PET 467E Analysis of Well Pressure Tests Quiz No. 1 M. Onur Given Date: 21.02.

2008 Duration: 15 minutes Note: You will not use an extra sheet; you will use front/back pages of this sheet to answer your questions.

Solutions
Questions
(1) What are the important features distinguishing well tests from other methods for reservoir engineering purposes? Please briefly explain.

S1. Well testing is an important tool used in the industry to obtain data characterizing well/reservoir system under in-situ and dynamic conditions on a larger scale. Well testing or in general pressure transient testing is also the only tool that provides productivity/injectivity assessment of wells. The other tools such as well-logs and cores provide data under static conditions on smaller scale than well testing.

(2) Is it possible to determine reservoir permeability and skin factor from classical productivity testing for which stabilized flowing bottom hole pressure is measured with different surface flow rates? If not possible, what kind of useful information can be obtained from such tests and also state what kind of well tests should be designed, which can allow determination of formation permeability and skin factor? S2. It is not possible to determine individual values of permeability and skin from conventional productivity testing, as discussed in lectures. From bottom hole flowing pressure pwf vs. surface rate q data obtained from conventional productivity testing, we can determine the productivity index and construct the IPR curve for a given well. Such curve is useful to perform nodal analysis for tubular design. If the objective to determine, the individual values of permeability and skin, then we need to conduct transient well tests, where flowing bottom hole pressure continuously measured as a function of time for an applied flow rate history at a well or wells. For example, buildup testing is such example.

(3) How is the pressure-derivative defined and what is its unit? Why do we use pressurederivative in well test analysis? (i.e., explain the advantages associated using pressurederivative in addition pressure in well test analysis) S3. The pressure derivative used in well test analysis is defined as the change of bottom hole pressure (or pressure change based on a reference pressure) with respect to the natural logarithm of test time. Thus, it is defined by

= pwf

dpwf d ln t

=t

dpwf dt

, or in terms of pressure change p =

d p d p =t d ln t dt

Its unit is psi, as can be seen from the above definitions. The advantages of using pressurederivative in well test analysis can be stated as: (i) The pressure-derivative is more sensitive to changes than pressure. t helps identifying the appropriate interpretation model to be used in analysis. That is, it helps model identification. Note that the way we define pressure-derivative (see above equations) allows us to plot both pressure change and its derivative on the same plot because the units of both data are in psi. (ii) When it is used in type-curve matching in addition to pressure, it helps us to obtain more reliable parameter estimates.

(4) Give the definition of pressure-gauge resolution. Then, state in general, if you have two gauges one with 5 psi ve 0.1 psi resolutions, which one would you prefer using in a test and why you will use it? S4. It can be defined as the lowest pressure change that can be detected by a pressure gauge. The smaller the resolution the better is the pressure gauge. The reason is that pressure gauges with small resolutions will help us in capturing a longer band of data for analysis and will increase the radius of investigation of the test, and hence shorten the test durations. Based on these reasons, I would prefer the gauge with 0.1 psi resolution.