WELL TEST ANALYSIS:

THE USE OF ADVANCED

INTERPRETATION
MODELS

DOMINIQUE BOURDET
Consultant, Paris, France

2002

ELSEVIER
Amsterdam - Boston - London - New York - Oxford - Paris
San Diego - San Francisco - Singapore - Sydney - Tokyo
 Vll

CONTENTS

PREFACE v

CHAPTER 1 PRINCIPLES OF TRANSIENT TESTING 1

1.1 Introduction 1
1.1.1 Description of awell test 1
1.1.2 Methodology 4
1.2 Typical flow regimes 6
1.2.1 Types of flow behavior 6
1.2.2 Wellbore storage 7
1.2.3 Radial flow regime, skin (homogeneous behavior) 9
1.2.4 Fractured well (infinite conductivity fracture): linear flow regime 13
1.2.5 Fractured well (finite conductivity fracture): bi-linear flow regime 15
1.2.6 Well in partial penetration: spherical flow regime 16
1.2.7 Limited reservoir (one sealing fault) 17
1.2.8 Closed reservoir: pseudo steady state regime 20
1.2.9 Constant pressure boundary: steady state regime 22
1.3 Well and reservoir characterization 22
1.3.1 Well responses 22

1.3.2 Productivity Index 23

CHAPTER 2 THE ANALYSIS METHODS 25

2.1 Log-log scale 25

2.2 Pressure curves analysis 26
2.2.1 Example of pressure type-curve: "Well with wellbore storage and skin in a
homogeneous reservoir" 26
2.2.2 Shut-in periods 29
2.2.3 Pressure analysis method 35
2.3 Pressure derivative 36
2.3.1 Definition 36
2.3.2 Derivative type-curve: "Well with wellbore storage and skin in a
homogeneous reservoir" 36
2.3.3 Other characteristic flow regimes 39
2.3.4 Build-up analysis 42
2.3.5 Data differentiation 44
2.3.6 Derivative responses '. 45
2.4 The analysis scales 45
CHAPTER 3 WELLBORE CONDITIONS 47

3.1 Well with wellbore storage and skin 47

3.1.1 Model description 48
3.1.2 Review of pressure and derivative type curves for a well with wellbore storage
and skin in a homogeneous reservoir 48
3.1.3 Matching procedure on pressure and derivative responses 50
Vlll

3.1.4 Associated specialized plot straight line and interpretation procedure 52

3.1.5 Skin discussion 53
3.2 Infinite conductivity or uniform flux vertical fracture 55
3.2.1 Model description 55
3.2.2 Review of pressure and derivative type curves for a well with infinite-
conductivity fracture 56
3.2.3 Matching procedure on pressure and derivative responses 58
3.2.4 Associated specialized plot straight lines 60
3.3 Finite conductivity vertical fracture 62
3.3.1 Model description 62
3.3.2 Review of pressure and derivative type curves for a well with finite-
conductivity fracture 63
3.3.3 Skin discussion 64
3.3.4 Matching procedure on pressure and derivative responses 64
3.3.5 Associated specialized plot straight lines 66
3.3.6 Flux distribution along the fracture 67
3.3.7 Field example 68
3.4 • Well in partial penetration 69
3.4.1 Model description 69
3.4.2 Model responses, sealing upper and lower limits 70
3.4.3 Skin discussion 72
3.4.4 Matching procedure on pressure and derivative responses 74
3.4.5 Associated specialized plot straight lines 75
3.4.6 Influence of the number of open segments 77
3.4.7 Constant pressure upper or lower limit 77
3.4.8 Field examples 78
3.5 Slanted well 79
3.5.1 Behavior 80
3.5.2 Skin discussion 80
3.5.3 Associated specialized plot straight lines 81
3.6 Horizontal well 81
3.6.1 Model description 82
3.6.2 Equations for the characteristic regimes 86
3.6.3 Derivative behavior 88
3.6.4 Skin of horizontal wells 91
3.6.5 Matching procedure on pressure and derivative responses 93
3.6.6 Associated specialized plot straight lines 94
3.6.7 Build-up analysis 97
3.6.8 Field examples 98
3.6.9 Discussion of the horizontal well model 99
3.6.10 Fractured horizontal wells 104
3.6.11 Horizontal wells in reservoirs with changes of permeability 106
3.6.12 Multilateral horizontal wells 110
3.7 Skin factors 112
3.7.1 Components of the total skin 112
3.7.2 Geometrical skin and derivative curves 112

