Superposition

Dr Mostafa Ghasemi
Email: [email protected]
Ext:7375
Room: No.8, 2nd floor, Block J3
Principle of Superposition
Lesson Content
Principle of superposition
Reservoir pressure response during buildup
Semilog plot of pws versus [(tp + ∆t)/∆t]
Determination of permeability and reservoir pressure
Computation of skin factor from last flowing pressure

CO1: To analyze drawdown and build up test using

analytical solutions.
CO3: To apply the concept of superposition in well
test.
Lesson Outcomes

Apply principle of superposition to multiwell and

variable rate systems.
Apply semilog straight line analysis method to
determine permeability, reservoir pressure, and skin
factor from the middle time buildup test data.
Estimate wellbore storage coefficient from early time
buildup test data.
CO1: To analyze drawdown and build up test using
analytical solutions.
CO3: To apply the concept of superposition in well
test.
Superposition in Space
 Superposition is summation of all individual parts (responses) that contribute
to the total system.

Superposition states that the pressure

drop at point X is equal to the sum of the
pressure drops owing to Well A, Well B,
and Well C. Mathematically,

∆ = ∆ + ∆ + ∆

Where, ∆ = − ( )
 Superposition in Space

.
OR ( , )= +
.
+

.
+
 Superposition in Space
If we have a well producing at a constant production rate, the
pressure in that well is a function of its own production as well
as the production from the surrounding wells.

− = − + − + −
 Superposition in Space

 Similarly, the pressure drop at Well A becomes

70.6 −948ϕ
, = + −2
ℎ
.
+

.
+
Example 1: Multiwell test
For the conditions shown in the figure below, estimate the pressure at Well 1 after 7 hours of
production. Well 1 is producing with a rate of 100 STB/D and Well 2 production rate is 25 STB/D.

= 100′

Well Well
1 2
+
= h=20 ft
= 1 = 0.2
=76 md = 10 × 10
=1 cp B=1.08 RB/STB
S (@well 1)=5
 . . .
, = + −2 + +

= 100′

Well Well
1 2
Solution:
. .
, = + −2 +

,
70.6 ∗ 100 ∗ 1 ∗ 1.08 −948 ∗ 0.2 ∗ 1 ∗ 10 × 10 ∗1
= 2200 + −2∗5
76 ∗ 20 76 ∗ 7
70.6 ∗ 25 ∗ 1 ∗ 1.08 −948 ∗ 0.2 ∗ 1 ∗ 10 × 10 ∗ 100
+
76 ∗ 20 76 ∗ 7
 Example 1 Solution cont’d

−948 ∗ 0.2 ∗ 10 × 10 ∗1
= −3.564 × 10 = ln 1.781 ∗ 3.564 × 10 = −11.968
76 ∗ 7
and
−948 ∗ 0.2 ∗ 10 × 10 ∗ 100
= −0.03564 = −2.7992
76 ∗ 7
Substituting the above calculation to the main equation gives
70.6 ∗ 100 ∗ 1 ∗ 1.08 70.6 ∗ 25 ∗ 1 ∗ 1.08
, = 2200 + (−11.968 − 2 ∗ 5) + −2.7992 = 2086.29
76 ∗ 20 76 ∗ 20
 Superposition in Time

 The most important application of superposition is in modeling variable rate test (including
buildup test). Assuming the three
 Consider the case in the figure below: wells are located at the
same place, but
t produce at different
time as shown below:

q
= Well 1

0 t
( − )
+ Well 2

+0 Well 3
( − )
Superposition in Time Cont’d
 Using the concept of superposition in space, the pressure at the well with the rate change
shown before becomes:

70.6 −948ϕ
= + −2
ℎ

. ( )
+ ( )
−2

. ( )
+
( )
−2
 Superposition in Time
 For a general rate change case as shown in the figure below:

70.6( − ) −948ϕ
= + −2
ℎ ( − )
Or
70.6 −948ϕ
= + ( − ) −2
ℎ ( − )
 Example 2: Variable rate test
A flowing well is completed in a reservoir that has the following properties.

= h=43 ft
= 0.35 = 0.16
= 25 md = 18 × 10
= 0.44 cp B=1.32 RB/STB
S =2
Calculate the pressure in the well after 11 days for the following rate history.

= 350

q, STB/D =250 =100

0 120 168 t, hrs

 70.6 −948ϕ
Example 2 solution = +
ℎ
( − )
( − )
−2

= 350

q, STB/D =250 =100 n=3

0 120 168 t, hrs

=
70.6 −948ϕ 70.6 −948ϕ
+ ( − ) −2 = + ( − 0) −2 +(
ℎ ( − ) ℎ −
−948ϕ −948ϕ
− ) −2 +( − ) −2
− ( − )
Example 2 solution
= 250
t=11*24=264 hrs
t1=120 hrs = 350
t2=168 hrs
= 100

70.6 70.6 ∗ 0.44 ∗ 1.32

= = 0.038
ℎ 25 ∗ 43

−948ϕ −948 ∗ 0.16 ∗ 0.44 ∗ 18 × 10 ∗ 0.35

= = −5.886 × 10
25
= 11
= 2500
−5.886 × 10 −5.886 × 10
+ 0.038 (250 − 0) − 2 ∗ 2 + (350 − 250) − 2 ∗ 2 + (100
264 264 − 120
−5.886 × 10
− 350) −2∗2
(264 − 168)
 Example 2 solution cont’d

= 11
= 2500 + 0.038 250 −17.042 − 4 + 100 −16.436 − 4 + (−250) −16.03 − 4
= 2500 + 0.038 −5260.5 − 2043.6 + 5007.53 = 2500 − 232.856 = 2412.73