SPE

SPE 18799

Type-Curve Analysis Using the Pressure Integral Method

by T.A. Blasirqame, J.L. Johnston, and W.J. Lee, Texas A&M U.
SPE Members

Copyright 1989, society of Petroleum Engineers, Inc.

This paper wee prepared for presentation at the SPE California Regional Meeting held in Hakerafieidi California, APril *7, 198g.

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of where and by whom the paper ia presented. Write PublicationsManager, SPE, P.O. Sox SS38S6, Richardson,7X 750S?-SS36.Telex, 730989 SPEDAL.

OF ~

This paper presents new type curves and type

curve plotting fr.rnctionswhich use integration
rather than differentiation of well test data. The new type curves require a number of
These functions provide more unique type curve dimenaionleas variables, some of ~hich are not in
matches for noisy dst% because the integral of common use. To facilitate our later discussion of
these data yields a much amor)ther function. The the curves, we define these dimensionless variable
type curves presented in this work were generated in this section. Their origin and their utility
from analytical solutions and are applied in discussed in later sections.
exactly the same manner as in conventional type
curve analysi.a. The dimensionless wellbore pressure, PD, is
defined as

khdp
The purpose of this paper is to introduce new P~ = ......,..,,.....,...,........ (1
type curves and type curve plotting functions that 141.2 qB~
allow uriiqueanalysis of noi.aywell test data.
These new type curves are based on the integral of The dimensionless time, tD, based on the wellbore
the pressure drop function. The motivation for
these new plotting functions and type curve radius is defined as
solution? was our discouraging experiences with
poor (non-unique) type curve matches of noisy data, 0’.0002637 kt
..............s............ (2
‘D =
The solutions plotted on conventional pressure $Kct rw2
drop type curves and data analys:a6techniques have
been reported by several authors - for homogeneous and the dimensionless time, tLfD, based on fractu
and vertically-fractured reservoirs. The
corresponding pressure derivatives and matching half-length, Lf, is defined as
techniques have been :i:;ussed extensively in the
petroleum literature. - 0.0002637 kt
......................... (3
‘LfD =
This paper discusses development of the new $FctLf2
type curve plotting functions and the corresponding
analytical solutions used to generate type curves
for homogeneous and vertically-fractored The dimensionless pressu”re derivative
reservoirs. We demonstrate the advantages of these function, pDdr irrdefined in two forms, which are
new type curves with examples of noisy test data. identical mathematically. The first form iS
We conclude with a suggested procedure and example
application of these new type curves to field data, dpD
= — ...............#.,............ (4
‘Dd
d(ln tD)
References and illustrations at end of paper.

525
 2 Type Curve Analysis Using
Alternative y,
L-2.
1.
pDd “ ‘D — .....,e.0.,....,......,,........ (5)
dtD
We prefer the form in Eq. 5 because it allows us to
obtain pDd readily from general analytical
s,lutions which include wellbore storage, bilinear
— o. linear flow regimes for vertically-fractured
rL ?~voirs, and radial flow for homogeneous
reservoirs.
A new dimensionless pressure integral
function, pDi, later is defined as
1 tD
PJ)i= - JPD(T) dT .........,...........,,.. (6)
tD o
The dimensionless pressure integral difference
fUnCtiOn, pDid, is defined as
pDid = pD - PDi ..............,.........,....(7)
We demonstra~? in Appendix A that Eq. 7 can also be
expressed as
‘pDi
pDid = ‘D — ,,................,..........(7a)
dtD
i.e., the right-hand-sidek of Eqns. 7 and 7a are
identical mathematically.
We also use two other plotting functions which
are dimensionless ratios. These functions give
unique resolution to flow regimes such as wellbore
storage domination (unit slope line), bilinear and
linear flow for fractured reservoirs and radial
flow for homogeneous reservoirs. The first
dimensionless ratio, pDirl, i.ssimilar to that
defined by Onur and Reynolds16 and is
PDi
pDirl . — .............................. (8)
2 ‘Did
This function is useful in analyzing cases with
radial flow because, as tD -> W, pDirl approaches
pDi .
The other dimensionless ratio combines the
dimensionless pressure integral difference
function, pDid, with the conventional dimensionless
pressure derivative function, pDd. This function
is
‘Did
‘Dir2 = — ...............,.,.............. (9)
‘Dd
Eq. 9 requires accurate and noise free data to
yield the correct derivatives and subsequent
resolution to particular flow regimes. This
function can be used to identify uniquely the
existence of a particular flow regime.
the Pressure Integral Method SPE 18799
This section su~marizes analytical expressions
used to calculate the dimensionless variables
defined in the prbvious section. These
expressions, which are derived in Appendix A, model
radial~ bilinesr and linear, and wellbore storage
dominated (unit slope line) flow regimes.
19
The solution which models radial flow is
PD - a [ln(tD) + b] + S ...,.,...........(lo)
where tLfD is substituted for tD for the fractured
well cases. The coefficients in Eq. 10 are defined
as follows
s = 0.5 for all cases
~~ IF
25
Homogeneous19 0.80907
Infinite Conductivity 20 2.20000 10
Uniform Flux20 2.S0907 10
The plotting functions (dimensionless
variables) for radial flow are summarized below.
‘Di 0.5 [ln(tD) +b - 11 + S ....(11)
0.5 ..............(12)
‘Did
0.5 ..............(13)
‘Dd
..............(14)
‘Dirl ‘Di
1.0 ..............(15)
‘Dir2
These functions identify unique character-
istics of the radial flow regime. For instance,
Eqns. 10 and 11 indicate that pD and ppi behave
very similarly. This me,ansthat pDi could be used
as a semilog plotting fuixkion; this could be a
useful alternative for very noisy pressure data.
Eqns. 12 and 13 predict that a horizontal line
with a plotting function value of 0.5 will be seen
on graphs of both poid and pDd vs. tD during radial
flow . This behavior is well known for the
dimensionless pressure derivative, pDd.
The remarkable fact is that both pDd and pDid
have exactly the same horizontal (constant Value)
behavior during radial flow. This suggests that a
type curve plot of pDid may be similar in shape to
a pDd type curve for other flow regimes. This
possibility will be addressed specifically later in
this paper when other phenomena such as wellbore
storage and the early time effects of fractured
wells (bilinear and linear flow) are added to these
solutions.
Eq. 14 is’our equivalent of the ratio function
defined by Onpr and Reynolds 16 for the
dimensionless pressure derivative. Note that’this
ratio function is equivale~t to PDi for radial
flow . This suggests that if the early data are
affected by wellbore storage or fractured well
effects, the later behavior of the pDirl ratio
SPE 18799 T.A. Blasingame, J.L. Johnston and W.J. Lee

function during radial flow should be the same as Wellbore Storage Dominated Flow Regime:
P~~ ●

Eq. 15 stetes that the second ratio function,

‘Dir2’
has a value of 1.0 for radial flow. The
Pfj tD/cD ..............(29)
practical application of Eq. 15 is that pDir2 will
0.50 pD .............(30)
lie on a horizontal line with a numerical value of ‘Di
unity during radial flow cm a type curve. 0.50 pD .............(31)
‘Did
‘Dd pD ..........,....(32)
0.5 ...............(33)
‘Dirl
0,5 ...............(34)
‘Dir2
In this section we will consider a general
form of a power function to model the bilinear and These functions” uniquely identify the wellbore
linear flow regimes in a fractured well, The power storage dominated flow regime which occurs at very
function model is also used to develop relations early times.
for the wellbore etorage dominated flow regime
(unit SIOPe line). This model is NOte that pDi, pDid and pDd are fractional
b multiples of the pD function durin”gthese flow
PD = at D ,..............................., (16)
regimes. This means that we would expect these
functions to be parallel on type curves.
is substituted for tD for the fractured
‘here ‘LfD
well cases. The coefficients in l%q. 16 are defined Note also that PDir. and PDir2 are constant
as follows: during these flow regimes. This results in a
horizontal line on the type curve for each of these
functions. These horizontal lines can be used as
reference lines in much the same way that the
Bilinear F10W5 2.45083/~ 1/4 conventional pressure derivative function. pDd# in
cuzrently used to evaluate radial flow data’.
Linear Flow20 G 1/2
Wellbore Storage 21 I/cD 1 The ratios PDirl and PDir2 can be verY
powerful analysis tools because of their unique
Functions to evaluate these dimensionless variables resolution of a particular flow regime, but these
are derived in Appendix A. The results for functions require teat data that is acctmate and
bilinear, linear, and wellbore storage dominated free of noise.
flow regimes are given in the tables below.
.,

