WELL TESTING AND PRESSURE TRANSIENT ANALYSIS

Student name
Rabar Bakhtiyar

Class: Fourth Stage

Course title: reservoir engineering -I
Department: Petroleum engineering
Supervisor: Mr. Bayan

College Of Engineering
Knowledge University
2023-2024
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS Error! Bookmark not defined.

INTRODUCTION 3
BODY 4
Well Testing 4
Productivity Well Testing 4
Descriptive Tests 5
Types Of Well Testing 6
Pressure transient testing 7
● Build-up Test: 8
● Drawdown Test: 9
● Pressure Falloff Test: 9
● Multi-Rate Test Pressure: 10
CONCLUSION 11
References 12
 INTRODUCTION
Within the complex terrain of the petroleum industry, well testing holds a central role, playing a

crucial part in unveiling the secrets of oil and gas wells as well as the reservoirs they connect to.

This essential procedure serves as the primary method for gathering vital information about

hydrocarbon and reservoir characteristics, forming the foundation for informed decision-making

and optimizing well performance.

Well testing encompasses a well-structured series of activities, meticulously designed and carried

out at various stages during drilling, completion, and production. At each of these stages, the

objectives of well testing vary, reflecting the ever-changing nature of the petroleum industry.

During the Exploration and Appraisal phase, well testing takes on paramount importance, serving

as a crucial tool in achieving subsurface objectives and reducing uncertainties related to reservoir

properties. This phase necessitates careful planning, optimization, and interpretation of well tests

to acquire high-quality data that deepens our understanding of the reservoir's unique attributes

and hydrocarbon properties. Conversely, during the production phase, the use of occasional well

shut-ins allows for continuous monitoring of wells and reservoirs, ensuring they maintain peak

performance. As a result, well tests can be broadly classified into two main types:

descriptive/reservoir tests and productivity tests.

In the following sections of this report, we will explore the domain of "Types Of Well Testing" with

a specific emphasis on Pressure Transient Analysis. This analytical approach is vital for

comprehending the intricate relationship between pressure and fluid flow within the reservoir,

offering invaluable insights into reservoir properties. We will delve into the methodologies

associated with Pressure Transient Analysis, including Build-up tests, Drawdown tests, and

Pressure Falloff tests, and discuss their significance in assessing reservoir properties.
 BODY

Well Testing

The petroleum industry heavily relies on the routine testing of oil and gas wells as its

primary means of acquiring vital information about hydrocarbon and reservoir attributes.

This essential practice comprises a series of meticulously planned and executed activities

designed to collect specific data and enhance our comprehension of well behavior.

Oil and gas well testing takes place at different stages of drilling, completion, and

production, and the objectives of these tests differ at each stage. For example, during the

Exploration and Appraisal phase, well testing plays a pivotal role in achieving subsurface

goals and reducing uncertainties associated with the reservoir. This phase entails the

careful design, optimization, and interpretation of well tests to acquire high-quality data

that enriches our understanding of the reservoir's unique features and hydrocarbon

characteristics. Conversely, in the production phase, opportunistic well shut-ins can be

employed for ongoing well and reservoir monitoring. As a result, well tests can be broadly

classified into two categories: descriptive/reservoir tests or productivity tests.

Productivity Well Testing

A fundamental method extensively used in the petroleum industry to determine the

production capabilities of an oil or gas well. This process involves the collection of fluid

samples produced by the well and the subsequent analysis of their physical properties.

By assessing these parameters, it becomes possible to gauge the well's capacity for

commercial production, which is a crucial consideration. The testing procedure entails

adjusting the well's flow rates while simultaneously monitoring the bottom hole pressure

and temperature. These measurements aid in creating an inflow performance relationship

(IPR) chart that illustrates the relationship between flow rates and pressures. By analyzing
this IPR chart, it becomes viable to estimate the production potential of the well and devise

strategies for improving its output.

Productivity tests are conducted to

● Well deliverability determination

● Formation damage identifying

● Skin factors effect

● Identify produced fluids and their volume ratios

● Measuring reservoir pressure and temperature

● Provide fluid samples suitable for PVT analysis

● Evaluating completion efficiency

● Evaluating stimulation treatments.

