INFLOW PERFORMANCE RELATIONS

BY

Dr.T.K.NAIYA
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad – 826004

INTRODUCTION:
The inflow performance of a well represents the ability of the well to give up
fluids. A typical plot shows how the shape of the curves may differ.
Flowing pressure versus rate may be essentially a straight line having
negative constant slope, like in the case of water drive and/or pressure above
saturation pressure. Normally this is true only for the wells flowing above bubble point
pressure. The nature of variation may be a curve (solution gas drive and flow below
bubble point).
The ability of well to give up fluids depends on the type of reservoir an d drive
mechanism, reservoir pressure and permeability of reservoir etc. It is common
practice to assume that the inflow into a particular well with constant condition is
directly proportional to the reservoir pressure (PR).
TYPES OF RESERVOIR

SOLUTION GAS DRIVE:

This type of reservoir is also referred to the internal gas drive reservoir,
depletion drive or volumetric performance.
i. A constant volume means that there is no change in the initial size of the
reservoir. There is no water encroachment for this particular type of
reservoir.
ii. There is two phase flow at pressures below the bubble point. In other
words gas coming out of solution flows along with the oil.
iii. The gas comes out of solution but does not move upward to form a gas
cap. Gas bubbles formed in the oil [hase remain in the oil phase, resulting
in simultaneous flow of both oil and gas.
iv. Oil production is the result of the volumetric expansion of the solution gas
and the volumetric expansion of oil.
v. This type of reservoir drive mechanism approaches a flash gas liberation
process.

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WATER DRIVE:
I. The water drive reservoirs may also be referred to as water
encroachment or hydraulic control.
II. The reservoir volume for oil does not remain constant. Water
encroaches changing the initial volume of the container (reservoir).
III. Thee is a displacement of oil by water.
IV. This reservoir type could also have a gas phase, resulting in a
combination water depletion drive.
V. There will be an optimum rate of production.
VI. In a water drive reservoir PI of individual wells are more reliable
than those of a depletion drive reservoir.
GAS CAP EXPANSION DRIVE RESERVOIRS:
i. This type of drive mechanism may also be referred to as segregation or
gravity drainage.
ii. The reservoir in segregation has an oil zone overlain by a gas cap.
iii. The drive may further be classified as to whether or not gas coming out of
solution in the reservoir flows to the gas cap.
iv. A segregation drive with counter-flow will have gas coming out of the
solution and moving to the gas cap.
v. As production proceeds the gas cap expands and moves down resulting
in gas cap expansion drive.
vi. The permeability of the formation determines whether the counter flow will
occur. It would be expected in the formations having permeability of 100
md.
vii. The segregation drive with counter flow approaches a differential gas
liberation process, defined as a process in which the gases liberated from
solution in the oil when the pressure is reduced are removed from contact
with the oil as rapidly as they are formed.
PRODUCTIVITY INDEX

The productivity index of the well is defined as barrels of total production per day per
psi of pressure drop (bpd/psi)
PI = J = (qo + qw) / (pR – pwf) (1)
Where –
qo = Oil flow rate barrels of oil per day
qw = Water flow rate barrels of water per day
pR = Average static reservoir pressure in psi
pwf = Bottom Hole flowing pressure in psi

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 Pwf

qo

Typical Inflow Performance Curve

When the value of this slope is constant the well is said to have single PI. However in
this case the curvature exists in most of the wells and the wells cannot be said to
having a single PI. Because the slope varies along with the variation of draw-down.
IPR is the relationship between flowing pressure and rate . The PI is the first
differential of the IPR in the special case where the IPR is a straight line or is the
close enough to being straight that curvature can be neglected.

Gas cap expansion Drive

The ability to predict inflow performance is further accomplished because the
inflow performance curve and PI may also change with cumulative production and
again depends upon the type of reservoir.

Solution Drive Reservoir

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 In a case where a straight line relationship
PI = Tan θ = OB / OA (2)

A PR
θ

Pwf

qomax
O
q A
Ideal Case of Productivity Index

A PR
θ

Pwf

qomax
O
q A
Actual Case of Productivity Index

In a case where straight line is not existing the conditions represent the flow
below bubble point pressure. PI not only changes with time or cumulative production
but is also subjected to change with increased draw down at any one specific time in
the life of the well. If we measure several PI in a well during a specific time interval, a
relationship will be obtained between rate and flowing pressure, which normally, is
not linear for a solution gas drive field. This phenomenon may be attributed to one or
more of the following factors-

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 i. Increased gas saturation with subsequent lowering of permeability to oil
near the well bore as a result of reduced reservoir pressure near the well
bore at higher producing rates.
ii. Change from laminar to turbulent flow in some flow capillaries near the
well bore at increased producing rates.
iii. Exceeding critical flow rates through pores at formation face in the well
bore. These pores act as orifice and when the critical rate is exceeded,
increased draw downs have a diminished effect or increased rates.
This plot of q versus pwf is called Inflow Performance curves.

