Petroleum Production Engineering

Chapter 2 - IPR
Darcy’s Law and Single phase IPR

1
Darcy’s Experiment

❑ In 1856 Darcy (1803 – 1858) performed

experiments for the design of sand filters
for water purification in France

Sand
P + dP P
q A
m
Viscous Fluid
dx
2
Darcy’s Law

❑ After several experiments Darcy

concluded that:
A dP
q is proportion al to
m dx
kA dP
q=
m dx
Where k is defined as the permeability of the porous
media
❑ In 1933 it was proposed to measure
permeability in a unit called Darcy 3
Darcy’s Law…

❑ The unit of k can be obtained by:

qm dx
k=
A dP
3 2 2
k  = 2 2 2 L
L MLt 1 t L
= L2
t t L L ML

❑ The permeability k has the unit of area

4
Darcy’s Law…

❑ The definition of 1 Darcy is the

permeability of a porous media that will
allow the flow of 1 cm3/s of a fluid with 1
cp viscosity when the pressure gradient is
1 atm/cm and the flow area is 1 cm2
qm dx
k=
A dP
3
cm cp cm − 13
1 Darcy = 1 2
= 9.869  10 m 2

s cm atm
5
Darcy’s Law…

❑ The value of 1 Darcy by definition is then:

1 D = 9.869  10 −13 m 2

❑ How big is 1 Darcy?

➢ Human hair thickness is about 60 mm =
6x10-5 m. Its cross sectional area is

d 2
 (6  10 )
−5 2
Ahair = =
4 4
= 28.27  10 − 10 m 2 = 2865 Darcy
6
Darcy’s Law…

kA dP
q=
m dx
q – Liquid flow rate
a – Cross sectional area
m – Liquid viscosity
dP/dx – pressure gradient

7
Darcy’s Law

❑ Example of application of Darcy’s Law

➢ Obtain relationship between the steady
state flow rate and the pressure at the
perforations for a well in a reservoir with a
radius re
❑ Assumption:
➢ Pressure at the edge of the reservoir, re, is
constant and equal to Pr
➢ Fluid is incompressible

8
 P

Pr

Pwf
r
rw dr r re

h A q

9
Darcy’s Law…

kA dP
q= A = 2 r h
m dx

2 k h dP
q= r
m dr
10
Darcy’s Law…

2 k h dP
q= r
m dr
❑ This is an ordinary differential equation
(ODE) that can be solved to obtain pressure
as a function of the radial distance
❑ To properly solve this ODE we must impose
a boundary condition

11
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ For incompressible, single phase flow

dr 2 k h
 r = qm  dP
2 k h
ln(r ) = P+A
qm

12
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ The constant of integration A can be
determined using the boundary condition

2 k h
ln(r ) = P+A
qm
P = Pr at r = re
2 k h
A = ln(re ) − Pr
qm
13
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ Then the final pressure profile inside the
porous media is obtained as
2 k h 2 k h
ln(r ) = P+A A = ln(re ) − Pr
qm qm

2 k h 2 k h
ln(r ) = P− Pr + ln(re )
qm qm

2 k h
( Pr − P ) = ln(re ) − ln(r )
qm
14
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ Pressure profile inside the porous media:

2 k h
( Pr − P ) = ln(re ) − ln(r )
qm

qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr − ln 
2 k h  r 

15
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ Finally
qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr − ln 
2 k h  r 

psi bpd cp

qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr − ln 
0.00708 k h  r 
mD ft
16
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ The radial pressure gradient in the porous
media is:

psi/ft bpd cp

dP qm 1
=
dr 0.00708 k h r

mD ft
17
Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
6000 P (r ) = Pr − ln 
0.00708 k h  r 
5000
Pressure (psig)

4000

3000 Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig

Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
2000
Flowrate 2000 bpd
Permeability 500 mD
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Radial Position (ft) 18
Darcy’s Law…
dP qm 1
=
1400

1200
dr 0.00708 k h r
Pressure Gradient (psi/ft)

1000
Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
800 Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
Flowrate 2000 bpd
600 Permeability 500 mD
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
400 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
200

0
0.1 1 10 100 1000
Radial Position (ft) 19
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
Pr
6000
P (r ) = Pr − ln 
0.00708 k h  r 
5000
Pressure (psig)

4000
Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
3000
Flowrate 2000 bpd
Permeability 500 mD
2000
Pwfi Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
1000

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Radial Position (ft) 20
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
3500 Well Centerline P (r ) = Pr − ln 
0.00708 k h  r 
3000

Sand Face
2500
Pressure (psig)

2000
Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
1500
Pwfi Flowrate 2000 bpd
Permeability 500 mD
1000
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
Well Diameter 9 in
500 Reservoir radius 1000 ft
rw
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
21
Radial Position (ft)
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr −
6000
ln 
q = 1000 bpd 0.00708 k h  r 
5000 1500
Pressure (psig)

4000
2000

3000 2500
Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
2000 Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
Permeability 500 mD
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
22
Radial Position (ft)
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr −
7000
Pr = 6000 psig
ln 
0.00708 k h  r 
6000 5500

5000
Pressure (psig)

4000

3000 5000
Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
4500 Flowrate 2000 bpd
2000 Permeability 500 mD
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Radial Position (ft) 23
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr −
6000
m = 4 cp ln 
6
0.00708 k h  r 
5000
Pressure (psig)

