Well Test Analysis for Two-Phase Flow of Non-Newtonian Power-Law and Newtonian Fluids

Abstract

Analysis of injectivity and falloff test data is considered during two-phase flow of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluids. The non-Newtonian fluids considered are power-law fluids. Two sets of relative permeability data representing preferentially water wet and oil wet systems are considered. The conditions under which saturation gradients develop are thoroughly investigated. The effects of finite radius skin region and rock compressibility on pressure response are also investigated. During two-phase flow of power-law and Newtonian fluids, saturation gradients do not develop under most practical conditions. Injectivity and falloff data can be analyzed using available techniques with appropriate definitions of dimensionless variables for two-phase flow. When saturation gradients exist, the response of this transition region is not interpretable by available methods.