Type Curves

What are type curves ?

 Families of preplotted curves showing relationship
between dimensionless pressure and dimensionless
time or pressure derivative with dimensionless time or
other relevant ways that can describe relationship
among to well testing parameters.
 Produced usually from analytical solution from
diffusion equation with specific formation, initial and
boundary conditions.

1
Simple Example of Producing a Type Curve

In terms of dimensionless parameters:

; ;
Simple Example of Producing a Type Curve

rD

pD tD

3
Simple Example of Producing a Type Curve

At r = rw , rD = 1 and p is pwf

pD tD

+S

4
Use of Type Curves
Well Test Analysis Under Following Situations:
 Insufficient amount of data for semi log analysis.
 Well test time is small.
 No other way to analyze the well test or when
conventional analysis appears unreliable or fail.

5
Use of Type Curves
1. Applies to transient well testing with known pD vs. tD
data.
2. Used for drawdown, buildup, interference, and
constant pressure testing.
3. Identify middle time regions (MTR).
4. Calculation of wellbore storage coefficient,
permeability, and skin.

6
Basic of Type Curve Matching
;
Or

It implies :
( A and B )

7
Basic of Type Curve Matching
We can see the followings:
o Plot I (for log tD vs. log pD) will have same trend as that
of plot II (for log ∆t vs. log ∆p).
o Difference on time axis will be defined by log A and
difference on pressure axis will be defined by log B.
o Curve obtained from data can be matched by shifting it
vertically or horizontally.
o Differences in match point readings (one that on trace
paper and other on type curve) gives values of log A
and log B.

8
Example Types of Type Curves
1. Ramey et al.’s
Used for buildup and constant-rate drawdown tests.
2. McKinley
Used for buildup and constant-rate drawdown tests.
3. Gringarten et al.
Used for vertically fractured wells with uniform flux

9
Example 1. Type Curves:

Figure : Type curve from Gringarten et al. (1974)

10
Example 2. Type Curve:

Figure : pD for a single well in an infinite system

(Agarwal, Al-Hussainy, and Ramey, 1970)

11
Example 3. Type Curve:

Figure : Type curve showing pD vs. tD for a single well

in an infinite system (Wattenbarger and Ramey, 1970)

12
Example 4. Type Curve:

Figure : Type curve for a single well in an infinite system

(McKinley, 1971)

13
Example 5. Type Curve:

Figure : Type curve for a single well in an infinite system

(Earlougher and Kersch, 1974)

14
 General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
Step 3: Slide the trace paper with plotted data on the base type curve,
until one of the curve is nearly matched. It is difficult though.
(Only translation is allowed i.e. grids must be parallel)
Step 4: After matching, trace the matched curve (from the base curve)
and a convenient matched point on the trace paper with
plotted data.
Step 5: Record the value of matched point on the trace paper with
plotted data (∆p, ∆t)m,tp and corresponding reading on base
type curve (pD, tD)m,tc; subscript m is for match point. Use this
point for calculating formation properties.

Possibly, point where grid

lines are intersecting, for
readability of data.

15
General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
Step 1: Choose the type curve (usually a log-log plot of
pD and tD type). This will be called the base type
curve.
Step 2: Plot observed test data as ∆p vs. ∆t. Scale
should be same as that of the base type curve.

∆p should be a positive number. ∆t is test time.

How to plot? 1) Objective is to have same scale for
data plot and base type curve.
2) Place and hold the trace paper
over the base type curve.
3) Trace the major grid lines (as in
base type curve) and mark the ∆p
(hours) and ∆t (hours) scales.
4) Plot the data on the trace paper.

16
 General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
How to use type curve to calculate formation parameters?

Depending on type of type curve, other parameters such

as dimensionless storage coefficient and skin factor.

Subscript: m for match, tp for trace paper, tc for type curve

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General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
How to use type curve when axes are not in terms of pD
and tD to calculate formation parameters?
Example: Earlougher and Kersch (1974)
Step 1: Use data to plot ∆p/∆t (psi/hour) vs. ∆t (hours).
The date plotting by keeping the tracing paper
over the base type curve is same.
Step 2: Place the trace paper with plotted data over the
base type curve by aligned grids. Slide the
trace paper horizontally. Slight vertical
alignment may be required for better match.