Descriptive Tests

Play a crucial role in estimating a formation's potential for hydrocarbon production,

assessing wellbore damage, and identifying the need for workover or stimulation

treatments. These tests involve the use of transient methods, which means inducing

abrupt changes in production rates and observing the resulting pressure responses at the

bottom of the well. These production rate variations lead to pressure fluctuations that

propagate through the rock formation in various ways, encountering different levels of

permeability and resistance in tight reservoir zones or gas caps. By monitoring these

pressure changes over time, a curve can be generated, providing insights into the

reservoir's characteristics. Interpreting this curve is essential for extracting valuable

information about the reservoir's distinct properties and determining the most effective

approach for hydrocarbon production.

Descriptive reservoir tests serve the following purposes:

● Assessing the extent and geometry of the reservoir

● Identifying hydraulic connections between wells

● Characterizing reservoir variations

● Evaluating reservoir parameters.

Types Of Well Testing

1. Flowing Well Test: This test involves allowing a well to flow naturally without any

obstructions. It helps in measuring the initial flow rate and pressure of the well,

providing insights into its productivity.

2. Shut-in Well Test (Pressure Transient Analysis): A shut-in test involves temporarily

closing the well to monitor pressure changes over time. It helps in assessing

reservoir characteristics, such as permeability and pressure buildup.

3. Buildup Well Test: During a buildup test, the well is shut in for a period, and

pressure data is collected. This information is used to determine reservoir

properties, like permeability and skin damage.

4. Multi-Rate Test: This test involves altering the production rates at different levels.

It helps in evaluating how the well responds to various flow rates and optimizes

production strategies.

5. Pressure Falloff Test: In this test, the well is shut in, and the pressure is allowed to

drop. It provides valuable information about the reservoir's behavior, including

boundaries and fluid properties.

 6. Draw Down Test: During a drawdown test, the well's flow rate is gradually

increased, and pressure data is recorded. This test helps in assessing the well's

performance and reservoir characteristics.

7. Injection Well Test: This test involves injecting fluid into the well and monitoring

the pressure response. It's used to evaluate the well's injectivity and reservoir

properties.

8. Pulse Test: Pulse testing includes injecting short-duration pressure pulses into the

well and observing the resulting pressure changes. It's used to assess reservoir

boundaries and properties.

9. Productivity Index (PI) Test: The PI test calculates a well's productivity index, which

is a measure of its ability to produce hydrocarbons. It helps in optimizing production

and reservoir management.

10. Well Stimulation Test: Stimulation tests involve treatments like hydraulic fracturing

or acidizing to enhance a well's productivity. These tests assess the effectiveness

of these treatments.

11. Permeability Test: Permeability tests measure a reservoir's ability to transmit

fluids. They are crucial for understanding the reservoir's productivity potential.

12. Drill Stem Test: A drill stem test is performed during the drilling process. It involves

temporarily sealing the wellbore and measuring pressure changes, providing real-

time information about reservoir properties.

Pressure transient testing

Pressure transient testing, commonly referred to as well testing, is a fundamental method

employed in the oil and gas industry to gain a comprehensive understanding of

underground reservoirs. It involves systematically changing the flow rates of fluids into or
out of a well while measuring the resulting pressure response over time. These tests are

a primary source of dynamic reservoir data, offering insights that help reservoir engineers

and geoscientists make informed decisions at different stages of a well's life cycle.

The various stages at which these tests are conducted include drilling, completion, and

production. During the drilling phase, preliminary tests may be performed to gauge the

reservoir's potential, while completion tests are carried out after drilling but before full-

scale production begins to assess the well's initial productivity. Production phase testing

is ongoing and aims to monitor reservoir behavior as it continues to produce oil or gas.

The objectives of pressure transient tests can range from simple to complex. In its most

basic form, these tests are used to measure the reservoir's pressure under specific

conditions, which can help determine well performance and pressure decline over time.

More intricate tests aim to characterize the reservoir's properties, such as its permeability

(ability to transmit fluids), porosity (void space within the rock), and connectivity (how

different regions of the reservoir are connected). This detailed information is critical for

optimizing production strategies and maximizing the recovery of hydrocarbons from the

reservoir.

