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Propagation of Radius of Investigation from Producing Well

B.-Z. HSIEH G. V. CHILINGAR Z.-S. LIN

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UESO #200271 (EXP)

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Received: ? 2006

(November 26, 2006)

UESO #200271 (EXP)

[ESO/06/066]

Received: ? 2006

(November 26, 2006)

Energy Sources, Part A, 29:000000, 2007 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1556-7036 print/1556-7230 online DOI: 10.1080/15567030601003759

Propagation of Radius of Investigation from Producing Well

B.-Z. HSIEH
Department of Resources Engineering National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan
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Q1, Q2, Q3

G. V. CHILINGAR
Environmental Engineering Department University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA

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Z.-S. LIN
Department of Resources Engineering National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan
Abstract The purpose of this study is to estimate the pressure disturbance area, or the propagation of the radius of investigation, from a producing well by both analytical and numerical methods. A linear coefcient in the relation between the square of the dimensionless radius of investigation and the dimensionless time is studied and derived. The coefcient in the equation is a constant, and varied with different criterions of radius of investigation dened, i.e., the amount of pressure change from the initial formation pressure at the pressure front of the pressure disturbance area. For the dimensionless pressure dened at the pressure front changing from 0.1095 to 109 , the coefcient varied from 4 to 71.15, respectively. The coefcient of radius of investigation is independent of the level of the ow rate for a well producing at a constant ow rate. For a well producing with variable ow rates, the coefcient is not a constant for the case of larger pressure drops dened at the pressure front. The skin factor does not affect the result of the calculated radius of investigation. The wellbore storage volume will affect the propagation of the radius of investigation only at an early time, depending on the wellbore storage volume. Keywords 15

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Q4

1. Introduction
As uid is produced from the reservoir by a producing well, the pressure disturbance area expands outward from the wellbore and increases as time increases. The pressure
Address correspondence to Zsay-Shing Lin, Dept. of Resources Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, University Rd., Tainan City, 701, Taiwan. E-mail: zsaylin@mail.ncku. edu.tw

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B.-Z. Hsieh et al.

disturbance area created by a producing well is the area enclosed by the pressure front where the disturbed pressure (or the pressure drop from the original pressure) being dened an extremely small value (a value very close to zero). The radius of the pressure disturbance area is called the radius of investigation (ri ), or the radius of drainage. The radius of investigation created by a producing well is a function of time, such as 2 a linear relationship between the square of the dimensionless radius of investigation (riD ) and the dimensionless time (tD ) was found in the literature (Muskat, 1934; Tek et al., 1957; Jones, 1962; Van Poolen, 1964; Lee, 1982). The radius of investigation equation 2 with a dimensionless form is riD = tD , where is a coefcient. The radius of investigation with the coefcient () of 4 is used very often in well test analysis (Muskat, 1934; Van Poolen, 1964; Matthews and Russell, 1967; Lee, 1982; Chaudhry, 2004). Some other studies obtained the coefcient of 16 and 18.4 (Jones, 1962; Tek et al., 1957). These radius of investigation equations are derived for the case of constant ow rate. And no mention in the literature is made on the condition at the pressure front or the boundary of the disturbed area. It is infrequent that the coefcient () in the equation is obtained for the case of variable ow rates. Also, skin factor and wellbore storage are not considered in the studies of radius of investigation in the literature. The purpose of this study is to estimate the pressure disturbance area (i.e., the propagation of the radius of investigation) from a producing well using both analytical and numerical methods. Also, this study is going to establish the radius of investigation equation in terms of dimensionless radius and dimensionless time for different criterion of dimensionless pressure dened at the pressure front. The effects of skin and wellbore storage to the linear coefcient are also included in this study.

