SPE

This is a preprint -- subject to correction.

SocIstu

of Petmieun

Engmers

SPE 28688
Decline Cuwe Analysis Using Type Cuwes--Analysis of Oil Well Production Data Using Material Balance Time:
Application to Field Cases
-., .-A A --:,.,. I -Am-.
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California,
by LE. Doublet: Texas A&MU.,P.K.Pande: Fha uil arm den,wa W,,,PC&y, . .. . .. .. . . ... . . .. tJNOCAL-Coastal
and T.A.Blasmgame,Texas A&MU.

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BRIEF SUMMARY
This paper presents rigorous methods to analyze and interpret
productionrate and pressuredatafromoil wellsusingtypecurves
to perform decline curve analysis. These methodsare shownto
yield excellent results for both the variable rate and variable
bottomholepressurecases, withoutregardto the structureof the
reservoir (shape and size), or the reservoir drive mechanisms.
Remits of theseanalysesincludethefoilowing:
Reaewoirpmpe!ti~
- Skin factorfornearwelldamageor sdmtdation,s
- Formationpermeability,k
. In-placefluidvolumes:
- Originaloil-in-place,N
- Movableoil at currentconditions,NP,mv
- Reservoirdrainagearea,A
We have thoroughly verified these analyses and interpretation
methodsusing both syntheticdata and numerousfieldexamples.
In addition, we provide illustrativeexamplesto demonstratethe
ease of analysisand interpretation,as well as to orientthe reader
as to what am the benefitsof rigorousdeclinecum analysis.
INTRODUCTION
The importanceof performingaccurateanalysisandinterpretation
of reservoir behavior using only rate and pressure data as a
function of time simply can not be overemphasized. In most
cases, these will be the only data available in any significant
quantity,especiallyforolderwelisandmsrginsilyeconomicwells
where both the quantity and quality of ~ types of data are
iimited. The theoretics applicationof this techniqueis for newer
wells, at pressuresabovethe bubblepoitt~aithoughweshowthat
the methodsdescribedherecan be accuratelyappliedat any time
duringthe depletionhistoryof a psrtictdarweIi.
The developmentof modemdeciinecurveansiysisbeganin 1944
whenA@ pubiisheda comprehensivereviewof previousefforts
for the graphicsi anaiysisof productiondeclinebehavior. In that
work, Arps developeda family of functionalrelationsbasedon
the hyperbolicdeclinemodelforthe analysisof flowrate&ts.

Arps efforts provided a variety of results; including the

exponential,hyperbolic,and harmonicrate declinerelationsthat
we use today for empirical decline curve analysis. Due to the
simplicity and consistencyof this empiricalapproach,the Arps
reistionsremaina benchmarkin the industryfor the analysisand
interpretationof productiondata.
The utility of the Arps relations is the applicability of the
hyperbolicfamilyof curvesto modela widevarietyof production
characteristics.In addition,the simplifki ansiysisof exponential
and hyperbolic data trends (such as the graphical techniques
providedby Nind2)maintainthepopularityof theArpsrelations.
The applicationof the A@ relationstypicallyincludesa semilog
plot of rate versus time where the hyperboliccasesyield gently
decliningcurveswhichhavethestraight-line,exponentialdecline
case as a lower limiL Nindz provides the development and
illustrationof plottingfunctionsfor the grsphicsisnsiysisof rate
data for the general hyperbolic decline case as well as the
exponentialdeclinecase.
Anotherattractionof the Arpsrelationsis theirusein graphicalas
well as functionalextrapolation. Manyanalystsrely uniquelyon
the Arps relations for performance predictions, often without
realizingtheempiricalnatmeof suchextrapolations.In thiswork
we will use exponential decline case as a basis for estimating
movableoil at currentconditions,NP,MV We will demonstrate
that this approachcan be derivedtheoreticallyfor the case of a
weilproducedat a constantbottomholeflowingpressure.Wewill
also show that this approach works for wells which are not
producedat suchrestrictiveconditions.
The Arps relations for flow rate and cumulativeproductionare
givenas foilows
Arps Flow Rate Relations
*oncnriak (H)

~t) =

Hyperbalk (tkkl)

~t] =

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...(1)

qi

[l+bD#]l/b
Harmonic: (b=l)

Referencesandiiiustrsdonsat endof paper

~ieXp(-D#)

g(f) = &

.....................(2)

.. . ... . . .... .. . .. . . .... ...(3)

DeclhteCurveAnalYsisUsingType CmwS-AIIdysiS of OdWell~uction

Applicationto Fiild Cases

Arps Cumulative Production Relations

or in terms of q@
Np(t) = ~[qi-q(t~ ...................(6)
~yperbofic:(*1)

N~t) =

qi [] - (l+bDit)l-l/b].. .(7)
(1-b)Di
or in termsof q(t)

Harmonic (b=l)

N~t) =

~til+D$)

..................(9)

or in tmns of q(r)

In additionto presentingthese fundamentalmlationa,A@ later

introduced methods for the extrapolation of rate-time data to
estimateprimaryoil reservesusingtheexponentialandhyperbolic
declinecunfemodels.
The use of typecurves(dimensionlessor normalimdflow rate
solutionsplottedon a scaledgraph)for analysisof productiondata
was introduced to the petroleumindustryin the late 1960sand
early 1970s.4$ In 1980 (preprint 1973)Fetkovichsintroduced
the most significant developmentin the type curvematchingof
production data-tie creation of a unified analytical solution
(exponentialdecline)for a wellproducedat a constantbottomhole
ee.m.a ABM%O
flow conditions.
ph..
w..-.~ Imnplwwdomkiated
. . . ., -.---Further, Fetkovichs plotted his unified exponential decline
solutionsimultaneouslywith the A@ hyperbolicdeclinestems,
which are assumed to account for non-idealreservoirbehavior
(changes in mobility, heterogeneous reservoir features, and
reservoirlayering). The final result is the so-calledFetkovich
type curve, which provides for the simultaneous analysis of
production data during transient and boundary-dominatedflow
conditions. While the Fetkovichdeclinecurveis an extraordinary
tool for reservoir engineering, this approach is not without
limitations.
A particularlimitationarises in the analysisand interpretationof
productiondata which exhibit significantvariationsin wellbore
presaum, as well as the effects of periodic shut-ins and other
constraintsimposedby opimuionalconsiderations.To ita crectki
the Fetkovichdeclinecurveis the mostpowerfultoolavailablefor
the analysisof productiondata,as demonstratedin refs.6-10. In
this ligh~ our presentefforts serve only to extend the utilityand
applicabilityof this typecurveanalysisapproach.
The initialeffort to incorporaterateand pressurechangesintothe
analysis and intapretation of productiondata was introducedin
1986 by Blasingame and Lce.11 This work provides analysis
methods for determining drainage area size and shape from
variable-rateproductiondatain closedreservoirsusinga Cartesian
plot baaedon the followingrelation

$= m-+bP,,
where Ap
.=&

.. . . .. . . .. . . ... .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . ... . .. . . .. . . .. .. .. (11)

= pi - pwp

~d

............................................................(12)

b,.,=141.2#&(-$-&-]

SPE 2t$bW

N~q ..........................................................(l4)
The analysismethodderivedfrom Eq. 11was observedto work
beat when rate changes were small, that is, when the transients
inducedby rate changesdo not obscurethe boundary-dominated
flowbehaviorfor long periodsof time. Eq. 11wasderivedusing
..
--...1.12
A.
A~ tqm.t
=Ie
C&S, and verified by
me. -,..UmLZKCMML
- s ~4 w, -0..comparison to the Muskatls solution for a bounded circular
reservoirand by the analysisof simulatedwellperformancedata.
Continuing in a chronological fashion, we note that in 1987
Fetkovich,et ap presenteda seriesof fieldcasestudiesevaluated
by declinecurveanalysisusingtypecum%. In additionto several
excellent field examples, the authora also gave commentary
regardingthe analysisand intmpretationof productiondatausing
declinetypecurves.
One of the majorconclusionsof the Fetkovich,et af7 study was
LI=o~p~efi LML
MCantdvsis of transientproduction ddta using
the Arps hyperbolic equatk
~ invalid. Transientflow theory
states that the flow rate profile should be concaveup, and as a
declining function, the Arps stems are concave down--which
clearly poses an inconsistency in both the analysis and
interpretationof transientflow data. A curiousdevelopmentwas
the emergence in the industry of a rule-of-thumbduring the
1970aand 1980swhere it was suggestedthat an Arps stem of
b>l should be used for the analysia of transient flow data.
However, from the previous arguments it is obvious that this
roleis withoutfoundationand will ultimatelyleadto erroneous
resultsas WMas incorrectinterpretations.
Put in a practical sense, transient flow data (productiondata
functionswhichare concaveup) shouldneverbe usedto estimate
resmoir volume. Specifically, Fetkovich, et al suggest that
m.servoirvolumesand volume-relatedflowcharacteristicsshould
not be estimated using declinecurve analysisk.fore boundary~- :-. -~ fIfiw
fidlv exis~q
(nrnductiondata exhibit a concave
uVmAiJaLu
... . .-..=
--.&r...
downwardsbehavior).
In 1991 Blasingame, et ap expanded on the earlier work of
McCray~ to develop a time function that would transform
productiondata for systems exhibitingvariablerate or pressure
dropperformanceintoan quivalent systemproducedat a constant
bottomholepressure. The motivationof this effortwas to create
an equivalent constant pressure analysis formulation for the
anrdyaisof variable-ratehsriablepressuredrop productiondata.
Unfortunately,the solutionprovidedby Blasingame,et al, while
theoreticallyconsistent is somewhatdifficultto applybecausethe
approachappearsto bevety sensitiveto ematicchangesin rateand
pressure.
However,the B1aaingame,et aP study providedboth insightand
motivation for the development of a more robust and less
complicated approach to analyze and interpret variableratehariable pressure drop production data, which ultimately
resultedin our presentefforts.
McCray$proposedthe followingrelationas a definitionforthe
quivalent constantpressuretime:tcp
;=

N~t) = ~[1 -exd-Dit~ . .. .. . .. . . ...(5)

Exponential: (b=O)

DataUsingMaterialBalanceTime:

. .. .. . ... . . . . .. .. . . .. .. . .. (13)

andthe defiition of materialbalancetimeis givenby

q&

NJ)=
d. .......................................... (15)
b~t) /[1
o Add
McCrayprovideda recursive-typetrapezoidalmle formulationto
solve Eq. 5 for tcp In addition, Blaaingame,et aP provideda
seriesof derivativefonmdationsfor computingrcp As WSCtiVf2
as the concept of an equivalent constant pressuremodel is, the
computational aspects of its application are unsatisfactory,
espccirdtyforapplicationto fielddatawitherraticvariationsin the
rateand bottomholepressureprofiles.
The utility of the tc concept is aignificanlgiven the use of the
Fetkovich6Wlquid&OW)and Carter14Js(gas flow) type curves
for analysis of production data, and given tlds potential, we

L.E. DoybleLP.K. Pande,T.J. McCollum.@d T.~ Bl~ingme

SPE 28688

recommend that the equivalent constant pressure concept be

consideredfor fmher study.
In 1993,Palacio and Blasingame10developeda solutionfor the
generalcaseof variableratdvariablepressuredropforthe flowof
either single-phaseliquid or gas. These authorsshowedthat for
~ny ~a,ti~cu!ar~rodu~ticn hismry using the pressure drop
normalized flow rate function and the material balance time
function will yield a harmonic rate decline (b=l stem on a
Fetkovichdeclinecurve)for liquidflow.
The authors derived this method rigorously from the
pseudosteady-state (or boundary-dominated)flow equation as
follows. RecaUingthe paeudosteady-stateflowequation,Eq. 11,
andthedefinitionof thematerialbalancetime,r, @q. 14)we have

m-+bP,,

~=

where Ap = pi

wells in order to estimate reservoir voiuttiES art~ fiw

characteristics.We focuson usingdata that operatorsacquireas
part of normalfield operations(e.g.,productionra~s froms~es
tickets and pressuresfrom permanentsurfaceand/orbouomhole
gauges). This approach eliminates the loss of productionthat
occurs when wells are shut in for pressuretransienttesting.~d
-*....:..-A
:-*-m..a*.;nm-f .*I *Afi-ld
providesSniuysls
mm lIlbG1pHdA411 v, well UA.u . . . . . pe.tima!m
at little or no cost to the operator. In addition,the methodswe
introducein this paper are not constrainedby the requirementof
cerwm: rata w !mttornho!epresmes, as is the case for the
previouslypubtishedmethods.
Awe mentionedearlier,the analysismethodsthatwe presentin
this workprovideestimatesof the following:

. . . ... . . .. . . ... ... . ... .. .. .. ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. (11)

- pwf

~d

Reservoir prOJ)Wtit?S

[m-+
bps]

. . . .. . . .. . .. .. ... . .... . ... ... .. .. .. .. .. . .. . ... . .. (16)

Rearranging.thisresultgives,

=F&i

bpss

Ap

or reducingto shorthandnotationwe have

_4k=-

[1+Dit]

(q/Ap)inr

... . .. . . ... . ... . . ... . .. . .. .. .. ... . .. . ... .. .. (17)

andthe Di term is definedas

= 7.9545 .10-2

k
41c+i

....................(19)

%%%

Makingthe finalreductionof Eq. 17we have

...................................................(20)
q~=FkJ

wherethe definitionsof; and q~ for thiscasearegivenby

;~=Di;

. . . .. . . .. . ... . .. . ... . . ... . ... . .. . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. ... ..(2l)

and
-\ A-

W=(q;:xnt

.. .. . . . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . ... . ... . .. .. .. .. ... ... . .... . . (22)

Recallingthe Arpsharmonicdeclinerelation(b=l) as definedby

Fetkovichc(andgivenas Eq.B-3 in AppendixB) wehave

&

METHODS FOR THE ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF PRODUCTION DATA

Harmonic Decline Case: General Approach for
Variable-Rate/Vadable Pressure Drop Production Data
As we discussedin the Introduction,the rigoroussolutionforany
rate and pressureschedulefor the caseof a wellproducingunder
boundary-dominatedflowconditionsis givenby Eq. 16. Recalling Eq. 16we have
4L.~

wherethe(q/@)inrtermis definedss

Di = &
bp~~

Skinfactorfornearwelldamageor stimulation,s
. Formationpermeability,k
In-placefluidvolumes
- Origiiai r2i!4n=p!ace,
N
. Movableoil at cunentconditions,Np,tMV
- Reservoirdrainagearea,A

i= Nplq . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. ... .... . ... . .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. . [M)

Takingthe reciprocalof Eq. 11gives
%.~
@

..................................................(23)