In this section we will develop type curves

Bilinear E’lowRegime: using the new plotting functions for homogeneous
and vertically-fractured well systems. The
homogeneous reservoir and uniform flux and infinite
conductivity fractured well caaes will include the
P~ 2.45083/~ tLfD1’4 ,..(17) e:fects of wellbore storage. The finite
conductivity vertical fracture cases will not
‘Di 0.80 pD .............(18) include the effects of wellbore storage in this
0.20 pD ...!.........(19) work.
‘Did
‘Dd 0.25 pn .............(20)
~:
‘Dirl 2,0 ...............(21)
0.8 ...............(22) The type curve solutions for this case are
%Lr2 shown in Fig. 1. This type curve was generated
from the “continuous line source- solution (Eq. B-
These functions uniquely identify the bilinear 6) . Note the similarity between the pD and pDi
flow regime which OCCUSN at very early times in the
tlow of wells with finite or infinite conductivity solutions. These solutions are slightly non-
vettical fractures. parallel at early times (tD<102), but later these
functions bkcome parallel, as predicted by Eqns. 10
Linear Flow.Regihle: and 11. Note also that the pDd and pDid solutions
become essentially equivalent for tD>102, as
1/2 predicted by Eqns. 11 and 12.
P~ ~)tLfD ..........(23)
0.6667 pD ...........(24) Finally, we note the behavior of the pDirl and
%i
0.3333 pD ...........(25) pDir2 solutions in l?ig. 1. The PDir. solution
‘Did
0.50 pD .............(26) starts out slightly above the pDi SOlutiOnp but for
‘Dd
1.0 ..............(27) tD>102 these solutions become equivalent, as
‘Dirl
‘L)ir2 0.6667 .............(28) predicted by Eq. 14. The PDir2 solution starts
out slightly below it long time value of 1.0; but
These functions uniquely identify the linear
flow rOgiMS which occurs relatively early in reachea this value for tD>102. This long time
fractured wells with high fracture conductivity. -behavior of pDir2=l.0 is predicted by Eq. 15.
4 Type Curve Analysis Using
The major conclusion that is reached from Fig.
1 is that the analytical solutions for radial flow,
given in Eqns. 10-15, are verified. This means
that the solutions we propose for the type curve
analysis of radial flow data are valid. We will
look at the radial flow behavior of the infinite
conductivity and uniform flux vertical fracture
cases later in this section.
~:
The type curve solutions for tk,i~case are
presented in Figs. 2,3 and 4. These type.curves
were generated from the ‘cylindrical source-
solution, Eq. B-9, for the CDe 2s>3 curves and from
the infinite conductivity vertically-fractured well
solution, Eq. B-II, for the CDe2sC3 curves. This
.
approach was suggested by Gringarten, et als for
the construction of the PD type curve. One
alternative for the curves where .5<CDe2s<3 would
23
be to use the van Everdingen and Meyer solution,
Eq. B-10, for near wellbore stimulation. Eq. B-5
is the Laplace space relation that was used to add
the effezts of skin and tiellbore storage to the
solutions stated above.
The PDi and pDid solutions are shown in Fig.
9
Z.. This type curve is analogous to the pD and pDd
..
solutions presented by Bourdet, et al.lu This
curve is used to analyze in exactly the same manner
as the Bourdet, et al solutions. The most
interesting feature of this figure is the
~dispersed” behavior of the pDid Solution. This
behavior doea not allow us to observe a distinct
end of wellbore storage distortion or, more
practically, the start of the semilog straight
line. However, we have observed a correlation of
the start of the semilog straight line with’the
maximum value of the pDid SOIUtiOn. This
correlation predicts that the start of the semilog
straight line occurs about 1 log cycle in time
after the maximum value of the pDid Solution is
observed. We have placed a line Indicating the
start of the semilog straight line (radial flow) on
Fig. 2. The analyst can use this line to better
interpret data on the semilog plot.
Fig. 3 shows the behavior of the,pDi and PDir.
solutions. This type curve is analogous to the one
presented by Onur and Reynolds16 for the pD
solution and the pD/(2pDd) ratio solution. The
pDirl solution was shown earlier to be equivalent
to the pDi solut$on during radial flow (whicJh
occurs after wellbore storage distortion effects -
end) . This behavior is predicted by Eq. 14+and is
evident in Fig. 3.
The pDir- solution also has been shown to
exhibit a unique behavior during the wellbore
storage dominated flow regime. This is the flow
regime that occurs when the pD solution exhibits a
‘unit slope linen behavior. The pLirl solution is
single valued at 0“.5-during this flow regime
accordingto Eq. 33. This means that during
wellbore storage dominated flow the PDirl solution
will appear as a horizontal line a value of 0.5 on
the type curve. This behavior is evident on Fig. 3
528
the pressure Integral Method SPE 1879
for the type curves where CDe2s>10 , This behavior
also exists for the type curves where CDe2s<10, but
occurs somewhat earlier than tD/CD=O.l, which is
the minimum x-axis value.
Fig. 4 shows the behavior of the pDi and pDir2
solutions. Recall that the pDir2 solution
incorporates both the pDid and pDd solutions. The
pDir2 solution was shown earlier to be single-
vdued at 1.0 during radial flow (which occurs
after wellbore storage distortion effects end)
according to Eq. 15. The PDir2 solution exhibits a
horizontal line on the type curve at a value of
1.0. This behavior is evident on Fig. 4 for the
10
type curves where CDe 2s<10 . This behavior also
exists for the type curves where CDe2s>1010, but
this effect occurs later than tD/CD=104, which is
the maximum x-axis value.
The PDir2 solution also has been shown to
exhibit exactly the same behavior as the PDirl
solution during the wellbore storage dominated flow
regime according to Eqns. 33 and 34. This means
that during wellbore storage dominated flow the
pDir2 solution will also appear as a horizontal
line on the type curve with a value of 0.5. This
behavior is evident on Fig. 4 for the type curves
where CDe2s>10. This behavior also exists for the
type curves where CDe 2s<10, but occurs somewhat
earlier than tD/Cp=O.lt which is the minimum x-axis
value.
:
The type curve solutions for this case are
pzesented in Figs. 5,6 and 7. These type curves
were generated, using the infinite conductivity
vertically-fractured well solution, Eq. B-n, given
by Gringarten, Ramey and Raghavan. 20 Eqns. B-5 and
B-14 to B-17 were used to add wellbore storage
effects to the consta:m rate solution, Eq. B-n.
The solutions obtained using this method compared
well with those obtained”by Alagoa, Bourdet and
Ayoub12 using numerical simulation.
The PDi and pDid solutions are shown in Fig.
5. This type curve is analogous to the pD and pDd
12
solutions presented by Alagoa, Bourdet and Ayoub.
The pDid solution appears to approach its radial
flow form of 0.5, as given by Eq. 12,
‘or ‘LfD>3”
This agrees with previous observations of t“hepD
and pDd Solutions where pseudoradial flow is
estimated to start at about tLfD=3. This type
curve can be used to match test data in exactly the
same way as conventional pressure drop and
derivative methods are used in ref. 12.
Fig. 6 shows the behavior of the pDi and pDirl
solutions. This type curve is%;nalogous to the one
presented by Onur and Reynolds for fractured
wells. The PDirl solution was shown earlier to be
equivalent to the PDi solution by Eq. 14 fOr radial
I
g
—
SPE 18799 T.A.
flow (which occurs after wellbore storage
Blasingame,
distortion effects end). This behavior is not
evident in Fig. 6 because the type curve scale is
‘runcated at ‘LfD-lO” ‘owever’ at ‘DLf-10 all ‘f
J.L.
the curves are converging to the PDi solution and
Eq. 14 sheuld become valid shortly thereafter.
The PDirl solution during the wellbore storage
dominated flow regime is single-valued at 0.5
according to Eq. 33. This means that a horizontal
line at 0.5 will be evident on all of the type
Curves ‘here cDf >0, during this flow regime. This
behavior is evident on Fig. 6 for the type curves
This behavior also exists for the
‘here cDf>O”l”
type curves where CDf<0.1, but occurs earlier than
-4
, which is the minimum x-axis value.
‘LfD=10
The pDirl solution also has been shown to
exhibit behavior unique to fractured wells. This
behavior occurs for the formation linear flow
regime which occurs in wells with high fracture
conductivities. The pDir- solution is single-
valued at 1,0 during this flow regime according to
Eq. 27. This causes a horizontal line with a value
of 1.0 to appear on the type curve. This behavior
is evident on Fig. 6 only for the CDf=O type curve
because this is the only case where the linear flow
regime is not distorted by wellbore storage. This
behavior ends at approximately tLfD=O.O1, which
agrees well with the value of t~fD=0.016 given by
ref. 20.
Fig . 7 shows the behavi~r of the pDi and pDir2
solutions. The PDir2 solution was shown earlier to
exhibit a horizontal line on the type curve at a
value of 1.0 by Eq. 15. This behavior is not quite
evident on Fig. 7, although all of the type curves
are converging to 1.0 at tLfD=lO, which is the
maximum x-axis value,
The PDir2 solution also has been shown to
exhibit exactly the same behavior as the pDirl
