Well Test Interpretation

A Day Workshop on
“Well Test Interpretation”

in Association with Petroleum
Engineers Association
Mr. VENKATA VIJAY SHANKAR ANUPRAKASH M
Assistant Professor In Department of Petroleum Technology
Aditya Engineering College
Objectives
Importance of Well Tests at
Introduction to
Types of Well Tests different Stages of Field
well Tests
Development
List the major types of Identify and apply different Identify and apply Well tests at
well test and principle tests based on the time and different stages of field
goal of each type. type of data obtained. development
List major tasks of well

test interpretation.
The three classes of well

test interpretation.
Define and give typical

values for each of the
primary variables used in
Interpretation.
WELL TEST INTERPRETATION MR.VENKATA VIJAY SHANKAR ANUPRAKASH M Saturday, March 20, 2021
Introduction
to well tests:
The aspect of petroleum engineering that distinguishes it from other engineering

disciplines is that petroleum engineers do not design the systems they work with.
Unlike an engine designed by a mechanical engineer or a structure designed by a civil engineer,

the oil and gas reservoirs are given to the petroleum engineer.
In petroleum engineering, the system is not physically accessible, and engineers have to rely on
indirect measurements to determine the properties of the system.
This is the similarity between petroleum engineering and groundwater hydrology.
A special case of indirect determination of reservoir properties is that of

measuring the flow rate and pressure drawdown of a well producing under
stable conditions and using this information to calculate the reservoir
permeability.
Transient testing is the general case that encompasses measurement of flow rates and
pressures under various conditions.
Activites to well tests
Well tests assume that a well is producing oil at a constant rate of
q STB/D for a period of tp hours. The well is then shut in .
The bottomhole pressure of the well will decrease (draw down) as
production begins and will increase (build up) when the well is shut in.
How the pressure changes is a function of the properties of the reservoir system.
Disturbing the reservoir by changing the flow rate of a well and observing the resulting
pressure change is a noisy experiment that may be run to determine the dynamic
reservoir properties indirectly.
Changing the rate and measuring the pressure in the
same wellbore is a single-well test.
the change in pressure at an offset well because
of the rate change.
The change in pressure in the offset well is smaller than in the active well, and there
is a time lag between the beginning of the change in flow rate and the corresponding
change in pressure at the offset well.
Changing the flow rate in a well and measuring the pressure response
in another well is a multiple well test.
transient testing also involves measuring the change in flow rate due to pressure changes or the
change in flow rates of individual layers as a result of a change in the total flow rate of the well.
Well testing
A reservoir is in a transient state when the pressures or saturations of fluids are changing
with time and the rate of change is different at different locations.
Monitoring flow rate and pressure while the reservoir is in a transient state yields valuable information about
the properties of the reservoir system.
Well testing is an inverse problem that is, the system input(production rate history)
and system output (pressure response) are known and the properties of the
system(reservoir) are to be determined.
Alternative to conventional well testing include wireline formation testing,

continuous monitoring with permanent gauges, rate transient analysis, log-derived
permeability estimates and core analysis.
Significant in Well Test Interpretation
Two major tasks of the well test interpretation are model identification and parameter estimation. Parameter
estimates are meaning less if an appropriate model is selected for the interpretation.
Well test parameters estimation methods may be grouped into one of three classes : 1.straight line methods,
2. type curve methods and
3.simulation /history matching.
The logarithmic scales comprises late-time data such as 90% of the data fall in last log cycle of the graph.
Eg. For infinite acting radial flow, the last log cycle also represents 90% of the reservoir volume investigated during the test.
Relying on a single graph scale for interpretation may cause important behavior to be overlooked, leading to invalid results.
This should
be avoided
Simple identification of produced fluids to determination of reservoir deliverability to characterization of complex reservoi r
features.
Well test Interpretation
Well test interpretation is the process of obtaining information about a reservoir through
examining and analysing the pressure-transient response caused by a change in production rate.
It is important to note that the information obtained from well test interpretation may be
qualitative as well as quantitative.
Identification of the presence and nature of a no-flow boundary or a down-dip aquifer is just as
important as, if not more important than, estimating the distance to the boundary.
Comprehensive Interpretation of acquired data is critical for efficient Reservoir development and
management, because it quantifies the parameters that characterize the dynamics response of
the reservoir.
Well test Interpretation review
Data
processing
1. Transient well tests are conducted as a series of dynamics events
triggered by specified changes in the surface flow rate.
2.During interpretation it may be desirable to analyze just one particular event or

