DR.

ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

1
 Derivation of RDE

In the course of development of the transient flow

equation three independent equations will be used:

1. Continuity equation: material balance equation which

states conservation of mass

2. Equation of motion : Darcy’s equation which defines

fluid flow through porous media

3. Equation of state : Compressibility equation which

describes changes in the fluid volume as a function of
pressure

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Continuity Equation (1/6)

Reservoir
boundary
Well

Formation
thickness

Schematic of reservoir

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Continuity Equation (2/6)

Under the steady-state flow

conditions, the same amount of
fluid enters and leaves the flow
element. However they are not
equal to each other during
Flow Element
unsteady-state (transient) flow
(control volume)
conditions. Nevertheless, the
mass must be conserved in both
cases.
Mass out Mass in

h
r

Making a mass balance over the rw

r
volume element during a time
r+r
period of t

Mass entering Mass leaving Mass accumulated

= (1)
volume element volume element in the volume
during t during t element during t

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Continuity Equation (3/6)

MASS IN MASS OUT = MASS

ACCUMULATED

Massin  Av r r t (2)

where;
 = velocity of flowing fluid
 = fluid density at r+r The area of the volume element at the
A = area at r+r entry:

t = time interval A = 2(r+r)h

Massin  2 r  r hv r r t (3)

similarly;

Massout  2rhv r t (4)

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Continuity Equation (4/6)

On the other hand;

Mass accumulated = mass at time t – mass at time t

Masst t  2rhr t t (5)

Masst  2rhr t (6)

Substituting in above definition:

MassAcc.  2rhrt t  t  (7)

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Continuity Equation (5/6)

Substituting Equations 3, 4 and 7 in equation 1:

2hr  r v r r t   2hrv r t   2hrrt t  t  (8)

Rearranging equation 8:

2htr  r v r  r  r v r   2hrrt  t  t  (9)

Dividing the both sides of the equation 9 by 2hr t :

2htr  r v r r  r v r  2hrrt t  t 

 (10)
2hrt 2hrt
Hence finally:

1 r  r v r r  r v r  t  t  t 

 (11)
r r t
DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO
 Continuity Equation (6/6)

Let’s take limits as both r and t approaches zero;

lim
1 r  r v r  r  r v r 
 lim
t t  t  (12)
r 0 r r t 0 t
or:

1  
Continuity equation r v    (13)
r r t
where;
 = velocity of flowing fluid
 = fluid density at r+r
 = porosity

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Equation of Motion
Darcy’s law;

kA P where;

q k = permeability (14)

 r  = fluid viscosity

definition of velocity;

q
v (15)

A
Substituting in equation 14;

k P
v (16)

 r
DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO
Transient Flow Equation (1/2)
Substituting equation 16 in equation 13;

1   k P  
 r    (17)
r r   r  t
Expanding the right hand side of equation 13:


      
t t t (18)

Porosity is related to the formation compressibility by:

1 
cr 
 P (19)

Applying the chain rule of differentiation to /t:

  P

t P t
(20)

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Transient Flow Equation (2/2)
Substituting equation 19 in equation 20;

 P
 cr
t t
(21)

substituting this into equation 18 :

  P
    cr
t t t (22)

Finally substituting equation 22 into equation 17:

1   k P   P
 r    cr (23)
r r   r  t t

Equation 23 is the general partial differential equation that describes

the flow of any type of fluid in porous medium.