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2. Basic Theory
2.1. Analytical Solution for Estimation of Radius of Investigation For an isotropic porous medium that is isothermal and homogeneous, with uniform thickness, constant porosity and constant permeability, the dimensionless equation describing single phase uid ow in a circular reservoir is (Lee, 1982): 1 pD pD 2 pD + = 2 rD rD tD rD where pD = tD = rD = kh(pi p) 141.2qB 0.000264kt 2 crw r rw (2) (1)
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(3) (4)

For a well producing at a constant production rate with zero wellbore radius in an innite cylindrical reservoir with uniform initial pressure before production begins,

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Radius of Investigation from Producing Well

the analytical solution of the diffusivity equation for an innite cylindrical reservoir is (Earlougher, 1977): r2 1 pD = Ei D 2 4tD where Ei (x) = E1 (x) =
x

(5)

eu du = 0.5772 ln x + u

n k=1

(1)k+1 x k k(k!)

(6)

In a well producing at variable ow rates, the pressure drop in the formation at the nth ow rate (n > 2) can be calculated by using the superposition of Eq. (5) as follows (Earlougher, 1977): ( p)total = or pD1 = where pD1 = and tD [t ti1 ] = 0.000264k(t ti1 ) . 2 crw kh( p)total 141.2q1 B r2 1 Ei D 4tD 2
n

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70.6B kh

q1 Ei

2 rD 4tD

+
i=2

(qi qi1 )Ei

2 rD 4tD [t ti1 ]

(7)

+
i=2

qi qi1 q1

Ei

2 rD 4tD [t ti1 ]

(8)

When a well is producing with a constant or variable ow rates, the pressure disturbance area gradually extends outward in the formation as producing time increases. The radius of investigation (ri ) is the distance from the center of wellbore to the pressure front where the pressure difference between the initial pressure and formation pressure, or pressure drop ( p) at the pressure front, is less than the dened small value. 2 For the case of constant ow rate, the value of rD /4tD in Eq. (5) can be estimated by dening a small dimensionless pressure (pD ) value, which is proportional to the pressure drop ( p) at the pressure front for the dened small value. Thus, a linear 2 relationship between the square of the dimensionless radius of investigation (riD ) and the dimensionless time (tD ) can be obtained from the analytical Ei solution (Eq. (5)). Note that the coefcient () of the radius of investigation equation is dependent on a criterion of pD value chosen. For the case of variable ow rates, the relationship between the dimensionless radius of investigation (riD ) and the dimensionless time (tD ) can be estimated from Eq. (7) or Eq. (8) by specifying ( p)total or pD1 value.

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2.2. Numerical Solution for Estimation of Radius of Investigation In this study, the radius of investigation equation is derived not only from the analytical solution, but also from a numerical solution. The IMEX simulator (CMG, 2004) used in 90 this study is basically a three-phase black-oil simulator with a Cartesian or cylindrical grid system. The simulator is also capable of modeling two-phase (oil-water or gas-water) uid ow. One phase of oil ow can be simulated by using two-phase oil-water ow with zero water relative permeability. The numerical simulation is started with dividing a reservoir into grids. After rock 95 and uid properties are assigned to each grid block, the numerical simulation can be run to model a well to produce at specic ow rates, either at constant rate or variable rates. Formation pressures for each grid block at each time step from the result of the simulation run can be used to track the pressure front changes as function of time. Note that the pressure front is a point or a line where the pressure drop in the formation is equal to a 100 certain small value. The radius of investigation is the distance from the wellbore to the pressure front.

3. Results
An oil reservoir used in this study has a uniform thickness of 60 ft, constant porosity of 0.2, and the constant permeability of 150 md. The initial reservoir pressure is 3,000 psi 105 (Table 1). The oil PVT data and rock uid properties shown in Table 1 are used in the study of the radius of investigation for both the analytical solution and the numerical solution. 3.1. Radius of Investigation Studies from Analytical Solution In this study, the pressure front is dened as a line or a curve where the pressure drop 110 from the original pressure is equal to a certain small value. The following criterions are used to dene the pressure front: (i) piD = 0.1095 (criterion I), (ii) piD = 0.01095 (criterion II), and (iii) piD = 0.001095 (criterion III). The pressure front in the reservoir is changing as function of time due to a well is produced. Thus, the radius of investigation, or pressure front, is a function of time, and is derived from the solution of the diffusivity 115 equation. Applying criterion I of the radius of investigation (or piD dened at pressure front 2 of 0.1095) to Eq. (5), we can obtain the results of riD /4tD . In other words, the relationship between the dimensionless radius of investigation and the dimensionless time