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 General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
How to use type curve when axes are not in terms of pD
and tD to calculate formation parameters?
Example: Earlougher and Kersch (1974)
Step 3: Note the CDe2S value of the curve matched.
Choose a convenient point of match, and note
the readings of match point on the trace paper
(∆p/∆t, ∆t)m,tp and that on base type curve

Subscript: m for match, tp for trace paper, tc for type curve

Notation: C is well bore storage, not compressibility factor 19
 General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
How to use type curve when axes are not in terms of pD
and tD to calculate formation parameters?
Example: Earlougher and Kersch (1974)
Step 4: Calculate well bore storage coefficient C

,
, q and B are observed values.
,
Step 5: Calculate permeability
∆
,
,

Subscript: m for match, tp for trace paper, tc for type curve

Notation: C is well bore storage, not compressibility factor 20
 General Approach for Type Curve Analysis:
How to use type curve when axes are not in terms of pD
and tD to calculate formation parameters?
Example: Earlougher and Kersch (1974)
Step 6: Calculate skin
,

Subscript: m for match, tp for trace paper, tc for type curve

Notation: C is well bore storage, not compressibility factor 21
Example*: Use of Earlougher and Kersch (1974) Type of
Curve
Pressure Change
Time, ∆t
(∆p) Other Data:
(hours) (psia) qo = 179 STB/D
0.20 19.7 Bo = 1.2 RB/STB
0.30 28.1 h = 35 ft
0.50 43.1 ct = 8.2x10-6 psi-1
0.70 58.3
rw = 0.276 ft
1.00 75.1
ᶲ = 0.18
2.00 114.5
3.00 135.5 µ = 1.0 cP
5.00 152.2
7.00 163.2
10.00 166.7
Calculate followings:
20.00 171.2
1. well storage coefficient,
30.00 173.9
50.00 175.2
2. permeability,
70.00 177.1 3. skin.

* Adapted from Earlougher, Jr., R. C. , 1977. Advances in Well Test Analysis, SPE, New York, USA
22
Example: Use of Type of Curve:
Time, ∆t ∆p/∆t
(hours) psia/hour
0.2 98.50
0.3 93.67
0.5 86.20
0.7 83.29
1 75.10
2 57.25
3 45.17
5 30.44
7 23.31
10 16.67
20 8.56
30 5.80
50 3.50
70 2.53

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Example: Use of Type of Curve:

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 Example: Use of Type of Curve:

Figure : Type curve for a single well in an infinite system (Earlougher and
Kersch, 1974); showing matching of plot drawn on trace paper.

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 Example: Use of Type of Curve:
Reading on trace paper for match point (∆p/∆t, ∆t)m,tp :
∆p/∆t = 10
∆t = 10

Reading on type curve for match point :

= 0.098
= 560000

Reading for :1020

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 Example: Use of Type of Curve:
Calculation of wellbore storage coefficient:
,
=
,

Calculation of permeability:
∆
,
= = 140.30 mD
,

Calculation of skin:
.
,
=

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Ramey et al. Type Curves
This type curve was drawn for constant pressure drawdown
test in a reservoir with following assumptions:
1. Reservoir Properties
• Homogenous reservoir
• Uniform pressure in the drainage area
• Infinite acting
• Constant withdrawal rate at surface
• Single liquid phase flow
2. Fluid Properties:
• Slightly compressible fluid

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Ramey et al. Type Curves

29
Ramey et al. Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 1: Trace the log-log gridlines from the type curve. Then on the
trace paper, plot the pressure drawdown test data (pi – pwf)
vs. t. In case, you want to use this type curve for pressure
buildup, then plot (pws – pwf) vs. ∆te = [∆t/(1+ ∆t/tp)].
Step 2: Calculate dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient (CsD)
.

where Cs is wellbore storage coefficient (barrel/psi),

ct is total compressibility factor (psi-1),
h is formation thickness (ft),
rw is wellbore radius (ft).
Wellbore storage constant/ coefficient/factor (bbl/psi) is defined as
(∆V/∆p). ∆V is the change in volume of fluid in the wellbore at
wellbore conditions (bbl), and ∆p is the change in bottom hole
pressure (psi).
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Ramey et al. Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 2: Calculate dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient (CsD)
How to calculate Cs:
First approach:
At early times, ∆p (i.e. pressure change since start of the test)
varies linearly with the ∆t ( time elapsed since start of the test).
Hence, log ∆p vs. log ∆t curve is also linear with unity slope.
Wellbore storage constant (Cs) can be calculated using any point
(∆t, ∆p) on the linear portion.

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 Ramey et al. Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 2: Calculate dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient (CsD)
How to calculate Cs:
Second Approach (if unit slope is not observed):
Calculate Cs and CsD from wellbore properties.
Case 1: When well has gas-liquid interface.

Vu is the wellbore volume per unit length in barrels per foot, ρ is

fluid total density in lb/ft3. gc, g = 32 ft/sec2
Case 2: When well has single phase liquid.

c is compressibility of the wellbore fluid psi-1, and Vw is the total

wellbore volume in barrel.

