Modeling Radial Flow

The Diffusivity Equation

• Describes the flow of
– a slightly compressible fluid
– having constant viscosity
– in a porous medium
– at constant temperature
• Derived from basic relationships of
– continuity
– flow equation (Darcy’s law)
– equation-of-state
The Diffusivity Equation
 Radial flow of slightly compressibility
fluids
• Assume that the permeability and viscosity are constant
over pressure, time, and distance ranges. This leads to:
 Quiz

Show that the radial form of Darcy’s equation is the

solution to the radial diffusivity equation.
 Solution of the Diffusivity Equation
Based on the boundary conditions imposed there are two
generalized solutions to the diffusivity equation. These are:
(1) the constant-terminal-pressure solution
(2) the constant-terminal-rate solution.
 Constant-terminal-pressure solution
• The constant-terminal-pressure solution is designed to
provide the cumulative flow at any particular time for a
reservoir in which the pressure at one boundary of the
reservoir is held constant.
• This technique is frequently used in water influx
calculations in gas and oil reservoirs
 Constant-terminal-rate solution
• The constant-terminal-rate solution is an integral part of
most transient test analysis techniques, e.g., drawdown and
pressure buildup analyses. Most of these tests involve
producing the well at a constant flow rate and recording the
flowing pressure as a function of time, i.e., p(rw, t).
•
 Constant-terminal-rate solution
• There are two commonly used forms of the constant-
terminal-rate solution:
• (1) the Ei function solution;
• (2) the dimensionless pressure drop pD solution
The Ei function solution
 Ei-Function Graph

6 Log approximation

4
-Ei(-x)
Ei-function
drops to zero
2

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
-x
Short-Time Approximation for Ei-
Function Solution

Applies when

(large radius or small time)

 Long-Time Approximation
to Ei-Function Solution
when
Example
Solution
Long-Time Approximation
to Ei-Function Solution

Applies when

(small radius or large time)

Long-Time Approximation
to Ei-Function Solution
Long-Time Approximation
to Ei-Function Solution
Using the data in the previous example, estimate the bottom-hole
flowing pressure after 10 hours of production
The dimensionless pressure drop pD
solution
The dimensionless pressure drop pD
solution
Dimensionless Diffusivity Equation
Dimensionless Variables
Infinite-acting reservoir- Dimensionless
Solution
Finite-Radial Reservoir
Dimensionless Pressure Solution
Example
Radius of Investigation
 Pseudosteady state
• In the unsteady-state flow cases discussed previously, it was
• assumed that a well is located in a very large reservoir and
producing at a constant flow rate.
• This rate creates a pressure disturbance in the reservoir that
travels throughout this “infinite-size reservoir.”
• During this transient flow period, reservoir boundaries
have no effect on the pressure behavior of the well.
 Pseudosteady state
• Obviously, the time period when this assumption can be
imposed is often very short in length. As soon as the pressure
disturbance reaches all drainage boundaries, it ends the
transient (unsteady-state) flow regime and the beginning of
the boundary-dominated flow condition.
• This different type of flow regime is called pseudosteady
(semisteady)-State Flow.
 Pseudosteady state
• It is necessary at this point to impose different boundary
conditions on the diffusivity equation and drive an
appropriate solution to this flow regime.
• During this semisteady-state flow, the change in pressure
with time becomes the same throughout the drainage area.
Pseudosteady state
Pseudosteady state
Example
Average Reservoir Pressure
Solution of Pseudosteady state
Solution of Pseudosteady state
Accounting for different reservoir
geometry
Example
Example
Skin and Near Wellbore Conditions
Skin and Near Wellbore Conditions
Steady State with Skin
The apparent wellbore radius
Unsteady State with Skin
Pseudosteady state
Productivity Index and Completion Efficiency.
Superposition
Effects of Multiple Wells
Effects of Variable Flow Rates
Effects of the Reservoir Boundary
Type Curve Analysis
 Objectives

1. Identify wellbore storage and middle time regions

on type curve.
2. Identify pressure response for a well with high,
zero, or negative skin.
3. Calculate equivalent time.
4. Calculate wellbore storage coefficient,
permeability, and skin factor from type curve
match.
Dimensionless Variables
Radial Flow With WBS And Skin
 Gringarten Type Curve
• Constant rate production
• Vertical well
• Infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir
• Single-phase, slightly compressible liquid
• Infinitesimal skin factor
• Constant wellbore storage coefficient
 Gringarten Type Curve
100

Wellbore storage coefficient

Skin factor CDe2s CDe2s=1060 Type curve

PD CDe2s=100
CDe2s=0.01
Stem

Time group

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Gringarten Type Curve
100

PD
Similarities of curves make
matching difficult

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Pressure Derivative
 Derivative Type Curve
100
Differences in curve
shapes make
matching easier CDe2s=1060

tD*PD

CDe2s=100

CDe2s=0.01

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Pressure + Derivative Type Curves
100
Combining curves
gives each stem
value two distinctive
shapes

PD

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Pressure/Derivative Type Curve
100

WBS Transition Radial Flow

PD
Unit
Horizontal Derivative
Slope
Line

Early Time Region Middle Time Region

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Pressure + Derivative Type Curve
100

High skin

PD No skin

Low skin

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
 Field Data Plot

1,000

P

1
teq 1,000
Overlay Field Data on Type Curve
100

1,000

PD
P

1
teq 1,000
0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Move Field Data Toward Horizontal
100

1,000

PD
P

Align data with

1 horizontal part of
teq type curves 1,000
0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Move Field Data Toward Match
100

1,000
Stop when data align
with horizontal stems

P
PD

Begin to move toward unit slope line

1
teq 1,000

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Move Field Data Toward Stems
100

1,000

P
PD

1
teq 1,000

0.01 100,000
tD/CD
Move Field Data Toward Stems
100
Assume Assume Let’s say s=7x10
Calculate s from9
pD =1,000
10 Dp = 262 matching stem value

p/pD k
Extrapolate curve
p as necessary
pD
Assume
teq = 0.0546
1
teq 1,000
Teq/tD  CD

0.01 100,000
Assume
tD/CD = 1 tD/CD
Exercise 1
Estimating Permeability and Skin Factor
from the Diagnostic Plot

1000

pr
Pressure change, psi

100

(tp’)r
10

1
0.01 0.1 1 10 tr 100 1000

Equivalent time, hrs

Estimating Permeability and Skin Factor