Well Test Analysis

Superposition

Superposition
It is a fundamental tool of pressure transient test analysis and reservoir engineering. It makes k us to t construct t t reservoir i response functions in complex situations (boundaries, variable rate, variable pressure production) using only simple basic model solutions, namely constantrate (or constant-pressure) solutions.

Superposition
It can be used to represent the response due to several wells by adding up the individual well responses (multi-well applications). By appropriate choice of flow rate and well location, it is also possible to represent various types of reservoir boundaries (noflow and constant-pressure). It should be noted that principle of superposition holds only for linear systems (in the mathematical sense).

Well Test Analysis

Superposition
However, these include most of the standard response functions used in pressure transient analysis, making the assumption of slightly compressible fluid of constant viscosity and compressibility. Infinite acting radial flow for homogeneous reservoirs Double-porosity and double-permeability models Fractured, horizontal wells Bounded systems, etc. It can be used for gas wells with the appropriate transformations (e.g., real-gas pseudo-pressure) and corrections (e.g., material balance correction) as to be discussed later in gas pressure transient testing.

Principle of Superposition

It states that the response of the system to a number of perturbations is exactly equal l to t the th sum of f the th responses to t each of the perturbations as if they were present by themselves.

Principle of Superposition
Well 2 q2

Well 4 q4

M
Well 1 q1 Well 3 q3

p(M,t) = ?

Well Test Analysis

Principle of Superposition
q2 q1 M q4

=
q3

r1
q1

q2 r2M

+
M

r3
q3

r4

q4

p(M,t) = p1(r1,q1,t) + p2(r2,q2,t) + p3(r3,q3,t) + p4(r4,q4,t)

Superposition
Using the principle of superposition and the image well concept (to be discussed), it is relatively straightforward to account for the effects of complex boundary shapes, including mixtures of impermeable and constant-pressure boundaries. As said previously, can be used to combine a series of different constant-rate solutions (or response functions) to describe the pressure response in a variable-rate pressure transient test.

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition

q2 q1 M q4

=
q3

r1
q1

q2 r2M

+
M

r3
q3

r4

q4

p(M,t) = p1(r1,q1,t) + p2(r2,q2,t) + p3(r3,q3,t) + p4(r4,q4,t)

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition

Suppose that that four wells in the the previous slide start to production at different rates, but constant, at the same time. How could we describe each wells pressure change pj(rj,qj,t) that will created at the point M at time t in the reservoir if each well were producing alone with a constant-rate of qj?
p j (q j , rj , t) = p i p(q j , rj ) = 70.6q jB kh 948.05 c t rj2 Ei kt

for j = 1,2,3,4.

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition

p i p(M, t) =
2 70.6q1B 948.05 c t r1 Ei kh kt

70.6q q 2 B 948.05 c t r22 Ei kh kt 70.6q 3 B 948.05 c t r32 Ei kh kt 70.6q 4 B 948.05 c t r42 Ei kh kt

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition

Now, suppose that we wish to compute the pressure drop at Well 1 in our previous 4- well example, i.e., the point M is at well.
Well 2

r2 M r1 Well 1 q1

q2

r4 r3

Well 4

q4
Well 3

q3

How to take r1? We take as the wellbore radius of Well 1, r1 = rw1

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition

Then, the pressure drop at Well 1, with the presence of other three production wells, can be written as:
p i p(rw1 , t) =
2 70.6q q 1 B 948.05 c t rw 1 + 2s1 Ei kh kt

70.6q 2 B 948.05 c t r22 Ei kh kt 70.6q 3 B 948.05 c t r32 Ei kh kt

Skin factor at Well 1

70.6q 4 B 948.05 c t r42 Ei kh kt

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition: Example

Well 3 500 ft Well 1 350 ft Well 2

650 ft

(a) Compute pressure and pressure drop at Well 3 at t = 60 hr. (b) Compute pressure and pressure drop at Well 1 at t = 100 hr.

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition: Example

(a) Compute pressure and pressure drop at Well 3 at t = 60 hr.
p i p( p(rw3 , t) )= 70.6q1B 948.05 c t r12 70.6q 2 B 948.05 c t r22 Ei Ei kh k kt kh k kt
5 2 70.6 450 1.275 0.7 948.05 0.2 0.7 1.5x10 500 Ei 5 100 5 60 5 2 70.6 120 1.275 0.7 948 .05 0.2 0.7 1.5x10 350 Ei 5 100 5 60

pi p(rw3 , t) =

p i p(rw3 , t) = 56.7 Ei [ 1.66 ] 15.1 Ei [ 0.74 ] = 4.48 + 5.24 = 9.72 psi

p(rw3,t = 60 hr)=5000-9.72= 4990.3 psi

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition: Example

(b) Compute pressure and pressure drop at Well 1 at t = 100 hr.
p i p( p(rw1 , t) )=
2 70.6q1B 948.05 c t rw1 + 2s1 Ei kh kt

70.6q 2 B 948.05 c t r22 Ei kh kt 70.6q 3 B 948.05 c t r32 Ei kh kt

Note: q3 = 0, because Well 3 is a shut-in observation well.

