RTENOTITLE....................(1) was derived from three principles: conservation of mass, the equation of state f or slightly compressible liquids, and Darcy s law. This form of the diffusivity eq uation is linear, which makes solutions (such as theEi-function solution) much e asier to find and which allows us to use superposition in time and space to deve lop solutions for complex flow geometries and for variable rate histories from s imple, single-well solutions. Pseudopressure Other forms of the equation for flow of gases must be developed because the equa tion of state for a slightly compressible liquid will not be applicable. First, introducing the real gas law, RTENOTITLE....................(2) to replace the slightly compressible equation of state results in a more complex , nonlinear partial differential equation. This equation can be partially linear ized by introducing the pseudopressure transformation, [1] RTENOTITLE....................(3) where p0 is an arbitrary "base" pressure, frequently chosen to be zero psia. The resulting form of the diffusivity equation is RTENOTITLE....................(4) Eq. 4 has the same form as the diffusivity equation for slightly compressible li quids, with pressure replaced by pseudopressure, pp. However, this equation is n onlinear because the product ct is a strong function of pressure. Fortunately, re search has shown that the equation can be treated as linear, and theEi-function is valid for gases if ct is evaluated at the pressure at the beginning of a flow period until the time when boundaries begin to have a significant influence on t he pressure drop at the well; that is, as long as the reservoir is infinite-acti ng.