all events simultaneously. In either case, the data must first be processed.
3.The first step in data processing is to split the entire data set into individual flow periods. The
exact start and end of each flow period are specified.( Because the sampling rate is usually high,
each transient typically includes many more data points than are actually required.)
4.A high density of data is needed only for a early time transients. Therefore, special
algorithms are usually employed to reduce data set of a manageable size. Because of the
nature of the pressure disturbance propagation , algorithmic sampling is preferred.
Well test Interpretation review
Data Processing
Contd
5. The sequence of events should incorporate the recent flow rate changes observed during the test. this
enables rigorous accounting for superposition effects. The shape of pressure transient curve is affected by the
production history of the reservoir.
6. Each change in production rate generates a new pressure transient that passes into the reservoir
and merges with the previous pressure effects.
7. Pressure trends observed at the wellbore results from the superposition of all the pressure changes.
8. The next step is to transform the reduced data so that they display the same identifiable features ,
regardless of test type(Pressure derivative is popular)( rate normalized pressure, sandface rate, convolved
time function and convolved derivative)
9. After the data are transformed the task of identifying the flow regimes begins.
Procedure for Well test interpretation
6.Estima
te the
2.Review paramet
, quality ers that
4.Identif 5.Select 7.Simula 8.If
1.Collect control characte 9.Interpr
y the the te or appropri
the data (QC), 3.Decon rize the et the
flow reservoir history- ate, 10.Valida
necessar and volve model estimate
regimes model to match calculate te the
y for the prepare the test using d model
present use for the confiden results
interpret the data data manual paramet
in the interpret pressure ce
ation for straight- ers
test data ation response intervals
interpret line and
ation log-log
methods
.
Types of Well tests
Test Types. There are a wide range of types of well tests, as well as a number of different ways of categorizing well tests. Tests may be classified by
the way in which they are carried out, whether they involve one or multiple wells, whether the test is run by opening up a we ll for production or
shutting in a producing well, whether the well is used for production or injection, and whether the well is an exploration we ll or a well in a mature
field.
Deliverability Tests :The primary objectives of deliverability tests are to obtain fluid samples, to determine well deliverability, to determine t he well
potential, or to develop inflow performance curves for system analysis.
Transient Tests : Primary objectives of transient tests may include to estimate in-situ permeability to oil or gas, to estimate average drainage area
pressure, to evaluate stimulation treatment effectiveness, and to estimate drainage area and/or fluids in place.
Multi-well Tests: In a multi-well test, the rate is changed at one well (the active well), and the pressure response is measured at one or more offset,
or observation, wells. Multi-well tests are often more complex than single-well tests. Multi-well tests are usually run to quantify the degree of
communication between wells or to estimate directional permeability.
Single-Well Tests: In a single-well test, the rate is changed, and the pressure response is measured at the well being tested. Objectives of single-well
tests may include to quantify the degree of damage or stimulation, to estimate the in-situ permeability, to estimate the drainage area or fluids in
place, and to estimate the average drainage area pressure.
Types of Well tests
Drawdown Tests. In a drawdown test, the reservoir is initially at uniform pressure, and the well to be tested is shut in. The well is opened for
production, ideally at constant flow rate, and the resulting pressure response is measured as the pressure draws down.
Build-up Tests :In a build-up test, the well has been producing (again, ideally at constant rate) for a period of time, thus creating a pressure gradient
in the reservoir. The well is shut in, and the resulting pressure response is measured as the pressure builds up.
Exploration-Well Tests: For a well test on an exploration well, the focus is on the entire reservoir. Objectives of an exploration-well test usually
include fluid sampling, estimating initial reservoir pressure, evaluating well productivity, estimating distances to boundaries, and estimating fluids in
place. Exploration-well tests often must be conducted while the rig is on location, making such tests extremely expensive. The expense is justified by
the major investment decisions that will be made based on the information obtained from the test.
Development-Well Tests: In contrast, in development-well testing, the focus is on the individual well and the near-wellbore area. Objectives of a
well test on a development well might include estimating average drainage area pressure, evaluating stimulation treatment effectiveness,
quantifying wellbore damage, and estimating reservoir permeability. Compared to exploration-well tests, development-well tests are relatively
inexpensive. The results of development-well tests are used in minor investment decisions such as whether or not to do a stimulation treatment.
Types of Well tests
Pressure
Pressure Buildup Multiple Rate Injection Well Multiple Well Closed Chamber
Drawdown Gas Well Testing
testing Testing testing Testing Testing
testing
Two-rate Flow after Interference Alexander