Homogeneous Infinite System: Principle of Superposition: Example

(b) Compute pressure and pressure drop at Well 1 at t = 100 hr.
2 948.05 c t rw 1

kt

948 0.2 1.5x105 0.7 0.6 2 5 100

= 1.43x10 6 < 0.01

In this case, the pressure drop created at Well 1 by its own production can be easily computed from logarithmic approximation of Ei(-x): -Ei[-1.43x10-6]-ln(1.43x10-6*e)=12.87, (=0.577215..) 70.6 450 0.7 1.275 {12.87+ 2 2} p(rw1 , t) = 5 100 70.6 1200 0.7 1.275 Ei[ 1.68] 5 100

p(rw1,t = 100 hr)= 968.3 psi

p(rw1,t = 100 hr)= 4031.7 psi

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

y-axis
r12 = (d + x)2 + y 2

M(x,y) r1 x y 0,0 d d r2

r22 = (d x)2 + y 2

x-axis Well 2, q

Well 1, q

Suppose Well 1 starts production with q from t = 0 Suppose Well 2 start production with q from t = t*, t* >0 How can we compute pressure drop at the point M for a given time t>0?

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

For t t* at point M, ( y ) p1( (x,y,t) y ) pi-p(x,y,t)= For t t* at point M, pi-p(x,y,t)=p1(x,y,t)+ p2(x,y,t-t*)

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

For t t* at point M, pi-p(x,y,t)=p1(x,y,t) = For t t* at point M, pi-p(x,y,t)=p1(x,y,t)+ p2(x,y,t-t*)
= 70.6q1B 948.05 c t r12 Ei kh kt
70.6q1B 948.05 c t r12 Ei kh kt

70.6q 2 B 948.05 c t r22 Ei kh k(t t * )

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

Now suppose that both wells start production with the same rate q at t = 0, then the pressure drop at point M for t 0 given by y is g pi-p(x,y,t)=p1(x,y,t)+ p2(x,y,t)
= 70.6qB 948.05 c t r12 Ei kh kt

70.6qB 948.05 c t r22 Ei kh kt

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

Then, we can rewrite by using:
r12 = (d + x)2 + y 2
r22 = (d x)2 + y 2

p i p(x, y, t) =

70.6qB 948.05 c t (d + x)2 + y 2 Ei kh kt

70.6qB 948.05 c t (d x)2 + y 2 Ei kh kt p =0 From this equation, we obtain: x (x = 0;y)

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

y

x
Well 1,q Well 2, q

No-flow boundary

Homogeneous Infinite SystemSingle No-Flow (Fault) Problem

d d

Well, q Well, q Image (prod.) Well, q No-flow boundary

= 2.637x104 k c t

Sealing Fault Actual System

p i p wf (t) =

2 2 70.6qB - Ei rw + 2s 70.6qB Ei (2d) kh kh 4t 4t

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite SystemSingle No-Flow (Fault) Problem

2D Pressure Profile, here Z-axis represents pressure

No-flow boundary 3D Pressure profile

Homogeneous Infinite SystemSingle No-Flow (Fault) Problem

3D Pressure profiles
No-flow boundary Image well

Numerical Simulation with a single no-flow boundary Condition in a semi-infinite sys.

Numerical Simulation With two wells producing at the same constant rate q, separated by a distance 2d, in an infinite sys.

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

Now suppose that Well 1 start production with rate q at t = 0, but Well 2 start injection with rate q at t = 0, the pressure drop at point M for t 0 is g p given by y pi-p(x,y,t)=p1(x,y,t)+ p2(x,y,t)
= 70.6qB 948.05 c t r12 Ei kh kt

70.6(- q )B 948.05 c t r22 Ei kh kt

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

Then, we can rewrite by using:
r12 = (d + x)2 + y 2
r22 = (d x)2 + y 2

p i p(x, y, t) =

70.6qB 948.05 c t (d + x)2 + y 2 Ei kh kt

70.6(- q )B 948.05 c t (d x)2 + y 2 Ei kh kt

From this equation, we obtain:

p i - p(x = 0, y, t) = 0 p(x = 0, y, t) = p i for all t

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

y

x Well 1,q Well 2, -q constant-pressure boundary (C-P Boundary)

Homogeneous Infinite SystemSingle C-P Boundary Problem

d d

Well, q Well, q Image (Inj.) Well, -q C-P boundary

= 2.637x104 k c t

C-P boundary
p i p wf (t) =

2 2 70.6qB - Ei rw + 2s 70.6(-q)B Ei (2d) kh kh 4t 4t

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Well Test Analysis

Examples: Imaging Based on Superposition

N-F boundary Image (prod.) Well, q
N-F boun ndary

Image (prod.) Well, q

d2

d1

d2

d2
Well, q

Well, q

d1

d1
Image (prod.) Well, q

Actual System
Write down an expression for computing pressure drop at the well.

