A Revision Article of

Gas Wells Performance Methods

I. Pseudo-Steady State (Laminar) Flow Condition
The exact solution to the differential form of Darcy's equation for compressible fluids under the
pseudo-steady state flow condition is expressed mathematically as:

pr 2 p
kh( r w f )
kh
=
Qg =
dp

re

r
pwf g Z
1422T ln 0.75 + s 1422T ln e 0.75 + s
rw

rw

(1a)

Since Bg is given by:

Bg =

(14.7) ZT
ZT
= 0.005035
(5.6146)(520) p
p

Plugging into the above equation yields:

kh
Qg =
r

3
Ln e
141
.
22
10
x

rw

p r 1
dp

pwf g Bg

0.75 + s

Where:
Qg
K
h
T
re
rw
s

= gas flow rate, Mscf/day

= permeability, md
= reservoir thickness, ft
= reservoir temperature, R
= drainage radius, ft
= wellbore radius, ft
= skin factor
= gas viscosity, cp

Z
Bg

= gas compressibility factor

= gas volume factor, bbl/scf
= average (static) reservoir real gas pseudo-pressure, psi2/cp

r
wf

= wellbore bottom-hole flowing real gas pseudo-pressure, psi2/cp

(1b)

Equation (1) can be approximated since the pressure function exhibits three distinct pressure
application regions as follows:

1. Low Pressure Region

When both Pr and Pwf are less than 2000 psi, the pressure functions

2p

g Z and

g Bg

exhibit a linear relationship with pressure; i.e. the product g Z is essentially constant when
evaluated at pressures below 2000 psi. Implementing this observation into the above integral gives the
following approximation:

kh( p 2 r p 2 wf )
Qg =
r

ln e

1422
T
(
Z
)
g

p 2 wf + p 2 r
rw

2
2
= J ( p r p wf )

0.75 + s

(2)

Where J is the productivity index of the gas well which is analogous to that of an oil well; i.e.:

J =
1422T ( Z )
g

Qg

kh
=
re
r wf
ln 0.75 + s
p 2 wf + p 2 r
rw

Construct the IPR curve by assuming various values of Pwf and calculating the corresponding Qg .
This method is commonly called the pressure-squared approximation method.

2. Intermediate Pressure Region

When both Pr and Pwf are between 2000 and 3000 psi, the pressure functions

2p

g Z and

g Bg show distinct curvature. Construct the IPR curve by assuming various

values pwf and calculating the corresponding Qg using the above equation:

pr

kh( r wf )
2p
kh

Qg =
dp

=
re
pwf g Z

r

e
1422T ln r 0.75 + s 1422T ln r 0.75 + s
w

pr
kh
2p

=
dp

r
g
141.22 x103 ln e 0.75 + s p wf

rw

(3)

3. High Pressure Region

When both Pr and Pwf are greater than 3000 psi, the pressure functions

2p

g Z and

g Bg

are nearly constants. This suggests that the pressure term in the above equation is taken outside the
integral to give the following approximation:

kh( pr pwf )

Qg =

re

141.22 x103 ( B )
0.75 + s
g g p wf + p r ln

rw

(4)

Construct the IPR curve by assuming various values of Pwf and calculating the corresponding Qg .
This method is commonly called the pressure-approximation method.

II. Semi-Steady State (Turbulent) Flow Condition

To account for the additional pressure drops due to the turbulent flow, the rate-dependent skin factor
DQg is included in the pseudo-steady state equations. The resulting set of equations is:

1. Pressure-Squared Approximation Form

Qg =

1422T ( g Z )

2
2

kh( p r p wf )

e
ln 0.75 + s + DQg
p 2 wf + p 2 r
rw

2

Where:
D = inertial or turbulent flow term =

Fkh

1422T
T g
F = non-Darcy flow coefficient = 3.161x10 12 2
h rw
= turbulence parameter = 1.88x 1010 k 1.47 0.53

2. Pressure Approximation Form

kh( pr pwf )

Qg =

re

141.22 x103 ( B )
0.75 + s + DQg
g g p wf + p r ln

rw

3. Real Gas Potential (Pseudo-Pressure) Form

kh( r wf )
Qg =

e
1422T ln r 0.75 + s + DQg
w

The above equations do not represent explicit expressions for calculating the gas flow rate. There
are two separate empirical treatments that can be used to represent the turbulent flow problem in

gas wells. Both treatments are directly derived from the above equations. The two treatments are
called the simplified treatment approach and the laminar inertial turbulent approach.