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Transient Flow Equation
for Slightly Compressible Fluids (1/6)
Let us simplify equation 23 by assuming permeability and viscosity
are constants with respect to pressure, time and distance;

 k    P   P
   r    cr (24)

 r  r  r  t t
Expanding above equation gives :

 k    P  2 P P   P 
    2    c   (25)
     t t
r
  r r r r r 
Applying the chain rule in the the above equation:


 k   P  P  P   
2 2
P P 
    2     cr  (26)

   r r r  r  P  t t P
DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO
Transient Flow Equation
for Slightly Compressible Fluids (2/6)
Dividing the both sides of the above equation by ;

 k  1 P  2 P  P   1   P  1  (27)

2
P
   2       cr   
   r r r  r    P  t t   P 
Remembering fluid compressibility is related to its density by:

1 
cf 
 P (28)

Combining equations 27 and 28:

 k  1 P  2 P   

2
P P P
   2  c f     cr  c f (29)

   r r r  r   t t

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Transient Flow Equation
for Slightly Compressible Fluids (3/6)
The square of pressure gradient over distance can be considered
very small and negligible which yields;

 k   1 P  2 P  P
    2    cr  c f  (30)

    r r r  t
Defining the total compressibility ct:

ct  cr  c f (31)

Substituting equations 31 in 30 and rearranging:

 2 P 1 P ct P
  (32)
r 2
r r k t

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Transient Flow Equation
for Slightly Compressible Fluids (4/6)

 P 1 P ct P
2
  (32)

r 2
r r k t

Equation 32 is called as DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION and is

considered one of the most important and widely used
mathematical expression in Petroleum Engineering.
The diffusivity equation can be rearranged with the inclusion of
field units and is used in the analysis of well testing data where
time is commonly in hours.

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Transient Flow Equation
for Slightly Compressible Fluids (5/6)
 2 P 1 P ct P
 
r 2
r r 0.0002637 k t
Where;
k = permeability, md
r = radial position, ft
P = pressure, psia
ct = total compressibility, psi-1
t = time, hours
 = porosity, fraction
 = viscosity, cp
DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO
(33)
Assumptions inherent in equation 33 (2,3,4):
1. Radial flow into well opened entire thickness of
formation
2. Laminar flow (Darcy)
3. Homogeneous and isotropic porous medium
4. Porous medium has constant permeability and
compressibility
5. Gravity effects are negligible
6. Isothermal conditions
7. Fluid has small and constant compressibility
8. Fluid viscosity is constant
Transient Flow Equation
for Slightly Compressible Fluids (6/6)

Diffusivity equation is generally is shown as:

1   P  ct P
r 
(34)

r r  r  k t

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Solutions to Diffusivity Equation
There are three basic cases of interest towards
the solution of Diffusivity Equation:

1. Constant production rate, Infinite

Reservoir
2. Constant production rate, no-flow at the
outer boundary
3. Constant production, constant pressure at
the outer boundary

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Initial and Boundary Conditions
for
Constant Production Rate, Infinite Boundary

1   P  ct P
Equation: r  (34)
r r  r  k t
Initial Condition: Pr ,0  Pi (35)

Boundary Conditions:
2kh  P 
Inner Boundary q r  (36)
  r  rw
Outer Boundary Pr  , t   Pi (37)

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 Initial and Boundary Conditions
for
Constant Production Rate, No-Flow Boundary

1   P  ct P
Equation: r  (34)
r r  r  k t
Initial Condition: Pr ,0  Pi (35)

Boundary Conditions:
2kh  P 
Inner Boundary q r  (36)
  r  rw
 P 
Outer Boundary   0 (38)
 r  re
DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO
 Initial and Boundary Conditions
for
Constant Production Rate, Constant Pressure Boundary

1   P  ct P
Equation: r  (34)
r r  r  k t
Initial Condition: Pr ,0  Pi (35)

Boundary Conditions:
2kh  P 
Inner Boundary q r  (36)
  r  rw

Outer Boundary Pr  re , t   Pi (39)

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Dimensionless Form of
Diffusivity Equation
Most of the time dimensionless groups are used to express Diffusivity
equation more simply. Many well test analysis techniques use
dimensionless variables to depict general trends rather than working
with specific parameters (like k, t, rw, re and h).
One must define dimensionless groups to be able to convert the
diffusivity equation below to its dimensionless form.

