Analytical models of slug tests

Abstract

In the present paper, attempts are made to develop solutions to various models of slug tests that may be applicable in analyzing the results of such tests where existing solutions are inadequate. Various geometries that may be encountered in heterogeneous systems such as fractured rocks are considered. Solutions are presented for linear flow, radial flow with boundaries, two layer, and concentric composite models with different flow geometries between the inner and outer region. Solutions are obtained in Laplace space and inverted back to real space numerically. Type curves are presented for each solution. Analyses of the type curves and derivative response curves reveal that many curves have unique shapes only for certain combination of the flow parameters and the distance. Other sets of type curves are similar in shape, although log‐log plots and derivative plots may emphasize some features that may not be apparent in semilog plots. These results show that slug tests suffer problems of nonuniqueness to a greater extent than other well tests.