Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short

Test at the Kanata East gas field

Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir

pressure data in a Short Test at the Kanata East gas field
Aylin Lu Casanova, SPE, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra;
Ricardo Marcelo Michel Villazón, SPE, Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Faculty Advisor)

Abstract: The present work consists on the application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis technique for the
interpretation of pressure response in a Short Test at the Kanata East Gas field. Traditional analysis
techniques, such as Type Curve Matching or the semi logarithmic Horner method, are essentially a trial and
error procedure and present constraints and difficulties when analyzing incomplete or severally distorted
data. Tiab´s Direct Synthesis is an alternate technique for interpreting pressure test using log-log plots of
pressure and pressure derivative versus non dimensional time in order to calculate reservoir and well
parameters.
Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis was implemented over a buildup pressure test recorded for
the Kanata East wildcat well. Resulting pressure data measured from the test is depicted exhibited a
complete absence of the infinite acting radial flow period. Solutions obtained for reservoir parameters from
traditional methods were found inaccurate and attributed due to lack of information at the late time period.
Considering Tiab’s Direct Synthesis mathematical formulation is robust enough to account a wide range of
cases where test data is either insufficient, incomplete or distorted, a data quality control was done on test
data to find the pressure test could be analyzed according to case scenario 3 equations.
All five characteristic points were selected from the pressure and pressure derivative log-log and
input to case 3 equations. Resulting estimations of reservoir parameters were found to be reasonable,
overcoming the loss of data affecting the test.

Key Words: Buildup test, analysis of pressure and pressure derivative, pseudo pressure, pseudo time.

1. Introduction
Well test interpretation is the process of obtaining information about the reservoir through the
analysis of the pressure transient response caused by a change in production rate. This information is used
to make decisions about how to produce the reservoir in order to maximize its net present value (NPV). In a
buildup test, the well has been producing for a period, thus creating a pressure gradient in the reservoir.
Then, well is shut in and the resulting pressure response is measured as the pressure “build up”. (Phoenix
Reservoir Engineering, 2006).
Traditional analysis techniques, such as Type Curve Matching or the semi logarithmic Horner method,
are essentially a trial and error procedure and present constraints and difficulties when analyzing
incomplete or severally distorted data. Tiab´s Direct Synthesis is an alternate technique for interpreting
pressure test using log-log plots of pressure and pressure derivative versus non dimensional time in order to
calculate reservoir and well parameters. Characteristic points are selected from the intersection of various
straight-line portions of the pressure function and the pressure derivative function, its slopes and its starting
times, so they can be used with appropriate equations to solve directly for permeability, wellbore storage
and skin.
The most important features of this technique are the level of accuracy it yields as it uses exact
analytical solutions to calculate well parameters, and its dependence on a mathematical formulation robust
enough to address different cases where original test data is either incomplete or exhibits severe dispersion.

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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

2. Scope of Investigation
The study is limited to the case of the Yantata reservoir within the Kanata East retrograde gas field
located at the Chimore I block, in the Carrasco province of Cochabamba, Bolivia. The structure of the
Yantata reservoir is limited and controlled by three inverse faults, which function as an effective seal.
Because of a well differentiated petrophysical quality observed in the reservoir rock, the Yantata reservoir
has been divided in two levels, namely: Yantata Low Porosity and Yantata High Porosity. The present
study applies to the low porosity level of the Yantata reservoir where a pressure buildup test was recently
done.

2.1. Pseudopressure and Pseudotime Variables

Pseudopressure and pseudotime are mathematical functions derived to include variations in gas
properties due to changes in pressure. Accuracy is improved for both semilog and type curve analysis of
gas-well tests by replacing pressure with the real-gas pseudopressure function m(p).

-------------------------------------------------(1)

For a log-log analysis, particularly for the case of wellbore-storage distorted data from both flow and
buildup tests, accuracy is also improved using the pseudotime function t(p):

-------------------------------------------------(2)

