Uses of Oil Well Tests

Pressure transient yields

estimates of the followings

Average reservoir pressure, Can be directly used in material balance

PAV calculations

Measure the direction of trends in the reservoir.

Values of vertical and Estimate variations in rock permeability in the
horizontal permeability vertical and areal senses

Several transient tests Used to determine the areal extent of a reservoir

and to estimate the volumes of fluid in place

Pressure measurements can To yield quantitative estimates of the well

be interpreted conditions, the efficiency of stimulation, treatment
on well productivity can be evaluated

Well tests on the standard To estimate in situ rock permeability and well
source conditions

Numerical simulation Provides values for well block permeability and

process well conditions

Values derived from Also used to calculate the variations in permeability

well test between wells and to judge permeability trends for
model input

Figure 1-1. Various reservoir parameters and their uses.

fracturing, can be designed for the well. Figure 1-3 shows several sets of
calculations designed to evaluate well/reservoir behavior, and to evaluate
reservoir parameters, quality, and stimulation efforts to optimize completion
methods for enhancing hydrocarbon oil recovery and maximizing profit-
ability.
 Plan, Justify, Time, and Priorities

Design, conduct, and

analyze

Before production During production

Fluid data Oil well test

Oil well test

Production

Injection tests
water floods/EOR floods projects

Special

Figure 1-2. Logical well test data acquisition and analysis program.

1.5 Reservoir System Characterization Process

An efficient oil well test data acquisition and analysis program requires
careful planning, designing, conducting, evaluation, and well-coordinated
team efforts through an integrated approach. Figures 1-4 and 1-5 indicate
general activities in reservoir description and inputs from various engineer-
ing disciplines (integrated approach). Core analysis measurements of sam-
ples selected by the geologist provide data for the preliminary identification
of reservoir rock types. Well test results using various techniques were
reasonable when compared with known geologic and core data. Well test
studies aid in recognizing flow barriers, fractures, and variations in permea-
bility. History matching of past production and pressure performance con-
sists of adjusting the reservoir parameters of a model until the simulated
 Evaluate

Well/reservoir condition and behavior Take

Calculate Different course of action

to increase oil production

Wellbore damage or skin effect,

condition ratio or flow efficiency

Result of Low permeability Reservoir

Using permeability throughout the pressure
of well reservoir depleted

Oil well testing techniques, core

analyses, offset well data and other
information Proper design
fracturing
treatment
Determine
Using

Causes of low productivity

Improved oil well
testing methods

Figure 1-3. Selection of oil wells for optimum treatment.

performance matches the observed or historical behavior. The major goal

is optimization of oil recovery through characterization of the reservoir
system.

Most Common Oil Well Test Interpretation Methods

Figure 1-5 shows oil flow and pressure analysis methods. Theory and
sample applications to illustrate effective well test analysis practices are
discussed in the following chapters.
 Reservoir Characterization
by
Integrated Approach

Types of general activities in

reservoir description

Rock studies Structural style work studies Reservoir quality studies Integrations studies

Lithology Structure
Continuity Quality profile Pore volume
Depositional origin Reservoir zonation Transmissibility
Gross thickness
Reservoir rock studies trends Net thickness trends

Pressure
Core Oil well production
analysis testing history match

Fluid flow and pressure

analysis methods and
their uses

See Figure 1-5.

Figure 1-4. Reservoir system characterization flow chart process using integrated
approach.

1.6 Scope and Objective

This book is very important to professional petroleum engineers, teach-
ers, graduate students, and those who are concerned with evaluating well
conditions and reservoir characterization. The data in this book should
enable petroleum professionals to design and to conduct pressure transient
tests and to analyze the results to obtain reliable information about well
behavior. Emphasis is given to the most common interpretation methods
used at present.
 Fluid Flow and Pressure Analysis Methods and Their Uses

Theory and sample

Oil well test Important applications to illustrate
interpretation reservoir effective oil well test analysis
methods parameters practices can be found
in the following chapters

