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Pressure Data Analysis in Two Phase

Naturally Fractured Reservoirs With a
Pseudo Steady State Flow Regime Using
the TDS Technique
a a a
M. Behnood , M. Dadvar & Z. Sajadi
a
Department of Chemical-Reservoir Engineering , Amirkabir
University of Technology , Tehran , Iran
Published online: 20 Sep 2013.

To cite this article: M. Behnood , M. Dadvar & Z. Sajadi (2013) Pressure Data Analysis in Two Phase
Naturally Fractured Reservoirs With a Pseudo Steady State Flow Regime Using the TDS Technique,
Petroleum Science and Technology, 31:21, 2287-2295, DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2011.567205

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 Petroleum Science and Technology, 31:2287–2295, 2013
Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 1091-6466 print/1532-2459 online
DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2011.567205

Pressure Data Analysis in Two Phase Naturally

Fractured Reservoirs With a Pseudo Steady State Flow
Regime Using the TDS Technique
Downloaded by [University of Central Florida] at 20:41 22 September 2013

M. Behnood,1 M. Dadvar,1 and Z. Sajadi1

1
Department of Chemical-Reservoir Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology,
Tehran, Iran
2
Affiliation Two, More of This Affiliation
3
Affiliation Three, More of This Affiliation

The matrix-to-fracture interporosity parameter (), and fracture storativity (!) are subject to changes
during the life of an oil field. This depends entirely on the nature of saturation condition both in
fractures and matrix blocks. Failure to consider two-phase flow parameters will result in inaccurate
estimation of reservoir parameters. Because of the high amount of this type of behavior in many
reservoirs worldwide, developing appropriate method is very important. A new procedure is presented
for analyzing transient test in naturally fractured reservoirs with pseudo steady state two-phase (oil
and water) flow using direct synthesis technique (TDS) to determining reservoir parameters. TDS
is a modern technique that utilizes the characteristic lines and points found on the pressure and
pressure derivative log-log plot. These points and lines are then used with appropriate equations to
solve directly for desired reservoir parameters. The proposed methodology is successfully verified
by its application to field simulated pressure data and a step-by-step procedure for calculating these
parameters is included.

Keywords: naturally fractured reservoirs, pseudo steady state regime, synthesis direct technique, two-
phase oil-water flow, well test

1. INTRODUCTION

Several simplifying assumptions have been used to develop analytical models describing pressure
transient behavior of single-phase flow in naturally fractured reservoirs. Both double- and triple-
porosity models have been formulated as single-phase fluid.
In naturally fractured reservoirs there are discrepancies and discontinuities throughout the
whole reservoir as a result of two distinct porosity systems in the same formation. The matrix
region containing finer pores and having a high storage capacity, but a low flowing capability,
is interconnected with the fractured network region which has a low storage but high flowing
capacity. In such systems different reservoir engineering techniques have been elaborated based
on simplified models. Barenblatt et al. (1960) assumed pseudo steady state interporosity flow in a

Address correspondence to M. Behnood, Department of Chemical-Reservoir Engineering, Amirkabir University of

Technology, No. 424, Hafez Ave., Tehran, Iran, P.O. Box: 15875-4413. E-mail: [email protected]

2287
 2288 M. BEHNOOD ET AL.

model made of the orthogonal, equally spaced fractures. Warren and Root (1963) used Barenblatt
et al.’s theory to model the wellbore pressure response of a double porosity naturally fractured
reservoir. They described pressure response by two main parameters, ! and , which relate the two
porosity systems. Fluid capacitance coefficient, !, is defined as the fracture storativity to the total
storativity. Interporosity flow parameter, , represents the permeability ratio of the two media. This
model is the most important model has been developed and is the base of other models (Odeh,
1965; Kazemi et al., 1969; De Swaan, 1976; Jalali-Yazdi, 1978; Mavor and Cinco-Ley, 1979;
Uldrich and Ershaghi, 1979; Najurieta, 1980; Serra et al., 1983; Streltsova, 1983; Jalali-Yazdi and
Ershaghils, 1987).
Albemani and Ershaghi (1991) incorporated the effect of two-phase oil and water flow in
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modeling the pressure transient response of a double porosity, dual flow naturally fractured
reservoir. We use this model to generate the procedure. The theory of this model is described
briefly in the following section.

