Concepts

Drawdown = PR - Pwf .
Open-flow potential
Productivity Index, J

Inflow Performance Relationship (IPR)

IPR Calculation Methods
1. Straight-line IPR
qo= J(PR Pwf)

2. non-linear IPR
qo= C(P2R P2wf)n
Vogels Method

IPR Calculation Methods

3. Fetkovichs
qo
qo(max)

= 1-

Pwf

PR

Developed from:
Observations of the American
Bureau of Mines

qo= C(P2R P2wf)n

normalization

qo
=
qo(max)

1-

Pwf

PR

For case of n =1,

based on field observations for saturated oil wells.
consider the effect of high velocity (non-Darcy, turbulent flow)
slightly different from Vogels, somewhat more conservative

Exercise: Back Pressure, Vogels & Fetkovichs Methods

Data from a multirate test for a well producing from a pay zone in a field is given in
Table Q1.

Table Q1
Point
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

P wf (psia)

q o (stb/day)

166
183
351
534
787
867
996
1066
1194
1267
1342
1470
1476
1497
1558
1600

2435
2460
2352
2260
1965
1895
1765
1625
1470
1260
1045
720
610
565
235
0

1.

Calculate the productivity index, J based on

the lowest four flow rates. Find qmax based
on the straight IPR.

2.

Plot the data in Table Q1 on the Cartesian

paper. Use only point 10 to determine qmax
with the Vogels equation. Plot and tabulate
the calculated rates predicted by Vogels
against corresponding bottomhole flowing
pressures given in Table Q1.

3.

Repeat step 2 using Fetkovichs method.

4.

Use the Backpressure Equation to tabulate

the calculated rates corresponding to the
bottomhole flowing pressures given in Table
Q1. Find qmax.

Solution
1.

Calculate the productivity index, J based on the lowest four flow rates. Find qmax
based the straight IPR.

Productivity Index = J =

stb/d.psi

Pr - Pwf

q
235
565
610
720

Lowest P wf
1558
1497
1476
1470

Average

J (stb/day/psi)
5.60
5.49
4.92
5.54
5.38

qmax (based the straight IPR)

J =

0
Pr - Pwf

qmax = J Pr
qmax = (1600 psi) (5.38 stb/d.psi) = 8608 stb/d

2435 stb/d @ 166 psi

Plot the data on the Cartesian paper. Use only point 10 to determine qmax with the Vogels
equation. Plot and tabulate the Vogels rates corresponding to the bottomhole flowing
pressures given in Table Q1.

Vogels equation
Production data
1800
1600
1400
1200
P wf (psi)

2.

@ Point 10, q = 1260 psi

1000

Pwf = 1267 psi

800

qmax = 3706 stb/d

600
400
200
0
0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

q o (stb/d)

Plot of observed rates vs. Pwf

3000

=
2435 stb/d @ 166 psi

Field Data vs. Vogels

Production data

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Pwf (psia)
166
183
351
534
787
867
996
1066
1194
1267
1342
1470
1476
1497
1558
1600

qo (stb/d)
Field
Vogel's
2435
3597
2460
3582
2352
3401
2260
3128
1965
2624
1895
2434
1765
2096
1625
1896
1470
1502
1260
1260
1045
999
720
522
610
499
565
417
235
173
0
0

1800
1600
1400

Vogels

1200
P wf (psi)

Point

1000
800
600

Observed

400
200
0
0

1000

2000

3000

q o (stb/d)

Plot of observed & Vogels rates vs. Pwf

4000

3. Repeat step 2 using Fetkovichs method/ special normalized Back Pressure.

qo
qo(max)

= 1-

Pwf

PR
qo

qo(max) =
1-

Pwf

PR
@ Point 10, q = 1260 psi, Pwf = 1267 psi

qmax = 3378.6 stb/d

Field Data vs. Fetkovich

Point Pwf (psia)

166
183
351
534
787
867
996
1066
1194
1267
1342
1470
1476
1497
1558
1600

Field
2435
2460
2352
2260
1965
1895
1765
1625
1470
1260
1045
720
610
565
235
0

Back-Pressure
3342
3334
3216
3002
2561
2387
2069
1879
1497
1260
1002
527
503
421
175
0

1800
1600
1400
1200
P wf (psi)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Production data

qo (stb/d)

Backpressure

1000
800

Observed

600
400
200
0
0

1000

2000
q o (stb/d)

3000

4000

4.