Introduction Chapter 1

Solutions of interest for various

Fluid flow equations boundary conditions and Chapter 2
reservoir geometry

Horizontal well systems Chapter 3

Drawdown, buildup tests, Chapters 4, 5, and 6

and initial pressure and pore volume, pt and pAv

Naturally fractured
reservoirs and type curve Chapters 7 and 8
matching methods

Flow regime Chapters 9 and 10

identification, pressure omega and delta
derivative techniques

Massive hydraulic and

fractured well behavior Chapters 11 and 12
analysis methods, drill-stem
testing, and IPR
relationships
Chapters 13, 14, and 15
Interference and pulse tests,
injection well transient
testing, and multilayered oil
reservoirs behavior analysis Chapter 16

Heterogeneous reservoir
behavior analysis

Figure 1-5. Various pressure analysis methods to determine important reservoir

parameters.
 1.7 Organization
This book presents:

Outstanding instructive text source providing theory and practice of oil

well testing methods and their role in petroleum industries.
Valuable asset to technical libraries of petroleum industries, companies,
academicians, petroleum professionals, and technical managers.
Sound fundamental concepts/methodology related to oil well test data
acquisition and interpretation from a practical viewpoint.
Modern oil well testing methods and pressure transient test analysis
techniques.
Examples illustrating effective well test analysis techniques.
Excellent practical reference source related to pressure transient analy-
sis techniques and their interpretations.
Theory and practices of testing methods and their roles in reservoir
engineering management.
Practical in-depth examples of real-life engineering problems with step-
by-step solutions that are very easy to follow.
Various charts, formulae, and tables for ready reference and quick
solutions for oil well testing and analyses.
New information, data, and technology and includes examples and
problems illustrating the concepts, methods, interpretations, results,
recommendations, and their engineering applications. Historical notes,
summaries, and references are included in this highly practical edition.