Cqwing Eos. 20 and 23 we immediatelytecognizethat these

relauons are ~.
And further, if we consider the base
relationfor variable-ratehriable ptessuredrop performance,Eq.
16, we note ~at during boundary-dominatedflow q/Ap data
plotted versus r will exactly overlay the Arps b=l stem on the
Fetkovichdeclinecurve. This wasthe foundationof analysisfor
the workby Palacioand Blasingarne1as wellas the basisforour
effortsin this ptesentwork.
In the presentworkwe focuson the analysisandinterpretationof
production data (flow rates and bottomhole pressures) for oil

.................................................(16)
[W-+ bpss]

We recognize that Eq. 16 is a harmonictype of equation in

whichthe materialbalancetimefunction,;, is givenby Eq. 14
as
i= N~q . .. .. . ... . . .. . .. . ... . . .. . . .. . . .. . ... . ... . . .. .... . .. .. .. .. . (14)
As such, we simply plot the pressure drop normalized rate
function,q/Ap, versusmaterialbalancetime,~,on a scaledlog-log
plot and matchthesedata on the Fetkovich/McCraytypecurve,lo
with the boundary-dominatedflow data beingforcematched(by
definition) on the Arps b=l depletion stem. The type curve
matchingproceduresand the associatedanalysismethodologies
are discussedlaterin this tex~as wellas in AppendixC.
Fetkovich-McCray Decline Type Curve
The so calledFefkovich/McCray
typecurvewasfirstpresented
as a single entity in ref. 10, althoughcomponentsof this curve
werepresentedby Fetkovich6(1980,preprint1973)andMcCray8
(M.S. thesis 1990). The utility of the resulting Fetkovich/
McCraysolution is the ability to match flow rate functionsas
well as the flow rate integrai and integrai derivativefunctions
simultaneously. In addition, the integral functions provide
smoother data trends for clarity and ultimately, improved
matchingof dataandtypecutves.
Althoughboth Fetkovich6and McCraysprovidethedetailsof the
developmentof their respectivedeclinetype curves,we believe
that a unifying discussion is in order, particularlyfor readers
interestedin fmher developmentsof this type.
It is importantto mall that the analyticalstems(transientstems
and the exponentialdeclinecase [b=o stem]) on the Fetkovictd
McCraytypecurvel(or any declinetypecurveforthatmatter)
are solutions for a well producing at a constant bottomhole
flowingpmssun?. However,the methodologyindicatedby Eqs.
14 and 16indicatethat the Fetkovich/McCraytype curvecan be
used to analyze any type of production data, including data

DeclineCurveAnalysisUsingTypeCurves-Analysisof
OdWellproduction
DataUsingMateriatBalanceTime:
.. ...-.
.An____
Appltcauonto rlela uuses

exhibitingarbitrarychangeain rate and pressure,so long as the

boundary-dominatedflow data are forcematchedon the&=1
..:-~ .+.- -tn. mmmit diwu.ssions
considerthe
application
(&iiarmulIl&J awl,,. .., --....
-----------of the Fetkovictt/McCrsytypecurveonlyforcasesof radialflow,
--**--S-.----A.WGIIS
...-11 ..jph
in particular,verticaiweiii and vetticauy IrWUKU
w ~aell
exhibit radialflow. The Fetkovich/McCraytypecutve approach
wasrecentlyextendedto horizontalwellsas describedin ref. 16.
In order to be consistent with cument literature we use fie
Fetkovichsdefinitionsof the dimensionlessdeclinevariables(1LM
and qm) which are given below. The tnjfunction is given in
termsof dimensionlessvariablesas
t~=~
~tf)
........................................(24)
& [lnr@-j
Slldht t&?ltS

of ~

Vtititilf%

%%%2
ii~Vt?

.............................. (25)
tm= 0.00633~~
@@ [ln r~ - *]
In a similar fashion, the qm function is given in terms of
dimensionlessvariablesas
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (26)

qDrf=[~rcD-+]~D

andin termsof realvariableswe have

q~=141.2#$[hreD-~]
............................... (27)
a-fi~i*:~n. ..
:~ f$~i
term
A minor discrepancy in these ...,,~~..~
. .. . Llhts1/7
.W ., - .-- . .
should actually be 3/4 as noted by Ehlig-Economides and
Ramey.17 We maintainthe conventionof using 1/2ratherthan
3/4 for the purpose of type curve develo ments in order to be
compatiblewith existingliteratuy. But in facLthisdiscrepancy
rarely makes more than a few percent difference in the
interpretation,and is onlynotedherefor completeness.
The rate integratand rateintegralderivativefunctionsintroduced
by McCrays are given in dimensionless form below. The
dimensionlessrateintegralfunction,q~, is givenas
W
W=L
q~?) dr .............................(28)
WMi=
W()
~w

and the dimensionlessrate integralderivativefunction,q~,

~ptien~

..412(L=.

is

tm*

.............................. (29)
d In(m)
where Eq. 29 can be reducedto the followingresultas shownin
AppendixB
qw = qlmi-qDd ............................................... (30)
T. .*tiriitiOn.... we
*.
.7- i~trodu~
.- -- &e dimensionlessrate derivativefunction, q~, whichis definedas

qw=_J!mL=.tw$112
!Ji ...............................(31)
Unfortunately,we do not expectEq. 31 to be of muchuse in the
analysis of productiondata due to the volume of randomemor
found in productiondat&wheretheserandomerrorswfiIordybe
magnifiWbythe differentiationprocess.
In orderto developthe Fetkovich/McCraytypecurve,we require
valuesof the solutionfora wellproducedat a constantbottomhole
pressure, qD as a functionof dimensionlesstime, tD,which are
c~n COnve@ to r~ and qm Using Eqs. 24 and 26 respectively.
Ilmse q~@) valuescanbe obtainedfromtablesin vanEverdingen
and Hurstls or using numerical inversionlg of the Laplace
transform solution developedby Matthewsand Russell.~ fhe
Lrrptacetransformsolutionforconstantrateproductionfor a well
centeredin a boundedcimdar teservoiris givenby Matthewsand
Russell~ as

SPE 28688

However, we require the solution for a constant flowing

bottomhole pressure rather tttan a constant flowrate. We cart
pIIXSUrC Sohtion
from the
..-..:1..
ki.: th
~ulay ouw~.
-.e rn~~tant
- -.- hottomhcile
__.-..
constantmtesolutionusingthefollowingrelationin Lsplacespace
givenby van EvcrdingenandHurst.lg This resultis
~~u). LA
(33)
Uzpdu) ................................................
Once the q~t~) values are obtained from qdtD) values, the
associatedderivativeandintegralfunctionscanbecomputedusing
standard techniques, or these functions can be computed
simultaneously with the q~tm) values using the numerical
Laplacetransfotminversionatgorithm.lg
. .
A oinsl
m rig. i we preen: tiie W..e
.....- t%tknvich6
----- ---- Iyy curve, slOng
with the derivativefunction,q~, as definedby Eq. 31. We note
in Fig. 1 that the q~ stemsshowa dramaticcharacterizationof
the transferfromtransientto boundary-dominati flow,however,
as we suggestedbefore,we wouldnot expectthe q~ conceptto
be particularlyapplicabledue to random noise present in field
~~
Figure2 presentsthe Fetkovich/McCraytypecurvelowhereq~,
q~, and q~ are all plottedversus t~ on the type curvegrid.
Althoughthii plot appearssomewhatbusy,we believethat Fig. 2
provides all of the necessary functions for both rigorous and
empiricalana@sisof productiondata. Figure2 is usedthroughout
~tir pre=nt work for ~heanaiysis and interpretation of both
simulatedandfielddata.
ANALYSIS OF OIL PRODUCTION DATA USING
THE FETKOVICWMCCWY TYPE CURVES
A step-by-stepprocedurefor the use of the Fetkovich/hfcCray
type curve is given in AppendixC, and is abbreviatedin this
section for reference and use in applications. Our type curve
anaIysistechniqueprovidesmethodsto estimatethe original-oilin-placeand other volume-relatedproperties,as well as the flow
characteristicsof theresetvoir.
Our methodology is based on the use of the simple material
balancetimefunction,t, thatyieldsa harmonicdeclineforthecase
of liquid production,regardlessof therateand pressuteschedule.
We provide the following procedure for the analysis and
:......*A..
nr~nn
,,,~,PR_U,, .f .rn
~.wd--.. &@ us~.g &@ItC &p CUtWS.
.
1. ~
i=fV#q

. . . .. .. .. .. .. . ... . .. . . .. . . .. .. .. . ... . .. .. . ... ... . ... . ... ..(J4)

2. ~
Our approach in this study is to work with the pressure drop
nor@ized rate function, q/Ap, in order to be completely
.-* me.rneOrygivcit
--- --- -. -:..-.. L..
consMent wtui
uy c
~. 1L
~u. nli.
-v ...o~~~~ V#iii
followthis convenuonthroughoutthe text,includingcaseswhere
continuouslymeasumdbottomholepressuredataarenotavailable,
and we use the initial reservoirpressure,pi, as the normalizing
condition.The pressuredropnormalizedratefunctionis givenby
!q!Ap)= A

= . .. . . .. . ... .. . .. .. .. . ... . ... .. .. .. . .. .. . . (34)