2. MATHEMATICAL MODELS

As mentioned before the mathematical model for two-phase flow in naturally fractured reservoirs
which was proposed by Albemani and Ershaghi (1991) in the Laplacian domain is

@2 PDf 1 @PDf
C D sf .s/PDf (1)
@rD2 rD @rD2

where
r s !
n.1 !f /e .1 C C1 / .1 !f /e .1 C C2 / .1 !f /s
f .s/ D !f C C .1 n/ tanh (2)
e .1 C C1 / C .1 !f /s s e .1 C C2 /

Details of the model and parameters can be found in the related reference. The dimensionless
solution, in the Laplace domain is
p p p
K0 . sf .s// C SD sf .s/:K1 . sf .s//
PwD .s/ D p p p p p (3)
s. sf .s/K1 sf .s/ C sC D K0 . sf .s// C SD sf .s/ C K1 sf .s//

If we ignore the effect of skin and well bore storage we will have
p p p
K0 . sf .s// C SD sf .s/:K1 . sf .s//
PwD .s/ D p p (4)
s. sf .s/K1 sf .s//

Numerical Laplace inversion was performed using the Stehfest algorithm (Stehfest, 1970).

3. TIAB’S DIRECT SYNTHESIS TECHNIQUE

Several methods of well test analysis have been presented. These can be classified into two main
categories: conventional method (Horner plot and type curve matching) and Tiab’s direct synthesis
(TDS) technique. The TDS technique has been applied to both homogeneous and nonhomogeneous
reservoirs (NFR) in several areas of application. At first Tiab used this method. Up to now,
 PRESSURE DATA ANALYSIS 2289
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FIGURE 1 Log-log plot of pressure p and pressure derivative t * p0 versus time t, no well bore storage.

this technique was used for conventional reservoirs (Tiab, 1995), single-phase naturally fractured
reservoirs (Engler and Tiab, 1996) vertically fractured wells in closed systems (Tiab, 1993), finite
conductivity fractured wells (Tiab et al., 1999), multirate testing in naturally fractured reservoirs
(Tiab and Boulenour, 2004), and some other conditions. This technique uses the log-log plots
of the pressure and pressure derivative versus time to calculate reservoir and well parameters
without type-curve matching. The technique essentially consists of obtaining characteristic points
of intersection of various straight line portions of the pressure and pressure derivative curve,
slope, and starting times of these straight lines. These points, slopes, and times are then used with
appropriate equations to solve directly for desired parameters (Figure 1).
The most important aspect of this new technique is its accuracy, because basically it uses exact
analytical solution to calculate the parameters. The second most important feature of this new
technique is that it is verifiable. Any parameter calculated corresponding to two different portions
of the pressure derivative curve is verified by itself.

3.1. Determination Parameters Using TDS

Figure 1 shows a typical solution of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs under pseudo-steady state
two-phase flow with no wellbore storage effect.

3.1.1. Determination of Kf from (t  p0 )r

The early-time and late-time infinite acting lines of pressure derivative are horizontal with the
amount of .tD  p0D /r D 0:5 (Figure 1). The first straight line corresponds to fracture depletion
and the second to the equivalent homogeneous reservoir pressure. An expression for the derivative
 2290 M. BEHNOOD ET AL.

during these times is obtained by using the following equation:

 
kf Mf h
.tD  p0D /r D .t  p0 /r D 0:5 (5)
141:2qiBi

where .tD  p0D /r is the pressure derivative convenient time t on infinite acting redial flow. By
rearranging the above equation fracture permeability is given as

70:6qi Bi
Kf D (6)
Mf h.t  P0 /r
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3.1.2. Determination of Skin(s) from tr and (t  p0 )r

The skin factor can be determined from the pressure and pressure derivative values at a
convenient time during infinite acting radial flow line segments. From the early-time analytic
equations, in real units, for single-phase flow the skin factor is given by Tiab (Engler and Tiab,
1996). Using the dimensionless equations on two-phase flow model instead of single-phase flow
the following equation for calculating skin will be determined:
    