solution during the wellbore storage dominated flow
regime according to Eqns. 33 and 34. This result
predicts a horizontal line at 0.5 for the type
>0 during this flow regime. This
curves ‘here cDf
behavior i% evident on Fig. 7 for the type curves
This behavior also exists for the
‘here cDf>0”03”
type curves where CDfcO.03, but occurs earlier than
-4
, which is the minimum x-axis value.
‘LfD=10
The pDir2 solution alsc has been shown to
exhibit behavior unique to the formation linear
flow regime that occurs in fractured Yells. The
pDir2 solution is single-valued at 0.67 during
this flow regime according to Eq. 28. This causes
a horizontal line with a value of 0.67 on the type
curve. This behavior is evident on Fig. 7 only for
the CDf-O type curve because this is the only caae
where the linear flow regime is not distorted by
wellbore storage. This behavior also ends at
approximately tLfD=O.Olf which agrees well with the
value ‘f ‘LfD -0..016 given by ref. 20.
.
Da
Johnston and W.J. Lee
The type curve solutions for this case are
5
presented in Figs. 8,9 and 10. These type curve
solutions were generated in exactly the same manner
aa those for the infinite conductivity vertically-
fractured well caae. In fact; there are only
subtle differences.in the infinite conducti~?ity and
uniform flux solutions. The choice of which of
these models to use in analysia is generally based
on experience in a particular region, rather than
zigorous theoretical considerations.
There are no major differences in the behavior
of the pDi and pDid solutions for the infinite
conductivity and uniform flux cases. The infinite
conductivity solution. is shown in Fig. 5 and the
uniform flux solution is shown in Fig. 8.
There is a subtle difference in the pDirl
solutions for the infinite conductivity and uniform
flux cases shown in ‘Lgs. 6 and 9, respectively.
In general, the pDirl solutions for the uniform
flux case are less than the correspmding solutions
for the infinite conductivity case, for the same
dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient, CDf.
Also, for the two solutions with no wellbore
storage, the uniform flux solution exhibits a much
longer formation linear flow period. This is
expected because the formation linear flow solution
given by Eq. 12 is the early time solution for the
uniform flux case and is only an approximation for
20
the infinite conductivity case. The end of
formation linear flow from Fig. 9 occurs at
approximately t~fD=O.l for the uniform flux case.
The end of linear flow from ref. 20 is estimated to
‘cCur at ‘LfD-0”16’
The only significant difference in the PDir2
solutions for the infinite conductivity end uniform
flux cases, shown in Figs. 7 and 10t reSPSCtiVSJYe
concerns the duration of linear flow. Again, the
uniform flux solution exhibits a Wuch lo:lger
formation linear flow period. The end of fOrmStiOn
linear flow from Fig. 10 is approximately at
=0.1 for the uniform flux case, which again
‘LfD
compares we”llthe estimate of tLfD=0.16 fro; ref.
20.
The type curve solutions for this case are
presented in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. These type
Curves were generated using the SolutiOn of
Rodriguez, Home and Cinco-Ley6 for,a fully
penetrating fracture of finite conductivity.
The PDi and pDid solutions for this case are
shown in Fig. 11. The solutions on this type curve
experience several flow regimes over time. The
first flow regime encountered is that of fracture-
formation bilinear flow. Eqns. 18 and 19 predict
that PDi and pDid are fractional multiples of PD
during bilinear flow. This means that pD, pDi and
PDid are parallel during the bilinear flow regime.
The end of bilinear flow is indicated on thiS type
curve.
The next flow regime encountered is that of
formation linear flow. This flow regti only
occurs ‘or cfD>lOO”Eqns. 24 ●nd 2S prediot tbet
6 Type Curve Analysis
PDi and pDLd are alao fractional multiples of pn
during linear flow. This tceansthat pD, pDi and
pDid are also parallel during the linear flOW
regime. From Fig. 11, the end of linear flow
appears to occur at about t~fD-o.015. This agrees
20
with previous observations which predict the end
of linear flow at tLfD=0.016 for an infinite
conductivity vertical fracture.
Fig. 12 shows the behavior of the pDLrl
solution. This type curve is analogous to the one
presented by Onur and Reynolds 16 for fractured
walls . This curve is plotted on this scale because
the PDirl solution only ranges from 1 to 10.
During bilinear flow the pDirl solution is single-
valued at 2.0 according to Eq. 21. This behavior
is exhibited in Fig. 12 by all but the very lowest
and highest CfD cases. The very low CfD case
exhibits bilinear flow only up to tLfD-5x10-5.
This means that we should not expect to see pDirl
exhibit a single value in the tLfD -10 -5 range,
which is the mhimum tLfD value on the type curve.
The very high conductivity cases {CfD>lOO) only
exhibit bilinear flow for t ‘5, which b
LfD<10
scale on the type curve.
During linear flow the pDirl solution is
single-valued at l.O.according to Eq. 27. This
behavior is exhibited in Fig. 12 only by the
Lnfinite conductivity case. .Ref. 20 ahowed that
the linear flow solution is a valid approximation
for t,heinfinite conductivity case at early times.
The pDirl solution also exhibits a unique behavior
during the radial flow regime. In this case, the
PDi and PDirl solutions are equal according to Eq.
14. Though t:.+pDi solution is not sho~ on Fig.
12, this behavior does occur.
Fig. 13 shows the behavior of the,pDir2
6olutSon. This curve was plotted on a semilog
scale because the pDir2 solution only varies
between 0.67 and 1.0. The PDir2 solution was shown
earlier to exhibit a horizontal line on the type
curve at a value of 1.0 by Eq. 15. This beha~ior
is evident on Fig. 13, but only for very large
t~mes (tLfD>103). This radial flow behavior
~stek,lishes the upper limit of the pDir2 Solution.
The ~Dir2 solution aLso exhibits unique
behavior for the linear flow regime. During linear
E1OW the pD”ir2 solution is single-valued at 0.67
according to Eq. 28. This behavior is exhibited in
Fig. 13 only by the infinite conductivity case and
establishes the lower limit of the pDir2 solution.
During bilinear flow the pDir2 solution is single-
valued ●t 0.8 according to Eq. 22. This behavior
is exhibited in Fig. 13 by most of the curves with
the exceptions again being the very lowest and
highest fracture conductivity cases. The
justification for these exceptions was given
earlier for pDirl during bilinear flow and this
reasoning still holds for pDir2.
Using the Pressure Integral Method
S!?E 18799
l~QF~
In this section we will analyze the behavior
of a simulated well test using the conventional
pressure derivative solution, pDd, and the new
pressure integral difference solution, pnid. The
purpose of this section is to verify the use of the
pressure integral solution for type curve analysis.
We intend to achieve this verification by applying
the new methods of pressuze integral analysis to a
case that can not be analyzed using conventional
pressure derivative analyais.
In order to illustrate the advantagea of the
pDid solution, we have added 5% random error to the
logarithm of the pD solution for a homogeneous
reservoir with CDe2s=103. We will use both Eqns. 7
and 7a to compute the pDid solution so that the
most practical equation for application to field
data can be determined. All of the derivatives
required in this section were computed using the
method proposed in ref. 13.
Fig. 14 shows the behavior of the pDd solution
for 5% error in the logarithm of PD. Note the
extremely erratic behavior of the calculated pDd
solution compared with the analytical pDd solution.
off-
It h conceivable that several matches of the
calculated solution could be obtained and even if
we consider an average range of scatter, we still
aee one-half of a log cycle variation on the y-
axis. Analysis of this data using the pDd solution
could easily yield as much as 100% error in the y-
axis match.
The pDid solution computed using Eq. 7 is
shown in Fig. 15. Eq. 7 calculates pDid as a
difference of pD and Pn{d. This means that if PD
is noisy (as it is in t~is example) and pDi is
smooth (from integration it will be at least
smoother than pD), then the resultin9 pDid sohwion
will still reflect the noise in p-. This is quite
obvious in Fig. 15. However, the-pDid solution
computed using Eq. 7 and shown in Fig. 15 is much
smoother than the PDd solution in Fi9. 14. Also,
the error in the computed pDid solution tends to
oscillate gently about the analytical solution for
pDid* whfch was not true for the pDd solution.
The pDid solution computed using Eq. 7a is “
shown in Fig. 16. Eq. 7a calculates pDid using the
derivative of the integral solution pDi. We note
that the comparison of pDid computed using Eq. 7a
agrees very well with the analytical pDid SOlutiOn.
Fig. 16 not only juitifies the computation of the
pDid solution using Eq. 7a, but the excellent
agreement between the calculated and analytical
pDid solutions forms the basis for performing
integral type curve analysia. Based on w~at is
observed in Fig. 16,”we recommend that pDid be
computed using Eq. 7a.
I
---
SPE 18799 T.A. Blasingame, J.L. Johnston and W.J. Lee