VOGEL WORK
Vogel work is related to construct the IPR curves form one flowing test on a
well. This is general solution of solution gas drive reservoir flow equations with the
constants for particular solutions depending upon an individual reservoir, and for
flowing pressures of the curve.
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf / pR) – 0.80 (pwf / pR)2 (3)
Where qo is the producing rate corresponding to a given well intake pressure pwf , pR
is the corresponding reservoir pressure and qomax is the maximum (100% draw down)
producing rate.
For comparision the relationship for a straight line IPR is
(qo / qomax) = 1 – (pwf / pR) (4)

Pwf/PR

0
0 qo/qomax 1
Vogel’s Inflow Performance Relations for Solution gas Drive

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 i. This procedure would not be considered for other type of the drives. For
wells producing with a flowing pressures below the bubble point the work
may be well applicable.
ii. Since the reference curve is for two phase flow of oil and gas only, it
would not be considered for three phase (oil, gas and water).

STANDING’S EXTENSION OF VOGEL WORK FOR DAMAGED OR IMPROVED

WELL
The initial work of Vogel is assumed to have 100% flow efficiency and did not
account for wells that were damaged or improved. Standing proposed a companion
chart to account for conditions where the flow efficiency was not equal to 1. The flow
efficiency is defined as –
FE = Ideal Drawdown / Actual Drawdown
FE = (PR – Pwf1) / (PR – Pwf)
Pwf1 = Pwf + ΔPskin
Pwf = Actual well bore pressure with damage
Pwf1 = Ideal well bore flowing pressure without damage
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf1 / pR) – 0.80 (pwf1 / pR)2 (4)

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 FE = {pR – (pwf + ΔPskin)} / (pR – pwf) (5A)
FE = {pR – pwf - ΔPskin} / (pR – pwf) (5)
Which is the useful pressure drop across the system to the total pressure drop. For a
well draining a cylindrical volume-
FE = Ln (0.47 re / rw) / {ln (0.47 re / rw) + S} (6)
Where S is dimensionless skin factor

An undamaged well would flow at rate q for a flowing pressure of p wf’ while the
damaged well must flow at the lower pressure of p wf in order to produce the same
rate q.
The ΔPskin is thus seen to be the difference between pwf’ and pwf.

PR

Slope m = 141.2 qµß/kh

Pwf1

ΔPskin
Pwf

rw rs 0.47 re re
Ln r

Pressure Profile of damaged well producing by Solution gas drive

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 P1hr
Slope m = 162.5 qo µo ßo / ko h
P

Ln t + Δt /Δt
Method of Determining ΔPSKIN
S = 1.151 [ {(P1hr – Pwf) / m} – log {KO / (Φ μ ct rw2)} – 3.23]
ΔPskin = 0.87 S m
There may be many factors which cause or control this added resistance
including invasion of the zone by mud or kill fluids, swelling of the shale and others.
This may also represent the improvement after the stimulation job.
The definition of ΔPskin is made by first determining S skin factor from a
standard pressure build up test on a well.
ΔPskin = S [q μ / (2 π K h)] (7)
Where S is the skin factor
S = [{(Ke – Ka) / Ke} ln (ra / rw)] (8)
Where ‘a’ denotes altered permeability and e denoted unaltered permeability. The
standard equation for skin factor is –
S = 1.151 [ {(P1hr – Pwf) / m} – log {KO / (Φ μ ct rw2)} – 3.23] (9)
ΔPskin = 0.87 S m (10)
This is for small Δt where (t + Δt)/ Δt > 1 and PR = P1hr.
Ct = Compressibility of formation & the formation fluid = 2 x 10-5 psi-1
We could use time other than 1 hour only this will change constant 3.23 like for 10
hour time the constant will be 3.23 – log10 = 2.23.
S = + Indicates damage condition of the well.
S = 0 indicates that Ka = Ke
S = - indicates improvement after stimulation and that values of –3 to
–5 are common for a fractured well.

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 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
qo/qomax

The p1hr must come form straight lime portion of the curve and may have to be
extrapolated backwards. The value of ΔPskin is then calculated from-
ΔPskin = 0.87 S.m (10)
Where m is the slope from the pressure build up curve (Hornor’s plot) and can be
determined from-
m = (162.5 qo . μo . Bo ) / Ko.h (11)

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Correlating from the ΔPskin equation we can have that-
m = 2.303 q . μ / 2 π Kh (12)
and ΔPskin = 0.87 S.m. Thi sis the method for calculating ΔP skin for determining Flow
efficiency. IPR curves for flow efficiencies between 0.5 and 1.5 several things can be
obtained from this plot:
i. The maximum rate possible for a well with damage.
ii. The maximum rate possible if the damage is removed and FE = 1.0
iii. The determination of the flow rate possible if the well is stimulated and
improved.
iv. The determination of the flow rate possible for any flowing pressure for
different values of FE.
v. The construction of IPR curves to show rate versus flowing pressure for
damaged and improved wells.
vi. This extension of Vogel work is very useful in being able to determine
whether or not a particular stimulation method is profitable or not.