1   P  ct P
r  (34)
r r  r  k t

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Dimensionless Groups for
Diffusivity Equation
Dimensionless Pressure:

PD 
kh
Pi  P  (40)
qB
Dimensionless Radius:

r
rD  (41)
rw
Dimensionless time:

kt
tD  (42)
ct rw2

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Dimensionless form of
Diffusivity Equation
The diffusivity equation then can be expressed in dimensionless
form by utilizing the dimensionless groups as:

1   PD  PD
 rD   (43)

rD rD  rD  t D

Now it is needed to express the boundary and initial conditions

in dimensionless forms.

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Dimensionless Boundary and Initial Conditions for the Diffusivity Equation
for Constant Rate, Infinite Reservoir
Initial Condition:

PD rD , tD  0  0 (44)

Outer Boundary:

PD rD  , tD   0 (45)

Inner Boundary:

 PD 
   1 (46)

 rD  rD 1

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Dimensionless Boundary and Initial Conditions for the
Diffusivity Equation for Constant Rate, No-Flow Boundary

Initial Condition:

PD rD , tD  0  0 (47)

Outer Boundary:
 PD 
   0 (48)
 rD  reD
Inner Boundary:

 PD 
   1 (49)

 rD  rD 1

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Dimensionless Boundary and Initial Conditions for the
Diffusivity Equation for Constant Rate, Constant Pressure
Boundary
Initial Condition:

PD rD , tD  0  0 (50)

Outer Boundary:

PD rD  reD , t D   0 (51)

Inner Boundary:

 PD 
   1 (52)

 rD  rD 1

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 ASSIGNMENT
Prove that the below partial differential equation is the dimensionless
form of Diffusivity Equation.

1   PD  PD
 rD  
rD rD  rD  t D
Prove also that the below initial and boundary conditions are the
dimensionless forms of Constant Rate Infinite Boundary case.

Initial Condition: PD rD , tD  0  0

Outer Boundary: PD rD  , tD   0

 PD 
Inner Boundary:    1
 rD  rD 1

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Solution to Diffusivity Equation for Constant Line Source
Production Rate Infinite Boundary Case
Diffusivity Equation:

1   PD  PD
 rD   (43)
rD rD  rD  t D

Initial and Boundary Conditions

Initial Condition: PD rD , tD  0  0 (44)

Outer Boundary: PD rD  , tD   0 (45)

 PD 
Inner Boundary: lim  rD   1 (46)
rD 0
 rD  rD

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 1 r 2

PD   Ei  D

2  4t D 
This is the line source solution of the Diffusivity Equation for constant production rate and
infinite reservoir case.

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Solution to Diffusivity Equation for Constant Line Source Production Rate Infinite
Boundary Case
For

rD2
 0.01 (83)
4t D
Exponential integral can be approximated as

1   tD  
PD  ln  2   0.80907  (84)
2   rD  

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

Solution to Diffusivity Equation for Constant Line Source Production Rate Infinite
Boundary Case
And the dimensionless pressure at the wellbore

rD  1 (85)

Exponential integral can be approximated as

PD wellbore 
1
ln tD  0.80907  (86)
2

This is the solution for dimensionless bottom hole well pressure for
constant production rate infinite reservoir case.

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO

 References
1. Dominique Bourdet, “Well Test Analysis: The Use of Advanced Interpretation Models”, Handbook of
Petroleum Exploration and Production, 3. Elsevier, 2002 (Chapter 1)
2. Tarek Ahmed, and Paul D. McKinney, “Advanced Reservoir Engineering”, Elsevier, 2005 (Chapter 1)
3. John Lee, John B. Rollins, and John P. Spivey, “Pressure Transient Testing”, SPE Textbook series Vol. 9.
4. C. S. Matthews, and D. G. Russell, “Pressure Buildup and Flow Tests in Wells”, SPE Monograph Vol. 1

DR. ABDUL HAQUE TUNIO