The most important conclusion in this section ‘PW, id

and perhaps in this paper is that accurate analysis .—
b. ‘Dir2
of noisy well rest data is possible using integral
type curve analysis. This means that data gathered ‘pw,d
from relatively low precision devices such as
bourdon tube pressure bombs and acoustic well 6. Make the following 3-inch log cycle plots
sounders may be analyzed with the accuracy and using the time function, t, as prescribed
resolution only thought possible for high precision in step 1:
?.evicea such as quartz crystal gauges.
a. dpw and dpw,d vs. t.
b. dpwti and dpw,id VS. t.
c. dpw,i and pDirl vs. t.
In this section we will describe how to use d. dpw,i andpf)~r2 vs. t.
the new type curve solutions. The objective of
this section is to outline a procedure to apply
7. Obtain the pressure and time match points
these new type curves, including recommendations on
from the type curves and interpret as
how to obtain the pressure drop derivative and
follows:
integral functions.

The following general approach is proposed to a. Pressure match point

a?ply the field well test data to the new type
curves: qB~ PDM
k = 141.2 — (— ‘M.P.
1. Calculate the pressure drop function, dpw,
and the time function, t: h dpwM

a. drawdown
i. dpw = pi - pwf where pDM is pD or pDi and dpwM is dpw or
ii,t=t dpwi .
b. buildup
i. dpw = pws - pwf
b. Time match point
ii. t = dte = dt/(1 + dt/tp)
i. Wellbore storage and skin case
2. Calculate the pressure drop derivative
function, dpw,d, using numerical k t
techniques such as the Clark and Van CD = 0.0002637 — (—
. ‘M.P.
13
Golf-Racht method, finite difference @Lctrw’ tD/CD
approximations or least squares piecewise
polynomials. The formula for dpw,d is
ii. Fractured well case

d k t
dpw,d = t —(dpw)
dt ‘f 2 = 0.0002637 — (— ‘M.P.
$Pct ‘DLf
3. Calculate the pressure drop integral
function, dpw,i, using numerical 8. Obtain the type2~rve family parameter
integration techniques such as the values (eg. CDe
trapezoidal rule or the new logarithmic ‘ cDf and cfD ) from the
integration technique developed in data match. In particular, “the
Appendix A. ~he formula for dpw,i is skin factor, ~, for the homogeneous
reservoir case is calculated from the
CDe2s parameter as follows:
= ~ ~tdpwdt
dpw, i
to
‘1
4. Calculate the pressure drop integral s-- ~n(c e2s,c ~
D D
difference function, dpw,id, using the 2
derivative techniques outlined in step 2.
The formula for-dpw,id is