Injection Test
Flow test flow test Testing Method
N-Rate flow Isochronal Surge

Fall-off test Pulse Testing
Test Test Method
Modified
isochronal Slug Testing
Test
FasTest
Method
SILD
Wireline
Formation
Tests
Pressure buildup testing
Pressure
Buildup testing
Pressure-buildup tests are conducted by first stabilizing a producing well at some fixed
rate, placing a BHP measuring device in the well, and shutting in the well.
Following shut-in, the BHP builds up as a function of time, and the rate of pressure
buildup is used to estimate well and formation properties, such as average drainage
area of the well, and skin factor in the region immediately adjacent to the wellbore.
We begin with analysis techniques for tests preceded by a constant-rate production

period, but also discuss the more probable testing scenario-pressure buildup testing with
variable-rate production before shut-in
162.6𝑞𝐵𝜇 𝑡 +∆𝑡
•𝑝𝑤𝑠 = 𝑝𝑖 − ( )[log[( 𝑝 )]]
𝑘ℎ ∆𝑡
Pressure drawdown testing
Pressure
Drawdown
testing:
A pressure drawdown test is conducted by producing a well, starting ideally with uniform pressure in the reservoir.
Rate and pressure are recorded as functions of time.
The objectives of a drawdown test usually include estimates of

permeability, skin factor, and , on occasion, reservoir volume.
These tests are particularly applicable to

New wells
Wells that have been shut in sufficiently long to pressure stabilize
Wells in which loss of revenue incurred in buildup test would be difficult to accept.
162.6𝑞𝐵𝜇 𝑘
𝑝𝑖 − [log 2 − 3.23 + 0.869𝑠]
𝑘ℎ ∅𝜇𝑐 𝑡𝑟𝑤
Multiple Rate testing
Two-rate
Flow test:
The two-rate test can be used when estimates of permeability, skin factor, or reservoir pressure are needed
and economic considerations preclude the well from being shut in(pressure buildup tests ).
Note that, for the two –rate test to be valid, the second rate must be kept strictly constant or the test
interpretation may be substation ally in error.
In addition, when the reservoir is infinite-acting for the elapsed time 𝑡𝑝1 + ∆𝑡 ′
2162.6𝑞 𝐵𝜇 𝑞1 𝑞2 −𝑞1 𝑘
• 𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑤𝑓 = 𝑘ℎ
[ 𝑞2
log 𝑡 + 𝑞2
log 𝑡 − 𝑡1 + log 2
∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑤
−
3.23 + 0.869𝑠]
162.6𝑞2 𝐵𝜇 𝑞1 𝑞2 −𝑞1 𝑡𝑝1 +∆𝑡 ′
• 𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑤𝑓 = 𝑘ℎ
[ 𝑞 log 𝑡 + 𝑞2
log 𝑡 − 𝑡1 + log ∆𝑡 ′
−
2
3.23 + 0.869𝑠]
Multiple Rate testing
N-Rate
flow Test:
The method presented
for analyzing the two
rate test can be
extended to n-rates
also.
(𝑝𝑖 −𝑝𝑤𝑓 )/𝑞𝑛

𝑛
𝑞𝑗 − 𝑞𝑗−1 𝑘
= 𝑚′ ෍ { log(𝑡𝑛 − 𝑡𝑗−1 )} + 𝑚′ [log
𝑞𝑛 ∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
𝑗=1
− 3.23 + 0.869𝑠]
Gas Well Testing
Flow after
flow test:
In this testing method, a well flows at a selected constant rate until
pressure stabilizes to pseudo steady state is reached.
The stabilized rate and pressure are recorded; rate is then changed
and the well flows until the pressure stabilizes again at the new rate.
The process is repeated for a total of three or four rates.

•Empi rical method
•𝑞𝑔 = 𝐶(𝑃ത 2 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓
2 𝑛
)
•Theoretical method
•(𝑃ത 2−𝑃𝑤𝑓
2
)/𝑞𝑔 vs 𝑞𝑔
Gas Well Testing
Isochronal
Test :
The objective of isochronal testing is to obtain
data to establish a stabilized deliverability
curve for a gas well without flowing the well
for sufficiently long to achieve stabilized
conditions(𝑟𝑖 ≥𝑟𝑒) at each ( or, in some
cases,any) rate.
This procedure is needed for lower-permeability

reservoirs, where it frequently is impractical to
achieve 𝑟𝑖 = 𝑟𝑒 during the test.
Gas Well Testing
Modified
isochronal Test:
The objective of modified isochronal tests is t obtain

the same data as in an isochronal test without using
the sometimes lengthy shut-in periods required for
pressure to stabilize completely before each flow test
is run.
In modified isochronal test, shut-in periods of the

same duration as the flow periods are used, and the
final shut-in BHP(pws) before the beginning of a
new flow period is used as an approximation to
average p in the test analysis procedure .
Injection well testing
Injection
Test :
The injection wells may be as numerous as the producing
wells. Consequently, testing injection wells is particularly
important for efficient planning and operation of both
secondary and tertiary recovery projects.
Satisfactory injection performance over a long period of