1 P kf Mf tr
SD ln C 7:43 (7)
2 t  P0 r .ct /t rw2

3.1.3. Determination of ! from Minimum Point and Pressure Derivative

Coordinate of Radial Flow (t  p)min /(t  p)r
As observed in Figure 2 the depth of the minimum point is affected by !, but , Kro (SwDm ),
Krw .SwDm /; Kro .SwDf /; and Krw .SwDf / have no effect on this depth. So we developed the following
equation for calculating of !:
2
.t  p0 /min .t  p0 /min
  
! DA CB CC (8)
.t  p0 /r .t  p0 /r

Constants A, B, and C are presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1
Constants A, B, C, D, and E for Eqs. (8) to (12)

Restriction A B C D E

Eq. (8) 0 < ! < 0.2 0.6183 0.1380 0.0003 — —

0.2 < ! < 0.5 1.2284 0.4457 0.1416 — —
! > 0.5 2.3743 2.1803 0.8002 — —
Eq. (9) 0 < ! < 0.2 1.242  10 4 1.957  10 3 0.0003 — —
0.2 < ! < 0.5 2.468  10 4 6.3173  10 3 0.1416 — —
! > 0.5 4.770  10 4 30.873  10 3 0.8002 — —
Eq. (10) No restriction 9.3516 2.5670 0.8769 0.99976 —
Eq. (11) No restriction 6.7881 2.8834 5.0023 0.9798 —
Eq. (12) No restriction 10.3052 3.2390 6.9542 5.7296 1.0061
 PRESSURE DATA ANALYSIS 2291
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FIGURE 2 Effect of !, , and relative permeabilities on depth and coordination of minimum point (color figure
available online)

Knowing kf , Mf , height of the reservoir (h), total production rate (qi ) and Bt , the following
equations is developed to estimate !:
 2  
kf Mf h kf Mf h
! D A .t  p0 /min CB .t  p0 /min C C (9)
qt Bt qt Bt

in which the values of A, B, and C are given in Table 1.

3.1.4. Determination of  from tD min

In addition to ! and , relative permeabilities effect on coordinate of tD min (Figure 2). So the
following equation is developed for estimation of :
   
Kf M f Mf
 D exp A C B.!/ ln.!/ C C ln.!/ C D ln t min  (10)
.ct /t rw2 Mm

Equation (10) is valid for 0 < ! < 0.2 with constants A, B, and C in Table 1. For ! > 0.2 the
following equation is suggested:
  
Kf M f Mf
 D A C B! 2 C C! 2 C D ln t min  (11)
.ct /t rw2 Mm
 2292 M. BEHNOOD ET AL.

3.1.5. Determination of  from t2D

Figure 2b shows the effect of  on starting time of infinite acting radial flow (tr 2). Equation (12)
is developed for calculating  using this information:
  
Kf M f Mf
 D A C B! 1:5 C C! 2:5 C D! 3:5 C E ln 2
t r2  (12)
.ct /t rw Mm
This correlation can be applied without restriction for !. Constants A, B, C, and D are reported
in Table 1.
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3.1.6. Step-by-step Procedure

To calculate the reservoir parameters the following step by step procedure is developed:

Step 1: obtain o , w , km , SwDm , krom , krwm , Bo , and Bw from laboratory core analysis and well
log data, also obtain SwDf from logs or production data by assuming .SwDf D qw =q/,
then obtain kro .SwDf / and krw .SwDf /. Calculate Mm and Mf (Albemani and Ershaghi,
1991).
kro .SwDm / krw .SwDm / kro .SwDf / krw .SwDf /
Mm D C Mf D C
o w o w
Step 2: Plot p and t  p0 versus time on a log-log graph and identify the various charac-
teristic points and lines.
Step 3: Draw the infinite acting horizontal line and determine the amount of t  p0 , then
calculate Kf from Eq. (6).
Step 4: Read the amount of p and t  p0 on the starting time of second radial flow, use
Eq. (7) and calculate the skin factor.
Step 5: Read the amount of the minimum point and infinite acting radial flow line on the
pressure derivative curve ((t  p0 )min , (t  p0 )r ) and calculate ! from Eq. (8). We
can also use Eq. (9) for calculating !.
Step 6: Read the coordinate of the minimum point (tmin ) and according to the estimated !
from the previous step and use Eq. (10) or Eq. (11) to calculate . Another way for
calculating  is the time of starting second radial flow (tr 2 ) and Eq. (12). This equation
has no restriction for !.