2.2. Aplication of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis (TDS) in a Condensate Gas Well

As an alternate technique, TDS shows how a log-log plot of pressure and pressure derivative versus
time can be analyzed without the need to apply the type-curve matching technique. This new approach is
particularly useful when the early-time unit slope line and/or the late-time infinite acting radial flow line
are not well developed due to the lack of points or several dispersion/distortion.
Application of the Tiab’s Direct Synthesis technique is based on the selection of characteristic points
in the log-log plot of the pressure function, and its derivative, versus non dimensional time. Once these
points are selected, they are input to the method equations to directly solve for and estimate permeability,
storage coefficient and damage effect (skin).
The accuracy of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis relies in the fact that all estimations are calculations resulting
from an analytical solution rather than a graphical visual approximation, and that the mathematical
formulation is robust enough to account a wide range of cases where test data is either insufficient,
incomplete or distorted, namely:
a) Case 1 (basic case): Unit-slope and infiniting lines are observed.
b) Case 2: The unit-slope line is not observed.
c) Case 3: The infinite-acting line is not observed (short test).
d) Case 4: The unit-slope line and the peak are not observed.
e) Case 5: The unit-slope and infinite-acting lines have not been observed.)

3. General Description of the Kanata East Gas Field

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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

The Kanata East retrograde gas field is located at the Chimore I block, in the Carrasco province of
Cochabamba, Bolivia. The field is part of the Carrasco Gas Complex, which is comprised by the retrograde
gas fields Kanata, Kanata East, Kanata Footwall, Carrasco Footwall and Carrasco. The Carrasco Gas
Complex is constituted by the sandstone reservoirs of the Petaca and Yantata formation whose stratigraphic
sequence are of Cretacic age.
The Petaca formation has undergone erosion at the location of The Kanata East field, so it is not
present in the stratigraphic sequence and all gas production comes from the Yantata sandstone reservoir
where only two wells have been drilled and are still producing, both assisted by artificial gas lift. The
Kanata East field reserves were estimated by application of decline curve analysis where a volume of 0.135
Bcf was found to be the remaining gas stored in the Yantata reservoir (fig.1) (CNIH, 2013).

4. Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis

Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis was implemented to a buildup pressure test recorded for the
field wildcat well. The test was carried on according to the following procedure:
a) Pressure sensors were set downhole and a dynamic pressure gradient was measured.
b) A flow period followed for about 32 hours, where it was observed the effect of pressure gradients.
c) A shut in period of about 925.5 hours followed, for pressure buildup.
d) After the closing period, the well in open to flow opens again.
The analysis was done specifically over the closing period, which was carried out for 38.5 days, so it
was necessary to perform data screening to reduce the amount of pressure points. Procedure was carried as
follows:
a) For the first fifteen days pressure points were taken every 60 seconds.
b) For the second period of fifteen days, pressures points were taken every 120 seconds.
c) For the last eight and a half days, pressures points were taken every 5 minutes.
Flow data was not used as it is beyond the scope of TDS technique. Pressure data obtained from the
aforementioned test is depicted in figure 2, where it can be observed a complete absence of the infinite
acting radial flow period. Thus, the TDS case corresponding to such scenario is Case 3, called short test. As
shown in figure 3, visual comparison with the study case data pressure plotted in log-log axis (figure 4)
confirms the selected case is applicable.
Recall now that, in a buildup test, the region near the well acts as a tank due to a constant flow before
closing. Therefore, data interpretation is possible by adjusting both the pseudopressure and pseudotime into
two new terms referred as adjusted pressure and adjusted time (Pressure Transient for Gas Well, 2007), as
shown in equations 3 and 4, respectively:

-------------------------------------------------(4)

------------------------------------------------------------(3)

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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

For Case 3, equations 5 to 7 are applied to yield values for the storage coefficient, permeability and
skin factor:

---------------------------------------------------------------(5)

------------------------------------(6)

-----------------------------(7)

Using the calculated adjusted pressure and adjusted time, both the pressure function and its derivative
are then plotted in a log-log scale, as shown in figure 5. Here, all five characteristic points were selected, as
reported in table 1:
Data Values Units

t 0.10799 hr

∆m(p) 2.67e3 Psi

tx 0.88415 hr

[t*∆m(p’)]x 7016.73499 Psi

[t*∆m(p’)] r 1237.04619 Psi

Table 1. TDS Characteristic Points

Considering the reservoir data for the Yantata reservoir, presented in table 2, and recalling that TDS
Case 3 corresponds to the test being analyzed, equations 5 to 7 are applied to yield values for the storage
coefficient, permeability and skin factor:

Data Values Unit

q 152 Mscfd

T 656 °R

µ 0.07387 cp

h 114.5 ft

Bg 0.73877 Rb/Mscf

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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

Ct 0.000003 psi-1

Ø 0.167

Table 2. Yantata Reservoir Parameters

The use of adjusted pressure and adjusted data allows for the original oil equations used in Tiab’s
Direct Synthesis formulation (Gas Reservoir Engineering, 2000) to be adapted so it can be applied to a gas
reservoir. Results are presented in table 3, along with a comparison with parameters estimated by
application of traditional techniques.