d In this section we will apply the new type

“curves to a field example. This example is for a
‘PW, id = t -(alp W,i)
dt pressure buildup test performed on a well In an
infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir.
5. Calculate the pressure integral ratio
The data for this example are from Bourdet, et
functions, PDirl and PDLr2, as follows:
do where the data were analyzed using pre.asure
drop and pressure drop derivative analysis. The
‘%, i data are distorted by wellbore storage, but also
a. PDi=l = — exhibit a semilog straight line (radial flow) afte~
about 4 hours. The reservoir data and results fron
2dpW, id previous analyses are given in Table 1.
14
WI
 8 Type Curve Analysis Using the Pressure Integral Method SPE 18”;99‘1
-...
The pD ~tyle type curve graph fOr this case is lie exactly on 0,5, as prescribed by Eq. 33, is
likely due to the numerical differentiation of the
shown in Fig. 17. The type curves on this graph PDi data using the method in ref. 13. Perhaps more
are for an infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir
with wellbore storage and skin effects included. robust differentiation methods are necessary, but
Both the conventional type curve plotting we believe that the excellent match of the later
functions, pD and pDd, are shown as well as the new pDirl data verifies the utility of this plotting
plotting functions, pDi and pDid. The type curve function.
matching results obtained uSin9 the PDi and pDid Note also that the PDir2 data behaves somewhat
vs. tD/CD type curves are: erratically, as we would expect from observing the
pDd data on Fig. 170 However, we still obtain a
—
CDe2s = 5X109 (by interpolation) good match of the PDir2 data and type curve. We
tD/cD 5 10.Q.. observe that pDir2 is reasonably close to 0.5, as
t = 0.70 hr predicted.by Eq. 34, during wellbore storage
PDi = 1.0 dominated flow and we aee the that pDir2 bends over
dpw, i = 57 psi and starts into radial flow at about tD/CD-75.
This example at least verifies the use of pD1r2 as
The pressure match point is solved for a plotting function for field data. At most, it
permeabil~ty. This calculation is provides us with a high resolution plotting
Zunction to identify characteristics uniaue to the
WW PDi behavior of a parti~ular flow regime. -
k= 141.2 — (—)Mp
The pDir. and PDir2 functions can also be used
h dpw “ “
quantitatively to estimate the properties of an x-
axis match (eg. tD/CD) and the type curve family
(174)(1.06)(2.5) 1.0
-2s-
= 141.2 (—) parameter (eg. Cne ) just like conventional type
(107) 57 curve analysis. ‘Since pDirl and pDir2 are
- 10.68 md. dimensionless ratios that m the y-axis, there is
no quantitative analysis of the y-axis. In terms
The time match point is solved for the of the current example, the exact same matching
dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient, CD “ parameters as the pD and Pn{ analysis were obtained
This calculation is and the analysis of-these ~&ameters would be
redundant.
k t
CD = 0.0002637 — (— ‘M.P. A practical alternative type curve could
incorporate pDir. and pDir2 separately with pDi.
4ylctEw2 tnlcn
Then pDir. and PDir2 could be used to refine the
(10.68) 0.70 pDi data match in the asme way that pDd is
- 0.0002637 (—) currently used to refine a pD data match. This iS
(0.25)(2.5)(4.2x10-6)(0.29)2 10.0 our justification for the format of the type curves
presented in ~he ‘Development of the New Type
- 893 Curves* section.
2s
The family curve for this case, cDe , can be
solved for the skin factor, S, using the estimate
of the dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient In this paper we have introduced new plotting
that we just obtained. This calculation is functions for the type curve analyais of transient
well test data in homogeneous and vertically-
1 ,.,. fractured wells. The plotting functions were
developed to smooth the test data by integration.
~ = - ln(CDe2s/CD) These new type curves can be applied to data from
2 pressure buildup tests if the equivalent time
introduced by Agarwa18 is used.
1
= - ln(5x10g/893) The.results in the paper indicate that the new
2 integral plotting functions could be applied in an
automatic history matching scheme for noisy test
= 7.77 data. We also believe that the integral functions
could be applied successfully to the analysis of
The results of this analysis cornp~~ very well with post-transient well test data.
those obtained by Bourdet, et al. The results of this study give the following
conclusions.
The type curve graph for the PDirl and PDir2
plotting functions is shown i.nFig. 18. The type 1. The new type curve integral difference
curves on this graph are for the same system plotting function gave a much smoother data
described earlier. Note the excellent agreement curve and more unique type curve match than
between the pDirl data and type curves. The the conventional pressure derivative data
probable reason that the early pDirl data does not curve for an example set of noisy teut data.
SPE 18799 ‘T.A. Blasingame, J.L. Johnston and W.J. Lee 9

2. Two new dimensionless ratio plotting

functions were introduced and verified to
exist on type curve solutions for the d = Derivative function
bilinear, linear, radial and wellbore D = Dimensionless
storage dominate< flow regimes. i = Integral function
id = Integral difference function
Wf = Flowing yell conditions
wa = Shut-in well conditions

Dimensionless wellbore storage 1. van Everdingen, A.F. and Hurst, W.: ‘iThe
CD -
coefficient application of the Laplace Transformation to
Dimensionless wellbore storage Flow Problems in Reservoirs,n Trans., AIMS
cDf =
coefficient based on f’racture (1949) 186, 305-324.
half-length
Dimensionless fracture conductivity 2. Agarwal, R.G., A1-Hussainy, R., and Ramey, H.J.
cfD - Jr.: ‘An Investigation of Wellbore Storage and
P~ = Diifiensionlesspressure defined by Eq. 1 Skin Effects in Unsteady Liquid Flow: I.
pDd “ Dimensionless pressure derivative Analytical Treatment,” SPEJ (Sept. 1970) 278-
290.
function defined by Eqns. 4 and 5
P~i = Dimensionless pressure integral function 3. Gringarten, A.C. et al: “A Comparison Between
defined by Eq. 6 Different Skin and Wellbore Storage Type Curves
pDid - Dimensionless pressure integral for Early-Time Transient Analysis,” paper SPE
8205 presented at the 1979 SPE Annual
difference function defined by Eqns. 1 and Technical Conference and Exhibition, Las Vegas,
lb
Sept. 23-26.
P~irl= First dimensionless pressure integral
ratio defined by Eq. 8 4. Cinco-Ley, H., Samaniego-V., F. and Dominguez-
Second dimensionless pressur% integral A., N. : ‘Transient Pressure Behavior for a Well
‘D~r2=
ratio defined by Eq. 9 With A Finite-Conductivity Vertical Fracturet”
SPEJ (Aug. 1978) 253-264.
PDO = Dimensionless phase redistribution
pressure 5. Cinco-Ley, H. and Samani.ego-V., F.: “Transient
Dimensionless time defined by Eq. 2 Pressure Analysis for Fractured Wells,” JPT
‘D =
Dimensionless time based on fracture (Sept. 1981) 1749-66.
‘LfD =
half-length as defined by Eq. 3 6. Rodriguezt F., Home, R.N. and Cinco-Ley, H.:
“Partially Penetrating Vertical Fractures:
*1~ VariaMss 1Pressure Transient Behavior of a Finite-
I;onductivity Fracture, ‘1paper SPE 13057
a ,= Arbitrary constant used in various
1presented at the 1984 SPE Annual Technical
equations Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Sept. 16-
b= Arbitrary constant used in various 19, 1984.
equations
-1 7. Bourdet, D. and Gringarten, A.C.: “Determin-
Total compressibility, psia
Ct = ation of Fissure Volume and Block Size in (
f(x) = Arbitrary function used in the derivation Fractured Reservoirs by Type-Curve Analysis,”
of the logarithmic integral formula,
paper SPE 9293 presented at the 1980 SPE Annual
Eq. C-2 I’ethnicalConference and Exhibition, Dallas,
h= Reservoir net pay thickness, ft Sept. 21-24.
k= Reservoir permeability, md
Fracture half-length, ft 8. kgarwal, R.G.: “A New Method to Account for
‘f =
Pi = Initial reservoir pressure, psia Producing Time Effects When Drawdown Type
:urves Are Used to Analyze Pressure Buildup and
Pwf - Flowing bottomhole pressure, psia >ther Test Data,” paper SPE 9289 presented at
P- Shut-In bottomhole pre8sure, psia the 1980 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, Dallae, Sept. 21-24.
:W - Wellbore pressure drop, psi
rw = Uellbore radius, ft 9. Fair, W.B.: ‘Pressure Buildup Amalysis With
Laplace transform parameter .- Wellbore Phase Redistribution,m SPEJ (April
:- Time, hr 1981) 259-270.
TOtal production time, hr
‘P - 10. Bourdet, D. et al: “A New Set of Type Curves
dt = Shut-In time, hr Simplifies Well Test Analysis,” World 011
dte - Agarwa18 effective time function, hr (my 1983) 95-106.
x= Arbitrary independent axis variable used 11. Bourdet, D., Ay~ab, J.A. and Pirard, Y.M.:
to derive the logarithmic integration *Use of Pressure Derivative in Well Teat
formula
hterpretation ,n paper SPE 127,77piesented
at the 1984 California Regional Meetingt
Long Beach, April 11-13.