Table 1

Table 1 Basic reservoir parameters used in this study Parameters, unit pi , psi q, stb/day o , cp Bo , rb/stb ct , psi1 Values 3,000 100 13.2 1.06 2.01 106 Parameters, unit kh , md kv , md , fraction h, ft rw , ft Values 150 150 0.20 60 0.35

Radius of Investigation from Producing Well

2 is riD = 4tD . The value of the linear coefcient () is 4. This equation is the same as the radius of investigation equation derived by Lee (1982) and can be expressed as ri = (kt/948c)1/2 . When criterion II of the radius of investigation is applied, i.e., piD dened at pressure 2 front is 0.01095, the relationship between radius of investigation and time is riD = 2 = 17.82t for criterion III (p 10.39tD . The radius of investigation equation is riD D iD at pressure front is 0.001095). By applying different criterions of dimensionless pressure (piD ) at the pressure front, we obtain equations of the radius of investigation with different coefcients () (Table 2). The coefcient () increases with decreasing dimensionless pressure (piD ) dened at the pressure front. In other words, at the same producing time, the estimated pressure disturbance area is larger for the criterion of dimensionless pressure (piD ) dened as the pressure front becomes smaller. The coefcient () is varied from 4.00 to 71.15 when the criterion value of the dimensionless pressure (piD ) dened at the pressure front is changed from 0.1095 to 109 (Table 2). The above results are obtained for the well producing at constant ow rate. To study the propagation of the radius of investigation for the well producing at variable ow rates, the result of superposition, Eq. (8), based on constant ow rate of Eq. (5) is used. For the ow rate increasing from an initial ow rate (q1 = 100 stb/day) to a higher ow rate (q2 = 150 stb/day) (Figure 1), the relationship between the radius of investigation and time is obtained for the dimensionless pressures at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095, 0.001095, and 1.0 109 . The coefcients () obtained are 4.101, 10.411, 17.819, and 71.312 for different piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095, 0.001095, and 1.0 109 , respectively (Figure 2). The coefcients () of the increasing ow rates test are slightly larger than those obtained from the constant ow rate test (Table 3). For the ow rate decreasing from an initial ow rate (q1 = 100 stb/day) to a lower ow rate (q2 = 50 stb/day) (Figure 3), the coefcients () obtained are 3.887, 10.374, 17.814, and 71.312 for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095,

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Figure 2 Table 3 145 Figure 3

Table 2 The linear coefcient () values derived from different criterion piD dened at pressure front for a constant ow rate test by using analytical solution r2 1 piD = Ei iD 2 4tD 0.1095 0.01095 0.001095 104 105 106 107 108 109 =y = = 4.00 10.39 17.82 26.06 34.28 42.69 51.22 59.84 71.15
2 riD tD

B.-Z. Hsieh et al.

Figure 1. The designed variable ow rate test (an increasing ow rate test) and the calculated bottom-hole pressure.

0.001095, and 1.0 109 , respectively. The coefcients () for these cases are slightly smaller than those obtained from the constant ow rate test (Table 3). In addition to the two-rates studied above, the radius of investigation equation for a 150 three-rate test is also analyzed. The rst three-rate test was designed to increase the ow rate from the initial rate (q1 = 100 stb/day) to a higher ow rate (q2 = 150 stb/day), then decrease that to q3 = 100 stb/day (i.e., a middle ow rate increasing test) (Figure 4). The coefcients () obtained for the middle ow rate increasing test are 4.246, 10.494, 17.849, and 71.316 for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095, 155 0.001095, and 1.0 109 , respectively. The coefcients () of the middle ow rate increasing test are larger than those obtained from the constant ow rate test (Table 3).

Figure 4

Figure 2. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for the increasing ow rate test by using analytical solution.

