A New Method To Account For Producing Time Effects When Drawdown Type Curves Are Used To Analyze Pressure Buildup And Other Test Data

Abstract

Abstract Currently, type curve analysis methods are being commonly used in conjunction with the conventional methods to obtain better interpretation of well test data- Although the majority of published type curves are based on pressure drawdown solutions, they are often applied indiscriminately to analyze both pressure drawdown and buildup data. Moreover, the limitations of drawdown type curves, to analyze pressure buildup data collected after short producing times, are not well understood by the practicing engineers. This may often result in an erroneous interpretation of such buildup tests. While analyzing buildup data by the conventional semi-log method, the Horner method takes into account the effect of producing time. On the otherhand, for type curve analysis of the same set of buildup data, it is customary to ignore producing time effects and utilize the existing drawdown type curves. This causes discrepancies in results obtained by the Horner method and type curve methods. Although a few buildup type curves which account for the effect of producing times have appeared in the petroleum literature, they are either limited in scope or somewhat difficult to use. In view of the preceding, a novel but simple method has been developed which eliminates the dependence on producing time effects and allows the user to utilize the existing drawdown type curves for analyzing pressure buildup data. This method may also be used to analyze two-rate, multiple-rate and other kinds of tests by type curve methods as well as the conventional methods. The method appears to work for both unfractured and fractured wells. Wellbore effects such as storage and/or damage may be taken into account except in certain cases. The purpose of this paper is to present the new method and demonstrate its utility and application by means of example problems. Introduction Type curves have appeared in the petroleum literature since 1970 to analyze pressure transient(pressure drawdown and pressure buildup) tests taken on both unfractured and fractured wells. The majority of type curves which have been developed and published to date were generated using data obtained from pressure drawdown solutions and obviously are most suited to analyze pressure drawdown tests. These drawdown type curves are also commonly used to analyze pressure buildup data. The application of drawdown type curves in analyzing pressure buildup data is not as bad as it may first appear. As long as the producing time, t, prior to shut-in is sufficiently long compared to the shut-in time, Delta t [that is (t +Delta t)/t 1], for liquid systems, it is reasonable to analyze pressure buildup data using drawdown type curves. However, for cases where producing times prior to pressure buildup tests are of the same magnitude or only slightly larger than the shut-in times [that is, (t + Delta t)/t »1], the drawdown type curves may not be used to analyze data from pressure buildup tests. The above requirement on the duration of producing times is the same for the conventional semi-log analysis. If pressure buildup data obtained after short producing pressure buildup data obtained after short producing time are to be analyzed, the Horner methodic is recommended over the MDH (Miller-Dyes-Hutchinson)method. The MDH method is generally used to analyze buildup data collected after long producing times, whereas the Horner method is used for those obtained after relatively short producing times. Although pressure buildup tests with short producing times may occur often under any situation, they are rather more common in the case of drill stem tests and prefracturing tests on low permeability gas wells. Thus, there is a need for generating buildup type curves, which account for the effects of producing time. Some limited work has been done in producing time. Some limited work has been done in this regard. McKinley has published type curves for analyzing buildup data for a radial flow system.