(pi - Pwfl G
when We use Ap = pi - Pw, as a shorthand notation. The rate
integralfunctionis givenby
(q!l$)~=

~~~d~
.............................................(35)
tjo AP

and therateintegralderivativefunctionis givenby

4h!M!..i4!i!M.
. .. . . . ... . . . . .. . . .. .. . . .. . (36)

(q/Ap)~= - d ~j

di

L.E. DoubIettP.K.Pande,T.J. McCollum,andT.A. Blasingame

SPE 28688

The three plotting functions (Eqs. 34-36) are computed and

plottedversus the materialbalancetime, t, then matchedon the
Fetkovich/McCray10
typecurve,takingcare to forcematchthe
boundary-dominated portion of the data onto the Arps b= 1
(harmonic decline) stem. The force matchingof boundarydominatedflow data is requiredby theoryand providesthe best
possibleestimateof oil-in-place,N.
3. ~-in-pb
Estimating the reservoir volume or oil-in-place,N, from type
CtlrVS
SnSiysis~ti
thStWe.miiltt?
ihediShiitttiSOff~~id ij~
(givenby Eqs. 25 and 27) to peld a matchpomtwresultm terms
of volume. Equatingand isolatingterms in Eqs. 25 and 27, we
obtainthefollowingrelation

(9dMP(@hP=W(q@f
@(h...................
(37)
SolvingEq. 37 for the oil-in-place,N, weobtain

N.di.k!!@k
%
(nAJIP

. . . . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (38)

(9dfP

In orderto solvefor the pseudosteady-stateconstan~b ~, we will

use the generalized definition of q~ given by t q. C-5 in
AppendixC. RecallingEq.C-5 we have

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF LONGTERM PRODUCTION DATA

In this sectionwe presentthe analysesand interpretationsof the
simulatedand field data cases that we consideredin this study.
Our goalis to be ableto analyzecasesfor whichdatais plentiful,
but alsoto be ableto accuratelyestimatemovableoil volumesand
fluid flow characteristicswhen high quality productiondata is
scarce.
We suggest that our proposedmethodsfor the analysisof longterm productiondata are easily transferableto any operator,in
particular, operators that iacicthe abiiity to perform periodic
pressuretransienttestsor long-termproductiontests.
We presentas completean analysisand interpretationas ssible
for each data case. We are able to reducethe adverse2 fectsof
productionanomaliesthat occurduringthe life of a well, andwe
obtained unique type curve matches using productionrate and
pressure functions, material balance time, and the Fetkovich/
McCrsylotypecurve. Theseproductionratefunctionsare
. pressuredropnormalizedme function,(q/Ap),
. m~ in@@ function,(q/AP)i,~d

rateintegralderivativefunction,(q/Ap)~.

This processresultsin excellentestimatesof originalandmovable

We note that Eqs. 27 and 39 arc equivalent,but Eq. 27 is strictly

valid only for the case of a well centeredin a boundedcirctdsr
reservoir and Eq. W is vaiid for a generai reservoir/weii
CO~lgWStiOZI Using tie appropriak Shapf3 factor,CA.
Recallingthe definitionof bpss, Eq. 13,we have

=142W%%I

. .. . .. . .. . .. .... . . ... . .. .. (13)

Combining and solving Eqs. 13 and 39 for bPsSwe obtain the

followingmatchpointrelation

bp,3.& ..................................................(40)
. .
4. ~
The relations given below are used to estimate volumetricattd
flow characteristicsof the reservoir based on the results of the
typecurvematchandtheavaiiablewelldata.
ReservoirDrainageArea:
A = 5.6148 ~
.. . . . .. . ... . . .. . . . .. .. .. . . .. .. . ... . ... .. . (41)
& (l-~wirr)
ReservoirDrainage Radiux
re =

oil volumes,as well as good estimatesof pmneability and akin

factor. The formationflowcharacteristicscan be calculatedwith
muchgreateraccuracyand confidenceif we haveaccurateesrlytime(transient)data.
Whenthe typecurvematchon eithera transientor depletionstem
is indeterminate,anomaliesin theproductiondatacanbe removed
by reinitirdizingthe data paata particularanomaly. Examplesof
such snomalka are recompletion, mechanicalfailures,longterm shut-ins,and fluctuationsin flow rate and pressureat early
timesin thelifeof thewell.
Whendatareinitializationis requireddue to suchanomrdiesin the
productiondata, the cumulativeoil producedremainsconstan~
regardlessof reinitislization.However,the reinitializationproccas
requireathat we accou: for priorproductionin the calculationof
materialbalancetime, t. This is accomplishedby computingi
baaedon the ~otslcumulativeproductionand currentrates, then
resealingthe I data to yield r =0 at the first data point. This is a
simple procedureand can be easily implementedwith a small
computerprogramor spreadsheetapplicationmodule.
Data Preparation and Analysis Procedure
We now provide the procedures that we use to interpret and
analyzeproductiondata. Theseproceduresare
1. Verificationof pertinentrock, fluid, and completiondata
usingavailablefieldrecordsand fluidpropertycorrelations.
Thecriticaldatatequiredforouranalysisinclude

. .. . . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. . . ... .. . . .. . . ... . ... . ... ..(42)

P
Effective ;ellbore Radius
Totalcompre.%sibility
Porosity
rm= &
(43)
Fluidviscosity
. NetPayInterval
r& """""
"""""
"""""""""""""'""""""""""""""""""""""""""'"""'""""
FormationPermeability
011formationvolumefactor
. Wellboteradius

~=1+p[*]~:&]

....................(44)

or combiningI@. 40 and44 wehave

~=141.2~~[-]1~1
........................... (44)
SkinFacto~
s = - ln(~) . . . .. . .. .. . .. . . .. . .. .. .. . ... . . .. . . .. . .. .. ... ... . . .. . ... (45)

IrnxhtcibleWaterSaturation

2. Initialscreeningof fieldproductiondatausingsemilogand
log-logplots

Identifyerrorsor anomaliesin the productiondata

ham andannotatechangesin thecompletionpractices

Timeminitializationof theproductiondata

performintegralandintegralderivativedstasmoothing

3. Perform type curve analysis using the FetkovicMMcCray

decline type curve to determine the time and rate match

DeclineCurveAnalysisUsingType--Analysis
of OilWellproductionDataUsingMaterialBshnce Time:
Applicationto Fieldcases

points. This typecurvematchingpmceaswasaccomplished

using a commercialsoftware graphics package.zl These
matchpointsare thenusedto estimatethefollowing
Oil-in-place,N
. Paeudosteady-stateflOWconstsnttbpss
T~ent
stemmatch,rm
These results are then used to estimatereservoirdrainage
area formationpermeability,andthenear-wellskinfactor.
4. To estimatethe movableoil, Np,mov, at cu~nt producing
conditionswe usc thefollowing

Smctlyrigorousapproach (requiresPWIdI@

Plot calculated average pressure, ~cal=Pw~+ @Ps,s.

versuscumulativeoil production,Np, md exmpola~ to
Fca@

Sem--analyticalapproach:

Plot (q/Ap) versus cumulativeoil production,Np. and

extmpolateto (q/Ap)=O

Analytical approach-constant bottomholepressure ca.w

Plot the flow rate, q, versus cumulativeoil production,

NP, and extrapolateto q=o. This methodis used when

bottomholepressuredataarenot available.
For a complete treatment of the proceduresused for the
estimationof movableoil pleasereferto AppendixA.
Simulated Data Cases
We used a 2-D, radial, single-phaseblackoil simulatorwith 30
geometricallyspacedgridsblocksto modelwellperformancein a
single-layerreservoirwithhomogeneousandisotropicpropmies.
These cases are used for vetilcation of our type curve analysis
and interpretationmethods. A constantbottomholeprt%surecase
was used as a benchmark anda secondcasewithmultiplerateand
pressurechanges(includingshut-ina)was generatedto ver@ the
variable-ratdpreasutedropperformanceof ourapproach.
The analysismethodwas verifiedusingsimulateddatacaseswith
a wide range of permeabtity, and numerouschangesin rate and
bottomholepmasure. Agreementbetweensimulatedperformance
and the results of decline curve analysis were checked for
permeabilitieaof 1, 10, and 100md. We presentthe analysisof
simulatedperformancefor thefollowingproductionhistories

Drainageradius,re
Net pay thickness,h
Porosity,#(fraction)
~ucible watersaturation,Swirr
OngmaInommalwellspacing
Formationpermeability,k
Original-oil-in-place,
N
FluidProperties:
Oit formationvolumefactor,B

Oil viscosity,p
Totalcompressibility,q

SPE 28688

= 744.7 f[
= 10ft

= 0.20
= 0.00
= 40 acres
=lmd
= 564,210STB
= 1.1RB/STB
= l.ocp
= 2O.OX1O-6
psi-l

ProductionParameter

= 4000 psia
InitialmSCrVOir
pESSUrC, pi
Curve~
The semilog and log-log productionplots, togetherwith the rate
functionplots are shownfor the two simulatedcasesin Figs.3-8.
The rate function, (qhp). rate integml function.(@p)i, ad fsE
integralderivativefunction,(qhp)ti are plotted versusmaterial
balancetime,~,on the FetkovichtMcCraytypecurveas shownon
Fig. 9 (constantpressurecase)andFig. 10(variable-rate/pressure
case). The boundary-dominatedportionof the ratefunctionsare
forcematchedon the 6=1 (harmonic)declinestemas dictatedby
theory for the use of materialbalancetime, and the appropriate
match points are taken. The dimensionless drainage radius
matchingparameter,r~, is estimated fromthepositionof thedata
on the transientflowtypecurvestems. me r~ parameteris then
usedto estimateformationpermeabilityandakmfactor.
We obtainedexcellenttype curvematcheson both the transient
stems(forearly-timedata)as well as the depletionstems(forlate
time or boundarydominatedflowdata),as shownon Figs. 9 and
10. The drainage area, total and movable oil volumes,
permeability, and skin factor estimated by type curve analysis
exactly matched the input data to the simulator,verifyingour
approachfor bothcases.
Type Curve Match FetkovichlMcCray Type Curve (Radial
Flowin a BoundedReservoir).
~
ConstantBottomholePressure@lg.9)
MatchingParamettxr~ = 3000(est.)
[tQ.&p = 1.0
[iMP = 1270.6days

[4*P

= 1.0

MAPIMP = 0.00888 s~~/Psi

Cmigbia:-i2Wn-Haee:

N.dhd@d!&
Verkble

pW.with

multipleshut-ins

vukbk

llm.o

15.0

1000

vuiabk

2C0.O
210.0
310.0
410.0
6rn:o

varkbk
23CQ
1300
vukble
2000
700
Varkbti
1000
300
200
100
100

O.olml

520.0
620.0
630.0
720.0
Iwo.o
2m3.o
4000.O

0.0
vukbk

.0.0
vukbk
vukbk
6.0
vukbk
vuiebk
vukbk
verieble

The pertinent reservoir, rock, and fluid properties for these

vcsifkationrunsam summarizedin thetablebelow.
Reserwir Properhe.c
Wellboreradha, rw

= 0.25 ft

.. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (38)

CtMMP (QM)MP
N = (1270.6days)(O.00888STB/D/psi)= Sa Zlo Sm
*
20x 104 psil

Resemoir DrainageArea:
A .5.6148

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . (41)

@l(l%!iwi~)

~ = (s.6148 ft3/RB)[564,210STB)(l.1 RBNTB)

(0.20)(10ft)(l -o)
A = (1,742359 ft~(l acn#43560ft? = 40.0 acres
ReservoirDrainage Radius
re=

~ . .. . . .. . . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . ... . . .. ... . . ... .... .. .. . ... .. (42)

re = ~(1,742,359 ft2)/~= 744.7ft

Effective Wellbore Radiur:

r~*
~e

r~

. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . ..(43)

= 0.2482 ft

FormationPermeability

~=ldl.+~~[~]~:~] ....................(44.
k= 706 (1.0 cp)(l.1 RB/#?B)

(loft)

In

L.E. Doublet,P.K. Pande,T.J. McCollum,andT.A. Blasingame

SPE 28688

(4)(1,742,359ft2)

(ow888) = ~~d
(1) 1
][
[ (1.781)(31.62)(0.2482ft)2

SkinFacttx
s = - lj~)

.. ... .. .. . ... . .. . . .. . ... . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . ... ... . .. .. ... (45)

1.u2wL\
s OO.
-t ().25 )
Since most weiis are not iisiialiy prorhdcedat 2 constant
bottomhole pressure indefinitely, we developed our second
verification case with multiple rate and pressure changes
(includingshut-ins). This case morecloselymodelsactualfield
performanceand shouldbeconsideredrepresentativeof the types
of production histories for which our methodologies were
developed.
_
v~~h!e B~ttomho!ehum
with
MultipleShut-ins(Fig. 10)
MatchingParatnetecr~ = 3000(esL)
[t&p
= 1.0
[~p = 1270.6days
[4LnlMP= 1.0 [q/@~p = 0.00888S-fB/D/pal

---

Curve~
Tlten%wdta
forthesecondcasearecalculatedsimilarly
N = 564,210STB
A = 40.0 acres
re = 744.7 ft
rwa = 0.2482 ft
k = l.Omd
s = 0.0
~
(Figs.11-16)
P1OLSof calculatedaveragepressure,~d, normalizeddaiiy rate,
(q/Ap),and daily rate, q, versuscumulativeproduction,NP, were
constructedto estimatethe movableoil volume,NP,mov Extrapolationof theplotteddatato theN axisinterceptyieldsmovable
volumesof between46 and47 M( TB for both verificationcases.
The simulated estimate for movable oil was slightly less
(approximately45 MSTB).
Theseextrapolatedvaluesrepresentthe movableoil volumeat the
time whenall reservoirenergyhas beendepleted.Thesevolumes
are usually alightlyhigherthan the actualfieldvalueof movable
oil due to the practicalandeconomicinabilityto producea wellto
such a low pressurelevel.
Whenbottomholepressuresare available,the~d or (q/Ap) plots
should be used to estimate NP,mow Even without bottomhole
pressure data, the plot of q versusNP has been shown to yield
accurateeatitnatesof NP,moW
Np,mov

=45.0

Np,mov

=46.0

MSTB(simulation)
-47.0 MSTB(movableoil plots)

Recovery Factor = ~~~o\~B

,
.

100) = 8.33%.

Iscw.
Thesimulatedcasesprovidean excellenttest for theutilityof the
typecurveanalysismethod.The resultsof thetypecurveanalysis
and materialbalanceanalysisare essentiallythe sameas the data
inputto the simulator. Ourmethodwasahownto workwellfora
varietyof producingscenariosinvolvingboth variablerates and
variable bottomhole pressures, which gives us confidence in
applyingthesemethodsto fielddatacases.
Field Data Cases
Thisworkincludesfieldcasesfromthe followingareas:
kW2ti9n
&elY&Li.tbJ@
WestTexas
Carbonate(Dolomite)
Carbonate(Chalk)
SouthCentralTexas AustinChalk
WestTexas
Sprdxrry
clastic (TurWtite)
OffshoreQdifornia LowerRepetto Clastic(TttrMdite)
-.1116~-....t:fi,
.-d ~,tsi;w nf nrnductinn data vties for mch of the
Uf WULJ -*U
field cases, and the analysis of each case presents unique
challenges. The types of fieiti production data rivaiiabk for
analysisirklude
Singlewelldailyrateandbottomholepressuredata
~---.,

y--

-----

--

. Singlewelldailyratedatawithsurfacetubhtgandcasing
pltXs~ data
Average monthly production data allocated on a tract
basis~th no boaomholepressuredata
For many of the wells we analyzed,the rock, fluid, and other
pertinent formation properties were unknown and had to be
estimated.lle fluidpropertieswereestimatedusingtheavailable
field data and from cordations providedin the fiuitiproperties
moduleof a commercialsoftwarepackage.n
We suggest that fluid properties be evaluated at an average
preysurewhenthereservoiris betweenthe initialandbubblepoint
