T.P.

3542

ANALYSIS OF PRESSURE BUILD-UP DATA

G. B. THOMAS, SIGNAL OIL AND GAS CO., LOS ANGELES, CALIF., MEMBER AIME

ABSTRACT balance calculations made early in the life of a reservoir often

result in a calculated reserve which later observations prove
Several methods of analyzing pressure build-up data in wells to be too low. Failure to obtain reliable "static" reservoir
have been presented by various authors. This paper reviews pressures within the prescribed 24 or 48-hour build-up period
the theory and method of D. R. Horner and presents example has undoubtedly been a major factor in obtaining these low
calculations performed on data obtained by testing several estimates. Comparison of theoretical and actual productivity
different types of wells. These calculations include, (1)· graphi- performance has indicated that formation damage and not
cal estimation of final static pressure, (2) determination of the being able to attain true static pressures have been partially
productive capacity of the pay away from the well bore and, responsible for the observed discrepancies.
(3) the degree to which the formation adjacent to the well Research into the theory of compressible flow behavior has
bore has been damaged by completion or other causes. The resulted in methods of applying these theories to the testing
methods of testing and precautions which should be taken to of wells. Application of the developed theories to pressure
assure the best data possible are discussed. Limitations and build-up performance indicates that in many cases the fol-
reliability of calculated results are also treated. lowing can be estimated.
1. The static reservoir pressure.
2. The in-place effective formation permeability away from
the well bore.
3. The degree· or extent by which the formation has been dam-
INTRODUCTION aged adjacent to the well bore, either through completion
methods or subEequent damage due to fluid entry.
Pressure testing of wells is generally limited to the deter-
mination of producing and static mean formation pressures.
The so-called "static" pressure determinations, along with
PVT, electric log and production data, enable the reservoir
engineer to determine, within reasonable limits, the drive mech- REVIEW OF THEORY
anism of the reservoir and in some cases, the amount of edge
water encroachment. Producing pressure tests enable calcula- Horner' has shown that the pressure build-up within a
tion of productivity indices and allow the engineer to plan the "point source" well is approximated by the following formula:
systematic production of a pool for optimum conservation of
subsurface energy. 162.5 q u B (T + .6.t)
The radial flow formula advanced by Muskal' has been Pw = P, - kh log .6.t (1)
based on the assumption of incompressible radial fluid flow. It
has been known that reservoir fluids do not behave in an Equation (1) is the approximate "point source" solution to
ideally incompressible manner. For example, incompressible the radial compressible flow equation advanced by Muskat;"
flow theory indicates a simple logarithmic relationship between The solution assumes the following:
the difference of the instantaneous and static well pressures 1. A point source well is producing at constant rate from the
when plotted against time. The latter stages of this type of center of an infinite reservoir with a constant pressure at
plot of pressure build-up data generally show a marked devia-. its external boundary.
tion from the earlier straight line trend, which deviation may be 2. The fluid flowing is present in one phase only.
shown to be due to the compressible flow of fluids toward the 3. The compressibility and absolute viscosity of the fluid
well bore. Shut-in times of 24, 48, 72, or at most 96 hours are remain essentially constant over the range of temperature
currently in wide use fQr determining so-called "static" reser- and pressure variation encountered.
voir pressure. Due to the continuation of compressible flow of 4. The well is shut-in at the sand face and there is no after
fluids into the well bore long after this arbitrarily taken shut-in production into the well bore.
time, the determination of static pressures has almost invari- 5. The formation permeability is homogeneous in the direction
ably resulted in lower than equilibrium values. Materials of flow.
'References given at end of paper.
From Equation (I) it can be seen that if an ideal well were
Manuscript received in the Petroleum Branch office Sept. 15, 1952. shut-in while producing from a reservoir under the conditions
Paper presented at the Petroleum Branch Fall Meeting in LOS Angeles,
Calif., Oct. 23-24, 1952. assumed, the pressure build-up would be a logarithmic func-

VD),1. 198, 1953 PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AIME

T.P. 3542 ANALYSIS OF PRESSURE BUILD-UP DATA

Table 1 - Pressure Build-Up Data for a Fresh Water The first portion of the curve of Fig. 1 falls below the later
Well Completed in a High Permeability Fresh Water established straight line trend. This is due to the "after·
Sand production" or influx into the well after shut·in and to the
decreased permeability of the formation adjacent to the well
Cumulative Production =
3.82 x 10' bbl
bore. The rapid initial pressure rise would be more pronounced
Rate prior to shut·in = 4,600 BID
if the well could have been shut·in at the sand face. However,
3.82 x 10'
T = 4,600
=
830 days =
1.20 x 10' min once a straight line trend is established, compressible flow
conditions dominate the build·up characteristics.
I:::.t (T+I:::.t) Mean Formation
(min) (min) I:::.t/(T+I:::.t) Pressure, psig

