr / 2 Δt (1.8)

massout = 5.615(2πh )(ρv r r )r + Δr / 2 Δt (1.9)

and

massaccumlated = 2πrΔrh[(ρφ)t + Δt − (ρφ)t ] (1.10)

Using Eqs. 1.8, 1.9 and 1.10 in Eq. 1.1 gives

5.615(2πh )(ρv r r )r − Δr / 2 Δt − 5.615(2πh )(ρv r r )r + Δr / 2 Δt = 2πrΔrh[(ρφ)t + Δt − (ρφ)t ] (1.11)

Dividing both sides of Eq. 1.11 by 2 πrΔrhΔt and rearranging the resulting equation gives

− 5.615 [(ρv r r )r + Δr / 2 − (ρv r r )r − Δr / 2 ] [(ρφ)t + Δt − (ρφ)t ]

= (1.12)
r Δr Δt

Now, taking the limits as Δr and Δt go to zero in Eq. 1.12, we obtain

− 5.615
lim
[(ρvr r )r +Δr / 2 − (ρvr r )r−Δr / 2 ] = lim [(ρφ)t +Δt − (ρφ)t ] (1.13)
r Δr →0 Δr Δt →0 Δt

Using the definition of derivative gives

− 5.615 ∂ (rρv r ) ∂ (ρφ)

= (1.14)
r ∂r ∂t

or rearranging gives

1 ∂ (rρv r ) 1 ∂ (ρφ)
=− (1.15)
r ∂r 5.615 ∂t
which is the continuity equation in radial coordinates.

Darcy’s equation is given by

 k ∂p
v r = −1.127 × 10 −3 . (1.16)
μ ∂r

Using Eq. 1.16 in Eq. 1.15 gives

1 ∂ ⎛ k ∂p ⎞ 1 ∂ (ρφ)
⎜⎜ rρ ⎟⎟ = −3
(1.17)
r ∂r ⎝ μ ∂r ⎠ 6.33x10 ∂t

As we have homogeneous permeability and constant viscosity, then Eq. 1.17 can be written
as,

k 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ 1 ∂ (ρφ)
⎜ rρ ⎟ = −3
(1.18)
μ r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ 6.33x10 ∂t

Now, we expand the time derivative in the right-hand side of Eq. 1.18 as we did in
class to obtain (I skip details as exactly the same in the class notes) because density and
porosity in general change with pressure and pressure change with time.

∂ (ρφ) ∂p
= φct ρ . (1.19)
∂t ∂t

Similarly, we do the same thing for the spatial derivative (i.e., derivative w.r.t r) in the left-
hand side of Eq. 1.18 as we did exactly in class to obtain

∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎡ ∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎤
2

⎜ ρr ⎟ = ρ ⎢ ⎜ r ⎟ + c f r ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ , (1.20)
∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ ⎣⎢ ∂r ⎝ ∂x ⎠ ⎝ ∂r ⎠ ⎦⎥

where cf is the fluid isothermal compressibility, which is assumed to be small and constant so
that the second term in Eq. 1.20 can be neglected to obtain

∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎡ ∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞⎤
⎜ ρr ⎟ = ρ ⎢ ⎜ r ⎟ ⎥ , (1.21)
∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ ⎣ ∂r ⎝ ∂x ⎠⎦

Using Eqs. 1.19 and 1.21 in Eq. 1.18 gives

k 1 ⎡ ∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎤ 1 ∂p
ρ ⎢ ⎜ r ⎟⎥ = φ ct ρ (1.22)
μ r ⎣ ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ ⎦ 6.33x10 −3
∂t

or canceling density from both sides and rearranging gives

1 ∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ φ ct μ ∂p
⎜r ⎟ = −3
. (1.23)
r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ 6.33 x10 k ∂t

which is radial diffusion equation.