-+ = Reservoir porosity, fraction 12. Alagoa, A:, Bourdet, D. and Ayoub, J.A.: “How
Fluid ViSCOSity, Cp to Simplify The Analysis of Fractured Well
P-
Tests,” World Oil (Oct. 1985).

w
13. Clark, D.G. and Van Golf-Racht, T,D.:
‘Pressure-Derivative Approach to Transient Teat
Analyais: A High-Permeability North Sea
Reservoir Example,” JPT (Nov. 1985) 2023-2039.

14. Puthigai, S.K, and Tiab, D.: !rApplicationof

P’D Function to Vertically Fractured Wells-
Field Cases,” paper SPE 11028 presented at the
1982 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, New Orleana, Sept. 26-29.
15. Tiab, S. and Puthigai, S.K.: “Pressure-
Derivative Type Curves for Vertically Fractured
Wells,” SPEFE (March 1988) 156-158.
In this section we will”prove that the
integral difference dimensionless variable, pDid#
given by Eqns. 7 and 7a are identical
mathematically. This proof requires that we
combine the pDi and pDid definitions given by EqnS.
6 and ?a and solve for the derivative term in Eq.
7a. This gives -

16. Onur, M. and Reynolds, A.C.: “A New Approach d dl ‘D

for Constructing Derivative Type Curves for — (PDi) - ‘[— ~ PD(T) dTl
Well Test Analysis,” SFEFE (March 1988) 197-
206. dtD
‘tD ‘D “0
17. Onur, M,t Yeht N-S. and Reynolds, A.C.: ‘tNew pD 1
Derivative Type Curves for Well Test Analysis,” .—-—
paper SPE 1681O presented at the 1987 SPE ~t\D(T) dT
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 20
Dallas, 27-30. ‘D ‘D

18. Duong, A.N.: 11ANew Set of Type Curves for 1

Well Test Interpretation Using the Pressure = — [pD ‘Ljt\D(T) dT]
Derivative Ratio,” paper SPE 16812 presented at
the 1987 SPE Annual Technical Conference and ‘D ‘D 0
Exhibition, Dallas, Sept. 27-30.
1
19. Earlougher, R.C. Jr.: Advances in Well Test = — [PD - PDil ..................(A-l)
Analysis, Henry L. Doherty Series, SP!?,
Richardson, TX (1977) 5. ‘D

20. Gringarten, A.C., Remey, H.J. Jr. and If we multiply Eq. A-1 by tD we obtain
Raghavan, R: ‘Unsteady-State Pressure
Distributions Created by a.Well With a Single d
Infinite-Conductivity Vertical Fracture,” SPEJ = [pD - PD~] ..................(A-2)
(Aug. 1974) 347-360. ‘D ‘(pDi)
dt.
u
21. Lee, W.J.: Well Testing, Textbook Series, SPE,
Richardson, TX .(1982) 1. which proves that Eqns. 7 and 7a are exactly
equivalent mathematically.
22. Stehfest, H: ‘Numerical Inversion of Laplace
Transforms,” Communications of the ACM (Jan.
1970) 13, No. 1, Algorithm 368.
:
19
23. van Everdingen, A.!?.and Meyer, L.J.: The solution which models radial flow is
“Analyeis of Buildup Curves-Obtained After Well
Treatment,t~ JPT (April 1971) 513-524; Trans.? pD=a [ln(tD) +bl +S ...................(A-3)
AIWE, 2S1.
is substituted for tD for the fractured
‘here ‘LfD
24. Guillot, A,Y. and Home, R.N.: “Using well cases. The coefficients in Eq. 10 are defined
Simultaneous Downhole Flow-Rate and Pressure as follows:
Measurements To Improve Analysis of Well
Tests,” SPEFE (June 1986) 217-226. a = 0.5 for all caaes
25. Roumboutsos, A. and Stewart, G.: ‘A Direct
Deconvolution or Convolution Algorithm for Well
Teat Analysis,” paper SPE 18157 presented at 19
the 19138SPE Annual Technical Conference and Homogeneous 0.80907 25
Exhibition, Houston, Oct. 2-5. Infinite Conductivity 20 2.20000 10
26. Hornbeck, R.W.: Numerical Methods, Prent+ce Uniform Flux20 2.80907 10
Hall/Quantum Pub., Englewood Cliffs, NJ (1975).
The dimensionless pressure integral funCtiOn, pDi,
for this case ie derived by combining Eqns. 6 and-
A-3 . This function is

I Pf)i =a [ln(tD) +b-1] +S ..............(A-4)

The dimensionless pressure integral difference

function, pDid, is obtained by subtracting Eq. 4-4

63”
.-
SPE 18799 T.A. Blasingame, J.L. Johnston and w..J. Lee

from Eq. A-3, as prescribed by Eq. 7. This result

is - b Poi
b
“—P~ . . . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A-n)
pDid = a = 0.5 .............,......,....,.. (A-5)
b+l
The dimensionless pressure derivative where pD iS defined by Eq. A-9 and pDi is defined
function, pDd, is derived by combining Eqns. 5 and
by Eq. A-10.
A-3 . This result is
The dimensionless pressure derivative, pDdt is
...................,......,..(A-6)
‘Dd - a = 0.5 derived by combining Eqns. 5 and A-9. This result
is
The dimensionless ratios defined in Eqns. 8
and 9 are derived now for radial flow. The first b
ratiov PDirl$ is obtained by combining Eqns. 8, A-4 =abt
‘Dd D
and A-5. This result is =bp ........,..............,......(A-12)
D
......,.,....,.................(A-7) where pD is defined by Eq. A-9.
‘Dirl = pDi
and the second ratio~ PDir2# is obtained by The dimensionless ratios defined by Eqns. 8
combining Eqns. 9, A-5 and A-6. This result ia and 9 are derived below. The first ratio function,
pDirl, is obtained by combining Eqns. 8, A-10 and
. . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . (A-8) A-II . This result is
‘Dir2 - 1

P~~rl = l/2b ............................(A-13)

.
The second ratio, PDir2, is obtainedby combining
In this section we will consider the general
Eqns. 9, A-n and A-12. This reeult is
form of a power function to model the bilinear and
linear flow regimes in a fractured well. The power
function model is alao used to develop relations 1
- — ...........,.................(A-14)
for the wellbore storage dominated flow regime ‘Dir2
(unit slope line.). This model is b+l

b (A-9) Note that PDi, PDid and PDd are simply fractional
pD - at D . . . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
multiples of pD during these flow regimes. This
is substituted for tD for the fractured means that we would expect all these functions to
‘here ‘LfD
well cases. The coefficients in Eq. A-9 are be parallel to one another when plotted on a type
defined as follows: curve.

a Note also that the pDirl and poirz functions

Q&’ b
are constant during these flow regimes. This
results in a horizontal line en, thetype curve for
Bilinear F10W5 2.45083/~ 1/4
each of these functions, the values of which depend
Linear Flow20’ G. 112 ‘ solely on the b coefficient tabulated above. These
21 horizontal lines can be used as reference lines in
Wellbore Storage I/cD 1 much the same way that the conventional pressure
derivative function, pDd, is currently used to
The following derivations of the plotting functions identify the radial flow regime.
using Eq. A-9 will use the a and b coefficients
symbolically.
6
The dimensionless pressure integral , pDi, is
derived by combining Eqns. 6 and A-9. The
The development of the new type curves
resulting function is
requires the analytical solution for each reservoir
a system of interest. The most straightforward
approach is to use the Laplace transform of the
‘Di- — tDb –- solution and an inve~~ion algoti.thm such as the one
s b+l proposed by Stehfest This is straightforward
1 because the differenti~tion and integration of the
“—P~ .............................(A-IO) dimensionless pressure function, pD, can be
b+l performed as multiplication and diviaiont
respectively, of pD in Lsplace space, ,PD(S1, by the
where pD is defined by Eq. A-9.
The dimensionless
Laplace parameter, s.
pressure integral difference, pDid, is obtained by
subtracting Eq. A-10 from Eq. A-9 *S in Eq. ‘!or Specifically, these relations are
differentiating Eq. A-10 as in Eq. 7a. This result
is d(pD)
— - L-l(s PD(S)} .....,................(B-1)
ab
b dtD
‘Did - — ‘D
b+~