Chapter 1 of this book is an overview of oil well testing and analysis

methods. It also includes a short discussion of unit conversion factors and
the SI (metric) unit system. Appendix A provides a list of conversion factors.
Chapter 2 deals with fundamental fluid flow equations, along with solu-
tions of interest for various boundary conditions and reservoir geometry.
These solutions are required in the design and interpretation of flow and
pressure tests. This chapter provides analytical solutions of fluid flow equa-
tions. The equations are followed by a discussion of some of the most useful
solutions to these equations such as exponential integral, finite difference,
and graphical solutions, and the choice of the equation for flow analysis, with
emphasis on the exponential-integral solutions, describing radial, unsteady-
state flow. It also includes numerical models and their applications including
unsteady-state pressure distribution calculations in directional oil wells.
Chapter 3 summarizes a discussion of horizontal wells in oil reservoirs.
Horizontal wells enhance the drainage area in a given time period, while
in-high permeability oil reservoirs reduce near-wellbore turbulence and
enhance well deliver ability. Horizontal wells have high potential in oil
reservoirs. This chapter also includes influence of turbulence, and turbulence
identification, comparison of inflow performance responses in vertical and
horizontal oil wells, and time and transient pressure response analysis equa-
tions related to each of the flow regimes to solve for specific reservoir
parameters using drawdown and buildup tests.
Chapter 4 deals with complete analysis of drawdown testing including
transient, late transient, and semi-steady-state analysis including single, two-
rate, variable-rate, reservoir limit test, and multi-phase and multiple-rate testing,
and discusses how superposition may be used when variable rates are involved.
Chapter 5 treats pressure buildup test analysis and presents methods for
estimating formation characteristics such as reservoir permeability, skin
factor, wellbore damage, and improvement evaluation including average
pressure for well drainage areas and the entire reservoir.
Chapter 6 presents estimation methods for original and average reservoir
pressure using various techniques such as Horner and MBH method/MDH
method/Dietz method/Ramey/Muskat and Arps methods. This chapter also
includes constant pressure at aquifer in water-drive reservoir.
Chapter 7 presents identification of natural fractures, main characteristics,
and brief review of the most widely used well testing models including their
uses and limitations, typical pressure drawdown behavior curve shapes, and
pressure buildup behavior characteristics. Buildup analysis techniques for
tight reservoir matrix and horizontal well pressure behavior curve shapes,
and identification of various flow periods, well test analysis equations, and
solutions are presented. It also includes horizontal well production forecast-
ing for dual-porosity reservoir.
Chapter 8 discusses the quantitative use of type curve analysis methods.
The object of this chapter is to illustrate how a representative sample of type
curves can be used for analysis aids. Fundamentals of type curve use are
presented and will allow the reader to understand and to apply newer type
curves as they appear in the literature. Many type curves can be used to
determine the formation permeability and to characterize damage and stimu-
lation of the tested well. Application to conventional tests and vertical and
horizontal fractured well analysis is also presented.
Chapter 9 provides new techniques for analyzing pressure transient data
for wells intercepted by afinite-conductivityvertical fracture. This method is
based on the bilinear flow theory, which considers transient linear flow in
both fracture and formation. These new type curves overcome the unique-
ness problem exhibited by other type curves.
Chapter 10 deals with pressure derivative application to oil well test
analysis and involves the combined use of existing type curves in both the
conventional dimensionless pressure form (pD) and the new dimensionless
pressure derivative grouping (p'D x tDjCD). Thus this new approach has
combined the most powerful aspects of the two previously distinct methods
into a single-stage interpretive plot. Use of the pressure derivative with
pressure behavior type curves reduces the uniqueness problem in type curve
matching and gives greater confidence in the results. Type curve match can
be utilized to determine the reservoir parameter, and the pressure derivative
plot helps to identify reservoir heterogeneity such as dual-porosity system
for the case of pseudo-steady-state flow from matrix to fracture. The valley
in the pressure derivative could also be indicative of a layered system.
Chapter 11 reviews advances in oil well stimulation techniques such as
massive hydraulic fracturing (MHF). It is a proven technique for developing
commercial wells in low-permeability or "tight" oil formations. Limitations of
conventional analysis methods and alternative techniques for determining
fracture length and fracture flow capacity on MHF wells are presented. It
also discusses how to analyze past performance and forecast future perfor-
mance of tight oil wells stimulated by MHF using finite fracture flow capacity
type curves. The limitations of conventional pressure transient analysis and
other methods of evaluating MHF treatment are discussed. The set of con-
stant well rate and wellbore pressure type curves are also presented.
Chapter 12 discusses drill-stem testing (DST) equipment and operational
procedures, recommended flow, and shut-in time for DST. It presents trouble-
shooting DST pressure charts for barrier detection, checking validity and
consistency of reported DST data, DST analysis methods such as Horner's
plot, type curve matching techniques, and DST buildup test analysis with
limited data. These methods are discussed in detail for their uses and limita-
tions including wire line formation test data evaluation.
Chapter 13 reviews interference and pulse tests, also known as multiple-
well testing. These types of tests can be used to obtain an adequate reservoir
description for homogeneous (both isotropic and anisotropic) and heter-
ogeneous systems. Numerical solutions must be used to analyze pressure
transient data from heterogeneous reservoir systems. At the same time, it is
one of the most important and useful tests to understand the well behavior in
waterflood and EOR projects.
Chapter 14 presents pressure analysis techniques in injection wells. The
injectivity test and the falloff tests are used to estimate the reservoir proper-
ties of injection wells in waterflood and EOR recovery projects. The knowl-
edge of reservoir properties and near-wellbore conditions in injection wells is
as important as in the producing wells. Injection well transient testing and
analysis are simple as long as the mobility ratio between the injected and in
situ fluids is about unity and the radius of investigation is not beyond the
water-injected fluid bank.
Chapter 15 reviews various types of and testing of oil-layered reservoir
systems including multilayered responses in fractured reservoirs. It also
describes crossflow identification, and the nature and degree of communica-
tion between layers. Performance equations for cases of constant flowing
pressure and constant producing rate are presented and discussed. It also
reviews "layer effect" on pressure and/or production behavior including
economic aspects of interlayer crossflow.
 Chapter 16 discusses variations of heterogeneities in rock and fluid prop-
erties including causes and effects of pressure-dependent properties. It also
analyzes and interprets pressure behavior in heterogeneous reservoirs near
fault or other barriers and lateral changes in the hydraulic diffusivity that
occur at fluid contacts. Pressure behavior analysis methods are discussed in
brief to obtain adequate reservoir descriptions for isotropic, anisotropic, and
heterogeneous systems including calculating fracture orientation and esti-
mating two-dimensional permeability with vertical interference testing.
Details and supporting materials are presented in the appendices for the
benefit of those who would like to learn more.
Appendix A shows conversion factors between unit systems. Appendix B
presents correlation tables and charts for dimensionless functions. Appendix C
helps to compute pressure drop calculations through vertical, inclined, and
horizontal pipes. Appendix D presents methods and correlation equations
for estimating fluid PVT and rock properties.