Examples: Imaging Based on Superposition

N-F boundary Image (prod.) Well, q
C-P boun ndary

Image (Inj.) Well, -q

d2

d1

d2

d2
Well, q

Well, q

d1

d1
Image (Inj.) Well, -q

Actual System
Write down an expression for computing pressure drop at the well.

Examples: Imaging Based on Superposition

N-F boun ndary

N-F boun ndary

d2

d1

..

d1

d2 d2

d1

d1

d2

..

Well, q

Image Well, q

Well, q

Image Well, q

Actual System

Infinitely many image wells (all prod.)

Write down an expression for computing pressure drop at the well.

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Well Test Analysis

Examples: Imaging Based on Superposition

N-F boun ndary

C-P boun ndary

d2

d1

..

d1

d2 d2

d1

d1

d2

..

Well, q

Image Well, q

Well, q

Image Well, -q

Actual System

Infinitely many image wells (prod + inj.)

Write down an expression for computing pressure drop at the well.

Examples: Imaging Based on Superposition

Infinitely many array of image wells (all prod.)

Examples: Imaging Based on Superposition

Infinitely many array of image wells (both prod. and inj.)

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Well Test Analysis

Superposition in Time (or Rate Superpostion)

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

y-axis
2 2 r12 = rw1 = rw

r22 = (2d) 2

r2 = 2d M( ) M(x,y) Well 1, q r1 = rw1=rw 0,0 d d Well 2, -q x-axis

Suppose Well 1 starts production with q from t = 0 Suppose Well 2 start production with -q from t = t*, t* >0 How can we compute pressure drop at Well 1 for a given time t>0?

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

For t t* at point M, i.e., at Well 1 ( w,t)= ) p1( (rw,t) ) pi-p(r For t t* at Well 1, pi-p(rw,t)=p1(rw,t)+ p2(r2,t-t*)

13

Well Test Analysis

Homogeneous Infinite SystemClassical Two Well Problem

For t t* at Well 1, pi-p(rw,t)=p1(rw,t) = For t t* at Well 1, pi-p(rw,t)=p1(rw,t)+ p2(r2,t-t*)
= 948.05 c t r12 70.6qB + 2s1 Ei kh kt
2 70.6 (- q )B 948.05 c t (2d ) Ei kh k(t t * )

948.05 c t r12 70.6q1 B - Ei + 2 s1 kt kh

Rate Superposition

Now, we bring Well 2 to the location of Well 1 so that two wells are operating at the same location of Well 1: One production well started production with q at t = 0, and an injection well started injection with q at t = t*, t* > 0.

Rate Superposition
Rate histories of the wells are:
Rate

q>0

Well 1 Time
Rate

0
Rate

q>0

Well 1 q=0 t* Time

0 Well 2 t* -q<0 Time

Buildup Test

14

Well Test Analysis

Rate Superposition Equation

For t t* at Well 1, pi-p(rw,t)=p1(rw,t) = For t t* at Well 1, pi-p(rw,t)=p1(rw,t)+ p2(rw,t-t*)
= + 70.6qB 948.05 ct r12 - Ei + 2s1 kt kh
2 70.6(- q )B 948.05 c t rw - Ei + 2s1 kh k(t t * )
2 948.05 c t rw 70.6qB - Ei + 2 s1 kh kt

Buildup Test Pressure/Rate History

P Pressure

Time

Time

Examples: Two Step-Rate Changes: Single Well

Rate Histories

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Well Test Analysis

Example: Two Step-Rate Changes: Single Well

Pressure Histories
p pi p Time pi

0 p pi 0

t1

0 t1 t2 Time

t2 Time

Write down the pressure equation using superposition: Assume infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir, fully penetrating line-source well.

Examples: Two Step-Rate Changes: Single Well

Rate Histories
q q1 q2 0 q q1 > 0

Time

0 q

t1 q2-q1 > 0 t2

Time

t1

t2

Time

Examples: Two Step-Rate Changes: Single Well

Pressure Histories
p pi p Time pi

0 p pi 0

t1

0 t1 t2 Time

t2 Time

Write down the pressure equation using superposition: Assume infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir, fully penetrating line-source well.