time and prompt detection of increasing wellbore damage
are important to the economics of any recovery project.
Injectivity and falloff testing in liquid-filled, unit-mobility

ratio reservoirs.
Methods for determining average reservoir pressure and for
analyzing composite systems in non-unit mobility reservoirs.
Injection well testing
Fall-off
test:
Fall off test in a injection well is analogous to
pressure buildup testing in a production well.
An idealized fall off test is conducted by injecting at

a constant rate before shut-in at time tp.
Pressure data taken immediately before and

during the shut in period are analyzed with
the methods developed for pressure buildup
tests.
Multiple Well testing
Interference Testing: a
solution for the unsteady-
state pressure change with
time at any point in the
reservoir caused by a change
in flow rate at another point.
Multiple Well testing
Pulse Testing: an
interference test in
which the flow rate
at the active well is
changed several
times in the form
of a series of
alternate flow and
shut-in periods
instead of
producing the well
at a single constant
rate. They called
this a pulse test.
Importance of Well Tests at different Stages of Field
Development
Injectivity Interference
tests and fall tests and
Exploration
Initial case : off tests: Pulse tests:
tests: to
DST tests to Injection wells effect of the
collect the
confirm dry or in particularly production of
sample and
producing for to one well over
estimate the
wells understand the other well
pressure.
the mobility creating a
ratio disturbance.
Development
Well test interpretation • Exploration and Appraisal.

plays a role in many
stages in the life of a • Reservoir Engineering
well including
exploration, appraisal, • Reservoir Simulation
development, reservoir • Production Engineering
characterization, and
production engineering. • Reservoir Characterization
Development
• The information gained through well testing will be instrumental in making major
investment decisions such as whether to set a platform, build a pipeline, develop
a field, or sign a long-term production contract.
Exploration • The two most important questions that well testing in exploration and appraisal
wells can address are
• “How much oil or gas does this reservoir contain?” “At what rate can wells in this
and reservoir produce?”
• Flow tests are often used during exploration testing; these tests are designed to
investigate enough of the reservoir to assess the economic viability of the
Appraisal. prospect.
• The deliverability is obtained from the flow rates achieved during the test.
• Distances to boundaries, reservoir pore volume, and estimates of oil or gas in
place may be obtained from the pressure-transient response.
Development
• “What is the insitu permeability?,”

• “What are the nature of and
Reservoir distances to reservoir
Engineering. boundaries?,”
• “What is the average reservoir
pressure?”
Development
• A knowledge of the in-situ permeability is

important in reservoir simulation and production
forecasting.
Reservoir • The nature of and distance to reservoir boundaries
is important in reservoir simulation and in well-
Simulation spacing decisions.
• The average reservoir pressure is used in reservoir
simulation, well optimization, and material-balance
calculations.
Development
• The focus in production engineering is on

the individual well.
Production • The well testing in production engineering
reflect this focus:
Engineering. • “Is the well damaged?”
• “How effective was the stimulation
treatment?”
Development
• Poor well performance may be caused by reservoir

characteristics, such as
• low permeability or low reservoir pressure;
• by near-wellbore conditions, such as damage from mud-
Reservoir filtrate invasion,
Characterization. • non-Darcy flow, or plugged perforations;
• by some combination of these factors.
• Well test interpretation can help identify the cause of poor
well performance, so that the appropriate remedial action
may be taken.

Well Test Interpretation

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A Day Workshop on

“Well Test Interpretation”

List major tasks of well

The three classes of well

Define and give typical

The aspect of petroleum engineering that distinguishes it from other engineering

Unlike an engine designed by a mechanical engineer or a structure designed by a civil engineer,

This is the similarity between petroleum engineering and groundwater hydrology.

A special case of indirect determination of reservoir properties is that of

Alternative to conventional well testing include wireline formation testing,

2.During interpretation it may be desirable to analyze just one particular event or

Two-rate Flow after Interference Alexander

N-Rate flow Isochronal Surge

We begin with analysis techniques for tests preceded by a constant-rate production

The objectives of a drawdown test usually include estimates of

These tests are particularly applicable to

(𝑝𝑖 −𝑝𝑤𝑓 )/𝑞𝑛

The process is repeated for a total of three or four rates.

This procedure is needed for lower-permeability

The objective of modified isochronal tests is t obtain

In modified isochronal test, shut-in periods of the

Satisfactory injection performance over a long period of

Injectivity and falloff testing in liquid-filled, unit-mobility

An idealized fall off test is conducted by injecting at

Pressure data taken immediately before and

Well test interpretation • Exploration and Appraisal.

• “What is the insitu permeability?,”

• A knowledge of the in-situ permeability is

• The focus in production engineering is on

• Poor well performance may be caused by reservoir

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