A New Method for Estimating Average Reservoir Pressure: The Muskat Plot Revisited

Abstract

Summary This paper describes a new method for estimating average reservoir pressure from long-pressure-buildup data on the basis of the classical Muskat plot. Current methods for estimating average reservoir pressure require a priori information about the reservoir and assume homogeneous reservoir properties or use empirical extrapolation techniques. The new method applies to heterogeneous reservoirs and requires no information about reservoir or fluid properties. The idea of the method is to estimate from the pressure derivative the first few eigenvalues of the pressure-transient decay modes. These values are characteristic of the reservoir and fluid properties, but not of the pressure history or well location in the reservoir. The smallest eigenvalue is used to extrapolate the long-time behavior of the transient to estimate the final reservoir pressure. The second eigenvalue can be used to estimate the quality of the estimate. Numerical tests of the method show that it estimates average reservoir pressure accurately, even when the reservoir is heterogeneous or when partial-flow barriers are present. Examples with real data show that the behavior predicted by the theory is actually observed. We expect the method to have value in reservoir limits testing, in making consistent estimates of average reservoir pressure from permanent downhole gauges, and in characterizing complex reservoirs.