0.167 1.20 X 10' 1.39 x 10-' 272.3

0.333 1.20 X 10" 2.77 X 10-' 273.7
0.67 1.20 X 10' 5.55 X 10-' 275.7
1 1.20 X 10' 8.34 X 10-' 278.3 GRAPHICAL ESTIMATION OF STATIC
2 1.20 X 10" 1.67 X 10-' 282.8 PRESSURE
4 1.20 X 10" 3.34 X 10" 286.5
8 1.20 X 10" 6.66 X 10-" 289.6
16 1.20 X 10' 1.33 X 10-' 290.2 From Equation (1) it can be seen that as Lt ~ 00,
30 1.20 X 10' 2.50 X 10' 290.3 6tl(T + Lt)~l and the logarithm of Ltl(T + Lt)~O. If
40 1.20 X 10' 3.33 X 10-' 290.3 the developed straight line relationship continues, the static
87 1.20 X 106 7.25 X 10-' 290.3 pressure for an infinite shut·in can be estimated by extrapolat.
129 1.20 X 106 1.07 X 10-' 290.7
357 1.20 X 106 2.98 X 10' 290.8 ing the curve to the 10 to the zero power ordinate. On Fig. 1,
519 1.20 X 10" 4.31 X 10-' 291.0 p, is the apparent final static pressure for an infinite shut·in.
Fig. 2 shows the latter portion of pressure build-up curves
obtained from four widely separated wells completed in the
same low capacity, high fluid viscosity reservoir. The agree·
tion of the dimensionless time fraction (T + Lt) I Lt. It also
ment on extrapolated static reservoir pressure is good. Fig. 2
follows that if a straight line plot of pressure against the log
illustrates how compressible flow pressure build·up may con·
of the time fraction is obtained, then:
tinue for many months beyond the shut·in. While theory indio
162.5 q u B cates the method is applicable to flow of a single phase fluid,
kh=---- (2) the actual straight line relationships were obtained here where
Z-
producing and build·up pressures were known to be below the
If u, Band q are known and Z- can be determined from a bubble point.
plot of test data, then kh or the average effective producing The pressure build· up trend usually flattens out in the latter
capacity of the pay away from the well bore may be calculated. stages for wells completed in limited reservoirs, or where the
Equating kh obtained in this manner with the performance well is affected by surrounding producing wells. This is due
capacity determined from Muskat's radial flow formula results to partial or no fluid influx at the external drainage boundary.
in Extrapolation of the earlier developed straight line trend can
result in a false static pressure, p*. Fig. 3 illustrates this
2Z-10g relrw condition.
DF=l------ (3)
(p, - pp)
Many factors may cause the observed pressure build·up in
a well to deviate from the theoretically ideal. However, per·
formance deviations become assets when they enable estimation
of completion damage or the presence of limited reservoirs.
The most critical basic assumption for a majority of reservoirs
300
would appear to be the presence of two· phase flow conditions,
because both compressibility and relative permeability are very
sensitive to changes in pressure below the bubble point. co
____R
I.
~

"-
-.J7 ". ----- ----
i~
_o-J>-

/'
TREATMENT OF DATA

The obvious method of utilizing Equation (1) consists of

...~
1... 280
/'
QJ'I
plotting the instantaneous well pressure, pw, against the loga-
~
rithm of (T + Lt) I Lt. However, this results in a plot which ~
progresses from right to left as the pressure increases. An
alternate method is to plot pw on an arithmetic scale against 270
-
.... ...... ...
",
~'

the reciprocal, Ltl(T + Lt), on a logarithmic scale. Using

this system the data plots from left to right and gives a more
vivid impression of increasing pressure as the shut·in time 10" 10" 10" 10' 10" 10"
progresses. 41 /(T+41l

Table 1 shows pressure build-up test data and calculations

for a well completed in a permeable fresh water sand. After
shutting in the well, fluid level measurements were made at
FIG. 1 - PRESSURE BUILD·UP PERFORMANCE OF A WELL COMPLETED IN
time intervals which Were in approximate geometric progreso
A HIGH PERMEABLITY FRESH WATER SAND. NUMBERS BESIDE PLOTTED
sion. Fig. 1 is a plot of the data of Table 1. POINTS INDICATE SHUT·IN TIME IN MINUTES.

