Flow Regim es and the Diagnostic Plot 1

Flow Regimes and the

Diagnostic Plot

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Flow Regim es and the Diagnostic Plot 2

The Diagnostic Plot

Instructional Objectives
1. Identif
Identify
y time
time regions.
regions.
2. Identif
Identify
y flow
flow regime
regimes.
s.
3. List
List factors
factors that
that affect
affect pressur
pressure
e
response in early time.
4. List
List boundarie
boundariess that affect
affect pressure
pressure
response in late time.

Upon completion of this section, the student should be able to:

1. Identify the early, middle,
middle, and late time regions
regions on a diagnostic
diagnostic
plot.
2. Identify the
the following
following flow regimes
regimes from their characteristic
characteristic shape
on a diagnostic plot: volumetric/PSS/recharge behavior, radial
flow, linear flow, bilinear flow, spherical flow.
3. List 3 things
things that may affect the pressure response
response during
during the
early time region.
4. List 3 types of boundaries
boundaries that may
may affect the pressure response
during the late time region.

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 3

The Diagnostic Plot

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Elapsed time, hrs

The diagnostic plot is a log-log plot of pressure change and

pressure derivative on the vertical axis vs. test time on the
horizontal axis. The pressure derivative is defined as the
derivative of pressure with respect to the natural logarithm of
time.
• Pressure change vs. time
– Flow test - ∆p = pi − p wf
– Buildup test -
∆p = p ws − p wf (∆t = 0 )
• Pressure derivative
– Change in pressure per unit fractional change in time
– Mathematically, ∂∆p ∂∆p
t =
∂t ∂ ln(t )
– Has units of pressure, can be plotted together with pressure
on same graph

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 4

Time Regions on the Diagnostic Plot

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s Early-time Middle- Late-time
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P region time region
region

Elapsed time, hrs

Early-time region: wellbore and near-wellbore effects. These

effects include wellbore storage, skin factor, partial penetration,
phase redistribution, and finite- and infinite-conductivity hydraulic
fractures.
Middle time region: infinite-acting reservoir behavior. A
homogeneous reservoir will give a horizontal derivative response
during the middle time region. Data during this region provide the
best estimate of reservoir permeability.
Late-time region: boundary effects. There are a large number of
different types of boundaries that may affect the pressure
response, including sealing faults, closed reservoirs, and
gas/water, oil/water, and gas/oil contacts.

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 5

Flow Regimes
• Common geometric shapes

• Different flow patterns may appear at

different times in a single test

• Flow regimes follow sequence within

model

• Common geometric shapes occur in many different reservoir

models

• A single reservoir model may exhibit different flow patterns at

different times
- Flow regimes occur in a specific sequence for a given
model

• Flow Regimes
- Volumetric behavior
- Radial flow
- Linear flow
- Bilinear flow
- Spherical flow

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 6

Volumetric Behavior

Volumetric behavior occurs when the wellbore, the reservoir, or part

of the reservoir acts like a tank. Perhaps the most common
occurrence of volumetric behavior is in wellbore storage, although it
is not limited to WBS.
Volumetric behavior can occur during either a flow test or a buildup
test. However, if it occurs during a buildup test, it indicates that
whatever part of the reservoir acts like a tank is being recharged from
somewhere else. During a flow test, volumetric behavior may
indicate a closed reservoir.
•Causes
– Wellbore storage
– Pseudosteady state
– Recharge

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 7

Volumetric Behavior
qBt
Wellbore ∆p =
Storage 24C

Pseudosteady- 0.0744qBt 141.2qBµ   re  3 

pi − pwf = + ln  − + s
 4
φct hre2 kh   rw  
State Flow

General Form ∆p = mV t + bV

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 8

Volumetric Behavior

General Form ∆p = mV t + bV

Derivative ∂∆p ∂ (mV t + bV )

t =t
∂t ∂t
= mV t

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 9

Volumetric Behavior

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Time

Volumetric behavior is recognized on the diagnostic plot by the

pressure derivative following a unit-slope line, where the line moves
one log cycle vertically for each log cycle of horizontal movement.
The pressure change may or may not follow the same unit slope line.
During wellbore storage, typically the pressure change and the
pressure derivative will lie on top of each other. During
pseudosteady-state flow or recharge, the pressure and derivative will
not coincide.

