WELL TESTING

S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.

Chapter 1: Introduction

S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.

 Introduction

Well testing is the only technique that examines a significant portion of

the reservoir under dynamic conditions to determine its production
capability and reservoir properties. The basic reasons for testing a well
can be summarized as follows:

· to obtain a physical sample of the fluids produced from the

reservoir;
· to obtain a measured flow rate indicative of the productivity of
the formation;
· to obtain pressure data for the calculation of reservoir parameters
and for the recognition of natural or induced anomalies around
the borehole.

S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.

 Introduction

Reservoir characteristics that can be calculated from a well test include,

but are not limited to, the following:
· Reservoir Pressure Pressure buildup or falloff curves can be
extrapolated to obtain static reservoir pressure.
· Permeability Permeability is a measure of the ability of the
reservoir rock to transmit fluid flow. The permeability measured
by a well test is the effective permeability of the reservoir rock
for the produced fluid.
· Transmissivity Transmissivity is a measure of the ability of the
reservoir to transmit the fluid contained within it. It is a function
of both reservoir rock and fluid properties.

S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.

 Introduction
· Skin Factor The skin factor is a quantitative measure of the
degree to which the permeability in the immediate vicinity of the
wellbore has been altered as a result of the drilling, completion,
and production process.
· Damage Ratio The damage ratio is the ratio of the theoretical
production rate to the actual production rate measured during the
test. It is an indication of the degree to which the well's
productivity can be improved by removing the skin damage
induced during drilling and completion of the well.
· Productivity During a test, the productivity of the well is
measured at a flowing pressure that may or may not represent a
reasonable producing pressure. The test results can be used to
predict the productivity of the well at any desired flowing
pressure.
S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.
· Radius of Investigation The radius of investigation is the
approximate radial distance from the wellbore that is
investigated by the test; the test analysis results represent the
average properties of the reservoir within this radius.
· Reservoir Anomalies Reservoir anomalies within the radius of
investigation include barriers and fluid contacts. Permeability
changes or layered reservoirs are often reflected in the pressure
behavior observed during a test. This information, when used in
conjunction with other data, can often help in defining the exact
type of anomaly.
· Reservoir Depletion Since there is a physical removal of
reservoir fluid from a finite system during a drillstem test
(DST), the reservoir pressure drops. Most often this pressure
drop is so minute that it is far beyond the resolution of the
pressure recorders. If an observable pressure depletion occurs
during a test, then a small reservoir has been penetrated and
most likely would not contain commercial quantities of
hydrocarbons. S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.
S. R. SHADIZADEH, Ph.D., PE.