Important note: Successful application of this type curve depends on accuracy of the wellbore
32
storage coefficient.
Ramey et al. Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 3: Matching the curve plotted on trace paper with one on
type curve.
 With wellbore storage coefficient (CsD) calculated at previous
step, select the relevant set of curves on type curve.
 Match the curve plotted on the trace paper with one of the
curves selected previously. Horizontal or vertical translation
may be required. Keep the horizontal or vertical grids on the
trace paper parallel with corresponding on the type curve. Let
the trace paper remain on the type curve after match.
 Select a suitable match point. It can be any point on the trace
paper, however, point with easy readability should be
selected. For convenience, you can make needle size hole on
the match point puncturing both the trace paper and type
curve together.
 Read the coordinates of the point (or hole) both on trace
paper and type curve.

33
Ramey et al. Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 3: Matching the curve plotted on trace paper with one on type curve.
 Let the readings of the point of match be (pi – pwf , t) on the trace
curve and (pD, tD) on the type curve.
Step 4: Calculate permeability and ᶲct

 Skin ??

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Example calculations:
t (hours) pwf (psia) t (hours) pwf (psia)
0.382 2408 Initial reservoir pressure = 3000 psia
0.0109 2976 q = 500 STB/day
0.437 2352
0.0164 2964 ᶲ = 0.2
0.491 2302 µ = 0.8 cP
0.0218 2953 0.546 2256 Ct = 10x10-5 psi-1
0.0273 2942 1.09 1952 rw = 0.3 ft
0.0328 2930 1.64 1828 h = 56 ft
0.0382 2919 2.18 1768 Bo = 1.2 RB/STB
0.0437 2908 2.73 1734
0.0491 2897 3.28 1712
0.0546 2886 3.82 1696
0.109 2785 4.37 1684
4.91 1674
0.164 2693
5.46 1665
0.218 2611 6.55 1651
0.273 2536 8.74 1630
0.328 2469 10.9 1614
16.4 1587

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Example calculations:

36
Example calculations:
Calculation of wellbore storage coefficient:

37
Example calculations:

38
Example calculations:

Matching of plot drawn on

trace paper with one of
type curves in group with
CsD = 1000
Matching point

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Example calculations:

Reading the point of

match on type curve

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Example calculations:
Point of match:
On trace paper On type curve
t=1 tD = 19000
pi - pwf = 100 pD = 0.85

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Example calculations:
Point of match:
On trace paper On type curve
t=1 tD = 19000
pi - pwf = 100 pD = 0.85

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Ramey et al. Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 3: Matching the curve plotted on trace paper with one on type curve.
 Let the readings of the point of match be (pi – pwf , t) on the trace
curve and (pD, tD) on the type curve.
Step 4: Calculate permeability and ᶲct

 Skin ??

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McKinley Type Curve
Assumptions:
 Constant rate production
 Vertical well
 Infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir
 Single-phase, slightly compressible liquid
 Constant wellbore storage coefficient

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McKinley Type Curve

45
McKinley Type Curve
Important considerations while developing this type curve:
 Skin factor s does not appear in this type curve, as these curves were
generated assuming no mechanical skin.
 If the wellbore is damaged, this factor is observed from the deviation of
the data plot.
 Analysis from these type curves does not calculate the skin factor s.
Assessment of damage or stimulation in McKinley’s curves is done on
the basis of domination of the earliest well bore data by the effective
near well bore transmissibility (kh/µ).
 A comparison for kh factor for the damaged and undamaged area of
reservoir can be made by using the earliest time data. These curves
were designed to be used with early time data.

46
McKinley Type Curve
Important considerations while developing this type curve:
 In this type curve, it is assumed that ∆p/(qB) is more sensitive to
kh∆t/(µCs) than k∆t/(ᶲµctrw2). An average value of k∆t/(ᶲµctrw2) was
assumed to be 107 mD-psi/(cP-sq ft).
 The variation in the parameter defined as k∆t/(ᶲµctrw2) even to two or
three order of magnitude does not significantly affect the shape of the
type curves. The loss of accuracy on account of variation of
k∆t/(ᶲµctrw2) is offset more by sensitivity of the less significant than the
accuracy obtained due to high sensitivity of ∆p/(qB) to the kh∆t/(µCs).
 Parameters that were sensitive to ∆p/(qB) were used in generating
type curves. Accordingly, ∆t (on ordinate) vs. 5.615Cs∆p/(qB) (on
abscissa) were plotted for different values of kh/(5.615Csµ).

