1/56 WELL TESTING ANALYSIS

Table 1.5 Earlougher’s pressure buildup data Step 3. Calculate the average permeability by using Equa-
(Permission to publish by the SPE, copyright tion 1.3.8:
SPE, 1977.) 162. 6Qo Bo µo
k=
t(hr) tp + t(hr) tp + tt pws (psig) mh
(162. 6)(4900)(1. 55)(0. 22)
0.0 – – 2761 = = 12. 8 md
0.10 310.30 3101 3057 (40)(482)
0.21 310.21 1477 3153 Step 4. Determine pwf after 1 hour from the straight-line
0.31 310.31 1001 3234 portion of the curve:
0.52 310.52 597 3249 p1 hr = 3266 psi
0.63 310.63 493 3256
0.73 310.73 426 3260 Step 5. Calculate the skin factor by applying Equation 1.3.9
0.84 310.84 370 3263   
0.94 310.94 331 3266 p − pwft=0 k
s = 1. 151 1 hr − log + 3. 23
1.05 311.05 296 3267 m φµct rw2
1.15 311.15 271 3268 
1.36 311.36 229 3271 3266 − 2761
= 1. 151
1.68 311.68 186 3274 40
1.99 311.99 157 3276    
2.51 312.51 125 3280 12. 8
− log     2 + 3. 23
3.04 313.04 103 3283 0. 09 0. 20 22. 6 × 10−6 0. 354
3.46 313.46 90.6 3286
4.08 314.08 77.0 3289 = 8. 6
5.03 315.03 62.6 3293
Step 6. Calculate the additional pressure drop by using:
5.97 315.97 52.9 3297
6.07 316.07 52.1 3297 pskin = 0. 87 |m| s
7.01 317.01 45.2 3300
8.06 318.06 39.5 3303 = 0. 87(40)(8. 6) = 299. 3 psi
9.00 319.00 35.4 3305
It should be pointed out that Equation 1.3.6 assumes the
10.05 320.05 31.8 3306
reservoir to be infinite in size, i.e., re = ∞, which implies
13.09 323.09 24.7 3310
that at some point in the reservoir the pressure would be
16.02 326.02 20.4 3313
always equal to the initial reservoir pressure pi and the
20.00 330.00 16.5 3317
Horner straight-line plot will always extrapolate to pi . How-
26.07 336.07 12.9 3320
ever, reservoirs are finite and soon after production begins,
31.03 341.03 11.0 3322
fluid removal will cause a pressure decline everywhere in
34.98 344.98 9.9 3323
the reservoir system. Under these conditions, the straight
37.54 347.54 9.3 3323
line will not extrapolate to the initial reservoir pressure pi
but, instead, the pressure obtained will be a false pressure as
denoted by p∗ . The false pressure, as illustrated by Matthews
and Russell (1967) in Figure 1.39, has no physical meaning
Example 1.27a Table 1.5 shows the pressure buildup data but it is usually used to determine the average reservoir pres-
from an oil well with an estimated drainage radius of 2640 ft. sure p. It is clear that p∗ will only equal the initial (original)
Before shut-in, the well had produced at a stabilized rate of reservoir pressure pi when a new well in a newly discovered
4900 STB/day for 310 hours. Known reservoir data is: field is tested. Using the concept of the false pressure p∗ ,
depth = 10 476 ft, rw = 0. 354 ft, ct = 22. 6 × 10−6 psi−1 Horner expressions as given by Equations 1.3.6 and 1.3.7
should be expressed in terms of p∗ instead of pi as:
Qo = 4900 STB/D, h = 482 ft, pwf (t = 0) = 2761 psig   
162. 6Qo µo Bo tp + t
µo = 0. 20 cp, Bo = 1. 55 bbl/STB, φ = 0. 09 pws = p∗ − log
kh t
tp = 310 hours, re = 2640 ft
and:
  
Calculate: tp + t
pws = p∗ − m log [1.3.10]
● the average permeability k; t
● the skin factor; Bossie-Codreanu (1989) suggested that the well drainage
● the additional pressure drop due to skin. area can be determined from the Horner pressure buildup
plot or the MDH plot, discussed next, by selecting the
coordinates of any three points located on the semilog
Solution
straight-line portion of the plot to determine the slope of
Step 1. Plot pws vs. (tp +t)/t on a semilog scale as shown the pseudosteady-state line mpss . The coordinates of these
in Figure 1.38). three points are designated as:
Step 2. Identify the correct straight-line portion of the curve ● shut-in time t1 and with a corresponding shut-in pres-
and determine the slope m:
sure pws1 ;
m = 40 psi/cycle ● shut-in time t2 and with a corresponding shut-in pres-
sure pws2 ;
● shut-in time t3 and with a corresponding shut-in pres-
sure pws3 .
a This example problem and the solution procedure are given in
Earlougher, R. Advance Well Test Analysis, Monograph Series, SPE, The selected shut-in times satisfy t1 < t2 < t3 . The
Dallas (1977). slope of the pseudosteady-state straight-line mpss is then

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