M. Onur PET467E-Analysis of Well Pressure Tests 2008 Spring/T Handout No.

28.02.2008

Subject: Derivation of continuity and diffusivity equations in radial coordinate system.

Consider a horizontal cylindrical reservoir with height h and assume that we have flow only in the radial direction, r, as its cross-sectional view shown in Fig. 1. Using conservation of mass over the control volume shown in Fig. 1, derive the continuity equation, which will describe flow in the radial direction. Fluid velocity in the r-direction is vr [RB/(ft2-day)] and density of fluid is . Use field units. Do not consider source/sink term in the continuity equation. Then derive the diffusivity equation for slightly compressible fluid of constant viscosity and homogeneous reservoir in terms of pressure replacing the velocity in continuity equation by Darcys equations and using the assumptions of slightly compressible fluid and homogeneous reservoir.
Control volume r-direction

r-direction

r-r/2

r + r/2

Fig. 1. Cross-sectional view of cylindrical reservoir. Solution 1: We will perform mass balance on the control volume shown in Figure 1 by considering flow only in the r (or radial) direction. Recall that mass balance can be expressed as

massin massout = massaccumulated

where mass in, mass out and accumulation terms are given by

(1.1)

massin = 5.615(v r A)r r / 2 t massout = 5.615(v r A)r + r / 2 t

and

(1.2) (1.3)

massaccumlated = [()t + t ()t ]Vb

(1.4)

In Eqs. 1.2 and 1.3, A term denotes the cross-sectional area in ft2 perpendicular to flow in the r-direction. It is clear from Fig. 1 is that this cross-sectional area is a function of r as r increases the cross-sectional area open to flow increases. Note that (A)r-r/2 will indicate the cross-sectional area at r-r/2. In addition, Vb is the bulk volume of the CV in ft3 shown in Fig.

1. Now, we will find the expressions for the cross-sectional areas at r-r/2 and r+r/2 and for the bulk volume Vb by taking into a consideration of the geometry of the control volume shown in Fig. 1. Because we have a cylinder, and flow in the r-direction will be perpendicular to the surface area of the cylinder, then the cross sectional areas:

Ar r / 2 = 2 ( r r / 2)h Ar + r / 2 = 2( r + r / 2)h
and the bulk volume is given by

(1.5) (1.6)

r r Vb = ( r + ) 2 ( r ) 2 h = 2rrh 2 2
Using Eqs. 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 in Eqs. 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 gives

(1.7)

massin = 5.615(2h )(v r r )r r / 2 t massout = 5.615(2h )(v r r )r + r / 2 t

and

(1.8) (1.9)

massaccumlated = 2rrh[()t + t ()t ]

Using Eqs. 1.8, 1.9 and 1.10 in Eq. 1.1 gives

(1.10)

5.615(2h )(v r r )r r / 2 t 5.615(2h )(v r r )r + r / 2 t = 2rrh[()t + t ()t ] (1.11)

Dividing both sides of Eq. 1.11 by 2 rrht and rearranging the resulting equation gives

5.615 [(v r r )r + r / 2 (v r r )r r / 2 ] [()t + t ()t ] = r r t

Now, taking the limits as r and t go to zero in Eq. 1.12, we obtain

(1.12)

[(vr r )r +r / 2 (vr r )rr / 2 ] = lim [()t +t ()t ] 5.615 lim r 0 t 0 r r t

Using the definition of derivative gives

(1.13)

5.615 (rv r ) () = r r t
or rearranging gives

(1.14)

1 (rv r ) 1 () = r r 5.615 t
which is the continuity equation in radial coordinates. Darcys equation is given by

(1.15)

v r = 1.127 10 3

k p . r

(1.16)

Using Eq. 1.16 in Eq. 1.15 gives

1 k p 1 () r = 3 r r r 6.33x10 t

(1.17)

As we have homogeneous permeability and constant viscosity, then Eq. 1.17 can be written as,

k 1 p 1 () r = 3 r r r 6.33x10 t

(1.18)

Now, we expand the time derivative in the right-hand side of Eq. 1.18 as we did in class to obtain (I skip details as exactly the same in the class notes) because density and porosity in general change with pressure and pressure change with time.

() p = ct . t t

(1.19)

Similarly, we do the same thing for the spatial derivative (i.e., derivative w.r.t r) in the lefthand side of Eq. 1.18 as we did exactly in class to obtain
2 p p p r = r + c f r , r r r r x

(1.20)

where cf is the fluid isothermal compressibility, which is assumed to be small and constant so that the second term in Eq. 1.20 can be neglected to obtain

p p r = r , r r r x
Using Eqs. 1.19 and 1.21 in Eq. 1.18 gives

(1.21)

k 1 p 1 p r = ct 3 r r r 6.33x10 t
or canceling density from both sides and rearranging gives

(1.22)

ct 1 p p . r = 3 r r r 6.33 x10 k t
which is radial diffusion equation.

(1.23)