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Well Test Analysis

Multirate Superposition: Illustration

Multirate: illustration
q1 q1 q2 q2 t1 t1 t2 t2 t3 t3 q4 q4 t4 t4 t5 t5 t6 t6 q7 q7 t7 t7 q8 q3 q3 q5 q5 q6 q6 q8

Multirate Superposition Equation

Although, so far, we have considered infinite acting homogeneous reservoir solution, superposition is quite general can be used for all models assuming slightly compressible fluid of constant viscosity and compressibility, compressibility e.g., e g double porosity, porosity layered systems, etc. All we need is to have the constant-rate response of the system considered to generate the solution for the multirate case. Next, I develop the general equation of multirate for a single-well case.

17

Well Test Analysis

Multirate Superposition Equation

Let pu(r,t) be the rate-normalized pressure change in psi/(B/D) created at location r in the reservoir at a time t from a well producing at a constant constant-rate rate q. q It includes the skin factor if it is evaluated at the production/injection well. In well testing literature, it is also referred to as the constant unit-rate pressure change.

Multirate Superposition Equation

For example, for a fully-penetrating line-source well with no wellbore storage effects in an infinite-homogeneous reservoir, pu(r,t) would be given by:
70.6B 948.05 c t r 2 Ei , r > rw kh kt p i p(r, t) = 2 q 70.6B - Ei 948.05 c t rw + 2s , r = r w kh kt

pu(r,t) =

Multirate Superposition Equation

Now, lets consider the following rate history at the producing well:
q q1 q2 q3 qi qn t3 ti-1 ti tn-1

t0=0 t1

t2

Time

18

Well Test Analysis

Multirate Superposition Equation

Now, we apply superposition to obtain the solution:
p i p(r, t) = q1p u (t) + (q 2 q1 )p u (t t 1 ) + (q 3 q 2 )p u (t t 2 ) + L + (q i q i 1 )p u (t t i 1 ) + L + (q n q n 1 )p u (t t n 1 )

p i p(r, t) = (q j+1 q j ) p u (r, t t j )

n

OR:

j= 0 n

p i p(r, t) = (q j q j-1 ) p u (r, t t j-1 )

j=1

where q0 = 0, and t0 = 0.

Multirate Superposition Equation

For a line-source fully penetrating well in an infinite acting reservoir, we can express the superposition equation as:
p i p(r, t) = 70.6B n 948.05 c t r (q j q j-1 ) Ei , r > rw kh j=1 kt

p i p(r, t) =

2 948.05 c t rw 70.6B n (q j q j-1 ) Ei + 2s , r = rw kh j=1 kt

Single-Well Convolution Equation

The superposition equation can also be written in an more general or compact integral form as:
p i p(r, t) = q( )
0 t

dp u (r, t ) d convolution equation dt

For a line-source well:

948.05 c t r 2 dp u (r, t ) 70.6B = exp dt kh kt

19

Well Test Analysis

Multiwell/Multirate Superposition p p

Multiwell/Multirate Superposition
Now, we extend to a more general case where we can have more than one well producing with a variable history in the reservoir. Lets consider a two-well system, Well A and Well B, with the following rate histories at each well.
qA, stb/D 250 100 0 (buildup)
100 qB, stb/D

700

10

20

t, hour

t, hour

How do we calculate pressure at Well A at t = 25 hr?

Multiwell/Multirate Superposition
Combining superposition in space and superposition in time (or rate superposition), we can write the following equation for multiwell multirate case:
k k k p i p(r, t) = q k j q j-1 p u r , t t j-1 k =1 j=1 N w nk

) (

20

Well Test Analysis

Multiwell/Multirate Superposition
Suppose, we wish to compute pressure at Well A at t = 25 hr for the example considerd, then we will apply the superposition equation as:
k k k k p i p(rw , t) = q k j q j-1 p u r , t t j-1 k =1 j=1 3 2 nk

) (

) )
2

A A A A A B B B B B p i p(rw , t = 25) = q A j q j-1 p u rw , t t j-1 + q j q j-1 p u r , t t j-1 j=1 j=1

) (

) (

Pressure change caused Pressure change caused at Well A by Well A itself. at Well A by Well B

Multiwell Convolution Equation

The multiwell/multirate superposition equation can also be written in an more general or compact integral form as:
Nw t

k j pk i p(r , t) = q ( ) j=1 0

dp kj u (t ) d dt

Exercise 1
qA, stb/D 250 100 0 (buildup)
100 qB, stb/D

700

10

20

t, hour

t, hour

Calculate pressure at Well A at t = 25 hr.

21

Well Test Analysis

Exercise 2
qA, stb/D 250 450 500

qB, stb/D

0 (shut-in) (shut in)

24

48

t, hour

80

t, hour

Calculate pressure at Well A at t = 72 hr.

22