4000

8
3000
10 Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
2000
Flowrate 2000 bpd
Permeability 500 mD
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
24
Radial Position (ft)
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr −
6000
k = 800 mD ln 
0.00708 k h  r 
600
5000
Pressure (psig)

4000

500
3000
400 Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
2000
Flowrate 2000 bpd
Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
25
Radial Position (ft)
 Darcy’s Law…
qm  re 
P (r ) = Pr −
6000
h = 30 ft ln 
15 0.00708 k h  r 
5000
Pressure (psig)

4000

10
3000
8 Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
2000
Flowrate 2000 bpd
Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
Permeability 500 mD
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir radius 1000 ft
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
26
Radial Position (ft)
 Darcy’s Law…
qm r 
P (r ) = Pr −
6000
500 re = 1000 ft ln e 
0.00708 k h  r 
5000
Pressure (psig)

4000
2000
3000
4000 Reservoir Pressure 5000 psig
2000 Flowrate 2000 bpd
Fluid Viscosity 8 cp
Permeability 500 mD
1000 Well Diameter 9 in
Reservoir Thickness 10 ft
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
27
Radial Position (ft)
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ The inflow bottomhole flowing pressure can be
obtained as the solution of the pressure profile
when the radial position is correspondent to the
well radius
qm  re 
P = P (rw ) = Pr −
i
wf ln 
0.00708 k h  rw 

qm  re 
P ( q ) = Pr −
i
wf ln 
0.00708 k h  rw 
28
 Darcy’s Law…
❑ Rearranging this equation we can obtain
the IPR
mD ft psi
bpd

q=
0.00708 k h
 re 
(Pr − Pwf
i
)
m ln 
 rw 
cp

29
 Single Phase IPR
❑ Darcy’s Law can be written as:

(
q = J Pr − P i
wf )
0.00708 k h
J=
 re 
m ln 
 rw 
Where J is called productivity Index and has unit of
stb/d/psi
30
Single Phase IPR…

(
q = J Pr − Pwfi )
dq
J =− i
dPwf

qmax = JPr

q
qmax 31
Single Phase IPR…
 The incompressible single phase or straight line IPR
is valid when the fluids flowing inside the reservoir
are in single phase incompressible conditions
 Pwf above saturation pressure
 High water cut
 Very low GOR

32
Single Phase IPR…
 The single phase productivity index J can be
calculated from
 Reservoir and fluid properties or

 Well test data

33
Single Phase IPR…
 Example 1:
k = 20 mD
h = 60 ft
m = 10 cp
re = 600 ft
rw = 3.5 in.
Pr = 1250 psig

34
Single Phase IPR…
 Example 1:
k = 20 mD 0.00708  20  60
J=
h = 60 ft  600 
10 ln 
m = 10 cp  3.5 / 12 
re = 600 ft
rw = 3.5 in.
J = 0.1114 stb/d/psi
Pr = 1250 psig

35
Single Phase IPR…
 Example 1:
k = 20 mD
(
q = 0.1114 Pr − Pwfi )
h = 60 ft
m = 10 cp
re = 600 ft qmax = 0.1114  1250
rw = 3.5 in. = 139.25 stb / d
Pr = 1250 psig

36
 Single Phase IPR…
i
P wf
Pr = 1250 psig
1250
(
q = 0.1114 Pr − Pwfi )
qmax = 0.1114  1250
= 139.25 stb / d

q
139.25 37
Single Phase IPR…
 Example 2:
Pr = 1250 psig
Well test:
q = 600 stb/d at Pwf = 900 psig

38
Single Phase IPR…
 Example 2:
Pr = 1250 psig
Well test:
q = 600 stb/d at Pwf = 900 psig

q = J (P − P )
r
i
wf

600 = J (1250 − 900 )

600
J= = 1.71 stb / d / psi
1250 − 900
39
Single Phase IPR…
 Example 2:
Pr = 1250 psig
Well test:
q = 600 stb/d at Pwf = 900 psig

(
q = J Pr − P i
wf )
qmax = 1.71(1250 − 0 ) = 2137.5 stb / d

40
 Single Phase IPR…
 Example 2:

i
P
wf
Pr = 1250 psig
1250
q = 1.71(P − P )
r
i
wf

qmax = 2137.5 stb / d

q
2137.5 41
 Future Linear IPR
 During production of fluids from reservoir, a depletion
in reservoir pressure will take place
 What is the effect of depletion on the Inflow
Performance Relationship?
 Can we estimate Future IPR?

42
 Future Linear IPR…
(
q = J Pr − P i
wf )
0.00708 k h
J=
 re 
m ln 
 rw 
 For incompressible fluids, the viscosity is not function of
pressure. Since J is not a function of pressure for the
linear IPR case, the effect of depletion on the Inflow
Performance Relationship is shown only as a decrease in
the reservoir pressure Pr
43
Future Linear IPR…
1400
 As time t increases,
1200
reservoir pressure Pr
1000
decreases
Pwf (psig)

800

600 (
q = J Pr − Pwfi )
400

200

0
0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210
q (bpd)
44
 Linear IPR…
 Is the linear IPR concept valid for all
conditions?
 Do we generally produce fluids in single
phase flow?

45
Time to take Quizz #2

46