Radius of Investigation from Producing Well Table 3 2 The radius of investigation equations (riD = tD ) from different riD analysis criteria by using analytical solution Flow rates q = 100 stb/day (Constant rate) q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 150 stb/day q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 50 stb/day q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 150 stb/day q3 = 100 stb/day q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 150 stb/day q3 = 100 stb/day riD criteria I for piD = 0.1095
2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2

riD criteria II for piD = 0.01095

2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2

riD criteria III for piD = 0.001095

2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2

= 4.00tD = 1a = 4.101tD = 0.9991 = 3.887tD = 0.9983 = 4.246tD = 0.9981

= 10.39tD =1 = 10.411tD = 0.9999 = 10.374tD = 0.9999 = 10.494tD = 0.9999

= 17.82tD =1 = 17.819tD = 0.9999 = 17.814tD = 0.9999 = 17.849tD = 0.9999

2 riD = 3.698tD R 2 = 0.9956

2 riD = 10.280tD R 2 = 0.9998

2 riD = 17.782tD R 2 = 0.9999

a R 2 = the coefcient of determination.

The second three-rate test was designed to decrease the ow rate from the initial rate (q1 = 100 stb/day) to a lower ow rate (q2 = 50 stb/day), then to increase that to q3 = 100 stb/day (i.e., a middle ow rate decreasing test) (Figure 5). The coefcients () 160 obtained for the middle ow rate decreasing test are 3.698, 10.280, 17.782, and 71.316 for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095, 0.001095, and 1.0 109 , respectively. The coefcients () of the middle ow rate decreasing test are smaller than those obtained from the constant ow rate test (Table 3).

Figure 5

Figure 3. The designed variable ow rate test (a decreasing ow rate test) and the calculated bottom-hole pressure.

B.-Z. Hsieh et al.

Figure 4. The designed triple ow rates test (a middle ow rate increasing test) and the calculated bottom-hole pressure.

3.2. Radius of Investigation Studies from Numerical Solution

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To verify the results of the radius of investigation from the analytical solution, a numerical simulation study is also used. A cylindrical oil reservoir is simulated with 5,000 grids in r direction (radial direction), 1 grid (i.e., 360 degree) in direction (tangent direction), and 1 single layer in k direction (vertical direction). The grid size in radial direction is small at the vicinity of the wellbore and increases gradually as the distance outward 170 from the wellbore increases. The formation parameters used in the numerical model is the same as that used in analytical model (Table 1). Numerical simulation studies conducted to investigate the propagation of the radius of investigation include production well producing at constant ow rate and at variable ow rates. The results from numerical simulation studies for both constant and variable 175 ow rates cases are the same as these from analytical solution (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 4

Figure 5. The designed triple ow rates test (a middle ow rate decreasing test) and the calculated bottom-hole pressure.

Radius of Investigation from Producing Well Table 4 2 The radius of investigation equations (riD = tD ) from different riD analysis criteria by using numerical simulation Flow rates q = 100 stb/day (Constant rate) q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 150 stb/day q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 50 stb/day q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 150 stb/day q3 = 100 stb/day q1 = 100 stb/day q2 = 150 stb/day q3 = 100 stb/day riD criteria I for piD = 0.1095
2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2

riD criteria II for piD = 0.01095

2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2

riD criteria III for piD = 0.001095

2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2 2 riD R2

= 3.986tD = 0.9999 = 4.082tD = 0.9991 = 3.868tD = 0.9983 = 4.227tD = 0.9981

= 10.363tD = 0.9999 = 10.381tD = 0.9999 = 10.344tD = 0.9999 = 10.464tD = 0.9999

= 17.799tD = 0.9999 = 17.804tD = 0.9999 = 17.799tD = 0.9999 = 17.833tD = 0.9999

2 riD = 3.679tD R 2 = 0.9956

2 riD = 10.249tD R 2 = 0.9998

2 riD = 17.767tD R 2 = 0.9999

3.3. Radius of Investigation Affected by Skin Factor We investigated the effect of skin factor (s) to the propagation of the radius of investigation in simulation studies by varying skin factors. The results show that the radius of investigation (riD ) is independent of skin factor (s). For the different skin factors (s = 2, 180 5, 8, and 10), the entire linear coefcients () are 3.986, 10.363, and 17.799 for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095, and 0.001095, respectively (Figure 6). The radius of investigation equations for different skin factors are the same as result from the equations of no-skin factor (s = 0). 3.4. Radius of Investigation Affected by Wellbore Storage
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Figure 6

