Linear Discontinuities (Sealing Faults)

Azeb D Habte
Jan 2017
PDB 3013
UTP
Lesson content
Drawdown behavior of a well in the vicinity of a fault
Buildup case
Lesson outcome
Analyze drawdown and buildup test data of a well in the vicinity of a fault.
Drawdown behavior of a well in the vicinity of a fault
Method of Images
The method of images states that a fault boundary can be represented
by an imaginary well, producing at the same rate as the producing well,
situated an equal distance on the other side of the fault.

d d d
=
Well, q Well, q Image well, q

Sealing Fault
Where, d is the distance from well to fault
 Method of Images contd
Applying the concept of superposition in space for two wells gives:

2d
Well, q Image well, q

() = +

70.6 2
948 70.6 948 2 2
, () = + 2 +

162.6 70.6 948 2 2

, () = + 2 3.23 + 0.869 +

Pressure behavior
At early time the effect of the image well is negligible
948 2 2
( 0). As a result, the flowing bottomhole pressure

at the producing well becomes:
162.6
= 2
+ 3.23 + 0.8686

Therefore, k and S can be calculated from the first semilog straight line.
Pressure behavior
At long times, contribution from the image well becomes significant.
As a result, the flowing bottomhole pressure at the producing well
becomes:
42
= + 2 + 2
+ 2.87

This equation indicates that a plot of versus on semilog graph
gives a second straight-line with a slope double that of the first straight
line (i.e. slope = 2).
162.6
where =

Pressure behavior contd
The distance to the fault can be
estimated from

= 0.01217 2m

m
is the intersection of the two
straight lines
tx
Buildup behavior of a well in the vicinity of a fault
Pressure behavior
Similarly, applying method of image and superposition, the bottomhole
shut-in pressure for a well near a fault becomes

162.6 + 3792 2 3792 2

= 0.4343 + 0.4343
+

+
From the first straight line of versus
on semilog graph

162.6
=

1 ( )
= 1.151 + 3.23
2
Pressure behavior contd
As increases, but , the equation reduces to
162.6 + +
= 2 = + 2

This equation states that in a pressure buildup plot, the slope eventually
will be doubled provided that the pressure disturbance has reached a
sealing fault.

+ +
when , =1 pws = 1 =


= , for an infinite acting reservoir at the time of shut-in
 Pressure behavior contd
The distance to the fault, d can be calculated
from
P*

= 0.01217 () 2m
+

+ m
Where is obtained from the

intersection point of the two straight-lines

+

Example 4: Buildup test in the presence of sealing fault
The following pressure data were obtained from the Bravo-1 well in West-
Texas. Geological data indicate the presence of a fault east of the well.
t, hr pws, psi
0
0.1
2840
2885
= 5 in = 0.14
0.2 2930
h=18 ft = 22 105 1
0.4 3010
0.6 3090 = 1.8 cp B=1.31 RB/STB
1.1 3170
1.6
2.5
3199
3240
= 3750 q=180 STB/D
3.5
5
3278
3290
= 9000
7 3302
9 3310
13 3320
20
30
3333
3343
Calculate C,k, S, and distance to fault (d).
40 3350
50 3363
70 3382
100 3400
150 3423
250 3450
 Solution
t, hr (tp+t)/t pws, psi p, psi
Equations to be used: 0 2840 0
0.1 12001.00 2885 45

=
0.2 6001.00 2930 90
(bbl/psi) 0.4 3001.00 3010 170
24 0.6 2001.00 3090 250
1.1 1091.91 3170 330
1.6 751.00 3199 359
162.6 ()
= 2.5 481.00 3240 400
3.5 343.86 3278 438
5 241.00 3290 450
1 ( ) 7 172.43 3302 462
= 1.151 + 3.23
2 9 134.33 3310 470
13 93.31 3320 480
20 61.00 3333 493
30 41.00 3343 503
= 0.01217
+ 40 31.00 3350 510
() 50 25.00 3363 523

70 18.14 3382 542
100 13.00 3400 560
24
= (hr) 150 9.00 3423 583

250 5.80 3450 610
Solution contd
1000

= =0.02183bbl/psi
24

p, psi
100

10
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
t, hrs
 Solution contd

162.6
= = 58.1
1

1 ( )
= 1.151 2 + 3.23 =2.586

= 0.01217 = 72.9
+

24 24 9000
= = = 1200
180 /