Pressure-Transient Behavior in a Reservoir With a Finite-Conductivity Fault

Abstract

Summary An analytical solution for transient-pressure behavior of an active well near a nonintersecting finite-conductivity fault of infinite length is presented. Flow along and across the fault plane is considered. Type curves in terms of fault skin factor and conductivity are presented for various reservoir mobility and diffusivity ratios on two sides of the fault. Pressure derivatives exhibit a negative unit slope line followed by quarter-slope bilinear flow characteristics for high-fault conductivities. A special method is presented to calculate distance to conductive faults based on a Cartesian plot of pressure derivative vs. reciprocal of shut-in time. Finally, a field pressure-buildup test from a faulted reservoir is analyzed by the model.