---
12 Type Curve Analysis Using the Pressure Integral Method SPE 18799

and The Laplace space solutions for a well in an

infinite homogeneous reservcir are given below.
1
‘D
,Line Source Solution:
j pDdtD= L-l{ ‘pD(S)) .................(B-2)
o s This is the Laplace transform of Eq. B-6 and
~al,2
Also, the’effects of wellbore storage and
phase redistribution can be added directly to the 1
Laplace transform of the solution. This is .......................(B-8)
PsD(s) = - ko(~)
demonstrated in the section below.
s

Cylindrical Source Solution:

Fairg derived a general relationship in This is the Laplace space solution for a well
Laplace space to add the effects of wellbore
8torage, skin and phase redistribution to the with a finite radius wellbore. This solution isl
constant rate dimensionless pressure solution, p9D.
.—
This relation is
ps.(s) = - - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(B-9)
s3/2
[spgD(s) + s] [1 + CDS2POD(S)I kl(~)
pD(s) = ....(B-3)
S[l + CDS(SPSD(S) + s)] Eq. B-9 degenerates into Eq. B-8 for large times
(ie, as s->0). Eqns. B-5 and B-9 were used to
generate type curves (Figs. 2-4) for the
where pD(s) is the Laplace transform of the homogeneous reservoir case
dimensionless pressure distorted by wellbore
storage, skin andlor phase redistribution. In Eq. Matrix-Acid Solution:
B-3, PSD(S) is the Laplace transfozm of the
This solution was proposed by van Everdingen
constant rate solution with no distorting effects. *.
When none of these effects are present Eq. (B-3) and Meyer&a to represent a well that had been
reduces to the trivial form stimulated with acid in the near weUbore region.
The solution is applicable to wells with negative
pD (s) = PSD(S) ...................,........(B-4) skin factors in the O to -3 range. The Laplace
space solution is
In this work the effect of phase
reciistribution is not considered (POD(S)-O) . Eq.
PSD(S) - .. (B-1O)
B-3 then reduces to the form
S3’2 kl(~)) + S2 ko(fi)/2
[spSD(s) + s]
PD(S) = . . . . . . . . . ..(B-5) Eq. B-10 also degenerates into Eq. B-8 for large
S[l + CDS(SPSD(S) + s)] times.

Eq. B-5 was used in this work to generate the type

curves which have wellbore storage and skin
effects. 20
Gringarten, Ramey and Raghavan developed a
solution for the dimensionless pressure, Pn, at the
wellbore of a vertically fractured well in-an
The solution for an infinite-acting infinite homogeneous reservoir. The fracture is
homogeneous reservoir iS1g considered to have either infinite conductivity (no
. pressure drop along the fracture from the fracture
tip to the wellbore) or uniform flux across the
‘Dz fracture face along the entire length of the
psD =-Ei(-—)+S .....................(B-6) fracture, The uniform flux case has a variable
4tD pressure drop along the fracture antiappears to
behave as a variab$e:condpctivity vertical
fracture.
Eq. (B-6) is known as the “continuous line source” The real space solution is
solution and is valid for tD/rD2 > 25, The so
19 1 l-XD
called “log approximation to Eq. (B-6) is
P~~ =-- [erf(_ )
1 2 2-
Psn = - [ln(tD/r2D) + 0.80907] + S ........(B-7)
2 1+xD
+ erf( )1
Eq. B-7 is valid for”tD/r2D > 100 or with less than 2-
1* ● rror for tD/r2D > 10.

..-
SPE 18799 T.A. Blasingame,
I-xD -(l-xD)z
- (----) Ei(---------)
4 92
4tLfD
l+XD -(1+XD)2
- (----) Ei(---------) ............(B-11)
4
4tLfD
where XD = O for the uniform flux case and XD =
0.732 for the infinite conductivity case. We have
not obtained the analytical Laplace transform of
Eq. B-n and have no evidence that it exists in
closed form.
Since Eq. B-n was derived for an infinite,
homogeneous reservoir, the solution does eventually
exhibit a radial-like or ‘pseudoradial” flow
regime. For pseudoradial flow, Eq. B-n reduces to
the equation of a semilog straight-line, analogous
to the infinite-acting homogeneous reservoir case.
The form of the equations are the same for the
infinite conductivity and uniform flux vertical
fracture cases, but the coefficients of these
equations are different. The pseudoradial flow
20
relation for the infinite conductivity case is
1 instabilities. First, the accuracy of the results
PsD ‘,- [ln(tLfD) + 2.200001 .............(B-12)
2 cycle of data gave results which compare well with
The pseudoradial flow relation for the uniform flux
case is20
1 appear to depend on the grid refinement.
psD = - [ln(t~fD) + 2.80907] .............(B-13)
2 We compared this method to the analytical
Rodriguez, Home and Cinco-Ley6 developed a
solution for a partially penetrating, finite
conductivity vertical fracture in an infinite
homogeneous reservoir. This solution can be used
to predict the behavior of a fully penetrating . the results in Fig. 19. Note that all of the
finite conductivity vertical fracture without
wellbore storage effects. The solution is very
tedious and is not repeated here. Figs . 11-13 are
type curves based on this solution.
The problem addresaed in this section is to
include wellbore storage in the solutions for the
infinite conductivity and uniform flux vertical
fracture cases. However, since closed form Laplace
transforms of these solutions are not available, we
must somehow bring the constant rate solutions into
Laplace apace. This can be accomplished by
tabulating the constant rate solution and bringing
these tabulated data into Laplace space.
Gulliot and Horne24 and Roumboutsos and Stewart 25
proposed methods to take the Laplace transform of
tabulated data. Although these methods are
somewhat similar in both design and implementation,
the Roumboutsos and Stewart method appears to be
more robust.
Roumboutsos and Stewart developed a formula to
take the Laplace transform of tabulated data that
assumes that the data are piecewise linear. The
Roumboutsos and Stewart formula is
J.L. Johnston and W.J. Lee 13
1 -St n -Sti-l -Sti
1
PSD(S) = - [ml (l-e ) + Zmi(e -e )
i= 2
-Stn- ~
+mne 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (B-14)
where
‘sD(tD,i) - psD(tD,i-l)
.............(B-15)
‘i =
‘D, i - ‘D,i-l
to~o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (B-16)
and
tn ~oa ...................................(B-17)
Eq. B-17 is used only to derive Eq. B-14 and not to
calculate the coefficient in Eq. B-15. Also, Eq.
B-14 requires the use of a numerical inversion
22
algorithm such as the one proposed by Stehfest.
This method appears to have two nume~ical
depends somewhat on how finely the data table is
divided. We found that 30 to 40 points per log
the analytical solution for the test cage dihcussed
below. Second, regardless of the data grid
refinement, the method oscillates at large times.
However, the severity of the oscillations does
solution for a homogeneous reservoir with wellbore
storage. Eq. B-6 was used t.ogenerated the
tabulated data for the l?oumboutsos and Stewart
formula, Eq. B-14. The analytical solution was
generated using Eqns. B-5 and B-8. We compared the
Roumboutsos and Stewart formula and the analytical
solution, analyzed the error, and have presented
errors in the calculation of the dimensionless
pressure, pD, are less than 1%. Similar behavior
is also noted for the dimensionless pressure
integral function, pDid, on this figure. However,
we note that the dimensionless pressure derivative
function, pDd, behaves very poorly for tD/CD>20.
The poor analytical performance of PDd forced
us to evaluate this function numerically, using the
inverted pD solution. The error analyses for this
case are shown in Fig. 20. Also included in Fig.
20 is the pDid function calculated usin9 numerical
integration. The error in both the pDd and pDid
functions was reduced significantly by evaluating
the derivative and integral functions numerically.
This leads us to recommend the that derivatives and
integrals be evaluated numerically rather than from
the Laplace inversion solution when the Roumboutsos
and Stewart method is used.
Since the objective of this section was to
find a method to add wellbore storage to the
constant rate solutions for the infinite
conductivity and uniform flux vertically-fractured
well cases, we believe that the error analysis for
the homogeneous case verifies the use of the
Roumboutsos and Stewart method to include wellbore
storaae for these cases.
6s7
:
14 Type Curve Analysis Using the Pressure Integral Method SPE 18799

