Determination of vertical and horizontal permeabilities for vertical oil and gas wells with partial completion and partial penetration using pressure and pressure derivative plots without type-curve matching

Abstract

it has been long recognized that in some reservoirs the flow does not follow the expected radial cylindrical pattern. Spherical flow may take place in systems with wells completed in thick reservoirs where a short completion interval is open to flow yielding a unique and more complex early-time pressure behavior. Some of the main reasons for partial penetration are to avoid coning of water and minimize sand production. A similar early-time pressure behavior may be due to the presence of plugged perforations. Such well completions are referred to as limited-entry, restricted-entry or partially penetrating wells. A typical case of spherical propagation of pressure transients occurs during the repeat formation tester measurements. Such a test measures spot formation pressures and recovers formation fluid samples for gaining an insight into the reservoir flow mechanics. The purpose of this study is to identify on the pressure and pressure derivative curves the unique characteristics for different flow regimes resulting from these type of completions and to determine various reservoir parameters, such as vertical, horizontal permeability, and various skin factors. The interpretation is performed using Tiab’s Direct Synthesis (TDS) Technique, introduced by Tiab (1993), which uses analytical equations obtained from characteristic lines and points found on the log-log plot of pressure and pressure derivative to determine permeability, skin and wellbore storage without using type-curve matching. The extension of this methodology for the case under study includes wellbore storage and skin effects. It is applied to both drawdown and buildup tests. We found that a spherical or hemispherical flow regime occurs prior to the radial flow regime whenever the penetration ratio of about 20%. A half-slope line on the pressure derivative is the unique characteristic identifying the presence of the spherical/hemispherical flow. The typical half-slope line of theses flow regimes is used to estimate spherical permeability and spherical skin values. These parameters are then used to estimate vertical permeability, anisotropy index and skin. Results of TDS technique where successufully compared to those of conventional technique for field and simulated examples.