CHAPTER 4 EFFECT OF RESERVOIR HETEROGENEITIES ON WELL

RESPONSES 115

4.1 Fissured reservoirs 116

4.1.1 Double porosity models 117
 IX

4.1.2 Double porosity behavior, restricted interporosity flow model (Wellbore

storage and skin) 121
4.1.3 Double porosity behavior, unrestricted interporosity flow model (Wellbore
storage and skin) 137
4.1.4 Extension of the double porosity models 147
4.1.5 Discussion of double porosity analysis results 155
4.1.6 Field examples 157
4.2 Layered reservoirs with or without crossflow 160
4.2.1 Double permeability model 161
4.2.2 Double permeability behavior when the two layers are producing in the well
(Wellbore storage and two skins) 164
4.2.3 Double permeability behavior when only one of the two layers is producing in
the well (Wellbore storage and skin) 169
4.2.4 Associated specialized plot straight lines 173
4.2.5 Field example 174
4.2.6 Extensions of the double permeability model 175
4.2.7 Commingled systems with equal or unequal initial pressure 178
4.3 Composite reservoirs 180
4.3.1 Composite reservoir models 182
4.3.2 Radial composite reservoir 183
4.3.3 Linear composite reservoir 190
4.3.4 Extensions of the composite reservoir models 193
4.3.5 Injection wells 196
4.4 Combined reservoir heterogeneities 198
4.4.1 Fissured layered reservoirs 199
4.4.2 Radial composite double porosity reservoirs 200
4.4.3 Radial composite double permeability reservoirs 202

CHAPTER 5 EFFECT OF RESERVOIR BOUNDARIES ON WELL RESPONSES ..205

5.1 Single sealing fault in a homogeneous reservoir 205

5.1.1 Sealing fault model 206
5.1.2 Log-log behavior .«. 206
5.1.3 Matching procedure with the pressure and derivative data 207
5.1.4 Semi-log analysis 208
5.1.5 Build-up analysis 209
5.2 Two parallel sealing faults in homogeneous reservoir 210
5.2.1 Parallel sealing fault model 211
5.2.2 Linear flow regime ;.. 211
5.2.3 Log-log behavior 212
5.2.4 Matching procedure with the pressure and derivative data 213
5.2.5 Semi-log analysis 213
5.2.6 Linear flow analysis 214
5.2.7 Build-up analysis 216
5.3 Two intersecting sealing faults in homogeneous reservoir 218
5.3.1 Intersecting sealing fault model 220
5.3.2 Log-log behavior 221
5.3.3 Matching procedure with the pressure and derivative data 222
5.3.4 Semi-log analysis 222
5.3.5 Build-up analysis 224
5.3.6 Field examples 224
5.4 Closed homogeneous reservoir 225
 5.4.1 Closed reservoir model 227
5.4.2 Drawdown behavior 227
5.4.3 Matching procedure with pressure and derivative drawdown data 229
5.4.4 Semi-log analysis 229
5.4.5 Linear and hemi-linear flow analysis : 230
5.4.6 Pseudo-steady state analysis 232
5.4.7 Build-up analysis 233
5.5 Constant pressure boundary 238
5.5.1 Single linear constant pressure boundary model 239
5.5.2 Behavior 240
5.5.3 Drawdown and build-up analysis 242
5.6 Communicating fault 243
5.6.1 Semi-permeable linear boundary 243
5.6.2 Finite conductivity fault 247
5.7 Effect of boundaries in double porosity reservoirs 252
5.7.1 One sealing fault in double porosity reservoir, pseudo-steady state
interporosity flow 253
5.7.2 Parallel sealing faults in double porosity reservoir, unrestricted interporosity
flow 254
5.7.3 Closed square double porosity reservoir, pseudo-steady state interporosity
flow 255
5.7.4 Square double porosity reservoir with composite boundaries, pseudo-steady
state interporosity flow 255
5.7.5 Field example 256
5.8 Effect of boundaries in double permeability reservoirs 257
5.8.1 One sealing fault in double permeability reservoir 258
5.8.2 Two parallel sealing faults in double permeability reservoir 259
5.8.3 Closed circle double permeability reservoir 259
5.8.4 Field example 261
5.9 Effect of boundaries in composite reservoirs 262
5.9.1 Linear composite channel 262
5.9.2 Apparent boundary effects in composite reservoirs 265
5.10 Other boundary configurations .; 266
5.10.1 Channel reservoirs 266
5.10.2 Complex boundary systems 267
5.10.3 Effect of a gas cap or bottom water drive 268
5.11 Conclusion 269

