Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Chapter 15 Slug, DST, and MDT Tests

DST
DST (Drillstem Test) has been used as a method of formation evaluation for many years. Originally used to identify reservoir fluids, DST has also become an important method for estimating reservoir pressure and well potential. It can be run both in open and cased holes with a single packer or a dual (or straddle) packer. DST can be viewed as a temporary well completion with the purpose of obtaining some or all of the following objectives:
Identification of reservoir fluid An indication of well productivity Pressure transient data to estimate permeability, skin factor, and static reservoir pressure.

DST Tool

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

DST Pressure Response

A Note on DST Analysis

DSTs in which fluid is produced to surface (higher productivity wells) can be analyzed like any other transient tests semilog plots, pressure and derivative type curves etc. DSTs in which fluid is not produced to the surface can still be analyzed like any other tests as it will be discussed later. One important point to note is that DST tests are examples of variable rate testing problems because sandface flow rate changes in flow and buildup periods, and flow rate measurements are often not available, and must be inferred from pressure data.

Flow Rate/Pressure Rate Behavior

3 cycle DST Flow periods of DST are examples of Slug Tests, if the fluid is not produced to surface. Buildup periods are Examples of buildup tests.

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Flow Rate/Pressure Rate Behavior

As is seen from the previous slide, flow rate during the flow periods are variable, in fact usually decreases with time. The time rate of decrease in flow rate is a strong function of skin factor and permeability. In cases, if permeability is low and/or skin factor is high, high flow rate is almost constant. As mentioned previously, flow rate during DST tests are not usually measured. In cases it is measured or estimated, then we can analyze these tests by using variable rate methods; convolution, deconvolution, etc.

Flow Periods
As noted previously, pressure increases during the flow periods of DST. Why does this happen? Flow period is an example of wellbore storage due to rising of fluid in drill pipe.

CF =

144 Ac 5.615 Ac = rp2

density of the fluid in drill pipe.

t2 t1 pwf2 > pwf1

pwf1

pwf2

Estimation of Flow Rate

In cases flow rates are not measured, we could compute flow rate from the amoun of total fluid produced or from measured pressures, assuming constant wellbore storage coefficient by using the following formula:
dpwf qsf (t j ) = 24CF dt pwf (t j ) pwf (t j 1 ) 24CF t j t j 1 t j

Or using a piecewise constant pressure approximation for the measured pressure data.

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Estimation of Flow Rate

pj = pwf (t j ) + pwf (t j 1 ) 2

An Example
w =/144 = 0.325 psi/ft Vu = 0.007 bbl/ft CF = Vu w =0.0215 bbl/psi

qavg = 91.05 bbl/D (for one-hour flow period)

Taken from Bourdets book Well Test Analysis: The Use of Advanced Interpretation Models.

An Example

qavg =

tp pwf ( t p ) p0 24CF dpwf dt = 24CF tp dt tp 0

4900.73 4724.51 = 24 0.0215 = 91 bbl / D 1

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Slug Test Type Curve

Ramey has developed type curves for analyzing flow periods of DSTs, not requiring the knowledge of flow rate data.
Dimensionless Pressure
pwD = pDR = pi pwf (t ) pi p0 1 pwD = 1 pDR = pwf (t ) p0 pi p0

Dimensionless Time
tD kh = 0.000295 t CD CF

(tD / CD ) kh CF = 0.000295 (t )

Rameys Slug Test Type Curve

Use of Rameys Type Curve

Data is matced only sliding in the time axis horizontally. From time match points determined, we can obtain kh/ with the estimated value of CF from: ( tD / CD ) kh C

=
F

0.000295

From the value of CDe2s curve matched, we can estimate skin factor:
2S 1 ( CD e ) M s = ln 2 CD

( t )M

CD =

5.615CF 2 2ct hrw

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

An Example

An Example

k = 41.7 md s = 6.5

Relationship Between Slug and Constant Surface Rate Solutions

In 1989, Peres et al. (SPE 19843) showed that slug test data could be converted to data that would be obtined if the well produced at a constant surface rate.
pcwD =
= pcwD

0.000295 kh I ( ps ) CF ( pi p0 )
0.000295 kh (tps ) CF ( pi p0 )

I ( ps )(t ) = ps ( ) d
0

ps (t ) = pi pwf (t )

Peres et al. method is valid any model; fractured well, etc.

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Relationship Between Slug and Constant Surface Rate Solutions

We can use numerical integration to perform the conversion:
I ( ps )(t ) = ps ( ) d
0 t

Trapezoidal rule

I ( ps )(tn ) = ps ( ) d
j =1 t j 1 j =1

tj

ps (t j ) + ps (t j 1 ) 2

(t j t j 1 )

Slug ve Sabit Yzey Debili Test likisi

Relationship Between Slug and Constant Surface Rate Solutions

Then, we can type curve match I(ps) and tps vs t with the wellbore storage type curves for constant-rate drawdown tests.
F From Derivative D i i and/or d/ Time Ti Match M h Points: P i

kh

(t D / CD )M CF 0.000295 (t )M

kh

)M C F ( pi p0 ) ( pcwD 0.000295 (tps )

From the curve matched value of CDe(2s):

1 C e2s s = ln D 2 CD

CD =

5.615C F 2 2ct hrw

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Example Test 1
kh/ = 197 md-ft/cp, s = 0, test during underbalance perforation test: CF = Vwcwf , cwf = 7.3x10-6 1/psi, Vw = 331 bbl, ct = 23x10-6 1/psi, = 0.41 cp, h = 39.37 ft