• Shape of derivative
– Unit slope line

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 10

Radial Flow

Radial flow occurs in many common situations.

Data within the radial flow regime can be used to estimate
formation permeability and skin factor.
• Causes of radial flow
- Vertical well
- Fractured well after transient has moved beyond tips of
fracture
- Horizontal well before transient reaches top and bottom of
zone
- Horizontal well after transient has moved beyond ends of
wellbore

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 11

Radial Flow

162.6qBµ   kt  
Vertical Well ∆p = 
log  − 3.23 + 0.869s 
  φµct rw 
2
kh 

General Form ∆p = m log (t ) + b

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 12

Radial Flow

General Form
∆p = m log (t ) + b

∂∆p ∂ (m log(t ) + b )
t =t
Derivative ∂t ∂t
m
=
2.303

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 13

Radial Flow

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Time

On the diagnostic plot, radial flow is recognized by the horizontal

derivative.
• Shape of Derivative
- Horizontal

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 14

Linear Flow

Linear flow is also quite common, occurring in channel reservoirs,

hydraulically fractured wells, and horizontal wells.
From data within the linear flow regime, we can estimate channel
width or fracture half-length, if we know the permeability. Or, we
can estimate the permeability perpendicular to a horizontal well if
we know how much of the well is open to flow.
• Causes of linear flow
- Well with a high-conductivity fracture
- Well in a channel reservoir (reservoir with parallel no-flow
boundaries)
- Horizontal well

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 15

Linear Flow
12
16.26qBµ  kt 
Channel ∆p =  
khw  φµct 

12
Hydraulic 4.064qBµ  kt 
∆p =  
Fracture khL f  φµc 
 t 

General Form ∆p = mLt1 2 + bL

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 16

Linear Flow

General Form ∆p = mLt1 2 + bL

t
∂∆p
=t
(
∂ mLt1 2 + bL )
Derivative
∂t ∂t
1 12
= mLt
2

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 17

Linear Flow

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2

Time

The linear flow regime is recognized on the diagnostic plot by the

derivative following a half-slope line. The half-slope line moves
one log cycle vertically for each two log-cycles of horizontal
movement.
The pressure change may or may not also follow a half-slope line.
In an undamaged hydraulically fractured well, the pressure
change typically follows a half-slope line. In a channel reservoir,
a hydraulically fractured well with damage, or a horizontal well,
the pressure change will approach the half-slope line from above.
• Shape of Derivative
- ½ slope

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 18

Bilinear Flow

Bilinear flow occurs primarily in low-conductivity hydraulically

fractured wells.
From this flow regime, we can estimate fracture conductivity wk f.

• Causes of bilinear flow

- Well with a low-conductivity fracture (common)
- Fractured or horizontal well in a transient dual porosity
reservoir (rare but theoretically possible)

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 19

Bilinear Flow

12 14
Hydraulic 44.1qBµ  1 

 t 
∆p =  
Fracture h  wk f   φµc k 
   t 

General Form ∆p = mB t1 4 + bB

Wkf=fracture conducivity, md-ft

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 20

Bilinear Flow

General Form ∆p = mBt1 4 + bB

t
∂∆p
=t
(
∂ mBt1 4 + bB )
Derivative
∂t ∂t
1 14
= mB t
4

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 21

Bilinear Flow

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Time

The bilinear flow regime is recognized on the diagnostic plot by

the derivative following a quarter-slope line. The quarter-slope
line moves one log cycle vertically for every four log-cycles of
horizontal movement.
The pressure change may or may not also follow a quarter-slope
line. In an undamaged hydraulically fractured well, the pressure
change typically follows the quarter-slope line as soon as
wellbore storage effects have ended. In a hydraulically fractured
well with damage, the pressure change will approach the quarter-
slope line from above.
This flow regjme is easily confused with the linear flow regime.
Particular attention should be paid to the slope of the derivative to
distinguish these two flow regimes.

