1

USE OF IPR CURVES

Introduction

The concept of Productivity Index (PI) of oil wells is widely used. This assumes that the
production rate is inversely proportional to the bottom-hole pressure, i.e., at any
producing rate, a given increment of additional pressure drawdown will cause the same
production increase. The PI relationship was developed from Darcy's law for steady-
state radial flow of a single incompressible fluid. This simple relationship has had
widespread use even though it is recognized to be an inadequate description in many
cases.

Muskat pointed out that the relationship should not be expected to hold when two-phase
gas and liquid flow exists in the reservoir. Gilbert

recognized the PI variation with
drawdown and proposed the use of producing rate vs bottom hole pressure plots for
well analysis. He termed this complete graph the inflow performance relationship, or
IPR, of a well. Vogel, using a computer model of a solution gas drive reservoir,
developed a generalized IPR curve. With the reference curve, a complete IPR curve
can be constructed for a well with only the static pressure and a producing pressure at
one producing rate known. His reference curve is limited to relationships below the
bubble point.

An extension of the use for the Vogel reference IPR curve may be considered. The
areas for extended use are in reservoirs with static pressure above the bubble point and
in water drive reservoirs.

In reservoirs above bubble point pressure, it is assumed that the straight line IPR exists
to the bubble point and a curved IPR below. It is further assumed that no discontinuity
exists at the bubble point. With these assumptions, equations may be developed to
calculate an IPR curve from a well test taken either above or below the bubble point.

Evidence indicates that IPR curvature is almost totally due to two-phase gas-liquid flow.
This would indicate that bubble point pressure and not reservoir drive mechanism would
determine when the reference IPR curve may be used. Thus, the reference curve may
be used in water drive reservoirs operating below and above the bubble point.


Reservoir Pressures above Bubble Point

Many wells do not fall within the limits imposed by Vogel, i.e., a solution gas drive
reservoir with static pressure at or below the bubble point. If reservoir pressure is above
the bubble point, single-phase liquid flow will occur at producing pressures down to the
bubble point. A constant PI, or straight line IPR would be expected in this situation.
Although viscosity, compressibility and other factors are somewhat pressure dependent,
they appear to exert little or no effect on IPR curvature. Therefore, one would expect a
2
straight line IPR down to the bubble point and a Vogel-type curve below the bubble
point. Vogel ran one case above the bubble point and found this type relationship. The
type curve expected is then as follows:

p
b
p
p
wf
q
m
q
a
q
b
q
Inflow Performance Relationship (IPR)* for an Oil Well
Productivity Index,
PI
PI
q
p
kh
B
r
r
s
e
w
= =

+

A
7 08 10
3
4
3
0 0
.
(ln )
* for static bottom hole pressure (BHP) greater than bubble point
A
q


The Vogel reference curve has the equation:


2
8 . 0 2 . 0 1
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
p
p
p
p
q
q
wf wf
m
(1)


Assuming that in a reservoir above the bubble point, a test is made at a flowing
pressure below the bubble point (point A on the above figure). Then equation (1)
becomes:


2
'
8 . 0 2 . 0 1
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
b
wf
b
wf
a
p
p
p
p
q
q
(2)


and

q q q
b a m
+ = (3)
q q q
b
+ =
'
(4)

3


Differentiating equation (2) with respect to p
wf
:


(

+ =
2
'
6 . 1
2 . 0
b
wf
b
a
wf
p
p
q
q
dp
dq
(5)

The negative sign denotes the inverse proportionality between rate and pressure. The
slope or PI at p
b
is:


b
a
b wf wf
p
q
p p dp
dq 8 . 1
) (
'
=
=
(6)


If we assume no discontinuity exists at p
b
, the PI above p
b
is determined by equation (6)
and:

) (
8 . 1
b
b
a
b
p p
p
q
q = (7)

From equations (2), (4) and (7):


2
8 . 0 2 . 0 8 . 0
8 . 1
|
|
.
|

\
|

|
|
.
|

\
|
=
b
wf
b
wf
b a
p
p
p
p
p
p
q
q
(8)

Since p and p
b
should be known in any reservoir, q
a
can be calculated if q and p
wf
are
known from a well test. The rate for any other desired pressure can then be readily
calculated. The equations can also be used to calculate an IPR curve when the well test
is taken at a pressure above the bubble point. It should be noted that equation (8)
applies to the curved part of the IPR only.


Water Drive Reservoirs

The computer model used by Vogel was limited to solution gas drive reservoirs. The
energy mechanism of a water drive or partial water drive reservoir is quite different.
However, if two-phase gas-liquid flow is causing essentially all the curvature, one would
expect this same curvature as the flowing pressure of a water drive well is reduced
below the bubble point. This effect would be expected at low water-cut. At high water-
cut, the effect might be dampened due to water containing no solution gas and thus a
much reduced gas-liquid ratio would occur for a given pressure. Vogel changed the gas-
oil ratio by a factor of four, however, and saw no noticeable effect. The above assumes
the water-cut of the well is not rate sensitive. If the water-cut is changing with rate, the
oil-water mobility ratio may exert an overriding effect.
4

The methods suggested by Vogel for prediction of IPR decay with time would be
inapplicable to a water drive reservoir.




P. Behrenbruch