pre.saurea,and at a pressurejust abovethe bubblepointwhenthe
reservoirpressureis belowthe bubblepoint. Ourexperiencehas
shownthat these practicesyield the best resultswhenusing this
approach.Due to thedtificuhyin obtainingrepresentativevalues
of certain fluid properties,we suggest reportinga value for the
Ncf product. This approachallows each individualanalyst to
supplytheirownestimatesof fluidpropenies,andto providetheir
owninterpretationof thecalculatedresults.
In addition to difficulties in obtaining representative fluid
f-r O report ~ Witt!2 fO~ the
thicknessproduc~kh, in place of permeabilitybecausewe lack
accurateestimatesof net pay tldcknessfor each of the ~aervoirs
analyzedin this work. However,to be consistent,we do present
penneabilitiesanddrainageatwtabaaedon estimatedvaluesof net
paythicknessforallcases.
The inability to complete all results with a high degree of
confidence is not related to the analysis or interpretation
methodologieswe present,but rather,to a lack of reservoirand
fluiddatawithwhichto completethesecalculations.We use this
opportunityto pointout theimportanceof earlyandcompletedata
collection.
North Robertson Unit (Ch2arfc@, Mm
Cc., TX
The North Robertson(Ckarfork) Field (Fig. 17)was developed
on a nominal 40 acre well spacing beginning in 1956. The
dominant reservoir producing mechanismfor the original 141
wellswassolutiongas drive. The initialreservoirpressurein the
LowerClearfork(LCF)wasestimatedto be 2800psia. As pan of
an infill drillingand waterfloodprojectbegunin 1987,116new
wells were drilled, reducing well spacing to 20 acres, and
resultingin uniform40 acre5-spotpatterns. Original-oil-in-place
was estimated to be approximately230 MMSTE,with primary
po prrte s,

we

a im

fx e k.

~~e ~biiit~-

DeclineCumeAnatysisUsingType Curvca-Anrdysis of OdWell Production DataUsingMaterialBalanceTime:

Applicationto FieldCases
production before unitization in 1987 of 20.5 MMSTB.
Individualwellprimaryrecoveryfactorsare low,rangingbetween
5 and 10pereent.
The Lower Clearfork is a shallow-shelf carbonate composed
primarilyof a massivedolomitesection with varyingdegreesof
anhydritecement. The geologicsetting at the time of deposition
andsubsequentdiagenesiscontributedto the heterogeneousnature
of the Clearforkformation,which is definedby extremelylarge
reservoirpayintends, poorvertiealand lateralcontinuity,and
lowporosity(8%on average)andpermeability(often< 1red).
The wells were initially completed in the Lower, Middle, and
UpperClearfork,at measured depthsof between6200 and 7200
feet. The majorityof the originalcompletionintenfalswerein the
LowerCk?arfork,which is consideredthe main pay. Additional
completions were added in the Upper Clearfork and Glorieta
duringworkoverprogramsin the 1970s.At the inceptionof the
waterflood project in 1987, many of the original wells were
converted to injeetors, and the remaining producerzwere recompletedup sauetum.
Although the reservoir may be difficult to characterize
geologically,the Clearforkdoes behavelike a materialbalance
~oir,
andthe deelinecurvetechniquesoutlinedptevioualyare
applicable.Likemanyolderfields,thereamlimiteddataavailable
for analysis. Much of the fluid properdes data, as well as the
completionintervalshave beenestimated. me oil flow ratedata
was allocatedto individualwells on a tract basis, and may be in
error, although the errorsare not likely to be significantbeeattse
the wells were tested for allocationon a semi-annualbasis. In
addition, there are no bottomholepressuredata availablefor the
North Robertson Unit and for analysis purposes we assumed
pti= O, which means that the rate function term, (q/Ap), was
XtUSlly (q/i).

.
.
Umt ~.
ReservoirPr9pcrties:
Wellboreradms,rW
=
Estimatedgrosspayinterval
=
Estimatednet pay thickness,h
=
Averageporosity,#(fraction)
=
Averageimeduciblewatersaturation,Swim =
Averageformationperrncabfity,k
<
original nominalwellspacing
=
Curnmtnominalwellspacing
=

.
0.31ft
1300ft
250ft
0.08
0.25
l.Omd
4oacr&
20 acres

SPE 28688

~
(Fig.22)
We nowconsiderthe typecurvematchingof the rate, (c@p), rate
integral,(q/@)i, and mte integral derivative,(q/Ap)i~,functions
plottedversusmaterialbalancetime,i, on the Fetkovich/McCray
typecurve. The threemtefunctionsare forcematchedon theArps
6=1 (harmonic)dedne stemas before,and the appropriatematch
pointsare obtained.
To obtainthebest typecurvematch,thedatawasreinitializedat a
timeof 549days. Afterreinitiali=tion,weobtaineda goodmatch
on the depletionstemsand a uniquematchon the transientstems
at an r~ value of 160. From the log-log productionplot (Fig.
20),we notethat the transientflowperiodhad notendedat a time
of 549 days,and the transientmatchshould be valid. Usingthis
dimensionless radius and the time and rate match points, we
calculatevaluesfor in-placeoil, drainagearea, permeability,and
skin.
Type Curve Match Fetkovich/McCmy Type Curve (Radial
Flowin a BoundedReservoir).
MatchingPararnetecr~ = 160
[~p = 3300days
[f*p
= 1.0
[9*P
= 1.0 [q/Apkp = 0.019STB/D/psi
: (Rg.22)
Curve~
Baaedon our estimatedvalues for total compressibilityand net
pay tidcknesswe find
Net = 62.7 STBlpsi
N = 3.13 MMSTB
A = 35.02 SCKeS
re = 696.9 ft
kh = 19.61 md-ft
k =0.08 md
s = -2.6
~
(Fig. 23)
Due to the lack of bottomholepressuredata, it is not possibleto
use ~mlplottedvemusNP to estimatemovableoil. Instead,we
plot the daily oil rate, q, versus NP to find the movable oil
volume. The extrapolationof this line to the NPaxis intercept
y&&d~p~eo~blevolumeat the timewhenall mswoir energyhas

Fluid Propemex

Avrxue oil fortnationvolumefactor,B

Avera~eoil viscosity,P
JnitiaItotalcompressibility,cri
Averagetotalcompressibility,cl
ProductionParameter
T.{*;.1
*c*rvnir
.,.AUUS
.. .- nrecwm?fLCm.
y...---- \- ,.r.D;

= 1.30RB/sTB
= 1.3ocp
= 12.oxlti psi-l
= 20.oxlo-~psi-i

= 2800psia
Flowingbottomholepressure,pwf
unknown
NRU Well No. 4202
Figure 18 shows the locationof NRU Well 4202 with respectto
its weUpattern and the unit. Tlds well was drilledin 1962,and
completedin both the LowerandUppmClearfork. Thewellwas
stimulatedwith 3,000gallonsof acid,and hydraulicallyfmctured
with 60,000gallonsof fracturingoil and 90,000poundsof 20/40
aand. The well initiallytested at 141 STBO/D. It had produced
approximately207 MSTB as of July 1994. Semilogand log-log
productionplots shownin Figs. 19and 20 indicatethattherewere
no significant rate fluctuationsduring primaryproduction. Itis
interestingto note the decreasein declinerate at approximately
5* days of producingtime. This stabilizingof the production
rate may be a responseto an adjacentwaterfloodprojeetthat was
initiated during the same time period. The responseto the unit
waterfloodcan be seen at approximately9,000days,whenthe oil
rate incmsed sharply.

Estimatesfor primaryandsecondaq movableoil were 190MSTB

and 130 MSTB, respectively. Our results indicate that
approximately10,000STB of primarymovableoil remainedin
the drainageareaof ihe wciiwhenthe waterfhd was initiatedin
1987. The analysisof the secondarydeelinetrendis difficultat
presentdue to a lack of aeeondaryproductionhistory. However,
using the preseni SLXOiid~rj ddh
fiit~ vw ~sti~.~i~ ih~!
approximately113MSTBof reeovembleoil remainedas of July
1994. Obviously,the actualmovableoil volumewill be lessthan
thevolumecalculatedif thewellwereproducedto zeromtc.
Np.mov= 190.0MSTB(primary)
NP,mov= 130.0MSTB(seconda~)
Recovery Factor =6.07% (primary)
= 4.15% (secondary)
The resultsof the type cutvematchandmaterialbalanceanalysis
yield realistic estimates for original-oil-in-place,movable oil,
drainage area, permeability, and skin factor. The primary
recoveryfactorcalculatedusingthe valueof original-oil-in-place
fromthe typecutvematchis typicalfor wellsin this tUdL
A pressure build-up teat was performedon well NRU 4202 in
1988,and the permeabilityto oil was estimatedto be 0.2 md,and

L.E. Doublet,P.ICPande,T.J. McCollum,and T.A. Blssingsme

SPE 28688

the calculated skin factor was -3.7. Both of these values are
consistentwith the valuesobtainedfromour analysis,althoughit
should be noted that the calculations for drainage area,
permeability,and skin factorare adverselyaffectedby thelackof
an accuratevalueforthe netpayinterval.
NRU Well No. 1004
Figure24 shows the locationof NRU Well 1004with respectto
its well pattern and the North Robertson Unit. The wetl was
drilled in 1960,and completedin the Lower,Middle,and Upper
Clearfork. It has producedapproximately135.5MSTBas of July
1994. The semilog and log-logproductionplots shownin Figs.
25 and 26 indicatethat there were severalrate variationsand an
extendedperiodof an apparentlyconstantproductionrateduring
primary depletion. Due to the fact that the productiondata is
allocatedmonthlyon a tractbasis,webelievethattheratebehavior
between5,500 and 10,000days may not representthe wellstrue
depletion behavior. In order to achieve the best estimate of
original oil-in-place, and the correct type curve match, only
productiondata priorto 5300 dayswasusedin ouranalysis.
.
curv~
: (Fig.28)
The p~oductionrate functionsare plottedversusmaterialbalance
time,r,on the Fetkovich/McCraytypecurveandforcematchedon
the b= I (harmonic) decline stem. Upon further review, we
reinitializedthe dataat a timeof 336days at whichpointthewell
achieveda stabledeclinerate. Afterminitialization,we obtaineda
goodmatchon the b=l depletionatcmsas welIas a uniquematch
on the r~800 transientstem. From the log-logproductionplot
@lg.26), VVe
note that the transientflow-periodhadnot yet ended
at 336 days,and thereforethe transienttypecurvematch-isvalid.
TyP Curve Match Fetkovich/McCray Type Curve (Radial
Ftowin a BoundedReservoir).
MatchingParametecr~ = 800
[tap
= 1.0
[JMp = 2000days
[91MlMP= 1.0 [q/@kP = 0.013STB/D/psi
Cmve ~
From our estimatesof totalcompressibilityandnet pay thickness
we fmd
Net = 26.0 STi3ipsi
N = 1.30MMSTB
A = 14.52acres
re = 448.7 ft
kh = 18.41md-ft
k = 0.07 md
s = -0.6
~
~lg. 29)
As with well NRU 4202, we again plot the daily oil production
rate, q, versus NP to estimate the movable oil volume. The
extrapolationof the straightline portionof this datato theNPaxis
interceptyieldsthe movableoil volumeat thetimewhenatl of the
reaetvoirenergyhas beendepleted. Ourresultsindicatethatthere
were approximately105MSTB of primarymovableoil, and 75
h4STBof secondary movable oil (using the averagesecondary
declinefor the unit). The analysisof the secondarydeclinetrend
may be inconclusive due to a lack of secondary production
history, however, we estimate that approximately44 MSTB of
_ fi.,amhla
nil mmdnd
]llly !$)$)4.
WC
.- Q. ..
.... ----ae nf
. .-.
105.0MSTB(primary)
75.0MSTB (secondary)
Recovery Factor = 8.08%(primary)
=5.77% (secondary)

Np.mov

Np,mov

The analysis techniquesused for this well show that the analyst
must be carefulwhenmajorevents,such as longshut-inperiods,
or questionableproductiondataaffecta wellsproducinghistory.
If a goodwell historyis available,the analysisand interpretation
can be accuratelyperformed.The resultsof ourtypecuwe match
as well as our materiatbalanceanalysisindicatethat the well is
draininga verysmall area and may requirestimulation,although
the primaryrecoveryfactorestimatedfromthis anatysisis typical
for wellsin the unit.
Sprayberry Trend, West Texas
This particularSpraberryreservoirwas initially developedon a
nominal80 acre well spacingand additionalout-of-patterninfill
wetlsweresubsequentlydrilledthroughoutthe field. The originat
reservoir producing mechanismwas solution gas drive, but is
presentlygravitydrainageand waterfloodin certainareasof the
fil-lfl
....
The SpraberryTrend in this field consists of two distinctzones
(Upperand Lower)with gross sandintervalsof 150to 600 ft and
330 fq respectively. The averagetotat net sand intervalfor the
wellsin thisfieldis approximately190ft. The averageporosityis
about9 percentandpermeabiliticsareextremelylow(<e 1red).
After approximately30 years of primary production,a limited
waterfloodwas initiatedin certainareasof the field,but has had
limitedsuccessdue to the suspectedpresenceof preferentialflow
paths within this reservoir. While it is probablethat the lack of
waterfloodcontinuityis due to reservoirheterogeneity,it is also
probablethat thereis a low sweepeftlciencydue to communica*A.
fif .h. ydmtjli~
frsc~m~
~tw~n
indtidud
We~S.
-s. .
-s..
---l%e original-oil-in-placefor thii reservoiris estimatedto be 112.8
MMSTB. The estimates for primary and secondary ultimate
recoveriesare 1.9percentand 1.7percent,respectively,although
individualwell primaryrecove~ factorsrangeas highas 7 to 10
percentfor Sprabemymacrvoirsin general Theinitiatpressurein
thismaervoirwasestimatedto be 2650psia.
In this case, only monthly oil production data is availablefor
analysis. In addition,we haveno accuraterock,fluid,or bottom
hole pressure data available for analysis. Since bottomhole
pressuredataare not availablewe assumedpWf= O,whichmeans
thattheratefunctionterm,(q/Ap), was actually (q/Pi).
Pro~
ReservoirPropemk.r

Estimatedwellboteradius,rW
Averagenet paythickness,h
Averageporosity,@(fraction)
EstimatedirreduciblewaterSSL,Sw.~~
Averageformationpermeability,k
Originalnomimdwellspacing

=
=
=
=
<<
=

0.3 ft
190ft
0.09
0.30
1.0md
80acres

FluidProperties:

Averageoil formationvolumefactor,B
Averageoil viscosity,P
Initialtotalcompreaaibitity,cri
Averagetotatcompressibility,c1

=
=
=
=

1.33RB/sTB
0.9Cp
12.4x106psi-l
18.3x10-6psi-l

ProductionParonteters

Initiatteservoirpressute,pi
= 2650psia
Flowingbottomholepressure,p~~
Unknown
Spraberry Well A
Thiswellwasdrilledin 1957and completedin boththeupperand
lower sections of the Spraberry. The well has produced
approximately123 MSTB as of September 1993. The scmilog
and log-log productionplots shown in Figs. 30 and 31 indicate
that the oil rate varied significantly during the later stages of
primarydepletion. llte rate integraland rate integralderivative
functionsreducethe affectsof the datascatterevidenton the rate
functionprofde@lg.32). This smoothingallowsfora bettertype
curvematchevenforratedatawitha highdegreeof scatter.

DeclineCurveAnalysisUsingTypeCurves-Anslysisof..
OitWell
. Production DataUsingMaterialBalanceTime:

