Principles of Pressure Transient

Analysis
• What physical process does pressure
transient analysis represent?
• Darcy’s Law It’s not like a wave
• Flow States
• Fundamental Equation – Diffusivity
Equation

1
 Physical Process

Pressure transient analysis

represents a diffusion (Fickian) or
conduction process.

Ex: drop black die in center of a

circular beaker filled with water.

Not the wave equation!!!

2
 Derivation of the Diffusivity
Equation
• Continuity equation – mass
conservation
• Darcy’s Law – flow through porous
media
• Equation of state
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
u z + ( u z ) u x

dx
dy

u y u y + ( u y )
dz

u x + ( u x ) u z

u x dydz + u y dxdz + u z dxdy (rate of mass flow into element)

− {[ u x +  ( u x )]dydz + [ u y +  ( u y )]dxdz + [ u z +  ( u z )]dxdy} (rate of mass flow out of element)
  t + t −  
=  t
 dxdydz
 (rate of accumulati on of mass within element)
 t 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
u z + ( u z ) u x
1 Liquid fluid
dx
dy

u y u y + ( u y )
dz

u x + ( u x ) u z

u x dydz + u y dxdz + u z dxdy (rate of mass flow into element)

− {[ u x +  ( u x )]dydz + [ u y +  ( u y )]dxdz + [ u z +  ( u z )]dxdy} (rate of mass flow out of element)
  t + t −  
=  t
 dxdydz
 (rate of accumulati on of mass within element)
 t 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
u z + ( u z ) u x

dx
dy

u y u y + ( u y )
dz

u x + ( u x ) u z

  −  t 
t + t
− [ ( u x )dydz + ( u y )dxdz + ( u z )dxdy ] =   dxdydz
 t 
 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
u z + ( u z ) u x

dx
dy

u y u y + ( u y )
dz

u x + ( u x ) u z

Dividing by dxdydz :
( u x )dydz ( u y )dxdz ( u z )dxdy ]   t + t −  t  dxdydz
−[ + + =  
 dxdydz
dxdydz dxdydz dxdydz  t 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
u z + ( u z ) u x

dx
dy

u y u y + ( u y )
dz

u x + ( u x ) u z

Taking the limit of each term for dx, dy, dz , t → 0 :

 ( u x )  ( u y )  ( u z )   (  ) 
+ + + =0
x y z  t 

Continuity Equation in Cartesian Coordinate s

 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

u r rddz + u drdz + u z rdrd (rate of mass flow into element)

− {[ u r +  ( u r )]rddz + [ u +  ( u )]drdz + [ u z +  ( u z )]rdrd } (rate of mass flow out of element)
  t + t −  
=   rdrddz
t
 (rate of accumulati on of mass within element)
 t 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

u r rddz + u drdz + u z rdrd (rate of mass flow into element)

− {[ u r +  ( u r )]rddz + [ u +  ( u )]drdz + [ u z +  ( u z )]rdrd } (rate of mass flow out of element)
  t + t −  
=   rdrddz
t
 (rate of accumulati on of mass within element)
 t 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

  −  t 
t + t
− [ ( ru r )ddz + ( u )drdz + ( u z )rdrd ] =   rdrddz
 t 
 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

Dividing by rdrdθdr :
( rur )ddz ( u )drdz ( u z )rdrd   t + t −   rdrddz
−[ + + ] =  
t

rdrddz rdrddz rdrddz t  rdrddz

 
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

Taking the limit as dr , dθ , dz, t → 0 :

1 (rur ) 1 (u ) (u z ) (ρ)
+ + + =0
r r r θ z t
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

For a fully penetrated well, we can assume that u and u z are zero :
1 (rur ) 1 (u ) (u z ) (ρ)
+ + + =0
r r r θ z t
 Continuity Equation – Mass
Conservation
uz rdrd + ( uz )rdrd

u drdz + ( u )drdz

ur rddz + ( ur )rddz
u r rddz

dz u z rdrd
u drdz d

dr

This leaves :
1 (rur ) (ρ)
+ =0
r r t
It’s represented by darcy’s velocity

Continuity Equation in Radial Coordinate s

Darcy’s Law – Flow Through Porous Media

Originally , Darcy' s law for flow of water through porous media

dp
was given by u = −k
dL
k dp
This has since been generalize d as u = − ,
 d
where  is a directiona l coordinate :  = x, y, z, r, z, or  .
If we substitut e for u in the continuity equation
and assume that k x = k y = k z = k , we have
 k dp  k dp  k dp   (  ) 
(− ) + (− ) + (− ) + =0
x  dx y  dy z  dz  t 
in Cartesian coordinate s, and
1  rk r dp (ρ)
(− )+ = 0 in radial coordinate s.
r r  dr t
Makes the equation non linear, we can’t solve it
Darcy’s Law – Flow Through Porous Media

If we now assume that k and μ have no spatial variation , we have

k p  p  p   (  )
 (  ) + (  ) + (  ) =
  x x y y z z  t

in Cartesian coordinates, and

kr 1  p (ρ)
( r ) = in radial coordinates.
 r r r t

k and µ: no spatial variation and not pressure dependent.

Equation of State - Liquid
This concept helps to linearize the continuity equation

For liquids, we note that the isothermal liquid compressibility is given by

1 V 1 
c=− ( )T . Since  = m / V , we have also that c = ( )T . Pressure gradient
V p  p
term
  p p
Applying the chain rule for differenti ation, = = c
 p  
Pressure gradient
 p  p  p2
p p  p 2
squared very small number, so we can
Also, ( )= + = c ( )( ) +  ignore it
     2    2
Noting that liquid compressibility is small and assuming also that
pressure gradients are small, especially when squared,
 p 2 p
( )
   2
Equation of State - Liquid
 (  )    p  p
Note also that = + = +
t t t p t p t
p p
= c + c f
Co, Cw t t
p
= ct 
t
1 
Note : c f = & ct = c + c f
 p

Substituti ng for spatial and temporal derivative terms, we have

k  2 p  2 p  2 p p
( 2 + 2 + 2 ) = c in Cartesian coordinate s, and
 x y z t

k r  1  dp p
(r ) = c in radial coordinate s.
 r r dr t
Diffusivity Equation - Liquid
k
Dividing by , we have

2 p 2 p 2 p  c p
( 2 + 2 + 2)=
x y z k t

in Cartesian coordinates, and

1  p  c p
(r ) = in radial coordinates.
r r r k t
k
The ratio is called the diffusivit y coefficien t and given the symbol,.
 c