Introduction to Well Testing 1

Introduction to Well Testing

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 2

Introduction to Well Testing

Instructional Objectives

1. List 4 objectives of well testing.

2. Define testing variables.

3. Compute compressibility of reservoir

systems.

Upon completion of this section, the student should be able to:

1. List 4 major objectives of well testing.

2. Define, give the units for, and specify typical sources

for each of the following variables: net pay thickness, porosity,
saturation, viscosity, formation volume factor, total compressibility,
wellbore radius.

3. Be able to compute the total compressibility for different reservoir

systems.

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 3

Introduction To Well Testing

Outline

• Applications and objectives of well

testing

• Development of the diffusivity equation

• Definitions and sources for data used

in well testing

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 4

What Is A Well Test?

• A tool for reservoir evaluation and
characterization
– Investigates a much larger volume of
the reservoir than cores or logs
– Provides estimate of permeability
under in-situ conditions
– Provides estimates of near-wellbore
condition
– Provides estimates of distances to
boundaries

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 5

How Is A Well Test Conducted?

q=0

A well test is conducted by

• Changing production rate at a well
• Measuring resulting pressure response at the same well or
another well

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 6

Well Test Applications

• Exploration

• Reservoir engineering

• Production engineering

• Exploration
Is this zone economic?
How large is this reservoir?
• Reservoir engineering
What is the average reservoir pressure?
How do I describe this reservoir in order to
– estimate reserves?
– forecast future performance?
– optimize production?
• Production engineering
Is this well damaged?
How effective was this stimulation treatment?
Why is this well not performing as well as expected?

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 7

Well Test Objectives

• Define reservoir limits

• Estimate average drainage area

pressure

• Characterize reservoir

• Diagnose productivity problems

• Evaluate stimulation treatment

effectiveness

• Define reservoir limits

– Distances to boundaries
– Drainage area
• Estimate average drainage area pressure
• Characterize reservoir
– Permeability
– Skin factor
– Dual porosity or layered behavior
• Diagnose productivity problems
– Permeability
– Skin factor
• Evaluate stimulation treatment effectiveness
– Skin factor
– Fracture conductivity
– Fracture half-length

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 8

Types of Well Tests

q

Single-Well Multi-Well

Single well tests

Drawdown test –Produce a well at constant rate and measure the
pressure response.
Buildup test – Shut in a well that has been producing and
measure the pressure response.
Injection test – Inject fluid into a well at constant rate and
measure the pressure response.
Injection-falloff test – Shut in an injection well and measure the
pressure response.
Multi-well tests
Interference test – Produce one well at constant rate and
measure the pressure response at one or more offset wells.
Pulse test – Alternately produce and shut in one well and
measure the pressure response at one or more offset wells.

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 9

Development of the
Diffusivity Equation

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 10

The Diffusivity Equation

• Describes the flow of

– A slightly compressible fluid

– Having constant viscosity

– In a porous medium

– At constant temperature

• Obtained by combining
– Continuity equation
– Equation of state for slightly compressible liquids
– Flow equation - Darcy’s law

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 11

The Continuity Equation

ρv)1
(Aρ ρv)2
(Aρ

m = ( Aρv )1 − ( Aρv )2

The continuity equation is a restatement of the conservation of matter.

That is, the rate of accumulation of fluid within a volume element is given
by the rate at which the fluid flows into the volume minus the rate at which
the fluid flows out of the volume.

Nomenclature
A = Cross-sectional area open to flow, ft2
m = Rate of accumulation of mass within the volume, lbm/sec
v = Fluid velocity, ft/sec
ρ = Density of fluid, lbm/ft3

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 12

Equation of State for a Slightly

Compressible Liquid

ρ = ρ o e c (p −po )

This equation describes the change in density with pressure for a

liquid with small and constant compressibility.