The effect of wellbore storage volume, in terms of dimensionless wellbore storage volume (CD ), on the propagation is also investigated in this study. By using numerical simulation studies, the radius of investigation equation for different wellbore storage volume (CD = 102 , CD = 103 , CD = 104 , and CD = 105 ) are obtained and plotted the results of 2 riD versus tD on linear coordinates (Figure 7) for different criterion piD dened at the 190 pressure front. The results are very close to these with no wellbore volume. The results show that the coefcients (), except at an early time (or small tD ), are 3.98, 10.36, and 17.80 for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095, 0.01095, and 0.001095, respectively, for all wellbore storage volumes studied (Figure 7). From the result of dimensionless radius of investigation (riD ) versus dimensionless 195 time (tD ) plotted on log-log plot axis for different wellbore storage volumes (CD = 0, CD = 102 , CD = 103 , CD = 104 , and CD = 105 ) with criterion of piD = 0.1095, the propagation of the radius of investigation inuenced by the wellbore storage effect

Figure 7

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B.-Z. Hsieh et al.

Figure 6. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for different skin factor (S = 0, 2, 5, 8, 10) by using numerical simulation.

only in the early dimensionless time is observed (Figure 8). A linear relationship exists between the dimensionless radius of investigation (riD ) and dimensionless time (tD ) in log-log plot when the wellbore storage effect is ended (CD = 0) (Figure 8). The curves 200 of dimensionless radius of investigation (riD ) versus dimensionless time (tD ) for different wellbore storage volumes (CD = 102 , CD = 103 , CD = 104 , and CD = 105 ) diverge from the straight line of CD = 0. The degree of deviation is increased as the wellbore storage volume (CD ) increases (Figure 8). In other words, the propagation time required to reach the specic boundary or distance is longer for the large wellbore storage volume 205 than for the small wellbore storage volume.

Figure 8

Figure 7. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for different wellbore storage volumes (CD = 0, 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 ) by using numerical simulation.

Radius of Investigation from Producing Well

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Figure 8. Dimensionless radius of investigation vs. dimensionless time log-log plot for different wellbore storage volumes (CD = 0, 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 ) at the criterion pD = 0.1095.

4. Discussion
A linear relationship between the square of the dimensionless radius of investigation and 2 dimensionless time (riD = tD ) was studied in this study for both constant ow rate and 2 variable ow rate tests. The coefcient () of 4, or riD = 4tD , was obtained from the results of all tests with constant ow rate for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front 2 of 0.1095. In other words, the widely-used radius of investigation equation riD = 4tD is derived by the assumption of the dimensionless pressure dened at the pressure front of 0.1095. Using different criterion piD dened at the pressure front, we obtained different coefcients (), which vary from 4 to 71.15 for the pressure front varied from 0.1095 to 109 , respectively. The results from our study shows that radius of investigation is independent of any constant ow rate. This result is the same as from Lee (1982), mentioning that in principle, any ow would sufcetime required to achieve a particular radius of investigation is independent of ow rate. However, the radius of investigation affected by a rate change in a well for the criterion piD dened at the pressure front of 0.1095 is observed (Figure 9). When ow rate increases from previous constant ow rate for two-rate cases, the coefcient () increases and vice versa in the latter time (Figure 9). For the pressure front dened as piD = 0.01095, the slope in the plot of the square of dimensionless radius of investigation verses dimensionless time is not affected much by the rate changes (Figure 10). The results are very close to the case of constant ow rate, in which the coefcient is 10.39. When the criterion piD dened at the pressure front decreases, such as piD = 0.001095, the rate change affecting the slope in the plot of the square of dimensionless radius of investigation versus dimensionless time also decreases (Figure 11).