10

: @lg. 33)
Curve~
The (q/Ap), (q/Ap)i, and-(ghp)id rate functionsare plottedversus
material balance time, f, and then force matched on the b= 1
(harmonic)declinestemas dictatedby theory. Uponobtaininga
matchof the dataand thetypecmvetrends,the appropriatematch
~ va]~e for the
. . ., then
.... .. nht~~n
..
pdlrtt Va:iies are taken. WI=
dimensionlessdrainageradhIsmatchingparameter,r~, which is
used to estimate permeabilityand skin factor. The matchof the
tatc functionson the r#2 transientstemis excellen~
Type Curve Match Fetkovich/McCrayType Curve (Radial
Flowin a BoundedReservoir).
MatchingParametecr~ = 12
[~p = 8500days
[t&p
= 1.0
= 0.0069 STB/D/psi
1.0
[q/ApkP
[qRflMP=
Curve~
Usingour estimatesof totalcompre.ssiiiiiity
andnet pay thickness
we fmd
NC1= 58.65 STB/psi
N = 3.20 MMSTB
A
re
kh
k

= 45.90 acres
= 797.8 ft
= 2.024 md-ft
=0.01 md

= -5.4

(Fig.34)
Since we again lack bottomholepressuredata, we plot daily oil
productionrate, q, versus IVpto estimatethe amountof movable
oil. Theextmpolationof thislineto theNPaxisinterceptindicates
that the total primarymovableoil volumeis 160MSTB,and tit
there were approximately 35 MSTB of primary movable oil
remaining in the wells drainage area as of September 1993.
presently,thereis insuffkientdataavailableforcommentas to the
volumeof secondaryoil thatmaybe produced.

Np,mov = 160.0MSTB
Recovery Factor = 4.99%
The results of the typecurvematchandmaterialbalanceanrdysis

yield realistic estimates for original-oil-in-place,movable oil,

permeability, and skin. The recovery factor (4.99 percent)
calculatedusingthe estimateof original-oil-in-place
fromthe type
curve match and materialbalanceanalysisis slightlyhigherthan
averagefor the field, and the reservoirqualityin the am of this
well appearsto be high.
Althoughwe had to estimatevirtuallyall of therockandfluiddata
requiredfor the calculationof permeability,the resultingvalueof
O.O!md is ~epm.wntativefor this extremely low permeability,
turbiditcreservoir. The calculatedskin factorof -5.3 is whatwe
could reasonably expect for a low permeability,hydraulically
fracturedwell completion. As of September1993,the well had
produced123MSTB,or 77 percentof the recoverableoil volume
calculatedfordepletionto zerorate.
Giddings (Austin Chalk) Field, Burleson Co., TX
The Austin Chalk is an Upper Cretaceous, naturally fractured
reservoirconsisting of a homogeneousmicritic limestonechalk
with interbeddedblack shales. The reservoir has a low matrix
permeability,with a dominantnatuml tlacmre system trending
from Northeastto SouthwesLbut the presenceand influenceof
this fracturesystem is not well correlated. The main producing
oend parallelsthe TexasGulfCoastbetweenthe PearsaUFieldto
the SouthweaGand the GiddingsField to the Northeas4although

SPE 28688

significant exploration and production activities are presently

occuningin EastTexasandLouisiana.
The AustinChalkconsistsof an immaturezoneabove6000ft. a
generationand accumulationzonebetween6000and7000f~ and
a morematureoil generationand accumulationzonebelow7000
fg in whichLhef.mcmesystemis most dominant.~
The Giddings(AustinChalk)Fieldwas firstdevelopedin the late
1970s. Initial field development used vertical wellbores,
however, with the rapid development of horizontal well
technologyin the early 1980s,almostall subsequentwellsdrilled
in the field have beenhorizontalto take advantageof the Austin
Chalkfracturesystem.
In the GiddingsField,the AustinChalkhas an averageporosityof
approximately5 percentandan avemgepermeabilitybetween0.01
and 1.3md, dependingon the relativecontributionsof thematrix
and fmcturcsystems. The reservoirhas an avemgethicknessof
between200 and 800f~ Total cumulativeproductionas of 1993
wasestimatedto be 150MMSTB. Theoriginalreservoirpressure
for the GiddingsFieldwasestimatedto be 3326psia
The quantityandqualityof productiondatawasfairlygoodforthe
wells we analyzed. In particular,both daily rates and surface
pressuresare available. Theproblemwe facein theseanalysesis
our inability to accumtelyconvert surface flowingpressure to
bottomholeflowingpressure,as well as the lack of accumtcrock
and fluid data. To be consisten~surfacetubing P=WRP,P will
be used instead of pWffor both of the Austin Chw csscs we
present.
Reservoir Propem.es:

Estimatedwellboremdius,rW
Estimatednetpaythickness,h
Averagepotosity,# (fmction)
lMhtcxI irreduciblewaterSSt.,Swirl
Avemgeformationpermeabfity,k

= 0.25 ft
= 3ooft
= 0.05
= 0.30
= 0.01 -1.3 md

FluidPropem.eE

Avemgeoil formationvolumefactor,B
= 1.35 RB/sTB
Avemgeoil viscosity,P
= 0.45Cp
Initialtotalcompmssibility,cfi
= 16.4xI0-Spsi-l
Avemgetotalcompressibility,cl
= 21.OXIO-S
psi-l
n-J..--23....-...-.
rrvuudiun
rurumcux
a.
Initi# reservoirp~ure, Pi
= 3326psia
Flowtngsurfacembmgpressure,PWI
= 80 psia(7/94)
Barton Lightsey Well No. 64
This well was drilled and completedin 1991,and has produced
approximately330.5 MSTB of oil as of July 1994. The well
presentlyhas a dailyoil mtc of 102STB/D,a producingGOR of
5275 scf/STB,and a watercut of 9%. The semilogand log-log
productionplots shown in Figs. 35 and 36 indicatethat the oil
productionmte startedout veryhighand thendeclinedrapidly,as
would be expectedfrom a dual porositysystem (fmcturdmatrix
drainage).
Afterapproximately500 daysof production,the wellwasplaced
. meAL&b
l:f% .-A *ha 4+1 nrmhmtinn
mte hw.mav~
0,16$U
WIUu. .. y.**9.....
. ...-. ~~~q)!~ f~~.rn. ~70
STB/D to about 400 STWDbeforeresumingthe initial decline
rote. The mteintegralandrateintegralderivativefunctionsshown
in Fig. 37 wereslightlyaffectedby periodicmtevariationsat early
producingtimes. The availabdityof dailyproductionandsurface
pressure data improvesour chancesof obtaininga unique type
curvematch.
~
(Fig.38)
ASbfom, (q/~p), (q/Ap)i, ad (q/@)idSMplottedversusmaterial
balancetime,Z,andmatchedon theFetkovich/McCraytypecurve.
Fmm Fig. 35, we see that dueto numerousratechangesandshutin periodsearly in the wellslife, it is difficultto obtaina unique
match on the transientflow stems. To improveour chancesfor
obtaininga matchof the transientdata,we minitialti thedatato

SPE28688

L.E. Doublet,P.K.Pande,T.J. McCollum,and T.A. Blasingame

a timeof 132days to removethe most significantpartof the rate

datascatter.
After reinitialization,we obtained a good match on the r =28
transientflowstem. It is interestingto note the effectthat tfl
e gas
lift processhas on the flowrate profile. The rate profileshowsa
spike-liketrendin Fig. 36 but is smoothedto a pairof overlapping
trendsfor the (q/Ap) functionin Fig. 37. This behaviordoes not
affecttheoverallqualityof the typecurvematch.
Type Curve Match FetkovichM4cCmyType Curve (Radial
Flowin a BoundedReservoir).
MatchingPammettxra = 28
[t~p = 330 days
[t&p
= 1.0
[9AJMP = 1.0
:kxdour estimates

[9/APhffp = 031s~~@i

of totalcompressibilityandnet payttdcknesswe

Net = 102.3STB/psi
N = 4.87 MMSTB
A = 80.73acres
re = 1058.0ft
kh = 68.67 md-ft
k = 0.23 md
s = -5.0
~

(Rgs.

39-41)

of ~d (qlAp), and q versus Np are used to estimatethe

movableoil volume. We assumethatbecauseflowingbottomhole
pressureis held constantaftergas tift is initiated,the straightline
extrapolationof q to zeroyieldsaboutthe samevalueformovable
oii ss rioesextrapomtion
of~d or (gl~p)to ~he.NP~ ifi*=~ept.
All of the materialbalancemethodsyielda movableoil volumeof
360MSTBwithgas lif~whichmeansthatthereareapproximately
30 MSTB of movable oil remainingin the reservoirat present
Ct?rtditkms:
We also note that duringthe periodbeforeinstallationof gasliftj
that the extrapolatedmovableoil volumesfor all materialbalance
methodsare also quite similar (=310 MSTB). The results of the
volumetricanalysisare givenbelow.

Plots

Np,mov

360.0MSTB(withgas lift)

Recovery Facwr = 7.39%

The typecurve and material balance analyses yield acceptable

results for original-oil-in-place,movable oil, and the reservoir

flowcharacteristics.Thecalculatedrecove~ factoris in therange
of whatwe wouldexpectfor AustinChalkwells,andwenotethe
short operatinglife that is also characteristicof thesewells. The
calculatedpermeabilityof 0.23md andskin factorof -5.0arealso
representativevatues. The calculatedpermeabilitymayIMin error
sincewe may havetmdereatimatedtheeffectivenet payinterval.
As tids is a horizontal well, it appears that we may be able to
accuratelymodel the behaviorof horizontalwells in the Austin
Chalk using the Fetkovich/McCray type curve which was
developed for vertical wells (radial flow). In addition, this
analysis technique may provide a method to estimate the well
drainagearea,whichis oftenunknownforAustinChalkwells.
Searmardo Carrabba Well No. 225
This well was drilled and completedin 1993,and has produced
approximately 92 MSTB of oil as of July 1994. The well
presentlyhas a dailyoil productionrateof 58 STB/D,a producing
GORof 5535SCUSTB,and a watercut of 11%. The semilogand

11

log-log production plots shown in Figs. 42 and 43 exhibit the

characteristicbehaviorof a dual porositysystem. Oil production
ratedeclinesxapidlyas the fracturesystemis dmined,andthenthe
rate of declineis reducedduring the period in whichthe matrix
dominates.As withwellBartonLightsey64, we againhavedaily
production rate and surface pressure data for more rigorous
analysis. The rate, rate integral, and rate integral derivative
functionsare shown in Fig. 44. These pressurenormalizedrate
functionsate not grearlyaffectedby early-timerateanomalies,and
therefore,datareinitializationis not required.
: (Fig.45)
Curve~
The rate functionsare onceagainplottedversusmaterialbalance
time, i, andmatchpointsareobtainedusingtheFetkovichA4cCray
typecurve. We havea goodtransientmatchon the r~800 stem,
andwe will use this dimensionlessradiusalongwiththe timeand
ratematchpointsto estimatevaluesforoil-in-place,dminagepermeability,and skin factor. This well is P=n~Y Producing
under boundary-dominatedflow conditions, attd is probably
nearingtheendof its operatinglife.
From our calculations,this weIl appearsto be draininga much
smaller volume than the Barton Lightsey well, which is not
surprising considering the Scarmardo Carrabba wells performanceto date. Aawe mentionedfor the BartonLightseywell,
theanalysisandinteqxetationfromtypecurvematchingmaybe in
errorbecausewe areanalyzinga horizontalwellwithtypecurves
derivedfora verticalwell.
Type Gove Matclc Fetkovich/McCray Type Curve (Radial
Flowin a BoundedReservoir).
MatchingParametecr~ = 800
[t~p =84 days
[t&p
= 1.0
[91MlMP= 1.0 [9/APIMF= 0.32 s~~/Psi
Curve~ 1
Forourestimatesof totalcompressibilityandnet paythic-kness
we
find
Net = 26.88STB/psi
N = 1.28MMSTB
A = 21.21acres
re = 542.3 ft
kh = 162.90md-ft
k = 0.54 md
s = -1.0
~
(Figs.46-48)
Plots of id (qhp), and q versus Np are used to estimate
N~mowand again the computed movable volume for all three
methodsis exactlythe same. Primarymovableoil for this wellis
estimatedto be 100MSTB,indicatingthatthe remainingmovable
oil volume is less than 10,000 STB. The recovery factor is
stightlyhigherthanforthe BartonLightsey64 eventhoughno gas
lift processwas initiated. The comptison of recovexyfactorsis
somewhatmisleadingwhenwe considerthat the BartonLightsey
well will recover approximately3.5 times as much oil as the
ScarmardoCarrabbawell. We assumethatthe higheroil recovery
factor is due to better reservoir quality, if not better
communicationbetween the fracture and matrix systems. All
things being equal, one possible recommendationwould be to
performa significantstimulationtreatmenton thiswelt.
Np,nIOV

100.0MSTB

Recovery Factor =7.8 1%

DeclineCurveAnatysisUsingTypeCuwea-Analysisof 011WellProduction
DataUsingMaterialBalanceTime:

Aj@catimiwFiild -

12

SPE 2g688

S. Gilds Well S-42

The type curve matching and material balance analyses yield

consistent results even though we have used a type curve
developedfor vertical wells to analyzehorizontalwells. Whilethe
reservoirqualitysumoundingthiswell appearsto be muchhigher
than that of the BartonLightseywell, the movableoil volumeis
much lower,whichsuggestsless than optimalcommunicationof
the welland the lCWVOti.
Santa Clara (Lower Repetto) Field, Offshore, CA
The Santa Clara (LowerRepetto)Field (Fig. 49) was developed
on an approximate 40 acre nominal well spacing beginningin
1984. There are presently 9 producingwells in the field at an
average true vertical depth of 7500 fee~ The originalreservoir
pressurein the LowerRcpettowasestimatedto be 5900paia
The Lower Repetto reservoir is characterizedby four distinct
zones consisting of thinly bedded turbidite sandstones, with
interbeddedsilts andshaleswhichlimitboththe VC1ti@ andlateral
continuity of reamwoirproperties. These clasticturbiditeawere
fotmedas a resultof densitycurrentswhichweredepositedon the
mid andouterfanportionsof a tmlidite lobe.
This depositional process resulted in the fortnation of poorly
sorted, medium to very fine-grainedarkoaesand Iithic arkoaea.
Thesesandahave poroaiticsrangingfrom5 to 35 percen~withan
average in-situ oil permeabilityof less than 3 md, and possibly
muchleas even thoughcorepermeabilitiesfor the LowerRepetto
often average20 md or higher. The in-aimreservoirpermeability
is much lower than the calculatedcore permeabilitydue to the
unconsolidatednatureof the rock,andrelativelyhighoilviscosity
at resenfoirconditions.
-.. . .1--1
. . . . - ,...I..,.*:n:. .
Due
to AL:tms lacKd
corisci~ldrition,
WUIU ~r-uuuull ~aa rnajer
problem and gravel-packedcompletionsusing slotted liners am
required. l%e high viscosity of the oil at reservoirconditions
results in the rapid depletion of reservoir energy, therefore,
pmsaurecommunicationis limitedto withina fewhundredfeetof
any particularwell. The LowerRepettoformationdips at 10to
20 to the WIXLand due to the placementof the drillingplatform
on the Upper Repetto structure,Lower Repetto wells are intersectedat anglesbetween50and6@relativeto horizontal.
lle original-oil-in-placefor thereservoiris estimatedto be greater
than 300 MMSTB. Total productionfromthe LowerRepettoas
of January 1994was 3.6 MMSTBoil and 3.9 BCF gas. Ultimate
recoveryis expectedto be less than3% dueto theheterogeneous,
low permeabilitynature of the reservoir,in additionto the high
coatof developmentdrilting.