Nomenclature
c = Compressibility, psi-1
p = Pressure, psi
ρ = Density of fluid, lbm/ft3

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 13

Flow Equation - Darcy’s Law

kA∆p
q=
µL
or, in differential form,

k x ∂p
ux = −
µ ∂x

Nomenclature
A = Cross sectional area open to flow, cm2
k = Permeability, darcies
L = Length of flow path, cm
p = Pressure, atm
∆p = Pressure difference between upstream and
downstream sides, atm
q = Flow rate, cm3/sec
ux = Flow velocity, cm/sec
x = Spatial coordinate, cm
µ = Viscosity, cp

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 14

The Diffusivity Equation

1 ∂  ∂p  φµc t ∂p
r  =
r ∂ r  ∂r  k ∂t

• The diffusivity equation is obtained by combining

- The continuity equation
- The equation of state for a slightly compressible liquid
- Darcy’s law

• Other transient flow equations may be obtained by combining

different equations of state and different flow equations
- Gas flow equation
- Multiphase flow equation

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 15

Data Used in Well Testing

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 16

Formation Volume Factor

Vres
Bo =
Vsurf

• The formation volume factor is the volume of fluid at reservoir

conditions necessary to produce a unit volume of fluid at
surface conditions.
• Symbol – Bo, Bg, Bw
• Units – res bbl/STB, res bbl/ Mscf
• Source – Lab measurements, correlations
• Range and typical values
– Oil
• 1 – 2 res bbl/STB, Black oil
• 2 – 4 res bbl/STB, Volatile oil
– Water
• 1 – 1.1 res bbl/STB
– Gas
• 0.5 res bbl/Mscf, at 9000 psi
• 5 res bbl/Mscf, at 680 psi
• 30 res bbl/Mscf, at 115 psi

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 17

Viscosity

v + dv

dy v

F
µ≡
dv
A
dy

• Viscosity is a measure of resistance to flow. Specifically, it is

the ratio of the shear stress to the resulting rate of strain within
a fluid.

• Symbols
µo, µg, µw

• Units – cp

• Source – Lab measurements, correlations

• Range and typical values

- 0.25 – 10,000 cp, Black oil
- 0.5 – 1.0 cp, Water
- 0.012 – 0.035 cp, Gas

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 18

Fluid Compressibility

1 ∂Vo ∂ ln(Vo )
co ≡ − =−
Vo ∂p ∂p

• Compressibility is the fractional change in volume due to a unit

change in pressure.
• Symbol – co, cg, cw
• Units – psi-1, microsips (1 microsip = 1x10-6 psi-1)
• Source – Lab measurements, correlations
Typical Values
• Oil
– 15x10-6 psi-1, undersaturated oil
– 180x10-6 psi-1, saturated oil
• Water
– 4x10-6 psi-1
• Gas
– 1/p, Ideal gas
– 60x10-6 psi-1, at 9000 psi
– 1.5x10-3 psi-1, at 680 psi
– 9x10-3 psi-1, at 115 psi

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 19

Porosity

• Porosity is the ratio of volume of pore space to bulk volume of

rock.

• Symbol - φ

• Units
– Equations - fraction
– Reports - % (or fraction)

• Source
– Logs, cores

• Range or Typical Value

– 30%, unconsolidated well-sorted sandstone
– 20%, clean, well-sorted consolidated sandstone
– 8%, low permeability reservoir rock
– 0.5%, natural fracture porosity

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 20

Permeability

qµ L
k=
A∆p

• Permeability is the measure of capacity of rock to transmit

fluid.

• Symbol
– k

• Units
– Darcy or millidarcy (md or mD)

• Source
– Well tests, core analysis

• Range
– 0.001 md - 10,000 md

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 21

Pore Compressibility

1 ∂φ ∂ ln(φ )
cf ≡ =
φ ∂p ∂p

• Pore volume compressibility is the fractional change in porosity

due to unit change in pressure.
• Symbol – cf

• Units – psi-1, microsips

• Source – Lab measurement, correlation, guess

• Range or Typical Value

– 4x10-6 psi-1, well-consolidated sandstone
– 30x10-6 psi-1, unconsolidated sandstone
– 4 to 50 x 10-6 psi-1 consolidated limestones

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 22

Net Pay Thickness

Shale
h1 Sand

h2

h3

h = h1 + h2 + h3

• The net pay thickness is the total thickness of all productive

layers in communication with the well.

• Net pay includes any rock that has sufficient vertical

permeability to allow fluid to move to a layer from which it may
be produced.

• Thickness is measured perpendicular to bed boundaries.

