Radial flow diffusivity equation

Basic assumptions:
reservoir
=> homogeneous
=> isotropic
=> horizontal of uniform thickness
=> permeability k = const
=> rock compressibility c = const
fluid
=> slightly compressible
=> viscosity = const
=> density = const
flow
=> single-phase
=> laminar
=> radial-symmetric flow geometry around the well
=> Darcy law applies
=> no gravity effects

Radial-symmetric flow geometry around the well:

cylindric coordinate system
linear wellbore (pressure drop)
infinite horizontal extent
limited vertical extent

Average reservoir pressure:

volume weighted average throughout the entire reservoir volume
radial-symmetric flow geometry around the well

 Radial flow diffusivity equation (general solution):

Hydraulic diffusivity:

Hydraulic transmissibility:

Radial flow diffusivity equation (constant terminal rate solution):

Dimensionless pressure:

Radial flow diffusivity equation ( approximate solution):

=> dimensionless solution:

=> dimensioned solution:

 skin
=> near wellbore region which has (hydraulic) properties, especially the permeability k, that
are different from those in the reservoir
skin factor s
=> numerical value used to analytically model the difference from the pressure drop
predicted by Darcy law due to skin
=> dimensionless factor calculated to determine the production efficiency of a well by
comparing actual conditions with theoretical or ideal conditions
s>0
=> indicates some damage or influences impairing well productivity
=> reasons
=> drilling mud plugging the perforations
=> clay damaged by fresh water
=> fines migration
=> scale / salt deposits
=> heavy crude deposits
=> asphaltene deposits
=> wax deposits
s=0
=> no damage
s<0
=> indicates enhanced well productivity
=> reasons
=> stimulation
=> natural fractures
=> hydraulic fracturing
=> matrix acidization
=> well slant
additional pressure drop caused by near wellbore damage
(according to Hurst and van Everdingen):

well performance (steady state and radial flow, slightly compressible fluid):

effective wellbore radius

Transient flow (non-steady state flow):

pressure and velocity decrease with time
occurs at an early state of production

Semi-steady state flow (pseudo-steady state flow):

the outer boundary of the well is a non-flow boundary
no flow takes place across the boundary
the pressure distribution in the near-wellbore region is almost steady state at any time
the pressure in the near-wellbore region decreases at a constant rate
occurs at the end of the late transient flow
pressure decline rate

Steady state flow:

open boundary with a constant pressure pe
open finite reservoir
fluid influx across the boundary compensates the withdrawn fluid
well is flowing at a constant rate
occurs at an advanced state of production
aquifer drive, gas cap drive, pressure maintenance operations (water injection)