INTERFERENCE AND PULSE

TESTING
Fiki Hidayat, M.Eng
Overview
• Well tests in which a pressure disturbance is created in one well and
the pressure response is measured in one or more wells are called
multiple-well tests.
• Multiple-well tests are designed to determine properties in a region
centered along a line connecting pairs of test wells.
• These tests also are ideal for establishing continuity of the pay zone
within a reservoir, estimating the volume of hydrocarbons within the
drainage area of the wells, and quantifying reservoir anisotropies and
heterogeneities.
• There are two common multiple-well tests, interference and pulse
tests.
Interference Tests
• An interference test involves creating a significant pressure
disturbance, either by producing from or injecting into at least one
well, called the active well, and observing the pressure response in at
least one other well, called the observation well, located at distance r
from the active well.
• the characteristics of the pressure behavior as a function of time
reflect the reservoir properties between the active and observation
wells.

rw r

Active Well Observation

Rate = q Well
Interference Tests
• An interference test can be conducted with more than one active well
and/or more than one observation well.
• A time lag exists between the time when a rate change is made at the
active well and the time when the pressure transient is seen in the
observation well.
 Interference Tests
• The area investigated in an interference test is defined by the radius of
investigation, ri
𝑘𝑡
𝑟𝑖 =
948∅𝜇𝑐𝑡

Reservoir properties throughout a

rectangular area of sides 2ri and
2ri+r influence the pressure
response in a test because
properties are measured in more
of the reservoir than just between
wells.
Interference Test Analysis in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Isotropic Reservoirs
• A homogeneous reservoir is a reservoir in which the formation
properties do not depend on location.
• An isotropic reservoir is a reservoir in which the properties are
independent of direction.
• In this type of reservoir, the Ei-function solution of the line-source
model describes the pressure behavior at the observation well;
𝑞𝜇𝐵 −948∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑟 2
𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑟 = ∆𝑝 = −70.6 𝐸𝑖
𝑘ℎ 𝑘𝑡
Where pr = pressure at the observation well located a distance r from
the active well.
• The pressure drawdown, Δp, at radius r is caused by production at
rate q at the active well.
Interference Test Analysis in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Isotropic Reservoirs
• Skin factor of the active well does not affect the drawdown at the observation
well, so skin factor (s) does not appear in the equation.
• Wellbore-storage effects at both well assumed to be negligible for most practical
purposes.
• Type-curve analysis is convenient for analyzing pressure data from an
interference test with constant-rate production at the active well.
• The dimensionless parameter for interference test as follow;
𝑘ℎ 𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑟
𝑝𝐷 =
141.2𝑞𝜇𝐵
𝑟
𝑟𝐷 =
𝑟𝑤
0.0002637𝑘𝑡
𝑡𝐷 =
∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
A log-log plot of pD vs. tD/r2D is a useful type curve for analyzing interference tests.
Interference Test Analysis in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Isotropic Reservoirs
• Procedures for analyzing interference tests in infinite-acting,
homogeneous, isotropic reservoirs
1. Plot pressure change, Δp=pi-pr, as a function of t. make the plot either on
tracing paper or on log-log graph paper with the same size log cycles as the
type curve.
2. Overlay the type curve on the test-data plot. Shift the plotted data both
horizontally and vertically until a match is found with the type curve.
3. Select convenient pressure and time-match points: pressure-match point
(pD, Δp)MP and time-match point (tD/r2D, t)MP.
4. Calculate permeability, k, from the pressure-match point.
5. Calculate the porosity/total-compressibility product, φct, from the time-
match point.

Example 10.1 from Pressure Transient Testing page 191.

Interference Test Analysis in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Isotropic Reservoirs
Interference Testing in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Anisotropic Reservoirs
• Assuming single-phase flow of a slightly
compressible fluid and using the well-
coordinate system shown in Fig. 10.7;
• Papadopulos derived the following solution for
the pressure response p (x,y,t) at an observation
well caused by an active well located at the
origin in a rectangular (x-y) coordinate system:

2
ℎ 𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑥𝑦𝑡
𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑘𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑥𝑦 =
141.2𝑞𝜇𝐵

1 −∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑦 2 + 𝑘𝑦𝑦 𝑥 2 − 2𝑘𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦

− 𝐸𝑖 2
2 0.00105𝑡 𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑘𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑥𝑦
Interference Testing in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Anisotropic Reservoirs
1
1 2 2 2
𝑘𝑋𝑋 = 𝑘𝑥𝑥 + 𝑘𝑦𝑦 + 𝑘𝑥𝑥 − 𝑘𝑦𝑦 + 4𝑘𝑥𝑦 ,
2
1
1 2 2 2
𝑘𝑌𝑌 = 𝑘𝑥𝑥 + 𝑘𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑥𝑥 − 𝑘𝑦𝑦 + 4𝑘𝑥𝑦 ,
2
𝑘𝑋𝑋 −𝑘𝑥𝑥
And 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛
𝑘𝑥𝑦
This variables from equation above are defined as kxx,kyy,kxy =
components of the permeability tensor, md; kXX=maximum principal
permeability, md; kYY=minimum principal permeability, md, and
θ=angle of orientation.
Interference Testing in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Anisotropic Reservoirs
• The principal permeabilities, kXX and kYY, and the orientation, θ, can
be determined from interference-test data from three observation
wells located on different rays from the active well at the origin.
• The method requires performing a type-curve match of the test data
with the exponential-integral solution (Ei-function, log-log plot pD vs
tD/r2D).
2
ℎ 𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑥𝑦𝑡
𝑝𝐷 = 𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑘𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑥𝑦
141.2𝑞𝜇𝐵