47
McKinley’s Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 1: Use 3 cycle X 5 cycle log-log plot with grid size same as that of
McKinley’s type curve. Plot time on vertical axis and ∆p on the
horizontal axis.
For pressure drawdown: Time is t in hours and pressure is pi – pwf
For pressure build up: Time is ∆t in hours and pressure is pws - pwf

Step 2: Match the vertical axis of the trace paper with that of type curve.
Move horizontally (no vertical movement allowed) to match the
plot on trace paper by horizontal movement, whichever first in
series matches, stop there. Note down the (kh/μ)/(5.6145Cs)
value of the matching curve on the type curve. Since, this is at
well bore, it is shown as [(kh/μ)/(5.6145Cs)]wb.

48
McKinley’s Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 3: Select a match point and record the corresponding values on the
trace paper and type curve. Remember, readings on the time axis
will be same on trace paper and type curve. Let these point of
match be (∆p)m on the trace paper and that on the type curve be
(5.615∆pCs)/(qBo)m.
Step 4: Determine the wellbore storage constant Cs using following
equation:
. ∆

. ∆
Step 5: Calculate the near-wellbore transmissibility i.e. (kh/μ)wb using the
(kh/μ)/(5.6145Cs) value obtained at Step 2 and Cs value calculated
at Step 4.
(kh/μ)wb =5.615Cs[(kh/μ)/(5.6145Cs)]

49
McKinley’s Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 6: If the data trend away from the type curve for the early data
fit, it indicates formation transmissibility different from
effective near well bore transmissibility. In this case, move
the plot horizontally to find another curve for better match
at later time data. A shift to higher value of
(kh/μ)/(5.6145Cs) indicates damage and shift to lower value
indicates stimulation.
Caution: New pressure point is not found to recalculate Cs.
Cs once calculated at Step 4 is not changed.
Step 7: Calculation of formation transmissibility:

50
McKinley’s Type Curves
Steps to use:
Step 8: Calculation of flow efficiency
Flow efficiency is defined as:
∆ ∗ ∆ ∗ ∗
∆ ∗
Quantities ∆p* and ∆ps are calculated as follows:
A. ∆p* is vertical asymptote value for ∆p in McKinley plot.
B. ∆ps is calculated using ∆pdep which is the ∆p at the time test
data departs from the earliest fitting curve. Picking up the
point of departure is user dependent and hence may not be
accurate.

51
Example calculations using McKinley Type Curve:
t (hours) pwf (psia) t (hours) pwf (psia)
0.382 2408 Initial reservoir pressure = 3000 psia
0.0109 2976 q = 500 STB/day
0.437 2352
0.0164 2964 ᶲ = 0.2
0.491 2302 µ = 0.8 cP
0.0218 2953 0.546 2256 Ct = 10x10-5 psi-1
0.0273 2942 1.09 1952 rw = 0.3 ft
0.0328 2930 1.64 1828 h = 56 ft
0.0382 2919 2.18 1768 Bo = 1.2 RB/STB
0.0437 2908 2.73 1734
0.0491 2897 3.28 1712
0.0546 2886 3.82 1696
0.109 2785 4.37 1684
4.91 1674
0.164 2693
5.46 1665
0.218 2611 6.55 1651
0.273 2536 8.74 1630
0.328 2469 10.9 1614
16.4 1587

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Example calculations:
t (min) pi-pwf (psia)
pi-pwf 22.92 592
t (min) (psia)
26.22 648
0.65 24 29.46 698
0.98 36 32.76 744
1.31 47 65.40 1048
1.64 58 98.40 1172
1.97 70 130.80 1232
2.29 81 163.80 1266
2.62 92 196.80 1288
2.95 103 229.20 1304
3.28 114 262.20 1316
6.54 215 294.60 1326
9.84 307 327.60 1335
13.08 389 393.00 1349
16.38 464 524.40 1370
19.68 531 654.00 1386
984.00 1413

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Example calculations:

54
Example calculations:

(kh/µ)/(5.6146C)
= 5000

Match point:
100 on Trace Paper
0.009 on Type Curve

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Example calculations:
Calculate the wellbore storage constant:
. ∆
. .
= = 0.00962RB/psia
∆ . .

Calculate near well bore transmissibility :

= 5.615X0.00962X5000 = 270 mD.ft/cP

Apparent permeability
= 270X 0.8/56 =3.86 mD

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Example calculations:

Asymptotic value
≈ 1500 psia =∆p*
Departure from
original curve match:
tdep = 100 min
∆pdep ≈ 1200 psia

57
Example calculations:
Calculate formation transmissibility :

=10000X(270)/500 = 540 mD.ft/cP

Apparent formation permeability

= 540X 0.8/56 =7.71 mD

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Example calculations:
Calculate flow efficiency:
∆p* = 1500 psia

Flow Efficiency (F) = (∆p* - ∆ps)/ ∆p* = (1500 -599)/1500 = 0.6

59