• Shape of Derivative
- ¼ slope

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 22

Spherical Flow

Spherical flow occurs when the pressure transient is free to

propagate in three dimensions. This can occur for wells that
penetrate only a short distance into the pay zone, or in wells that
have only a limited number of perforations open to flow. This flow
regime also commonly occurs during wireline formation tests.
From data in the spherical flow regime, we can estimate the
geometric mean permeability.

• Causes of spherical flow

- Vertical well with only a few perforations open
- Vertical well with only a small part of the zone perforated
- Some wireline formation test tools

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 23

Spherical Flow

 
φµct rp2 
qµ 
Spherical Probe (RFT) pi − pwf = 1−
4πkrp  kt 

 

General Form ∆p = bS − mS t −1 2

Nomenclature
The Repeat Formation Tester (RFT) probe equation uses SI
units:
ct - Total compressibility, Pa-1
k - Permeability, m2
pi - Initial pressure, Pa
pwf - Probe pressure, Pa
q - Flow rate, m3/s
rp - Probe radius, m
t - Time, s
φ - Porosity, fraction
µ - Viscosity, Pa•s

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 24

RFT Units
• Nomenclature
• The Repeat Formation Tester (RFT) probe equation uses
SI units:
• ct - Total compressibility, Pa-1
• k - Permeability, m2
• pi - Initial pressure, Pa
• pwf - Probe pressure, Pa
• q - Flow rate, m3/s
• rp - Probe radius, m
• t - Time, s
• φ - Porosity, fraction
• µ - Viscosity, Pa•s

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 25

Spherical Flow

General Form ∆p = bS − mS t −1 2

t
∂∆p
=t
(
∂ bS − mS t −1 2 )
Derivative
∂t ∂t
1 −1 2
= mS t
2

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 26

Spherical Flow

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2
Time

The spherical flow regime is recognized on the diagnostic plot by

the derivative following a negative half-slope line. The pressure
change approaches a horizontal line from below. The pressure
change during spherical flow will never exhibit a straight line with
the same slope as the derivative.
Spherical flow can occur during either a drawdown or a buildup
test.

• Shape of Derivative
- Negative ½ slope

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 27

Flow Regimes on the

Diagnostic Plot

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Radial
P flow
Wellbore
storage Spherical flow Recharge?

Elapsed time, hrs

Indication of flow regime - One of the biggest advantages of the

diagnostic plot is the ability to identify flow regimes. The slope of
the derivative plot is a direct indication of the flow regime.

After radial flow period, it can be noticed a very definitive

bounded reservoir behavior. A unit slope at late times indicates
that kh/u is different out in the reservoir we have two zones with
different mobilities

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 28

Exercise 1
Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot
FLOWREGM.WTD (Diagnostic Plot)
1000

100
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p 1
d
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j
d
A
0.1

0.01
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 10000

Radial equivalent adjusted t ime, hr

Identify the flow regimes.

WELLBORE STORAGE & LINEAR FLOW ARE ALMOST THE

ONLY PERIODS EASY TO IDENTIFY….!!.A HIGH SKIN ALSO
IS PRESENT.

THE LAST PERIOD INDICATES CONSTANT PRESSURE AT

THE BOUNDARY

THE RADIAL FLOW PERIOD IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFINE

A WELL NEAR THE CENTER OF A LONG CLOSED

RECTANGLE WITH A HIGH SKIN MIGHT REPRODUCE THIS
BEHAVIOR BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS THE ONLY
MODEL THAT CAN REPRODUCE THE BEHAVIOR OF THIS
WELL TEST…..INTEGRATED WELL TEST INTERPRETATION
IS THE ANSWER…

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Flow Regimes and the Diagnostic Plot 29

1. Stewart, G. and Wittmann, M.: “Interpretation of the Pressure

Response of the Repeat Formation Tester,” paper SPE 8362
presented at the 1979 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, Las Vegas, September 23-26.
2. Smolen, J. J., and Litsey, L. R.: “Formation Evaluation Using
Wireline Formation Tester Pressure Data,” JPT (January 1979)
25-32.

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