• Symbol – h

• Units – ft

• Source – logs

• Range or Typical Value

– May be as small as 5 ft or even less

– May be as large as 1,000 ft or more

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 23

Net Pay Thickness

Case 1 Case 3

Case 2 Case 4

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 24

Saturations
H2O

• Saturation is the fraction of pore volume occupied by a

particular fluid.

• Symbol – So, Sw, Sg

• Units – fraction or %

• Source – logs

• Range or Typical Value

– 15 to 25% – connate water saturation in well-sorted,
coarse sandstones
– 40 to 60% – connate water saturation in poorly sorted,
fine-grained, shaly, low-permeability reservoir rock

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 25

Wellbore Radius

rw

• Wellbore radius is the size of wellbore.

• Symbol
– rw

• Units
– feet

• Source
– Bit diameter/2
– Caliper log

• Range or Typical Value

– 2 to 8 in.

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 26

Total Compressibility

c t = c f + S o c o + S w c w + S gc g

• The total compressibility is the sum of pore compressibility and

saturation weighted fluid compressibilities.
• Symbol – ct

• Units
– psi-1, microsips

• Source
– Calculated

• Range or Typical Value

– See exercises

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 27

Exercise 1
Introduction to Well Testing
List 4 Objectives of Well Testing

List 4 objectives of well testing. List as many as possible without

referring to the notes.

1.

2.

3.

4.

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 28

Exercise 2
Introduction to Well Testing
Define Variables Used In Well Testing

Define, give the units for, and name a common source for each of
the following variables used in well testing. Complete as much of
this exercise as possible before referring to the notes.

1. Porosity

2. Water saturation

3. Total compressibility

4. Oil compressibility

5. Formation volume factor

6. Viscosity

7. Wellbore radius

8. Net pay thickness

9. Permeability

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 29

Exercise 3
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for Undersaturated
Oil Reservoir

Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume

solution gas/oil ratios do not include stock tank vent gas.
Undersaturated oil reservoir (above the bubblepoint)

Sw = 17%, TDS = 18 wt %, oil gravity = 27°API,

Rso = 530 scf/STB, gas gravity = 0.85, Tf = 185°F,

p = 3500 psi, cf = 3.6×10-6 psi-1

Tsep = 75°F, p sep = 115 psia

From fluid properties correlations,

pb = 2803 psi

co = 1.158 x 10-5 psi-1

cw = 2.277 x 10-6 psi-1

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 30

Exercise 4
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for Saturated
Oil Reservoir

Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume

solution gas/oil ratios do not include stock tank vent gas.

Saturated oil reservoir (below the original bubblepoint)

Sw = 17%, Sg = 5%, TDS = 18 wt %, oil gravity = 27°API,

Rso = 530 scf/STB, gas gravity = 0.85, Tf = 185°F,

p = 2000 psi, cf = 3.6×10-6 psi-1

Tsep = 75°F, p sep = 115 psia

From fluid properties correlations,

pb = 2803 psi

co = 1.429 x 10-4 psi-1

cg = 5.251 x 10-4 psi-1

cw = 4.995 x 10-6 psi-1

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 31

Exercise 5
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for Low-Pressure,
High-Permeability Gas Reservoir

Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume a dry

gas.
Low-pressure, high-permeability gas reservoir

Sw = 20%, gas gravity = 0.74, Tf = 125°F, p = 125 psi,

cf = 3.6×10-6 psi-1, cw = 4 x 10-6 psi [Tf is outside range of

correlations]

From fluid properties correlations,

cg = 8.144 x 10-3 psi-1

cw = 4x10-6 psi-1

NExT April 2000

Introduction to Well Testing 32

Exercise 6
Introduction to Well Testing
Calculate Compressibility for
High-Pressure, Low-Permeability
Gas Reservoir

Calculate total compressibility for the following situation. Assume a

dry gas.

High pressure, low permeability gas reservoir

Sw = 35%, TDS = 22 wt %, gas gravity = 0.67, Tf = 270°F,

p = 5,000 psi, cf = 20×10-6 psi-1

From fluid properties correlations,

cg = 1.447 x 10-4 psi-1

cw = 3.512 x10-6 psi-1

NExT April 2000