● Build-up Test:

Pressure buildup testing is a commonly used transient well-testing method within

the petroleum industry. This technique involves a sequence of steps: first, the well

is produced at a constant rate for a specific duration, then it's shut in at the surface,

and the pressure buildup in the wellbore is monitored over time. Analyzing the data

acquired from this test allows for the estimation of various reservoir characteristics,

such as formation permeability and current pressure in the drainage area.

Additionally, it can reveal information about reservoir heterogeneity, boundaries,

and the presence of damage or stimulation. To interpret the pressure buildup test
 data effectively, it's crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of both surface

and subsurface conditions, including factors like testing and casing sizes, well

depth, packer condition, among others, which are used to refine the analysis and

ensure the accuracy and reliability of the estimates.

● Drawdown Test:

A pressure drawdown test is a well-testing method that involves measuring bottom-

hole pressure at intervals while maintaining a constant flow rate. Before the test

begins, the well is shut in to allow pressure to stabilize throughout the formation.

During the test, the well is opened for constant-rate flow, and the equipment

records bottom-hole pressure. The duration of this process can vary from hours to

days, depending on the testing goals. The data collected can be analyzed to

estimate reservoir properties, such as permeability and current pressure in the

drainage area. Moreover, the test can provide insights into reservoir heterogeneity,

boundaries, and the presence of damage or stimulation. Pressure drawdown

testing remains an invaluable tool for characterizing reservoirs and optimizing

production in the petroleum industry.

● Pressure Falloff Test:

The pressure falloff test is a widely-used technique in the petroleum sector for

evaluating the performance of oil and gas wells. It involves stopping fluid flow into

the well, allowing the pressure to naturally decrease. Since fluid flow into the well

is primarily influenced by pressure, any drop in pressure results in a reduction in

the flow rate. Consequently, fluid flow into the well declines significantly,

encountering substantial resistance from the surrounding rock formation. During

this test, a downhole pressure gauge is used to measure the pressure decline.

This allows for the assessment of critical well parameters like drainage area and
 permeability. The data obtained from this test assists engineers in evaluating the

well's productivity.

● Multi-Rate Test Pressure:

One of the notable methods for conducting pressure transient testing involves

altering the pressure under various flow rates. The process begins by shutting in

the well for a period to allow pressure to stabilize within the reservoir.

Subsequently, fluids are gradually produced from the well at varying flow rates,

and pressure is measured accordingly. This sequence is repeated until reaching

the maximum flow rate. Evaluating the pressure responses at different flow rates

provides valuable insights into reservoir properties such as permeability, porosity,

and drainage area.

 CONCLUSION

Well Testing in the petroleum industry serves as a critical practice for acquiring essential

data about hydrocarbon and reservoir properties. It involves a series of meticulously

planned activities conducted at different stages of drilling, completion, and production,

with varying objectives at each phase. In Exploration and Appraisal, the focus is on

reducing reservoir uncertainties and enhancing understanding. In contrast, during the

production phase, opportunistic shut-ins are used for continuous monitoring. Well tests

can be categorized into descriptive/reservoir tests and productivity tests.

Productivity Well Testing is a fundamental technique for assessing a well's production

potential. It includes collecting fluid samples, analyzing their properties, and monitoring

flow rates, bottom hole pressure, and temperature. This data helps estimate productivity

and formulate enhancement strategies.

Descriptive Tests are essential for estimating hydrocarbon production potential,

assessing wellbore damage, and identifying the need for workover or stimulation

treatments. These tests use transient methods to induce flow rate changes and measure

pressure responses, providing insights into reservoir characteristics and the most

effective production approaches.

Pressure Transient Testing, or well testing, is crucial for reservoir characterization and

decision-making in different well life cycle stages, offering insights into reservoir

properties such as permeability, porosity, and connectivity.

Build-up Tests involve producing the well, shutting it in, and monitoring pressure buildup

to estimate reservoir properties.

Drawdown Tests measure bottom-hole pressure during constant flow rates, providing

data for reservoir property estimation.

Pressure Falloff Tests evaluate well performance by allowing natural pressure decline

and measuring flow rate changes.

Multi-Rate Tests vary flow rates to assess permeability, porosity, and drainage area,

providing insights into reservoir properties and performance.

References

https://petrowiki.spe.org/Pressure_transient_testing

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/pressure-transient-test