However,given the producibilityproblemsas wellas theexpense
of operation, the operator has elected to obtain continuous
measurements of flow rate and bottomhole pressure. Subsequently, the quantity and quality of oil production data and
bottomhole pressure data for the wells is very good, and we
expectto performa rigorousanalysisof thesedata.
Resenwir Propertie~

Wellboreradius, rw
=
Net pay thickness,h
=
Averageporosity,#(fraction)
=
Averageimeduciblewatersaturation,SWim=
Averageformationpermeability,k
<
Originalnominalwellspacing
=

0.146ft
120-150 ft
0.25
0.35
3.0 md
40 acres

FluidProperlleX

Averageoil formationvolumefactor,B
Averageoil viscosity,K
Initialtotalcompressibility,cfi
Averagetotalcompressibility,c1
PamnuterK
Iflitial XWMXVOh P-lWC,

=
=
=
=

1.42RBISTB
2.ocp
10.OX1O6
psi-l
1LOxl@ psi-1

Prd4ction

Welldeviation

pi

= 5900paia
= 50-60

Figure50 showsthe locationof Well S-42withinthe SantaClara

Field (Lower Repetto Reservoir). Well S-42 was drilled and
completedin 1986and has producedapproximately620MSTBof
oil as of January1994. At present,thepresentdailyoil rateis 113
STB/D, with a producing GOR of 737 scf/STB, a flowing
bottomholepressureof 2126psia, and a watercut of c 5 percent.
This well intersectsthe Lower.Repettoresmoir at 56.6and has
an estimatednet verticalpaythicknessof 150ft.
The aemilogand log-log productionplots are shownin Figs. 51
and 52 and indicate that the oil rate is decliningsmoothly,but
quite rapidly, which is probably a result of the producibility
problems mentionedabove. The rate integral and rate integral
derivative functions, as seen in Fig. 53, show no instancesof
erraticratevariationsin the productionhistory.
~
(Fig.54)
The mk functions,(q/Ap~, (q/Ap)i, and (q/Ap)~~ plot~d
versus material balancetime, L and matched on the Fetkovicld
MC@I ~ curve, as shown in Fig. 54. We have obtaineda
vexygood matchon the transientflowstems at a valueof r+,
While this is a goodmatch,we mustspeculateas to whythe r~ is
so low, which indicates an extremely high level of near-well
Stidion.
The obviousexplanationis that WellS-42is highly
.
The rate functions also indicate that the well is just beginning
boundary-dominated flow, and this behavior may adversely
influencethe analysisand interpnxationof the wellperformance,
However, we believe that the results of this analysis are
representative and consistent with boundary-dominatedflow
~ei,lt= nf
akn ...-.
hdicat$ ~h~~1~~ wC!! is
As. SUu.w
. th;c
M.. analvc{e
. ......- ..-.
theory. ~a
draininga much larger volumethan would be indicatedby a 40
acre well spacing. This interpretationof a larger drainagearea
maybe dueto the uncertaintyof the net verticalpaythicknessand
the significant deviation of the well. Given the difficulties
associated with interpreting the perfmttmiiceof tiii~ -wdi, we
recommend the development and application of decline type
curvesfor the analysisof horizontalwells(seeRef. 16).
Type Curve Match Fetkovich/McCray Type Curve (Radial
Flowin a BoundedReservoir).
MatchingPatametecra = 4
[f&p
= 1.0
[z~p = 5900days
[q&P

= 1.0

[@PhtP

= o.068 s~~lwi

Using the results of our type curve analysis along with our
estimatesof total compressibilityand net pay thicknesswe have
developedthe followingresults
Net =401.2 STWpsi
N = 36.5 MMSTB
A = 273.82acres
re = 1948.5ft
kh = 17.36 md-ft
k =0.12 md
s = -8.1
~
(Figs.55-57)
In this case,we estimateconsistentvaluesof movableoil fromthe
plots of (q/Ap) and q versus NP,which yield about 1.0MMSTB
total recovery. However, the ~d versus NP plot predicts
approximately1.7MMSTBof movableoil volume, In an attempt
to maolvethis discrepancy,we considerthat the ~d functionis
difficult to interpret relative to the actual pressurelevel in the
reservoir.

13

L.E. llouble~ P.K. Pande,T.J. McCollum,snd T.A. B1asingame

SPE 28688

Is there really 1.7 MMSTB of movable oil? Probably not at

cuxrentoperatingconditions,especiallywhenweconsiderthatthe
bottomhole pressure level has risen and stabilized for the past
threeyeara. This rise and stabilizationin the bottomholepressure
suggeststhe needforstimulationandprobablyMlcisl lit.
Duetotheincmase andstabfizationofpWlat a high pressurelevel
and since the well has only just entered the pseudoateady-state
flow regime, the rate and pressure drop normalized ratecumulative oil plots probablyyield the most accuratevalue of
movable oil for this case, and will be used for referencein our
analysis.
.Vp,mov.10
.. nll~s~
... ----

The mainconclusionsof thisworkare:

1. For the case of single-phaseliquid flow, the analysisof any
productionrate and bottomholepressurescheduleis possible
providedthat we use the materialbalancetime function,and
the appropriate rate functions for data matching during
boundary-dominatedflowontotheb=] stemof theFetkovicld
McCraytypecurve.
-. .--. L..A...1.. *,-..1.* .mrl ;sltD1.nr,at rdw.linn
2. *,-,__
using UW nlGUI
WU@y
UJ aJ14uJ&- Q!lU ..1* p. . p...
data is relatively straightforwardand can providethe same
information as conventional pressure transient analysis,
eneia~d
~o~!of data acquisition, Or]05SOf
without the as.
. ..
production.
3. The flow rate integral and flow rate integral derivative
---.:----11-...s..---- acbu~abu-~.,~. -..-*n A-l:- *- P,, matrhee
luflcuu~
~UUW
iu[ -Illul6
than would be possible using flow rate data alone. These
integralfunctionsalsoeliminateproblemsassociatedwiththe
~n~y~ of. .field
&@ wigh erratic pK)dUC1.iOII rste
. . . . nmdUC~~n
~.and bottomholepressurebehavior.
4. The use of data reinitializationfor the removalof early-time
rate variationscan yield improvedtype curvematches. The
analyat must be aware of major events in the production
history that might have changedthe producingconditionsof
the wellor reservoir.
5. The calculationof movableoil volumeusing the q verausNP
plot yields acceptableresultsunless pw, variessignificantly.
The simulatedcases verify that the q verausNp plot yields
resultssimilarto thosepredictedby themorerigorousplotsof
(q/Ap) verausNP, and ~d versus NP. This conclusionhas
also beenconfirmedforfielddatacasesforwhichsurfaceand
bottomholepressuredataareavailable.
6. The techniques introduced in this work give excellent
estimates of maervoir volumes (total and movable), and
reasonable estimates of formation flow characteristics.
However, all of these estimates could be significantly
improved if high quality transient production data are
available,as wellas accuraterock,fluid,andcompletiondata.
7. Additionalworkshouldbe developedfor the analysisof longtem. ~roduction data frQm.horizonta! wells. In addition,
present decline type curve analysis concepts should be
extendedforthe analysisof multiphaseflowdata.
NOMENCLATURE
.J

Recovery Factor = 2.74%

The type curve and material balanceanalysesyield acceptable

results for estimatesof original-oil-in-placeand movableoil, and

the calculatedrecoveryfactoris reasonablefor wells producing
from the Lower Repetto. The calculateddrainagearea is much
largerthanwhatweexpected,butwebelievethiscanbe attributed
to a lack of knowledge of net vertical pay tldckness and the
deviationof the well.
Perhaps the most intriguing result of this entire analyaisis the
match of transient data on the rstem, which yields an
estimated permeabilityto oil of 0.12 md and a calculatedskin
factor of-8. 1. This estimateof skin factoris unrealisticfor any
vexticalwellcase,withthepossibleexceptionbeingthecaseofan
extremely large, high conductivityverticalfracture. As this is
clearlynot the case, we can only assumethat the akinfactorcan
be attributedto welldeviation.
In contrast, the aemilog and log-log analysis performedon a
pressure build-up test taken in 1992 gave an estimated
permeabilityto oil of 0.8 md and gave a skin factorof +2.0. If
the permeabilityand skin factor are correctedfor the effectsof
..~ ~.11
Amviatinn
we twrwrr that @c txtmp~~
.AA -..-..,
..- *..r-.
-. . . . . . . .
par-i penetrhml*:.. us,valuea would be comparable to the values obtained from
productiondataanalysis.
-.. .- w. SbbUL
.,.-..-+.91.,
-.*;-m+a+-m-_,;nn flnw
iii order i~ USe tjTk- Gui%a
aLGtJ WLUUaW AU. . .. WUW.. ..v r.
characteristicsfor the LowerRepettowells we shouldprobably
use a matchmg parameterthat incorporatesdeviatedhorizontal
well length, instead of effective wellbore radius. The
developmentand applicationof type curves for the analysisof
productiondata for horizontalwellswill aid in both the analysis
and interpretationof problemslikethis.lc
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
In this work,we havedeviseda rigorousandconsistentprocedure
for theanalysisand interpretationof long-termoil wellproduction
data *uaittgwv*rnfit~hinotechniques. Specifically,we
proposethe Go~;lti;Z;%;lcCray
type curveto estimate
total and movable reservoir volumes, as well as the flow
characteristicsof the reservoir. Further,givena limitedquantity
of productiondata, we ahowthat we can accuratelyinterpretand
predictreservoirbehavior.
We also note that the use of rate integral and rate integral
derivative functions allow for the analysisand interpretationof
noisy field productiondata. In addition,the integralfunctions
providebettertypecurvematchesand increaseconfidencein our
interpretations.
The analyais techniquesthat we proposealways yield excellent
estimates of original and movable oil volumes, and accurate
estimatesof reservoirflow characteristics,providedgood earlytime data are available. Ouranalyaistechniqueswereveflled by
evaluationof the simulateddatacases, and we againrecommend
that qualitydata be takenearlyand oftento ensuremoreaccurate
~ldy~ and iltte~tetZtiOItS.

. . ..

. . . ..-

Formationand FluidPammeters:
A=
drainagearea,ft2
B=
formationvolumefactor,RB/STB
cl
= totalsystemcompreaaibility,psi-l
C(i

=
=

!=
stir~

k
re
rW
rmu

=
=
=
=

initialtotalsystemcompmsibility,psi-l
porosity,fraction
formationthickness,ft
inducible watersaturation,fraction
formationpermeability,md
reservoirdrainageradius,ft
wellboreradius,ft
apparentwellboreradius(includesformationdamage
or atimuhuioneffects),ft
fluidviscosity,cp.

=
P
Pressur@ate/Tii ParameteW
b
= Fetkovich/Aspsdeclinecurveexponent
bpss

Di
m

=
=

(q/AP)iti =
=
k
=

constantin thepseudoateady-state
equationforliquid
flow,as definedby Eq. 13or Eq. A-4
constantdefinedby Eq. 19,D-1
constantin thepseudoateady-state
equationforliquid
flow,as definedby Eq. 12,psilSTB
constantdefinedby @. 18,STB/D/psi
oil flowrate,mm
originaloil in ptace,STB

DeclineCum AnalysisUsingTypeCurves-AnalysisofOilWellProductionDataUsingMaterialBalanceTime:
Applicationto Fieldcases
)+/P . cumulativeoil production,STB
Np,mov = movableoil, STB
= pressure,psia
E=
averagereservoirpressure,psia
~
Pabn = averagereservoirpressureat abandonment
conditions,psia
Pi
= initialreservoirpressure,psia
Pwl = flowingbottomholepressure,psia
Ptt
= flowingsurfacetubingpreawm,psia
Ap = PrPwf*P~u~ dropspsi
= radialdistance,r
r
= time,days
t
N#q, materialbalancetime,days
i=
tq
= equivalentconstantpmasuretimeas definedby
McCray8,days
= dummyvariableof integration
r
.
.
RcaJDomain
~
reservoirshap factor
EulersConstant= 0.577216 ...
dimensiordeasdeclinecumulativeproduction
function
circumferenceto diameterratio= 3.1415926 ..
lr
*
Ap, ~enaiortks
pressure functionfor
PD
the;onstant flowratecase
BP
q, dimensionlessflowrate function
1412 kh(p,.pw)
forthe conitait wellborepressurecase
dimensionlessdeclineratefunctionas definedby
Fetkovich
dimensionlessdeclinerateintegralas definedby
hi
McCray
dimensiotdmsdeclinerateintegralderivative
mid
timction as definedby McCray
*= dimensionlessradius
&mensionkssdrainageradiusof rcaervoir
akinfactorfornearwelldamageor stimulation
dimensionlesstimebasedon drainagema
dimensionlesstimebasedon wellboreradius
dimensionlessdeclinetimeas definedby Fetkovich
.
~.
bphlce TmnsformDomain
~D = LapIacetransformof dimensionlesspressun forthe
constantflowratecase
=
Laplacetsansformof dimensionlessrateforthe
~D
constantwellborepressurecase
u
= Laplacespacevariable,dimensionless
md

Zo(x) = modifiedBesselfunctionof the 1stkind,zeroorder

Ii(x) = mod~ledBesselfunctionof the 1stkind, 1storder
Ko(x) = modilledBesselfunctionof the2nd kind,zeroorder
KI(x) = moditledBesselfunctionof the 2ndkind, 1storder

We also acknowledgethe technicalassistanceof Dr. Anil Kumar

of Mobil Explorationand Producing,U.S., Inc., and Mr. David
Elmer of ~PRC regardingthe acquisition and interpretationof
theirrespectivefielddatacases.
Andfinally,we acknowledgethe technicalandcomputingsupport
servicesprovidedby the Departmentof PetroleumEngineeringat
Texas A&M University,as well as the financialsupport of the
UnitedStatesDepartmentof Energy(DOE)for fundingprovided
throughtheDOEClassII OilProgram.
REFERENCES
- Analysis of Decline Curves, Trans.,
1.
fi#&(;;45)

2.
3.

i
id

= ~&@
= integal derivative

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We acknowledgethe permissionto publishfielddataprovidedby
Fhta Oil and Chemical,Co. (westernDivision,USA),
Mobil Explorationand Producing,U.S., Inc.,
UNGCALCorporation(CoastalCaliforniaDivision),and
UnionPacificResourcesCo. (UPRC).

160,228-247.

Nind,T.W.:Principles of Oil Well Production, 2ndEdition,

McGraw-Htil(1981).
Arps, J.J.: Estimationof Primary 011Reserves,Trans.,
AIME(1956) 207, 182-91.

4.

Slider,H.C.: A SimplifiedMethodof HyperbolicDecline

CurveAnalysis,JPT(March 1968) 235-236.
5. Gentry,R.W.: Decline-CurveAnalysis,JPT (Jan. 1972)
38-41.
6. Fetlcovich,M.J.: Decline Curve Analysis Using Type
Curves,JPT (June 1980)1065-1077.
7. Fetkovich,M-J.,t ULDeclineCurveAnalysisUsingType
CUNCS - Case HKtories7SPEFE (Dec. 1987) 637-656.
8. McCray, T.L.: Reservoir Analysis Using Production
Decline Data and Adjusted lime, M.S. Thesis, TexasA&M
University,CollegeStation,TX (1990).
9. Blasingame,T.A., McCray, T.C. and Lee, W.J.: Decline
Curve Analysis for Variable Pressure Drop/Variable
FlowrateSystcms,wpaperSPE 21513presentedat the 1991
SPE Gas TechnologySymposium,Houston,TX, January
23-24.
10. Palacio, J.C. and Blasingame, T.A.: Decline Curves
An-1..c.:.
TTe:mrUUL4J DL~ W *..86

11.

12.
13.
14.

15.
= calculated
E
= dimensionlessdeclinevariable
MP = matchpoint
pss = pacudosteady-state

SPE 28688

Tmw
. J ~

P,,
u%~~

: .AMq~!y~~~ of