3.1.7. Simulated Tests

Two simulated tests are conducted to verify the accuracy of the developed equations. Reservoir
and well data are as follows. Because we want to verify all equations, simulated test 2 is designed
in the way that the equations, which is not used in test 1, are used here. Pressure patterns of these
tests are shown in Figure 3.

Simulated test 1:
6 5
! D 0:005  D 5  10 ct D 26:2  10 SD 2
Bo D 1:25 bbl=stb Bw D 1:05 bbl=stb Bt D 1:15 bbl=stb h D 60 ft
Pi D 4;000 psi o D 2 cp w D 0:5 cp rw D 0:3 ft
t D 0:1016 Kf D 400 md Km D 0:1 md Kro.matrix/ D 0:25
Krw.matrix/ D 0:025 Kro.fracture/ D 0:35 Krw.fracture/ D 0:265 qt D qo C qw D 3;000 stb=d
 PRESSURE DATA ANALYSIS 2293
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FIGURE 3 Log-log plot of pressure p and pressure derivative t * p0 versus time t for simulated tests 1 and 2.

Simulated test 2:
7 6
! D 0:3  D 5  10 ct D 7  10 SD1
Bo D 1:25 bbl=stb Bw D 1:05 bbl=stb Bt D 1:15 bbl=stb h D 60 ft
Pi D 4;000 psi o D 2 cp w D 0:5 cp rw D 0:25 ft
t D 0:1016 Kf D 400 md Km D 0:1 md Kro.matrix/ D 0:25
Krw.matrix/ D 0:025 Kro.fracture/ D 0:35 Krw.fracture/ D 0:265 qt D qo C qw D 3;000 stb=d

A log-log plot of P and t*P0 versus time of these two tests is presented in Figure 3. These two
tests were analyzed exactly as described in the step-by-step procedure section. We also analyzed
these tests using Tiab’s single-phase method (Engler and Tiab, 1996). The comparison between
 2294 M. BEHNOOD ET AL.

TABLE 2
Comparison Between the Results of Calculations and Input Data for Simulated Tests 1 and 2

Results Using Results Using

Analyzing Method Tiab’s Single-Phase
Presented in Percentage Method (Engler Percentage
Parameters Input Data This Article of Error and Tiab, 1996) of Error

Simulated Kf 400 400.28 0.07% 609.12 52%

test 1 S 2 1.99 0.5% 2.03 1.5%
! 0.005 0.0051 2% 0.00475 5%
6 6 6
 5  10 4.79  10 4.2% 10.09  10 101%
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Simulated Kf 400 400.28 0.07% 609.12 52%

test 2 S 1 1.006 0.6% 0.83 17%
! 0.003 0.304 1.3% 0.25 16%
 5  10 7 5.36  10 7 7.2% 1.41  10 7 71%

the results of the calculations and input data is shown in Table 2. Results of calculations and input
data indicate they are in close agreement.

4. CONCLUSION

1. The matrix-to-fracture interporosity parameter () and fracture storativity (!) are subject
to changes during the life of an oil field. This depends entirely on the nature of saturation
condition both in fractures and matrix blocks. Failure to consider two-phase flow parameters
will result in inaccurate estimation of reservoir parameters.
2. TDS was extended for the analysis of two-phase oil and water naturally fractured reservoirs.
Several correlations were developed to estimate  and ! using different lines and points
found on the pressure derivative log-log plot. Saturation conditions and two-phase flow
parameters are introduced in the new correlations.
3. Two simulated tests are conducted to verify the accuracy of the developed equations. The
results of the well test analyses using developed procedure in this study are in very good
agreement with the input data in simulated tests.
4. Simulated tests also are analyzed with TDS single-phase method. Percentage of errors
showed that the procedure introduced in this paper is much more accurate than single-phase
method.

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