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Figure 9 225 Figure 10

230 Figure 11

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Figure 9. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for entire constant ow rate and variable ow rate tests at the criterion pD = 0.1095.

In the radius of investigation studies by both analytical solution and numerical solution for injecting well, the results of the dimensionless radius of investigation varied with dimensionless time are the same as those from producing well (Figure 12).

Figure 12

5. Conclusions
The propagation of the radius of investigation from a production well has been studied 235 by both analytical and numerical methods. The radius of investigation equations in dimensionless terms are derived with different criterions of radius of investigation dened. The conclusions of this study are as follows:

Figure 10. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for entire constant ow rate and variable ow rate tests at the criterion pD = 0.01095.

Radius of Investigation from Producing Well

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Figure 11. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for entire constant ow rate and variable ow rate tests at the criterion pD = 0.001095.

1. The relationship between the square of the dimensionless radius of investigation 2 and the dimensionless time (riD = tD ) is linear for the case of constant ow 240 rate and may not be linear for the case of variable ow rates. 2. The constant coefcient () in constant ow rate cases varies from 4 to 71.15 when the dened dimensionless pressure at the pressure front of the radius of investigation is changed from 0.1095 to 109 . 3. The radius of investigation is affected by a rate change in a well for the case of 245 dimensionless pressure dened at the pressure front less than or equal to 0.1095. 2 The widely-used radius of investigation equation, riD = 400tD , independent of ow rate is valid only for constant ow rate cases.

Figure 12. The integrate results of the dimensionless radius of investigation for the injecting well and the producing well at a constant ow rate test.

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B.-Z. Hsieh et al. 4. The radius of investigation equation for an injecting well is the same as that from a producing well. The radius of investigation is independent of skin factor. The 250 propagation of the radius of investigation is affected by wellbore storage effect only at an early time, depending on the size of wellbore storage volume.

References
Chaudhry, A. U. 2004. Oil Well Testing Handbook. Amsterdam: Elsevier Inc. CMG. 2004. Users Guide IMEX Advanced Oil/Gas Reservoir Simulator. Calgary, Alberta: Com- 255 puter Modelling Group Ltd. Earlougher, R. C., Jr. 1977. Advances in Well Test Analysis. Dallas, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers of the AIME. Jones, P. 1962. Reservoir limit test on gas wells. J. Petrol. Technol. June:613618. Lee, J. 1982. Well Testing. Dallas, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers of the AIME. 260 Matthews, C. S., and Russell, D. G. 1967. Pressure Buildup and Flow Tests in Wells. Dallas, TX: Society of Petroleum Engineers of the AIME. Muskat, M. 1934. The ow of compressible uids through porous media and some problems in heat conduction. Physicals 71. Tek, M. R., Grove, M. L., and Poettmann, F. H. 1957. Method for predicting the back-pressure 265 behavior of low-permeability natural gas wells. Trans. AIME 210302. Van Poolen, H. K. 1964. Radius-of-drainage and stabilization-time equations. Oil Gas J. September 14:138146.

Nomenclature
c CD B h k q p pD pD1 pi piD r rD ri riD rw s t tD p ( p)total uid compressibility, psi1 wellbore storage effect, dimensionless formation volume factor, rb/stb formation thickness, ft permeability, md ow (production) rate, stb/day pressure, psi dimensionless pressure, dimensionless dimensionless pressure of variable ow rates, dimensionless initial formation pressure, psi dimensionless pressure dened at the pressure front, dimensionless radius, ft dimensionless radius, dimensionless radius of investigation, ft dimensionless radius of investigation, dimensionless wellbore radius, ft skin factor, dimensionless time, hours dimensionless time, dimensionless the linear coefcient in the radius of investigation equation, dimensionless pressure drop, psi pressure drop in variable ow rates, psi porosity, fraction 270 viscosity, cp