Example Test 2
kh/ = 575, s = -2.3, = 60 cp, h = 38 ft, = 0.062, ct = 10.2x10-6 1/psi, CF = 3.65x10-2 bbl/psi

Example Test 3
kh/ = 21.5, s = -1.5, = 0.43 cp, h = 23 ft, = 0.13, ct = 1.5x10-5 1/psi, CF = 1.61x10-2 bbl/psi

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Slug Test Semi-log Analysis

We can perform semilog analysis of slug test data using convolution or superposition time

Slope = m

[p

I (ps )(t )
wf

(t ) p0 ]

k 1.151CF tms + log c r 2 3.23 + 0.87 s 0.000295 kh t w

n p (t ) pwf (t j 1 ) tms = log(tn t j 1 ) wf j j =1 pwf (tn ) p0

[I (ps ) /( pwf p0 )] s = 1.15 m

* tms

k * tms log + 3.23 c r 2 t w

Slug Test Semi-log Analysis

Then, make

[p
m=

I (ps )(t )
wf

(t ) p0

vs. t ms

plot

1.151C F kh 1.151C F = 0.000295 kh 0.000295m

[I (ps ) /( pwf p0 )] s = 1.15 m

* tms

k * tms log c r 2 + 3.23 t w

Note
It should be noted that Surge, Perforation inflow, and Impulse Tests are all examples of Slug tests, and can be anayzed by the methods discussed for g tests. slug Rahman et al. (JCPT, 2008) uses a late-time equation given by: (24)* (141.2)C F ( pi p0 ) 1 pwf (t ) = pi 2kh t His late-time analysis procedure is OK if radial flow exits. He also gives early time approximations which can be used to determine skin.

Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Example Test
From semi-log analysis we found: kh/ = 21.1, s = -1.2 From type-curve matching: we found kh/ = 21.5, s = -1.5

t*ms

DST Buildup Period

Buildup pressure data can be analyzed by conventional methods based on superposition time function if the rates can be computed.

Wellbore storage phenomena is different from the flow period.

CS = Vwcwf
compressibility of the fluid, 1/psi

Volume between shut-in valve And production zone, bbl

Classical Horner Analysis For DST Buildup

We can use an average flow rate from the slug period:
162.6(qsf )average

t p + t pws ( t ) = pi m log t

m=

(kh / )

(q )

sf average

pwf (t p ) p0 = 24C F tp

p port kt p + 3.23 s = 1.151 i log 2 m c r t w

port = p0 + pwf (t p ) 2

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Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Convolution for DST Buildup

We will use the flow rate computed prior to shut-in: Once flow rates are calculated, we can use them to compute Agarwal multi-rate equivalent time:
bj

N t t teM = t p j 1 t + t t j =1 p j 1

bj =

qsf , j qsf , j 1 qsf , N

Convolution for DST Buildup

If we identify radial flow regime from log-log diagnostic plot of buildup data, then we can perform semilog analysis of buildup data:
pws (t ) = pi t + t t j 1 162.6qsf ( t p ) N qsf , j log p t + t t kh q ( t ) j =1 j p sf p

mH =

162.6qsf (t p ) kh

kh 162.6qsf (t p ) = mH

p pwf (t p ) N (qsf , j qsf , j 1 ) t p + 1 t j 1 log k 2 + 3.23 + s = 1.151 1hr log c r t +t ( ) m q t j = 1 H sf p t w p j 1

DST Buildup Example

Log-Log plot based on Agarwal Multi-rate

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Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

DST Kapama Dnemi/rnek

Klasik Horner grafii kh/ = 1309 md-ft/cp s = 3.3

DST Buildup Example

Horner Plot
kh/ = 1031 md-ft/cp s = 0.8

Wireline Formation Testers

They are used as an alternative to RFT and DST tests. They are used to Obtain formation fluid samples and pressure profiling along the wellbore to determine fluid contacts. Conduct controlled local production and vertical interference (or in general interval transient tests) at distinct points along the wellbore. Determine permeability barriers and superpermeability streaks along the wellbore Determine horizontal and vertical perms (and also their distributions) along the wellbore.

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Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Wireline Formation Testers

The radius of investigation of these tests are normally smaller than conventional well tests and DSTs, but larger g than cores and logs. g Their radius of investigation is within tens of feet radially and vertically along the wellbore.

Wireline Formation Testers

Wireline Formation Testers

Overbalance case (pretest)
Sink

formasyon pressure 2900 psi

Total produced fluid is around 5 to 20 cm3 during pretest drawdown.

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Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Wireline Formation Testers

p = 0.433 f z

Fluid density

Wireline Formation Testers

q = 40 cm3/sec
V1 H Sink

Spherical flow

Wireline Formation Testers

Sink

V probe

zp
Horizontal Sink

Spherical flow

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Slug DST WFT MDT - WTA

Wireline Formation Testers

q (cm3/sec)
38.4q kh = z p pv ( )
Slope = ms = 1.51 psi-sec1/2

k h kv

9.82q rw (ph )
2

r ph ( ) kh = 15.3 w z p kv v() p

ph ( ) kh 2 ct rw = 6.64 107 ms

Packer-Probe Tests
Tests performed with such a configuration benefit from the large volume that can be sampled by the packer, especially when using a pumpout assembly for an extended test. Their radius of investigation is more than probe tests. Both packer and probe responses can provide estimates of kh, kv, and skin provided that storativity (ct) is known.

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