~~~

~~!!

ProductionData , paperSPE 25909 presentedat the 1993

SPE Rocky Mountain Regional/Low Permeability
~~sw~~~ &mnnsium.
Denver.
Amil 12-14,
, ...r ----------.-., CO.
__, --r--__
Blasingame,T.A. and Lee, WJ.: Variable-RateReservoir
Limits Testing, paper SPE 15028 presentedat the 1986
SPE Permian Basin Oil & Gas Recovery Conference,
Midland,TX, March13-14.
Dietz,D.N.:Determinationof AverageReservoirpressure
fromBuildupSurveys: SPEFE (August1965)955-959.
MuskaLM.: Flow of Homogeneous Fluids ThroughPorous
Media, McGraw-HillBookCo., Inc., NewYork(1937).
Catter,R.D.: CharacteristicBehaviorof FiniteRadialand
Linear Gas Flow Systems - Constant Terminal Pressure
Case, paper SPE 9887 presented at the 1981 SPE/DOE
Low permeabilitySymposium,Denver,Colorado,May2729.
Carter,R.D.:TypeCurvesfor Finite RadialandlinearGas
Flow Systems: ConstantTerminal PressureCase, SPEJ
(Oct. 1985) 719-728.

16. Shih, M.Y.: Decline Curve Analysis for Horizontal Wells,

M.S. Thesis,Texas A&M University,CollegeStation,TX
[i994j.
97
lx.1:
C.n.nMsA..
P
A
c+.A Ramnu
U
T d,..
1.. ~pmp~i~n:
Al. Unug-muuumn.a,
L.n.,
Uaau
..-,, -,,
* *...,
Rate Decline Analysis for Wells Produced at Constant
Presaurey SPEJ (Feb. 1981)98-i 04.
18. van Everdingen,A.F. and Hurst, W.: TheApplicationof
the Laplace Transformation to Flow Problems in
Reservoirs,Trans., AIME (1949), 186,305-324.

L.E. Doublet,P.K. Pande,T.J. McCollum,and T.A. Blasingarne

SPE 28688

19. StehfesGH.: NumericalInversionof LaplaceTransforms,

Communications of the ACM (January 1970), 13, No. 1,
47-49.(Algorithm368withcorrection)
20. Matthews,C.S. and Russell, D.G. : Pressure Buildup and
Flow Tests in Wells, Monograph Series, Society of
PetroleumEngineersof AIME,Richardson(1967)1.
21. Igor-Graphingand Data Analysis Program (Version2.7),
WaveMetrics,LakeOswego,OR, USA, 1992.
22. PanSystemTM-WellTest AnalysisProgram(Version1.8),
EdinburghPetroleumServices,Ltd., Edinburgh,Scotland,
UK, April 1991.
23. Hinds, G.S. and Berg, R.R.: EstimatingOrganicMaturity
From Well Logs, Upper CretaceousAustin Chalk, Texas
Gulf CoaaLTrans., GCAGS (190) a. 295-300.
24. Dake, L.P.: Fundamentals of Reservoir Engineering,
Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam
(1978).
25. Johnston, J.L.: Variable-Rate Analysis of Transient Well
Test Data Using Semi-Analytical Methods, M.S. Thesis,
TexasA8cMUniversity,CollegeStation,TX (1992).
APPENDIX A - DER1VATION OF MATERIAL
BALANCE
PLOTTING
FUNCTIONS
FOR
PRODUCTION DATA
In this appendix,we start withthe materialbalanceequationfora
slightlycompressibleliquidwhichis givenby Dake~ as
?=Pi-Net~Np

.................................................(A.l)

We notethatif we plot~ versusNPthen we wiii obtaina straight

*..
m-s-s llr.l.A aDvtrm+te
Z
.y .- the
. .. y
une or
slope JIfVCfad fii*WC2pi
j+. we am, .
versus NP trend to@ in orderto estimatethe movableliquid
(oil) volume,NP,mov Of course,~ is typicallynot availablein
practice,so we-must use an aitemate approachto appiyingthis
concept
We now considerthe so called oilflowequationwhichrelates
rates and pressuredrops duringboundary-dominated(orpseudoSteady-5tattj fiow. This eqmaakxi is gii;efias
F = Pwf+ dress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(A-2)
CombiningE@. A-1 and A-2 and solvingfor the pressuredrop,
Ap = pt-pwfi we obtain
AP = P,-pwf=
. . . .. & Np + qbpss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A-3)
wherethe paeudosteady-stateconstamtbpss,is givenby

bp=1412w%k)l

.........................(A-4)

For the interestedreader,a completederivationof Eq. A-3 from

fundamental principles is given in Appendix A of ref. 25.
Nommlizingboth sidesof Eq. A-3by the flowrate,q, we have

*.~~+pss ..............................................(A-5)
f? Nc,
where
i.+

. .. . . . . .. .. . . .. . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . .... .. .. .. .. ... . .. .. .. ..(A-6)

Eqs.A-5and A-6 weredevelopedandverifiedbyBlasingarneand

bet 1 for the analysis of oil well productiondata. Taking the
reciprocalof bothsides of Eq. A-5and reamanginggives
~=*~
Ap

.......................................(A-7)

bpss 1 +-i
IVC@pSS

A-7showsthat a of plot q/Ap versus ~willyielda hatmonic

declineon a Fetkovich/McCraytypecurveas dkuased by Palacio

Eq.

15

and Blasingamelofor the analysisof oil and gas wellproduction

data.
Movable~ . .
SolvingEq. A-3 for the flowmte,q. givm

q=$

(P-Pwh-&NP

. . .. ..- .. .. . .. . ..... .. .. .. ... ...(A-8)

Weimmediitclynotethatifpwl = constan4thena plotof q versus

Npwillyielda straightlineof thefollowingcharacter
. .1
. .. . . .. . . . .. . . ... . ... . .. .. .. .. . . ... ..(A-9)
slope
NC#pSS

y-int.mept = #PI-Pw)

.. . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . ... .. ... . . .. (A-IO)

x-intercept = Npmy=Np atq=O........................(A-l U

This result has considerable implications from a practical
standpoint. In partictdar,we can use a plot of q versusNp as a
meansto estimatethe movableoil for the caseof a wellproduced
at an approximatelyconstantbottomholepressure. For casesof
variablebottomholepressures,Eq. A-8 becomesless applicable,
but we can still use the q versus Np plot as a ~mi-an~Ytic~
methodto predictmovableoil.
Aninterestinghistoricalfootnoteis thatNind2developedEq.A-8
froma comp~etely_
perspective.Hisgoalwasto develop
usingtheobservationof a lineartrend
the~
of q versus Np. In this light, we recall that the at@.yl@
development of the exponential decline solution for a well
produced at constant bottomhole pressure is given by EhligEconomidesandRamey.17
. . V~ .
Moe
Otl.
Thedevelopmentof a variable-rat.dvariable
pressuredropformof
Eq. A-8 can be derivedby simply dividing throughEq. A-8 by
L6ep~SUE drnp: Aps pi.pw$ This gives
~=~
Ap

Np ..................................... (A-12)

bpss N@pss AP

A-12 and other variations of this result are developedand

diSCUSsdill tietSiiin R%. 8 Sttd if).
Consideringthe form of Eq. A-12, we note that a plot of q/Ap
versus N~Ap will yield a straight line with the following
-em
= -...................................(A-13)
slope
N@p$f

Eq.

y-intercept = ~

bpss

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A-14)

=%atq/Apa
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(A-15)
x-intercept = %
[1Ap *OV Ap
Unfortunately,this method does not yield a direct estimateof
NPmow However,we can employ a semi-empiricalapproach
that uses a plot of q/Ap versus Np from which the movableoil,
Np,moWMestimated from the linear extrapolationof the q/Ap
ttend to thex-axisinterceptat q/Ap=O. l%is approach,while not
completelyrigorous,shouldprovideaccurateestimatesof NP,mOv
whilealso fdtenngthe influenceof variableratesandpressures
This is simply an intermediate recommendation and further
researchon this topicis warranted.

To developa straightfonvardand rigorous approachto estimate

the movable oil, Np,mov we can use the material balance
quation, Eq. A-1, as a plotting function where the average
reservoirpressure,~, is computedfrom Eq. A-2. RecallingEq.
A-1wehave

DeciineCurveAnaiysisUsingTypeCurves-hsdysis of Od WeiiPrmluctionDataUsingMatexiaiBakmceTime:
Applicationto FieldCases

16

~ k? ..~J$
Ncl

. . . ... . ... . .. .. . . .. . . .. . .. .. ... . . .. .. .. . ... . . .. ..

(A-1)

If we have an estimateof the pseudostidy-smte constant,bpsf.

fromsay, typecurveanaiysisor usingthe qhp versus N~Ap plot
as described above, we can calculate the average reservoir
pressure,jL as
Fcal=Pwf+9bpss """""
"""""
"""""
"""""
"""""
"""""
'""""
"""""
""""(A-l6)

Plotting~~ versusNp gi~ tie foliowing~uIts

slope

1
= -g

APPENDIX B - THE ARPS EMPIRICAL RATE

DECLINE FUNCTIONS
This appendix summarizesthe A@ semi-empiricaisolutions
(depletion stems) used in the Fetkovich/McCray1type curves.
These solutionsare derivedfromthe Arps13empiricairesultsfor
flowrate, presentedin the formof theplottingfunctionsgivenby
Fetkovich6 and McCray.8 A complete developmentof these
solutionscan be foundin AppendixB of mf. 16.
in presenting tie AVS solutions we provide ae-vemiaitxiiiar-y
functions based on the flow rate, or in this case dimensionless
flow rate function. The rate and auxiiiaryfunctionsare givenas
foiiows
YatiWle =Onlw
~@ Function
$:M
DimensionlessCumulativeProduction
DimensionlessRateIntegraiFunction
91mi
DimensionlessRateIntegraiDerivative
9W
Aa a prelude to these developments, we acknowledgethat a
speciai ~~~~n~!a~~r~ has been adoilted for the Arpssolutions. In
particular,the term exponentialdeclinerefersto thecasewhere
the flow rate decays in an exponentialfashion with respect to
time.
The exponentialdeclinecaseis the~
for therate
behavior in a well producinga single phase liquid at a constant
nrecmwe

drivemechanisms)are aisoempirical,basedmoreon speculation

thantheory.
The purpose of this appendix is to collect the pertinent Arps
relations and to provide an introduction to the auxiliary rate
functions so that interested readers may create their own type
curves. Starting@I the Arpsdlmens:onlessratefunction,q~,
we havethe followingcases
Arps Dimensionless Fiow Rate Reiations
The differentcasesfor the dimensionlessflowrate, qM, function
rm=~.oivt=n
-
.-.. rIc
-

@:~

y-intercept = pi ............................................ (A-18)

x-intercept = NPmOV=Npatw ......................(A-19)
While Eqs. A-16 to A-19 provide the most rigorous and
comprehensiveanaiysisof movableoii, this analysisrequiresa
certain degree of interpretation. For example, we will never
producean oil reservoirto the@condition, so we realiywantto
determineN*,moVat some~~, whichdependaon the producing
conditions.
Obviouaiythis methodassumesthat the measuredflowratesand
bottomhole pressures are msonably accurate,which is usuaiiy
m the case in practice. So again,we havea tail for vigiiantdata
aquisition--if we want to performstate-of-the-artanaiysisand
interpretationof productiondata.

hnftnmlplp

SPE 28688

AC shnwn

~y

Eh!~g-ECO~Qrn.~&ZS

. . . . . . .. . . y. .= - .. - . . ..
Rarney.17
The term harmonic decline

Ihponentiak (b=O)
Hyperbolic (04<1)

q~ = exp(-t~) . ... . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. ...(B-l)

9W .
1
. .. . .. .... . . .. ...(B-2)
[1+ bt~llb

Hamwnic: (b=l)

m=

............3)....(B-3)

Arps Dimensionless Cumulative Production Reiations

The definitionof the dimensionlesscumulativeproduction,NPW,

is givenby
t~
q~?) dt ........................................(B-4)
Jo
The differentcasesfor the dimensionlesscumulativeproduction,
NPLM,
functionare givenas

NPZM
=

NPLM= [1-ex~-t~~ ..............(B-5)

or in termsof q~

Ihponentiak (b=O)

NPLM= [1-q~]
Hyperbolic: (Ocbcl)

. . . . .. . .. .. .. .. .. ...(B-6)

Np~ = #l.
[l+b#-@]
1-
or in termsof ?Mand q~
Np~ = *[1
.

. . . ..(B-7)

q~d (1 +brM)l...(ItI)I)

or in termsof q~
NPW = ~[1
.
Harnwnic (b=l)

-q&b] . .. .. . .. .. . . ..(B-9)

NPW = in(l+tw) ................(B-lO)

or in termsof q~
~pDd

Mi;9w)=

-wg~)...

(iijij

Arps Dimensionless Rate Integral Relations

The definitionof the dimensionieasrate intcgraifunction,q~, is

oivm
~.
. . . . hv
=

MIC!

refers to the case where

the fiowratevariesin a reciprocalfashionwithtimeor sometime

function for intermediate to large times. This case is also
anaiyticaiin the sense that flow rate normalizedby pressure
drop plotted versus the materialbaiancetime functionyields
exactiy a harmonic decline during boundary-dominatedflow
conditions,as shownby Eq. A-7.
The hyperbolicdeclineis the general term givento any decline
curve case lying betweenthe exponentialand harmonicdecline
cases. Hyperbolic cases generailyhave iittie if any analytical
basis,the most notableexceptionsbeingcertainideaiandreaigas
flow cases as described by Fetkovich.c The hyperbolicdecline
caseaaretypicaiiyuaedto~
datairendsandmost
attempts to correlate hyperbolic behavior with physical
phenomena(e.g.,changesin mobiiity,layerfeatures,andspecific

9Ddi

!W=L
~m
hi

dr .......................... (B-12)

q~r)

Thedifferentcases for thedimensionlessrateintegralfunctionare

givenbeiow
&ponentiak (b=O)

9Lkii

~[1-exp(-t~)l
~w

or in termsof q~
Wklt = -L[l.
*m

.......(B-13)

qM].............(B-14)

---

c.-. - .. -----

Lb

SPE28688

Hyperbolic: (kb<l)

~w

UOUDlek

= -1_ d_[I.
trn l-b

r.h.

ranae,

ms

L(l-

/1*

h\l

l-b Itm u Viii 1 ~ 16)

............................ .
Mmttontc(b=l)

~M

= _L~l+t~)

or in termsof q~
. . .. . . .. ..(B-18)

tDA =0.m33*

@c/i

17

. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(C.2)

and the dimensionlesstimebasedon wellbore.radius,rW, is given

~;
tD=0.~633&

.. .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . ... .. .. .. .. . . . ... . ....(C.3)

4tctr~

Combiningeitherdefinitionof dimensionlesstime(Eq.C-2 or C3) yields the followingexpressionfor the dimensionlessdecline

time
2

t~ = 0.00633~

Arps Dimensionless Rate Integral Derivative Relations

The definition of the dimensionless rate integral derivative

function,q~ti, whichwe wume to be @tive~ iSgivenby

.d!mL=.tw*

..tM-A..##
..(B.19)
()
d ln(t~]
Or if we use the def~ition of the cumulativeproductionfunction,
NPLM,
we have
.