Use the Backpressure Equation to tabulate the calculated rates corresponding to

the bottomhole flowing pressures given in Table Q1. Find qmax.

Backpressure Equation

& C

qo= C(P2R P2wf)n

qo= C(P2R P2wf)n

Log-Log PLot
2532444
2526511
2436799
2274844
1940631
1808311
1567984
1423644
1134364
954711
759036
399100
381424
318991
132636
0

10000000

Pr - Pwf

1000000

2435
2460
2352
2260
1965
1895
1765
1625
1470
1260
1045
720
610
565
235
0

Pwf (psia)
166
183
351
534
787
867
996
1066
1194
1267
1342
1470
1476
1497
1558
1600

Pr - Pwf

q0 (stb/d)

100000
100

1000
qo

= 1/slope = ~0.7

C = 0.08 (plugging a value on the line into)

10000

Field Data vs. Backpressure

Production data
Point Pwf (psia)
166
183
351
534
787
867
996
1066
1194
1267
1342
1470
1476
1497
1558
1600

Field
2435
2460
2352
2260
1965
1895
1765
1625
1470
1260
1045
720
610
565
235
0

Backpressure
2494
2490
2428
2314
2070
1970
1783
1667
1422
1260
1073
684
663
585
316
0

1800
1600
1400

Backpressure

1200
P wf (psi)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

qo (stb/d)

1000
800
600

Observed

400
200
0
0

500

1000

1500
q o (stb/d)

2000

2500

3000

A plot of the measured data compared with Vogels equation, the Backpressure
equation & Fetkovichs equation

Point
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Pwf (psia)
166
183
351
534
787
867
996
1066
1194
1267
1342
1470
1476
1497
1558
1600

Field
2435
2460
2352
2260
1965
1895
1765
1625
1470
1260
1045
720
610
565
235
0

Vogel's
3597
3583
3401
3129
2624
2434
2096
1896
1502
1260
999
522
499
417
173
0

qo (stb/day)
Back-Pressure (n=1)
3342
3334
3216
3002
2561
2387
2069
1879
1497
1260
1002
527
503
421
175
0

Back-Pressure (n=0.7)
2494
2490
2428
2314
2070
1970
1783
1667
1422
1260
1073
684
663
585
316
0

 Many oil wells produce from reservoirs with pressure above Pb but with Pwf below Pb

Pb Pwf Pr
Pwf Pb Pr

qo= J(PR Pwf)

qo= J(PR Pwf) +

J
(P 2b P 2wf)
2Pb

IPR curve is characteristic of reservoirs with a solution gas drive

QUIZ: IPR
A well produces oil at a rate of 108 stb/d with a bottomhole flowing
pressure of 1980 psia. The PVT analysis of the core samples and
recombined reservoir fluids suggested that the bubble point pressure
to be at 1825 psia at a temperature of 195 oF. An initial reservoir
pressure of 3620 psia was recorded during the 48-hour buildup
following the flow test.
i.

Calculate the productivity index, J if flowing bottomhole pressure is

greater than bubble point pressure.

ii.

Calculate the production rate if bottomhole flowing pressure is held at

the bubble-point pressure to avoid the blockage in the near wellbore
region.

iii.

Calculate the maximum production rate that can be expected from the
well.

iv.

Plot the IPR curve for the entire range of wellbore flowing pressures,
both above and below the bubble point.

Solution

i.

= 0.066 stb/d/psia.

ii.

qob = 118.5 stb/d/psia.

iii.

qmax = 178.7 stb/d/psia. (Pwf = 0)