Lesson 1

Introduction to Well Test Analysis

Topic 1: What is Well Test Analysis?
The overall goal of well testing is to collect information about flow conditions in the well,
around the immediate vicinity of the well, in the virgin portions of the reservoir not influenced
by the drilling operations and simulation treatments, and information about the boundaries of the
reservoir. In order to collect this information, the well flow rate is varied and the resulting
pressure transients are measured. The measurement of variation of pressure with time provides a
pressure transient data which then can be analyzed to determine the formation parameters that
characterize the flow conditions that exist in the system.

1. Well Test Analysis as System Analysis

Well test analysis can be considered as a systems analysis technique. In a systems analysis
application, the system under consideration is subjected to a certain kind of perturbation. The
system responds to this perturbation and the resulting signals are measured. Figure 1.1.1 gives a
schematic representation of system analysis.

Figure 1.1.1 Schematic representation of interaction of a system with input

The principles governing the analysis of well tests can be more easily visualized when one
considers well test interpretation as a special pattern recognition technique. In a well test the
system S represents the wellbore and the formation that it is in communication with. The input
I typically represents the constant withdrawal of the reservoir fluid and it can be considered as
a forcing function applied to an unknown system S as described earlier. Finally the response of
the system, O which represents the change in reservoir pressure (this response is typically
measured in the wellbore) is measured during the test.

2. Forward and Inverse Problems

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The response of the reservoir can be computed for specific initial and boundary conditions for a
reservoir-well system with known properties. This is called the forward (direct) problem and is
expressed as:
[ I ] X [ S ] [ O ]

In an inverse problem we attempt to find a well defined system whose response to the input
signal is measured as output. This type of problem is known in mathematics as the inverse
problem. It is expressed as:
[O]/[I] [S]

The purpose of well test interpretation is to identify the system knowing only the input and
output signals and possibly some of the system characteristics. It should be recognized that the
solution of the inverse problem is not unique. In other words, it is possible to find several
systems that would yield similar responses to a given input. However, the number of alternative
systems decreases as the number and range of output signal measurements increase.

3. The Classical Well Test Formulation and the Hydraulic Diffusivity

Concept

The classical well test formulation is tied to a theoretical reservoir / well representation. In this
representation, the well is located in the center of an infinitely large reservoir which has isotropic
and homogeneous property distributions. The reservoir is 100% saturated with only one fluid
(single-phase reservoir). Gravitational forces are ignored. The well fully penetrates the formation
and the well in its entirety is exposed to the formation (open-hole completion). Initially, the
system has uniform pressure distribution (initial condition). The well is put on production at a
constant flow rate (internal boundary condition) and since the reservoir is infinitely large no
pressure drop will be experienced at the outer boundary of the system which is located at infinity
(outer boundary condition).

The problem described above can be expressed in one-dimensional radial-cylindrical flow

geometry as follows:

Flow Equation:

1 p c p
r (Equation 1.1.3.1)
r r r k t

Initial Condition:

p = pi for rw r and t = 0 (Equation 1.1.3.2)

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Boundary Conditions:

p q B
(i) r for t > 0
r r rw 2 kh r rw

(ii) p pi as r for t 0 (Equation 1.1.3.3)

When the above system of equations is solved, a solution of the following form is obtained:

p = p(r, t, rw, k, h, , , c, B, q, pi) (Equation 1.1.3.4)

In the forward solution, all of the reservoir and well properties are considered to be available.
1
k
The coefficient that appears in front of the time derivative is a crucial in reservoir
c
engineering and well testing applications. On performing a dimensional analysis we find that this
coefficient is analogous to the diffusivity constant:

k [ L2 ] [ L2 ]

M Lt 2 [t ] (Equation 1.1.3.5)
[1] c
Lt M
k
In fluid flow in porous media, the group is referred to as the hydraulic diffusivity
c
constant. It describes the area-wise extension rate of a pressure transient per unit time. It is
obvious that in tight formations, the rate of propagation of a pressure transient will be less than
the one we would have in permeable systems. Accordingly, the hydraulic diffusivity constant of a
formation determines the duration of a well test.

Written by Turgay Ertekin, Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Copyright January 2006, The Pennsylvania State University

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