Well Testing
Well Testing
Well Testing
Course Program
Introduction to well testing
types
objectives
equipment
Recap of flow equations for an infinite acting porous medium
Flow equations for closed reservoirs
Tests description and interpretion for oil and gas wells
Drawdown periods
Buildup periods (Horner plot)
Recap of well productivity and deliverability
Introduction to the pressure derivative method
Pressure derivative analysis: interpretation models for early, middle and late time
Excercises on well tests interpretation (Interpret by Paradigm/Saphir by Kappa)
Tutorials
Real cases
Numerical well testing (Saphir by Kappa)
Well Testing
The principle of Well Testing is to analyze the output signal of a well
on which a known input signal has been applied.
INPUT
OUTPUT
(well + reservoir)
heterogeneities
(natural
fractures,
layering,
change
of
Well description:
define production potential (Productivity Index, well deliverability)
well damage (skin factor S);
design remedial jobs (i.e.: acid treatment, gravel pack, fracturing);
verify completion efficiency;
design surface production facilities;
optimize drilling technique by choosing the best mud in order to minimize formation
damage (for new infilling wells)
DESCRIPTION
It is possible to test the fluids in an open hole or cased hole
(perforations h=30 cm) by setting packers above and below
the interval of interest. This way a well interval is isolated (1
m) and the formation fluids are allowed to flow into the well
by using a downhole pump. The tools can be run in hole by
wireline or drill pipes. The formation pressure and fluid
mobility (thus permeability) can be measured and the
formation fluids sampled.
DrawDown
BuildUp
DD
BU
DRAWDOWN PERIOD
A well that is static, stable and shut-in is opened to flow
and the downhole pressure measured as the pressure
declines. For the purposes of traditional analysis, the
flow rate is supposed to be constant. Many of the
traditional analysis techniques are derived using the
drawdown test as a basis. However, in practice, a
drawdown test may be rather difficult to achieve under
the intended conditions. In particular:
(a) it is difficult to make the well flow at constant rate,
even after it has (more-or-less) stabilized;
(b) the well condition may not initially be either static or
stable, especially if it was recently drilled or had been
flowed previously.
BUILDUP PERIOD
A well which is already flowing (ideally at constant rate)
is shut in, and the downhole pressure measured as the
pressure builds up. Analysis of a buildup test often
requires only slight modification of the techniques used
to interpret drawdown test. The practical advantage of a
buildup test is that the constant flow rate condition is
achieved (since the flow rate is zero).
Buildup tests also have disadvantages:
(a) It may be difficult to achieve the constant rate
production prior to the shut in.
(b) Production is lost while the well is shut in.
Buildup Period
Drawdown Period
Running gauge
in hole
Pulling out
gauge
p
t
t
p
Observation well
DESCRIPTION
Interference tests require longduration production or injection rate
changes in the active well. The
associated pressure disturbance
t in the observation well(s)
recorded
yields information regarding the
degree of hydraulic communication
within the interwell region.
Dt = time lag
observation well
observation well
producing well
DESCRIPTION
These tests are conducted to
determine crossflow between two
layers separated by a lowpermeability layer or to detect
leaks behind the casing due to
poor cementation or through the
paker.
Courtesy of Schlumberger
Well Testing
Field Data
Field Data
Surface
Data
Produced
Fluids
Flow
Rates
Wellhead
Pressure
Wellhead
Temperature
Field Fluid
Properties
DWT
Separators
Bottom
Data
SRO
Memory
Gauge
Surface Equipment:
bi three phase separator
choke manifold
Dead Weight Tester (DWT)
heater
piping/burners
Downhole Gauges:
electronic (Memory , SRO) gauges
Courtesy of Schlumberger
Well Testing
Field Data Quality Control
Flow Rate:
The flow rates selected in the Rate History must be homogeneous with the
corresponding bottomhole pressures ( option Validation Rates)
Surface Read Out- Connection to the surface and data transferring is maintained during
the test through an electric wireline cable. High cost (surface wireline unit and
personnel) but possibility to intervene changing the test sequence if needed.
Strain Gauge
Quartz Gauge
Accuracy: 10 psia
Accuracy: 2 psia
Drift: negligible
Courtesy of Schlumberger
Microsystems Technology
Courtesy of Schlumberger