CONCLUSIONS
Tiab’s Direct Synthesis technique was applied to the pressure data of a buildup test recorded on the
wildcat well of the Kanata East retrograde gas field. The test was classified as a short test, TDS Case 3,
because of the time was not sufficient enough to appreciate development of the infinite acting radial flow
period. Accuracy of Tiab Direct Synthesis was demonstrated, as all estimated, when compared to those
calculated by traditional methods, were found consistent with regional data. Moreover, it was found all
estimations from traditional methods were inaccurate. This was attributed due to lack of information at late
time periods as a result of dispersion. The application of TDS, as a first approach, produced a reasonable
estimation for reservoir parameters overcoming the loss of data affecting the test.

REFERENCES

[1] John Spivey. Phoenix Reservoir Engineering. EEUU. Pag

[2] Djebbar Tiab. Gas Reservoir Engineering. Oklahoma, EEUU. 2000. Pag 299.
[3] CNIH. Kanata Este. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: s.n.2013. page 68
[4] John Lee, John Rollins & John Spivey. Pressure Transient testing. Texas, EEUU.2003. page. 34
[5] Djebbar Tiab. Analysis of pressure and pressure derivative without type-curve matching. SPE 12345,
Oklahoma, USA: Society of Petroleum Engineering Inc., 1994, SPE.
[6] Schlumberger. Pressure Transient testing for Gas Wells.EEUU.
[7] Djebbar Tiab. Gas Reservoir Engineering. Oklahoma, EEUU. 2000. Pag 347.
[8] CNIH. Campos de Gas en Bolivia. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: s.n.2013. page 68.
[9] Schlumberger. Pressure Transient testing for Gas Wells.EEUU. page. 146-147.
[10] Djebbar Tiab. Gas Reservoir Engineering. Oklahoma, EEUU. 2000. Pag 405.
APPENDIX

Figures
Fig.1 Decline Curve Analysis for recovery estimation at study case reservoir.
Fig.2 Pressure Data obtained by plotting buildup test data of Study Case Reservoir.
Fig.3 Image of case number 3 in the Tiab’s Direct Synthesis.
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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

Fig.4 Plot of Pressure data of the test in a Semilog scale.

Fig. 5 Plot of pressure and pressure derivative of test in a log-log scale.

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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

DECLINE CURVE ANALYSIS FOR RECOVERY ESTIMATION AT STUDY CASE RESERVOIR

Source: CNIH, 2013 Fig.1

PSEUDOPRESSURE VS TIME IN A LOG-LOG SCALE

Fig.2

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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

FIGURE OF CASE NUMBER 3 PROPOSED IN TIAB DIRECT SYNTHESIS

Source: SPE 12345 Fig.3

ADJUSTED PRESSURE VS ADJUSTED TIME ON A SEMILOG SCALE

Fig.4
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 Application of Tiab’s Direct Synthesis for the interpretation of reservoir pressure data in a Short
Test at the Kanata East gas field

ADJUSTED PRESSURE AND ADJUSTED PRESSURE DERIVATIVE VS TIME ON A LOG-LOG

SCALE

Fig. 5

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Aylin Lu Casanova is a petroleum engineering student at Universidad Privada de

Santa Cruz de la Sierra (UPSA) in Bolivia. Currently, she is a Research Officer at
the SPE UPSA Student Chapter. She will be graduating on December 2018, being
the present article a summary of her undergraduate final project. She will pursue a
Master of Science degree after her undergraduate project defense.
Email: aylin_lc@hotmail.com

Ricardo Marcelo Michel Villazón is a petroleum engineer and current Faculty

Advisor to the SPE UPSA Student Chapter. In the Universidad Privada de Santa
Cruz de la Sierra (UPSA), he is lecturer for the Reservoir Simulation course.
Member of the Bolivian National Academy of Science, his research interests are
Dynamic Material Balance, Formation Damage Simulation and Flow in Naturally
Fractured Reservoirs. He currently works at YPFB Chaco S.A.
Email: rm.michelv@yahoo.es