1. The Simplified Treatment Approach

Based on the analysis of a large number of gas wells, Rawlins and Schellhardt (1936)
postulated that the relationship between the gas flow rate and pressure can be expressed as:

Qg = C ( p 2 r p 2 wf ) n
Where:
Qg
Pr
Pwf
n
C

= gas flow rate, Mscf/day

= average reservoir pressure, psi
= wellbore flowing pressure, psi
= deliverability exponent
= performance coefficient, Mscf/day/psi 2

This equation is called Deliverability or Back-pressure equation. Taking the logarithm of both
sides of the equation yields:

log(Qg ) = log(C ) + n log( p 2 r p 2 wf )

This equation suggests that a plot of Qg versus (Pr2 Pwf2f) on a log-log paper should yield a straight line
having a slope of n. In the industry, the plot is reversed by plotting (Pr2 Pw2f) versus Qgg produce a
straight line with a slope of (1/n). This plot is called Deliverability or Backpressure plot. The deliverability
exponent can be determined from any two points on the line. C is then calculated as follows:

C=

Qg
( p r p 2 wf ) n
2

Once n and C are determined, the gas flow rate Qg at any pressure Pwf can be calculated and the IPR curve
may be constructed. There are essentially three types of deliverability tests. These are:
Conventional Deliverability (Backpressure) Test
Isochronal Test
Modified isochronal Test

2. The Laminar Inertia! Turbulent Approach

Pressure-Squared Quadratic Approach (recommended at pressures below 2000 psi)

The pressure-squared equation:

Qg =

1422T ( g Z )

2
2

kh( p r p wf )

ln e 0.75 + s + DQg
p 2 wf + p 2 r
rw

2

Can be written in a more simplified form as follows:

2

p 2 r p 2 wf = aQg + bQg
Where:

b = laminar flow coefficient, which is given by :

1422T ( g Z )

b =

kh

p 2 wf p 2 r
2

re
ln 0.75 + s

rw

a = inertial-turbulent flow coefficient, which is given by:

1422T ( g Z )

a =

kh

p 2 wf p 2 r
2

The above equation can be linearized by dividing both sides of the equation by Qg to yield:

p 2 r p 2 wf
= aQg + b
Qg
2

The coefficients a and b are determined by plotting (

p 2 r pwf )

Qg

versus Qg on a linear scale and

should yield a straight line with a slope of a and an intercept of b. Given the values of a and b, the quadratic
flow equation can be solved for Qg at any Pwf from:

Qg =

b + b 2 + 4a ( p 2 r p 2 wf )
2a

The IPR curve is constructed by assuming various values of Pwf and calculating the
corresponding Qg .

Pressure Quadratic Approach (recommended at pressures above 3000 psi)

The pressure equation:

kh( pr pwf )

Qg =

re

141.22 x103 ( B )
0.75 + s + DQg
g g p wf + p r ln

rw
2

Can be written in a more simplified form as follows:

2

pr pwf = aQg + bQg

Where:
b = laminar flow coefficient, which is given by:

141.22 x10 3 ( g Z )

b =

kh

p 2 wf p 2 r
2

e
ln 0.75 + s

rw

a = inertial-turbulent flow coefficient, which is given by:

141.22 x10 3 ( g Z )

a =

kh

p 2 wf p 2 r
2

The above equation can be linearized by dividing both sides of the equation by Qg to yield:

pr pwf
Qg
The coefficients a and b are determined by plotting (

= aQg + b
p r p wf )

Qg

versus Qg on a linear scale

should yield a straight line with a slope of a and an intercept of b. Given the values of a and b, the quadratic
flow equation can be solved for Qg at any Pwf from:

Qg =

b + b 2 + 4a ( pr pwf )
2a

The IPR curve is constructed by assuming various values of Pwf and calculating the corresponding Qg

 Pseudo-pressure Quadratic Approach (more rigorous and applicable to all ranges of pressure)

The pseudo-pressure equation:

kh( r wf )
Qg =

e
1422T ln r 0.75 + s + DQg
w

Can be written in a more simplified form as follows:

wf

= aQ

2
g

+ bQ

where :
b = laminar flow coefficient, which is given by:

1422 re

b =
ln 0.75 + s

kh rw

a = inertial-turbulent flow coefficient, which is given by:

1422
a =
D
kh
The above equation can be linearized by dividing both sides of the equation by Qg to yield:

r wf
Qg

= aQg + b

r wf )

The coefficients a and b are determined by plotting (

Qg

versus Qg on a linear scale and

should yield a straight line with a slope of a and an intercept of b. Given the values of a and b,
the quadratic flow equation can be solved for Qg any wf from:

Qg =

b + b 2 + 4a( r wf )
2a

b + b + 4a
2

pr

p wf

2a

2p
dp
g Z

The IPR curve is constructed by assuming various values of wf and calculating the corresponding Qvg.