16--Estimating Average Reservoir Pressure

Exercise 16-1—Estimate Average Reservoir Pressure

Analyze the buildup test shown in the figures below, given the following data. Estimate
permeability, skin factor, and radius of investigation at beginning and end of the middle
time region. Estimate the average drainage area pressure using any appropriate method.

h = 30 ft φ = 22 % rw = 0.25 ft
Bo = 1.111 bbl/STB µo = 5.77 cp ct = 8.20×10-6 psi-1
qo = 130 STB/D tp = 2,880 hr pwf = 1,974 psi
A = 45.91 acre Well is centered in a 2×1 rectangular drainage area

Hint: use the diagnostic plot to find the start and end of the MTR, then calculate the
corresponding Horner time ratios from the equivalent time using the relationship

HTR =
(t p + ∆t )
=
t p (t p + ∆t )
=
tp
∆t t p ∆t ∆t e

10000

1000
∆p, t*dp/dt, psi

100

10

1
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
0.05 3
∆te, hr

Diagnostic plot

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 16--Estimating Average Reservoir Pressure

2500
2,429

2400

2300
pws, psi

2200

2100

2000

1,963
1900
10000000 1000000 100000 10000 1000 100 10 1

57,600 HTR 960

Horner plot

Solution:

First, we find the beginning and end of the middle time region from the diagnostic plot,
then calculate the corresponding Horner time ratios:

tp 2,880
HTRbeg MTR = = = 57,600
∆t e 0.05

tp 2,880
HTRend MTR = = = 960
∆t e 3

We then draw a straight line through the data in the middle time region. Next, we
calculate the Horner time ratio for a time of 1 hr:

tp + 1
HTR1hr = = 2,881
1

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 16--Estimating Average Reservoir Pressure

Next, we calculate the slope of the semilog straight line, then the permeability:

p1 − p 2 2,429 − 1,963 466

m= = = = 77.67 psi / ~
log HTR1 − log HTR2 log(1) − log(1,000,000 ) −6

162.6qBµ (162.6)(130 )(1.111)(5.77 )

k= = = 58.1 md
mh (77.67 )(30)

Next, we calculate the skin factor from p1hr:

⎧⎪ p1hr − p wf ⎛ k ⎞ ⎫⎪
s = 1.151⎨ − log⎜⎜ ⎟
2 ⎟
+ 3 . 23 ⎬
⎪⎩ m ⎝ φµct rw ⎠ ⎪⎭
⎧ (2,168) − (1,974 ) ⎛ (58.1) ⎞ ⎫
= 1.151⎨ − log⎜⎜ ⎟ + 3.23⎬
⎝ (0.22 )(5.77 )(8.2 × 10 )(0.25) ⎠
2 ⎟
⎩ (77.67 ) −6
⎭
= −2.56

Now, we calculate the radius of investigation:

ri beg MTR =
kt
=
(58.1)(0.05) = 17.2
(948)(0.22 )(5.77)(8.2 × 10 −6 )
ft
948φµct

ri end MTR =
kt
=
(58.1)(3) = 133 ft
948φµct (948)(0.22 )(5.77 )(8.2 × 10 −6 )

Because the drainage area is a 2×1 rectangle, the MBH method is preferred. So, we
calculate the dimensionless producing time tpAD:

t pAD =
0.0002637k
tp =
(0.0002637)(58.1)(2,880) = 2.12
φµct A (0.22)(5.77)(8.2 × 10 −6 )(45.91)(43,560)

We find the value pMBHD of 3.86 from the MBH chart for a well centered in a 2×1
rectangle for a tpAD of 2.12.

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 16--Estimating Average Reservoir Pressure

Finally, we calculate pavg:

p MBH D (t pAD )
m
p = p*−
2.303
= 2,429 −
77.67
(3.86)
2.303
= 2,299 psi

36 © 2006, Phoenix Reservoir Engineering 9/1/06