2
𝑡𝐷 0.0002637𝑡 𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑘𝑦𝑦 − 𝑘𝑥𝑦
2 = ∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑘𝑥𝑥 𝑦 2 + 𝑘𝑦𝑦 𝑥 2 − 2𝑘𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦
𝑟𝐷
Interference Testing in Infinite-Acting,
Homogeneous, Anisotropic Reservoirs
• The recommended procedure for analyzing interference data from
three wells in an anisotropic reservoir can be shown in Pressure
Transient Testing page 193.
• Example 10.2 from Pressure Transient Testing’s book page 193-195
shows an interference testing in a single water-injection well and
three observation oil wells.
Pulse Tests
• In a pulse test, a coded signal is sent from an active well (producer or
injector) to a shut-in observation well.
• The signal is generated by producing from or injecting into the active well,
shutting in the well, producing again, shutting in again, and repeating this
sequence in a regular pattern.
• The well is pulsed so that we can identify readily the effect of the active
well on the pressure response at the observation well amid the noise of the
reservoir pressure trend.
• With short disturbances to established production, we can determine
communication between wells and establish reservoir properties.
• Highly sensitive pressure gauges are used to detect these small
disturbances, which may be on the order of 0.01 psi.
• Like interference tests, pulse tests can quantify directional reservoir
properties, such as permeability.
Pulse Tests
• Pulse tests have certain
advantages over conventional
interference tests.
• Pulse tests have fewer
problems with reservoir noise
and reservoir-pressure trends
that cause errors in measuring
pressure responses at
observation wells.
• Pulse-test analysis is based on
simple infinite-acting reservoir
equations.
• When interference tests are
analyzed, boundary effects
frequently must be taken into
account.
Pulse Tests
• By convention, the ratio of the
pressure change to change in flow
rate, Δp/Δq, is always positive
• The time lag, tL, is the time between
the end of a pulse and the pressure
peak caused by the pulse.
• The amplitude of the pressure
response, Δp, is the vertical distance
between two parallel lines, one
tangential to two adjacent peaks (or
valleys) on either side of the pulse to
be analyzed, and the other parallel
to the first line and tangential to the
intervening valley(or peak) that is
being measured.
• F’ denotes the ratio of the length of
the first pulse, Δtp, to the cycle
length (pulse+shut-in), Δtc
∆𝑡𝑝
𝐹′ =
∆𝑡𝑐
Pulse Tests
• The dimensionless time lag, tLD,

0.0002637𝑘𝑡𝐿
𝑡𝐿𝐷 =
∅𝜇𝑐𝑡 𝑟𝑤2
• The dimensionless pressure-response amplitude, pD,

𝑘ℎ∆𝑝
∆𝑝𝐷 =
141.2𝑞𝜇𝐵

• Special charts are used to analyze pulse tests.

• These charts are based on simulations of the pressure response at an
observation well by use of superposition of the Ei-function solution to the
diffusivity equation to model the rate changes in the pulsing sequence.
Pulse Tests
Application of Pulse-Test Charts
Pulse Analyzed Applicable Figures
First normal pulse (first/odd pulse) 10.15, 10.16
First inverted pulse (second/even pulse) 10.17, 10.18
Later normal pulses (pulses 3,5,7,…) 10.19, 10.20
Later inverted pulses (pulses 4,6,8,…) 10.21, 10.22

• Ogbe noted that the charts originally presented by Kamal and Brigham contained
some inaccuracies.
• Figs. 10.15 through 10.22 show a complete set of corrected charts.
• Ogbe recommends that the corrected charts be used in place of those originally
presented by Kamal and Brigham, who designated pulses as “odd” or “even”.
Pulse Tests
Pulse Tests
Pulse Tests
Pulse Tests
Pulse Tests
• The following procedure for pulse-test analysis in infinite-acting,
homogeneous, isotropic reservoirs.
1. Plot the test data on Cartesian-coordinate graph paper. Draw parallel lines
tangentially to the pulse to be analyzed, and determine the amplitude of
the pressure response, p, and the time lag, tL.
2. Calculate the F’. Calculate the ratio of the time lag, tL to the cycle length tC,
(tL/tC).
3. With the appropriate chart, read the dimensionless-response-amplitude
correlating parameter pD[tL/tC]2 corresponding to F’ and [tL/tC]. Calculate
∆𝑝𝐷 𝑡𝐿 ∆𝑡𝐶 2
pD from ∆𝑝𝐷 = 2
𝑡𝐿 ∆𝑡𝐶
Pulse Tests
• The following procedure for pulse-test analysis in infinite-acting,
homogeneous, isotropic reservoirs.
4. Calculate the formation permeability, k, with the pressure response amplitude, p,
from Step 1 and the dimensionless pressure response amplitude, pD, from Step 3.
141.2𝑞𝐵𝜇∆𝑝𝐷
𝑘=
ℎ∆𝑝
5. With the appropriate chart, read the dimensionless-time-lag correlating parameter
tLD/r2D corresponding to F’ and [tL/tC]. Calculate the dimensionless time lag as
𝑡𝐿𝐷 = 𝑡𝐿𝐷 𝑟𝐷2 𝑟𝐷2
6. Calculate ct with
0.0002637𝑘𝑡𝐿
∅𝑐𝑡 =
𝜇𝑟𝑤2 𝑡𝐿𝐷