1.8 Unit's Systems and Conversions

In any book of this nature, it is worthwhile to include a comprehensive list
of units' conversion factors, since data are often reported in units different
from those used in the equations. Such factors are presented in Appendix A.
Because of the possibility of eventual conversion of engineering calculations
to a metric standard, I also include information about the "SI" system of
weights and measures. Finally, I compare some important units and equa-
tions in five different unit systems. Table 1-1 shows that units are a hybrid
system based on the CGS units. The only difference being that pressure is

Table 1-1
Absolute and Hybrid Systems of Units Used in Oil Well Testing Equations

Absolute units Hybrid units

Parameter Symbol Dimension CGS SI Darcy Field

2 2 2 2
Pressure P (ML/T )/L Dyne/cm N/m atm psia
Time t T sec sec sec hr
Rate L3/T cm3/s m 3 /s cm3/s stb/day
Viscosity q M/LT g/cms kg/ms cP cP
Permeability L2 cm2 m2 Darcy mD
k
Velocity L/T cm/s m/s cm/s ft/s
U
Mass m M g kg g Ib
Length L cm m cm ft
I
Density M/L 3 g/cm3 kg/m 3 g/cm3 lb/ft3
P
expressed in atmospheres, viscosity in cP (centipoises), and, as a conse-
quence, the permeability in Darcies.

References
1. Matthews, C. S., and Russell, D. G., Pressure Buildup and Flow Tests in
Wells, Monograph Series, No. 1, SPE, Dallas, TX 1967.
2. Ramey, H. J., Jr., Kumar, A., and Gulati, M. S., Oil Well Test Analysis
Under Water-drive Conditions, AGA, Arlington, VA, 1973.
3. Earlougher, R. C, Jr., Advances in Well Test Analysis, Monograph
Series, No. 5, SPE, Dallas, TX, 1977.

Additional Reading
1. Ramey, H. J., Jr., "Practical Use of Modern Well Test Analysis," paper
SPE 5878 presented at the SPE 46th Annual California Regional Meet-
ing, Long Beach, CA, April 8-9, 1976.
2. Raghavan, R., "Pressure Behavior of Wells Intercepting Fractures,"
Proc. Invitational Well-Testing Symposium, Berkeley, CA, Oct. 19-21,
1977.
3. Prats, M., Hazebrock, P., and Sticker, W. R., "Effect of Vertical Frac-
tures on Reservoir Behavior - Compressible Fluid Case," Soc. Pet. Eng. J.
(June 1962) 87-94; Trans. AIME, 225.
4. Gringarten, A. C, Ramey, H. J., and Raghavan, R., "Applied Pressure
Analysis for Fractured Wells," J. Pet. Tech. (July 1975) 887-892; Trans.
AIME, 259.
5. Fetkovich, M. J., "Multipoint Testing of Gas Wells," paper presented at
the SPE-AIME Mid-Continent Section Continuing Education Course on
Well Test Analysis (March 1975).
6. Campbell, J. M., "Report on Tentative SPE Metrication Standards,"
paper presented to the 51st Annual Fall Conference of the AIME, New
Orleans, Oct. 1976.