- Specifically, Eqns. B-5, B-II and B-14 to B-17 Combining Eqns, C-3 and C-5 gives
were used to generate the type curves for the
infinite conductivity and uniform flux fracture Xn 1
cases. The type curves for the infinite ~f(x)dx =; ---- (f(xi)xi - f(xi-l)xi-l) (C-6)
conductivity case are shown in Figs. 5-7. The type
curves for the uniform flux case are shown in Figs. ‘1 i-l bi+l
8-10. The results obtained for these cases
compared favorably with the results Alagoa, Bourdet For a piecewise log-linear functional
and Ayoub 12 generated using numerical simulation. approximation, the bi coefficient is evaluated as
follows

FOR ~ 1. Set up equations for the partition

~.~
log f(xi) E bi log Xi + log ai
Hornbe.ck26 gives a simple derivation of the .......(C-7)
trapezoidal rule which can be used to integrate 109 f(xi-l) = bi 109 Xi-l + lo9 ai
unevenly spaced data. This result is
2. Solve for b.
Xn in 1
jf(x) dx=- Z(xi-xi-l) (f(xi)+f(xi-l)) ..(c-l) lo9(Yi/Yi-1)
2 i=l bi = ....................(c-8)
‘1
lo9(xi/xi-1)
where

............. .....................(C-la) For the first partition (xl-xO), we can estimate bj

‘0=0 using the following strategies
f(xo) = o ............,...,...............(C-lb)
a. set bl = b
2
We develop a log space analog to the
will now
b. obtain bl from the first few points using
trapezoidal rule. This relation will integrate the least squares.
data assuming a piecewise log linear behavior of
the data. The logarithmic integration will more Or, we can just calculate the first partial sum,
accurately represent data which extends over using the trapezoidal rule rather than the log
11’
several log cycles, as well test data usually does. integration formula, Eq. c-6.
We will start this derivation by considering
the logarithmic or “pow$r law” function to
represent the piecewise nature of the data. This
function is given as

f(x) = axb .,,........................,.,,.(c-2)

Table 1
If we consider our data to be piecewise and we
intend to integrate piece by piece, we note that 10 Example
ReservoirProperties for the Bourdet,et al
Xn
~f(x) dx= : Ii Reservoirporosity,!$ 0.25 (fraction)
Reservoir net pay, h 107 ft.
i=l Reservoir permeability, k 10.78
‘1 ● md.
Skin factor, S + 7.7
n Wellbore radius, rw 0.29 ft.
‘i
Dimensionless Wellbore Storage
. z J f(x) ...................(C-3) Coefficient ,CD 879
i=l
‘i-1 Total Compress iblity, Ct 4.2 x 10-6 psia-l
Oil FVF, B. 1.06 RB/STB
or
oil viscosity,&o 2.5 Cp
Ii = jx’i(X) dx . .. .. .. ,. . .... .. .. ... . .. ...4)-4) Oii production rate, q 174 STB/D
Total production time, t 15.33 hr
P
‘i-1
* Permeability value is average of semilog and
:ombining Eqns. C-2 and C-4 gives convent io,ml type curve analysis.
+ Skin factor value is from convention’1 type
curve analysis.

Ii = ai ~x~b~x

‘i-1

1
=— (f(xi)xi - f(xi-l)xi-l) ..:......(C-s)
bi+l

...
 = 18799

II
.—---L--.-l-----
-= “’ 1
-i -~ T
s
ma mrnd fwr-4a01d emmazd SaeIUOT=UaTO
CUOT WJ.d bulaaol.aembwsa SC.
WJOICU.WTO

—-----F-=
I

&
 SRE 18799

-= -=

.
.

Ma
 i “’rrTTm *

1
/ ‘Dirl - 0’5

10●
WM - ‘ Fig. 9 - NOW Poi and Poirl TYPUcurve solut~on~ ‘or
Iim,cgeneous Reservoirs with a UnMomFlux Wrtical
Fi9. 10 - NCW PDi and PDi=2 TYWJ c.r.e *lvtiOns
Hcmwgenrnus
Reservoirs with a On ifom
fOr
FIM Vertical
Fracture and Nellbore storage Effects.
Fracture ana Nellbore Storage Effects.

10‘

,.4
~.
“. :. :.s *. a 10” # ~n d w’ ~.
‘LfD
and ppid TW cUWe sol.tion~ ‘ox
‘Ig “ 11- ‘e”% Fig. 12 - New pDirl Type Curve f-al.tiona for ltomgemaus
Imm09enemaReservoirs with a Finite Conductivity Neservoira with a Finite Conductivity Vertical
Verf ical Fracture.
 !

‘“l---= %
0.1
Q93- 0.5

~;
1.0
3.0
5.Q

\
030- ;:
lti
500 10
“fimice
,, Om -

‘k
‘s
‘m “-q .—

on

,, ,,
o.m
\

0,ss
r !

m$-.”.
I J
10-2
1
I ,,,, r ,,,,,, r , 8,,,,, I t ,,,,,, ,
10-1
I❑3
1 10 Id
‘LfD
Fig. 13 - New pDi=2
TYP@ CUrW sO1ut ions for Homogeneous
Fig. 14 - Type Curve Match of p
Reservoirs with a Finite Conductivity vertical f’JZPD Data with 5 Percent
Fracture Random Logarithmic Srr% {Homogeneous RemxvOLr,
cDe’5-,03,

3 — Data curve
la
— Data Curve
‘-- TyQe
Curve
‘-- Wpe Curve 1
~z 1:
&
&
8
u
~s ,e-l

S*+ , ,,,,, r , , ,,4,,, , , ,,,,,, , , rn’q- I , , ,,,,,,

I
la+ Ie-z , , t,,,,,
1 la 162 103 , ,,, ,,,, , ,,, ,,,, ,
1
Id 1 la d ma
‘D/cD
riq<15 - Typa Cwxe Match of
pDid Calculated Usin.q Eq. 7 for ‘ig, 16 - * cur= Mtch of PDid Calculated usin9 Eq. 7e
for PD Data with S percent Random LcqarithMic Error
pD Data with 5 percent IWmdofr,Logarithmic Err.az

(Honwgeneovs Reservoir, CDe2s-103).

Uk+uageneous Resez.mxr, C~=ZS-103).
 = 18799

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.
0
.
.
ia 7 Ym
~mti”: g ?m
.
cuOTxwn.3 6uwJ01d aanceeid ssetuovuma

‘m
.

m
“

J=’.
.
.

7a
.

..
lull,,, * 1,,,,, , t 1,,,,, , e * 1 ~‘la
m , l“’’I’’’’ 1’’’’ 1’’”1 &
.
7
.:
‘?m Tm
y- z!
m~--~
.