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Buildup Test Analysis
Buildup Test Analysis
NTNU
Department of Petroleum Engineering
and Applied Geophysics
PRESSURE BUILDUP
It is difficult to keep the rate constant in a producing well. This is not an issue in a
buildup test since the well is closed. The rate is zero. This test may be conducted any
time. The disadvantage is that the well has to be closed for a period. Since the well is
closed, it will not generate income during this period. Hence the shutin time should be
as short as possible.
Procedure
1. Produce the well at a constant (stabilized) rate. At time tp close the well.
2. Measure the last flowing pressure which we call pwf and the shutin
pressure pws.
3. Make interpretation.
In the above figure, tp and ∆t denote production time and shutin time respectively.
Infinite-acting reservoir
For a new well, the pressure wave associated with the flow period may not have
reached the outer boundary. Then the following equation applies:
1
qµB ⋅ 1.15 t p + ∆t
p ws = p i − log
2πkh ∆t
Determination of permeability
Note that the rate profile of Fig. 1 is idealized. Instantaneous shutin is not possible.
There will always be some afterflow (see wellbore storage). As a consequence the
measured pressure will not obey the Horner equation initially.
Observe that the shutin time, ∆t, increases to the left in the Horner plot, Fig. 2. The
Horner ratio Hr will decrease as ∆t increases.
qµB1.15
m=
2πkh
p1 − p 2
m=
log Hr1 − log Hr2
m = p1 – p2
qµB ⋅ 1.15
pws = pi - log Hr
2πkh
Note that:
pws = pi for Hr = 1
The Horner ratio will approach 1 for infinite shutin time ∆t. Hence the initial reservoir
pressure may be obtained by extrapolating the straight line back to Hr = 1. The
technique is illustrated in Fig.2.
qµB ⋅ 1.15 t + ∆t kt p
p ws − p wf = log p − log − 0.351 + 0.87 S
2πkh ∆t ϕµct rw
2
Usually the shutin time is small in comparison with the production time. Hence
tp+ ∆t ≈ tp
Then the above equation will simplify since the production time tp disappears.
p ws ∆t =1h − p wf k
S = 1.15 − log − 3 . 91
m ϕµ c r
t w
2
Observations:
1. The skin factor is controlled by the distance ∆
∆ = pws ∆t = 1h - pwf
3. The measured wellbore pressure at 1 hour may not be on the straight Horner
line. Then the line is extrapolated until it intersects the Hr∆t= 1h vertical line.
This is illustrated in the below figure. The Horner ratio at 1 hour may be computed
from Hr∆t = 1h = tp + 1
Bounded reservoir
Sooner or later the pressure wave associated with the flow period will hit the outer
boundary. Suppose this is of no-flow type. If the well is closed during pseudo-steady
flow, then the pressure will build up towards the average pressure rather than the
initial pressure. This is illustrated below.
The effect of the outer boundary appears at the late part of the Horner plot while the
early part essentially remains unchanged. The boundary effect will show up as a break
off from the straight line.
The Horner equation for the straight line section may be written:
qµB1.15 t + ∆t
p ws = p * − log
2πkh ∆t
where p* is the intersection with the Hr =1 axis. The intersection has been called the
false pressure. It has no physical interpretation but it is related to the average pressure,
kt p
t DA =
ϕµct A
4. Look up the MBH-curve that corresponds to the estimated shape of the
drainage area, and find PDMBH.
5. Calculate the average pressure from the formula:
mp DMBH
p = p*−
2.303
The difficult part in this calculation procedure is point 2. Estimation of the size and
shape of the drainage area is beyond the scope of these notes.
p − p wf − ∆p S
FE =
p − p wf
Horner time
As mentioned previously it is difficult to keep the flow rate constant for any length of
time. The rate may have fluctuated significantly during the production period. Horner
proposed the following correction:
Np
tp =
qLAST
where Np is the cumulative production since the last major shutin period and qLAST is
the last stabilized rate.