CHAPTER 6 MULTIPLE WELL TESTING 273

6.1 Interference tests in reservoirs with homogeneous behavior 274

6.1.1 Pressure and derivative line-source solution 274
6.1.2 Typical interference responses 275
6.1.3 Influence of wellbore storage and skin effects at both wells 277
6.1.4 Semi-log analysis of interference responses 280
6.2 Factors complicating interference tests in reservoirs with homogeneous
behavior 281
6.2.1 Influence of reservoir boundaries 281
6.2.2 Interference tests in reservoirs with permeability anisotropy 282
6.3 Interference tests in composite reservoirs 285
6.3.1 Radial composite reservoirs 286
 XI

6.3.2 Linear composite reservoirs 290

6.4 Interference tests in double porosity reservoirs 290
6.4.1 Pressure type-curve for restricted (pseudo-steady state) interporosity flow 291
6.4.2 Pressure behavior in double porosity reservoirs with restricted interporosity
flow 292
6.4.3 Pressure and derivative analysis of interference tests in double porosity
reservoirs with restricted interporosity flow 293
6.4.4 Interference tests in double porosity reservoirs with restricted interporosity
flow and permeability anisotropy 294
6.4.5 Pressure type-curve for unrestricted (transient) interporosity flow 295
6.4.6 Pressure and derivative analysis of interference tests in double porosity
reservoirs with unrestricted interporosity flow 296
6.5 Interference tests in layered reservoirs 297
6.5.1 Line source well in a two layers with cross flow reservoir 297
6.6 Pulse testing 299
6.6.1 Advantages and limitations of the pulse testing method 299
6.6.2 Analysis of pulse tests 301
6.7 Conclusion 302

CHAPTER 7 APPLICATION TO GAS RESERVOIRS 303

7.1 Description of gas wells pressure behavior 303

7.1.1 Gas compressibility and viscosity 304
7.1.2 Pseudo-pressure 304
7.1.3 Pseudo-time 305
7.2 Practical transient analysis of gas well tests 305
7.2.1 Simplified pseudo-pressure for manual analysis 305
7.2.2 Definition of the dimensionless parameters 307
7.2.3 Straight line parameters 309
7.2.4 Non-Darcy flow 310
7.2.5 Material balance correction 312
7.3 Deliverability tests 313
7.3.1 Deliverability equations 313
7.3.2 Back pressure tests 315
7.3.3 Isochronal tests 316
7.3.4 Modified isochronal tests 318

7.4 Field example 319

CHAPTER 8 APPLICATION TO MULIPHASE RESERVOIRS 321

8.1 Perrine's method 322

8.1.1 Hypothesis 322
8.1.2 Definitions 322
8.1.3 Practical analysis 323
8.1.4 Discussion of the Perrine's method 324
8.2 Pseudo-pressure method 324
8.2.1 Solution gas drive reservoirs 324
8.2.2 Gas condensate reservoirs 326
8.3 Pressure squared method 327
Xll

CHAPTER 9 SPECIAL TESTS 331

9.1 DST 331

9.1.1 Test description 331
9.1.2 Slug test analysis 333
9.1.3 Build-up analysis 335
9.2 Impulse test 337
9.2.1 Test description 337
9.2.2 Impulse analysis 338
9.2.3 Discussion of impulse analysis 339
9.2.4 Well responses after an instantaneous source: summary 340
9.3 Constant pressure test, and rate decline analysis 340
9.3.1 Radial homogeneous oil reservoir response 341
9.3.2 Other well and reservoir configurations 342
9.3.3 Discussion 346
9.4 Vertical interference test 346
9.4.1 Test description 347
9.4.2 Vertical interference test responses 347

CHAPTER 10 PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF WELL TEST INTERPRETATION 351

10.1 Factors complicating well test analysis 351

10.1.1 Data preparation and validation 352
10.1.2 Effect of the well and reservoir condition on pressure responses 360
10.2 Interpretation procedure 364
10.2.1 Methodology 364
10.2.2 The diagnosis: typical pressure and derivative shapes 365
10.2.3 Consistency check with the test history simulation 368
10.3 Well and reservoir characterisation- interpretation results 371
10.3.1 Interpretation model 371
10.3.2 Errors in static parameters ; 372
10.3.3 Discussion of Pressure Profile and Radius of Investigation 373

APPENDIX 1 SUMMARY OF USUAL LOG-LOG RESPONSES 377

APPENDIX 2 PRACTICAL METRIC SYSTEM OF UNITS 382

NOMENCLATURE 396

REFERENCES 401

AUTHOR INDEX 413

SUBJECT INDEX 416