.-,4
T A Rl!i@ino!tm
cwu . ..=. A-M-..fF..-

. . . . .. .. ..(B.17)

tm

9Ddi = &@qN)

. ...

wherethe dimensionlesstime basedon drainagearea,A, is given

by

[ l+btj(l- I@]

............................ (B-15)
or in termsof q~
qM

- 1--..11

L .J. m.umm,

#/@@
pl -L
eYCAr&
[1

.......................(C-4)

Similarlythe definitionof the dnensionless declineflowrateis

givenby

w=1412aw%k?)l*

McCray8definedtie dimensionl~s declineintegralflow rate

functionas

mqm&m
.......................................(C-6)

9Ddl.=l,m o

t~
1

Expandingthe derivativeandredueinggives
..1
!?LMdmo

q~t) dr- q~

and McCraysalso definedthe dimensionlessdeclineflowrate

integraldeuivstivefunctionas

. . . . . ... . . . .. .. . . .. . .. .. . (B-20)

CombiningEqs. B-12 with B-20gives the most usefuldefinition

of thedimensionlessrate integralderivativefunction,q~.
This
result
isgivenas
redid = 9LM-9LM............................................ (B-21)
ApplyingEq. B-21 to our previousresultsfor the qmi functions
yields
13ponentiak (b=O)

.A12r
L=.

9M

qWi=141.2&~h

.............................(c-7)

(q/@)i ....................(C-8)

e yCAr$a
[1

and

qDdid=141.2#~ln
~
[1

(q/Ap)id. . . . .. .. .. .. . .. . ..(C-9)

i
J
i%[ii-@4&f+b)l-q~
............................
where

= _&[l- ex~-hi~ - qDd

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (B-22)

(q/Ap)i= ~

Hyperbolic (Ml)

~d~ .......................................... (c-lo)

toAp

==
Harmonic (b=l)

t&R&

d ln(tm)
The dimensionalformsof thesemhtions aregivenby

(B-23)

qDfM = -&(l+t

Dd)-qDd...24)4)

APPENDIX C - PROCEDURE FOR THE ANALYSIS

OF PRODUCTION DATA USING THE FETKOVICW
MCCRAY TYPE CURVES

In this appendix we develop analysis relations for the

Fetkovich/McCraylo type curves. In order to generalizethe
---1..-:- ------- c-. ---! :-..:--- ,. . . . ..:-..1... -.a-.a:. 1..,.la
arwysm wncwpt Iur appuwwwn w IIUII-UUU414U I GWI VUII CIIICLF
we have defined modified expressions for dimensionless
deelinevariables. RecallthatFetkovich,aas wellas laterefforts
(refs.7-10),all considerthe case of a boundedcircularreservoir.
Whilethis solutionis usuallyacceptableforanalysisof production
data from vertical wells, we must understandhow to interpret
performanceresponsesfrom non-circularreservoirshapes. The
use of the reservoir shape factor, CA,permits interpretationof
otherreservoirgeometries.
Startingwith the dimensionlessdeclinetimefunction,wehave

=@&J2mDA=l*2D
,---

bycAdtz]
. .. . .. .. . . . .. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . .. . .. .. . . . .. .. . .. . . .. . . . (c-l)

and

4@Ml=.#@Ap)J
.......................(C-11)

(q/Ap)~= - d ~(d

d;

Curve Ma@@@mWE

This procedureassumesthatwehaveaccuratemeasuredratesand
pressures as a function of time. Unfortunately,pressuresare
usually not available, so for the purposes of analysis and
;-+--.**.*;*...- -.., h..,- *na.m,,mm
* *n@*st
nmee,lm Arnn
MILG&~lGUXUU1l, W- LIMAJ U-VU
U -O USbSb.E -u1.a_alb ~SVU-UL- U. VP
@IIIL
Ap=pl-pW(.when PWIis assumedto be constantwith time.
The assumptionof a constantpressuredrop poseslittle difficulty
in the analysis--althoughthis assumption may cause errors in
interpretation.
1. Compute the material balance time function from the
productionratedata. This functionis givenby
i= N~q . . . ... . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . (C-12)
2. Computethe flowrateand flowrateintegralfunctionsusing
the material balance time function. These functions are
givenby

(q/Ap)= h=

..................................(C-13)

DeclineCurveAnalysisUsingTypeCurves-AnalysisofOilWellProductionDataUsingMaterialBalanceTime

18

Application to Field Ca.wxI

ft@p)j= &[ ~ dt ......................................(C-14)

CJO4P
(q;@)ti= - d@APll = ~ #?/~P)il

w
................... [P-1
.. --,
d ln(~
&
A minorcomputationalissueis that the datamustbeSQU@
._ . .
c..-..,:-- Iul
tm- PIUIJCU
..-~~-- -albulmL.ull
..eln,,ls~;tim
fif thm
m teriiis Of he i UIIIWIUII
w. ~.w
integral andintegralderivativefunctions.
Plot
q/Ap, (q/Ap)i, and (ghpkj versus ~on a scaledlog-log
3.
grid. Force match the data trends onto the Arps b= 1
(harmonic) stem on the Fetkovich/McCraytype curve.
-oral the timeand rateaxismatchpointsas wellas the
matched transient r~

stem.

Xfthematerialbalancetimefimction,~,is correctlycalculatedthen
a scaled log-log plot of q/Ap versus z will exactly overlaythe q~
versus r~ trend for a harmonic decline on the Fetkovich/
Mccraylotypecurve. Oncea matchof thedataandthetypecurve
has beenObtied: the time andrateaxismatchpointscank used
to developthe followingrelationsfor bPWandN
~

-Ja2fk

P$z- [q/Ap~

. .. . .. . . .. . . . ... ... . ... . . .. .. .. . . ... . .. .. ... . .. (C-16)

N= l&(q/Apb
.. . .. .. .. .. . . . .. . . .. . . ... . .. .. .. .. .. .. (C-17)
c1(bJIVtP (9DJMP

whereM.P.refersto the matchpointvrdue.

We then may solve for the drainagearea using the estimateof
Oxiginaloil-in-place
A=5.6148~

. . . .. . .. . . . .. .. . . .. . . . .. .. ... . ... . ...(C.l8)

#/l (l-sw~w)

wherethe effectivedrainageradius,re, can be estimatedfromthe

followingidentity
re= P = ...................................................... (C-19)
From the rate match point, we can solve for the formation
permeability,k
k=141.2~;h[~]~~~]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(C-20)

-Fromthe matchof the dataon a particulartransientstem(a unique

valueof r~), we can solve for the effectivewellboreradius,rW,
and the skin factor,s. Theseestimatesamobtainedusing
rfi

and
s =-

r~

.............................. ........ ..................

~
4)rw

(C-21)

. . . .. . . . .. . .. .. .. . . .. . .. .. . .. . . .. .. . .. . .. . .... . .. . .. (c-22)

SPE 28688

19

L.E. DoubleL P.K. Psnde, T.J. McCollum, snd T.A. Blssingsme

SPE 28688

10

I*

,N*

Id
lti

1:
:
:-~
-%I!?SS-=2E2===

i- k---------

,.O

---------------------------

1000

t
moo

1
zooo

I
0

tow

40C0

Figure6- SernUogPmduotim plotfor SirnutafedCeee #2 (Vadebfep~with

SM-ine).

Figural
.Fatkwkhqodarld
%ddvJP@QJfJ-.
1$~

10

10

tow

Ftgure7- Log-LogProductionPtotIor SlrnutatedCaee #i?(VariabfePdvhfh Shut-ha).

I
1

I
#

10+

16

ld

,
7

1
1
10

~N$

-1

10

FlgJre 8- RateFmoflonsforSbnufated
CeeeW(variablePWWIUI

----

lti

. -------1
0

---------1

SOO

F19re3-serIIuog

.1

lWO

. . . . . . . ..- ---------I

tc%

..........

Zom

--i-

Shut-ha).

.... .

$0

3mo

Prod@on Plotfor SirnutatedCase #l (ConstantfJ~.

J
~

d=ppk-1
I

Ik

10

I&

10*
-Oateforsirnutatad cuoml
ComtaIM P- . FtadM FiOWType ~M.

Figure
9Metchot~
Figure4- LqFLqI ProdxUm Pbf for SlrnulatedCaee #l (Constantpd.

W. 1
W

ld

10

I
1

w%
-r

Fbure5 Rate FurElwe for Sknufated_

1
1

.-1-

lti

d
81 (~

pd.

DeclineCurveAnalysisUsingTypeCurves-Analysisof OdWellProductionDataUsingMaferialBalanceTime:
Applicationto FieldCases
1

tm.

IE!!Ezl:

.- .

---c

wooo

WA

w ,

a 8.aJl.a-

N,,STS

mm~

L-m

- Movsble Oii EsfimstiofI

ffan RetoHietofy.

F-11
I

O.mot

SPE 28688

E!!Eiim
,,

-----

w.:

-.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

..

Figum 12- Movsble Oil

Esfimstim
fromNonnsliARsteHistoty.

Ie4&i:_J2.:eLK
tm4

&

Ie

1604

i
1

4202

@Of
A

----

4
1
1901
l

SEC.

q+_T!f
.0

mom

N,.STS

Figure 14- Mwsble Oil EsUmstbn from Rste Hktofy.

loioo

S&m ___S&o
%.~

4&o

Soioo

Figure 15- Movs14e Oit Eetimstfon fromNonmtized Rate Hiototy.

lfl-

10

t
ld

Lx

Figum20-Log-tog Pmddion Ptotfor NRU Wd 4202 (Cbadodt).

F@m16-Mcwsbfe

Oil EsffmetionfromCaic@Uedpti.

21

L.E. Double4 P.K. Pande, T.J. McCollum, and T.A. Blaaingame

SPE 28688
I

1o

.I

Ill

Ill

M=-!%-

--J
UP

~..

.a

(w%

-1 [
104 I

--H
tow

4
\ I
I
1
WOO mOOO lam

14000

F~ra 25- Sadlog Pmductica plot for NRU Wall 1004 (Clewfofk).

10

I
eooo

I
4000

I
ZmO

I
o

lo~

ObJ.s
044

-r

F@UM 21- Rate FunctionEfor NRU Well 4202 (ClamfoIIC).

.*C

am=d~-=

-.

Pmdumonoatatw NRuwd4202(~)-w-m-.
Rgwaa2-Matchd

*
10

13Ela~

@N;$

lo~

10

Figure27- Rata Functionsfof NRU Wail 1004- (Cbarfwk).

!I I , _-+%;._&

F@Jm23- MovableOil EatimatkmfromRate Hiatcq.

?f&aJAv9E&tnu
K,

1
&

Am,

604

/&n

~;

402

400

@403

103

fto3

K-1-+

:492

300

307

&

&

,404

200

~,

04

104

-L
~

1000

104)1

-----

;Ole

N2

&o:

1M2

-----

~24-NRUWloo4-~6d~*-U&

1002

1004

m-

210

&;mo&29,
1007
L__a%

w.?

::.3

209

&

200
zo-

-----

1004

.n

. ....

*mooo

150M0

zOOooozsoOOo

#$.ala

Rgum 29- Movable (2II EatimatJon

fromRateI+Mxy.

22

Using Type Curves-Analysis of Ofl Well Production Dafa Using Material Balance Time:
Application to Fmld Cases

Decline Cunfe Analysis

:
e

ld

10
a

m.

SPE 28688

b-*am

1500

-m

10

. -d

lfl
zooo

am

am

am

10MO

nooO

9400

ld I

Zm

ao

1W18

Fi~m

30- Sernibg Pmdmlion Pfof for Well A (Sprabarry).

1000

800

mo
tow

woo

plot for Sartm LigfItaay Well S4 (Austin Chalk).

PlOdUcbm
.

Rglna35serrlilog

Fq)ura31- Log-@ Produdbn Pfot for Wafl A (Sfxabarry).

,
10

12
fi~m

&

10

ld

tow

3S - Log-LogProductionPtoffor SartonLightaayWall S4 (Austin Chatk).

F@m 33- Rata Fundona for Wall A (Sprabany).

.-.
_. -..

Figure 37- Rate Funofiona for Mton

SQ
40-

1
.

12Ezl
:

F~m

(Auam-)w*TYwh.
I

10M -

onLigtucqwdla4
1

.
..

. .

aOooo

100ooo
N,,8t8

mooo

EEiiE!a

2ooo-

100

fMcflofPmduoumoalatorsd

3S.

zooo

.*

=-%
i!.
&zo

Ugfrfaay WeM S4 (Auafin Chafk).

zOoooO

F@um39-Movabie 011EafimaUmffofn Rate~.

23
L.E. Doublet. P.K. Psnde, T.J. McCollum, snd T.A. BlssingsJne

SPE 28688

41- Mwsbls Oil t&fnStiOfI frWII@kUhtSd ~.

nul

lSOQ

FzzEiEa:

.
0.40

i!

~.*

%,
$;:

$=
0.10
i
.....
N,.

STS

Figure 47- Moveble Oil Estimtbn

fmm NOnndizsd ReteHistmy.

T-FzrI

~FFw--l
.
! . ......!....J

10

10

td
~
10Q

43- ~

ld
toew

pmductianPM for S Csnsbbs Well 225 (AustinChslk).

-*

rw-@--+

,=

-.. .. --

+ -=-

.a .

d
10

10

10

. ..

.=

101

-P
...
-..

.~i

-.0

. ..-

-. ..:.%J%J&:
. .
. ..
I
...
I
. . . . . .
t
...
,..
I
/.
I
....

....
;~~

. ..
++-

..U+
A

..

..

. . of OdWellProductionDataUsingMaterialBalanceTtme:
Ikcline CurveAnalysisUsingTypeCuwe+-fidysk

SPE28688

24 ~FeldSAN7ACURA FIELO
LM-O
m
VCRIEALNETAVUAP
LP&wallzmu
m. cOumIJ Omv

-----

l-..=

.....

d
I

11

I /1

1000

IEzE31
:

soo-

0
0

mo
10*

*m

lEM

Sooo

loco

em

51- -q
I@

g I@
e

XX
.

sem

sooo

Fqum 55- Mmrsbls Oil EsUmstion trorn Rste History.

1
I
I
I

020 I

EEzE$ll

Gilds Well S-42 (Lower Repetto).

. ..=.

wd~
OQO
o

10m
10

l&

~*

10

10

Figure 52- Log-l-q Production PM for Gilds Well S-42 (Lower Repelto)
10

SOOooo

F~m

E4 - Movsble Oil Estirnstb

I

moooI

mooJ

wmooo
N,. STS

lsOooOO

zOOOooo

from NorrnsliZed Rate History.

I

GE!E53a

Lwou -

SOOooo

o
Figure

1ooOOOo
N., STS

lsoCoOo

57- Movsble~ &lrnsthmfm~tsdpbu.

ammoo