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 TUTORIAL SHEET
Q.1: Following test data are conducted on a solution gas drive well
PR = 2000 psi Pwf = 1500 psi qo = 65 bpd
Determine qomax and qo at Pwf = 500 psi. using Vogel’s relation and linear
relations and draw the complete IPR

Solution (Vogel’s relations):

(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf / pR) – 0.80 (pwf / pR)2
65/ qomax = 1 – 0.20 (1500/2000) – 0.80 (1500/2000)2
65/ qomax = 1 – 0.20 (0.75) – 0.80 (0.75)2
65/ qomax = 1 – 0.15 – 0.45 = 0.40
qomax = 162.5 bpd

(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf / pR) – 0.80 (pwf / pR)2

(qo / 162.5) = 1 – 0.20 (500 / 2000) – 0.80 (500 / 2000)2
(qo / 162.5) = 1 – 0.20 (0.25) – 0.80 (0.25)2
(qo / 162.5) = 1 – 0.05 – 0.05 = 0.90
qo = 146.25 bpd

Solution (Linear relation)

(qo / qomax) = 1 – (pwf / pR)
(65 / qomax) = 1 – 0.75 = 0.25
qomax = 260 bpd
(qo / 260) = 1 – 0.25 = 0.75
Qo = 195 bpd

IPR:
Pwf qo
0 162.5
500 146.25

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1500 65
2000 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.2: Following test data are conducted on a solution gas drive well
PR = 3000 psi Pwf = 2500 psi qo = 500 bpd
Determine qomax and qo at Pwf = 1200 psi. using Vogel’s relation and linear
relations and draw the complete IPR
Q.3: Following test data are conducted on a solution gas drive well
PR = 2300 psi Pwf = 1400 psi qo = 95 bpd
Determine qomax and qo at Pwf = 700 psi. using Vogel’s relation and linear
relations and draw the complete IPR
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q.4: q = 70 bpd PR = 1000 psi Pwf = 700 psi FE = 0.6

Calculate the maximum flow rate
Solution:
PR - Pwf = 1000 – 700 = 300 psi
At flow efficiency 0.6, 60 % of 300 psi is across the formation
= 300 x 0.6 = 180 psi
Skin Effect = 300 – 180 = 120 psi
The flowing pressure for undamaged well Pwf1 = 1000 - 180 = 820 psi
At flow efficiency 1 Pwf1 / PR = 0.82
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf1 / pR) – 0.80 (pwf1 / pR)2
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (0.82) – 0.80 (0.82)2
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.164 – 0.53792 = 0.29808
70 / qomax = 0.29808
qomax = 235 bpd
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q.4: q = 70 bpd PR = 2400 psi Pwf = 1800 psi FE = 0.7
Calculate the maximum flow rate
Solution:
If the test reflects the well performance without damage
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf / pR) – 0.80 (pwf / pR)2
(pwf / pR) = 0.75
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (0.75) – 0.80 (0.75)2
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.15 – 0.45 = 0.4
qomax = 175 bpd

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But the test data are at flow efficiency 0.7
PR - Pwf = 2400 – 1800 = 600 psi
At flow efficiency 0.7, 70% of 600 psi is across the formation = 420 psi
Skin Effect ΔPskin = 600 – 420 = 180 psi
The flowing pressure for undamaged well Pwf1 = 1800 + 180 = 1980 psi
At flow efficiency 1 Pwf1 / PR = 0.825
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf1 / pR) – 0.80 (pwf1 / pR)2
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (0.825) – 0.80 (0.825)2
(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.165 – 0.5445 = 0.2905
70 / qomax = 0.2905
qomax = 241 bpd This is the maximum flow rate at FE = 1
qo FE = 0.7 / qomax FE = 1 = 70/241 = 0.29

To draw IPR Curve at flow efficiency 0.7

(qo / qomax) = 1 – 0.20 (pwf1 / pR) – 0.80 (pwf1 / pR)2
qo = 241 x (qo / qomax)

Pwf ΔP=PR - Pwf FEX ΔP ΔPskin Pwf1 (pwf1 / pR) qo at FE 0.7

0 2400 1680 720 720 0.3 209.2
500 1900 1330 570 1070 0.44583 181.5
1200 1200 840 360 1560 0.65 128.21
1500 900 630 270 1770 0.7375 100.6
1800 600 420 180 1980 0.825 70
2000 400 280 120 2120 0.8833 48
2400 0 0 0 2400 1 0

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