Pressure-transient analysis for fractured wells producing at constant pressure

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/13629-PA· OSTI ID:6983360

Guppy, K H; Kumar, S; Kagawan, V D

Past solutions to many well-test problems considered the wells to be produced at a constant rate. It has become apparent that there are many cases in which constant-pressure production is more common. Gas wells, geothermal wells, and even oil wells are operated at constant pressure during most of their producing life. Constant-pressure well-test data for fractured wells are commonly analyzed using type-curve-matching techniques that may result in nonunique solutions. By the use of a semianalytic model, a set of correlations has been developed that reduces the nonuniqueness problem, as well as accounts for well-test data in which the well is produced at high rates. When applied to high-flow-rate wells, this technique uses the bilinear flow period to determine an apparent fracture conductivity for constant-pressure drawdown or buildup tests. These apparent values can be corrected to true conductivities by the use of correlations presented in this study. These relationships were derived through computer simulation of a wide range of possible situations. In summary, this paper presents for the first time a technique that analyzes buildup and drawdown data from wells produced at constant pressure with turbulent flow in the fracture. Two example applications, one for buildup and one for drawdown, are included to demonstrate the use of these techniques.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Southern California (US)
• OSTI ID: 6983360
• Journal Information: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Format. Eval.; (United States), Vol. 3:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
HYDRAULICS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
FLOW MODELS
FLOW RATE
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PRODUCTION
WELL PRESSURE
FLUID MECHANICS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
MECHANICS
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
030300 - Natural Gas- Drilling
Production
& Processing
150902 - Geothermal Engineering- Fluid Transmission