126 PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AIME Vol. 198, 1953

 G. B. THOMAS T.P. 3542

1200 P" 1400

---~?
_.... - ....
p'
-- _----......... ;:::.~:i?' .......... ....

...
c. 1000
o.,..----"-.~
_ _ _Oeo40

..........
o~ ,..// / /
,"// / /

.....
.....-
/
/ ,!!,
:I.,

~12oo
~d'1'"
".",..",
....
~,,:-o~"''b----
- p.

r
/5072 /

~
.:, /0 ,/
!5

~
(J)
1832 //

.,.
(J)
W
0:
... /'
/'
/'
/
~
,.
Ii
:::>
Ii
800 /'
~ 1000
0
~ 0/>110 ~ o~
~ ~

600 800

- 10' - 100 IO~ 100

411tT + 61) 611(T+61)

FiG. 2 - PRESSURE BUILD-UP CURVES FOR FOUR WElLS COMPLETED IN FIG. 3 - PRESSURE BUILD-UP CURVE FOR A HIGH GAS-OIL RATIO
THE SAME LOW CAPACITY RESERVOIR AND SHUT-IN AT THE SAME TIME. WElL PRODUCING FROM AN ISOLATED FAULT BLOCK. NUMBERS BESIDE
NUMBERS BESIDE PLOTTED POINTS INDICATE SHUT·IN TIME IN HOURS. PLOTTED POINTS INDICATE SHUT-IN TIME IN HOURS.

Horner' describes how p, can be calculated if p*, the drain- ESTIMATION OF COMPLETION DAMAGE
age radius, formation porosity and fluid compressibility are
known in addition to the terms of Equation (1). In effect, his Damage factors have been calculated for the wells of Figs.
equation is based upon a materials balance concept and states 4 and 5. Substituting required data in Equation (3), these
that present static reservoir pressure equals the initial pressure factors are calculated,
minus the fraction of fluids produced divided by the fluid For Fig. 4:
compressibility.
DF = 1- (2) (50) (3.53) 0.61 =
908
(61 per cent of the drawdown, or 545 psi, is required
to overcome the effect of decreased permeability
ESTIMATION OF PRODUCING CAPACITY adj acent to the well bore)

Use of Equation (2) requires that Z. be determined from a

plot of the test data; q, u and B must be known or estimated.
Fig. 4 is a plot of pressure build-up data obtained from a
-----p,
---- ----
well producing from a dolomitic sandstone reservoir. Z. is
readily obtained by noting the difference in pressures along 240
the extended straight line section of the curve for one log cycle .-- 1.150P';/C.,CI,
71.2---------- J.
0--"
of the dimensionless time fraction scale. Other necessary
data are: .
'i (:.;
~--52.0
0...

q =
64.3 stock tank bblj day
u =
5.13 cp

and kh
=
B 1.07 reservoir bblj stock tank bbl
(162.5) (64.3) (5.13) (1.07)
=
Similarly for Fig. 5:
50
1,146 md-ft = [
1.0

kh
__ (162.5) (180) (.70) (1.34)
----'-----'--,-------'---'-- =
116
266 md-ft
Miller, Dyes and Hutchinson' prescribe that Z. be determined
within a specific time interval on the pressure build-up curve.
180 o '
/
pl.O

Most build-up curves analyzed exhibit sufficient uniformity

after the fast initial build-up, and there is no question where 10 • 10 •
10 1 10 ' 10 0

to measure z..
Difficulties have been experienced where a stabi- III/(Hllo)

lized production rate was not achieved prior to shut-in. If

some doubt exists as to where Z. should be taken, the method
of Miller and co-authors' should be used.
FIG • .( - PRESSURE BUILD-UP CURVE FOR A WELL COMPLETED IN A
The presence of limited reservoirs does not prevent deter- DOLOMITIC SANDSTONE RESERVOIR. NUMBERS BESIDE PLOTTED POINTS
mination of a reliable capacity value, except in extreme cases. INDICATE SHUT-IN TIME IN HOURS.

Vol. 198, 1953 PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AIME 127

T.P. 3542 ANALYSIS OF PRESSURE BUILD-UP DATA

I curve if the drainage radius of the adjacent producer extends

to the well under test.
3300 It has been observed that wells completed in reservoirs which
/

~
/
~
have produced but a small fraction of their fluids yield better
~
~
/
test. data than the older producers. A smaller value of T is
/
~
/
/
obtained for new wells and extrapolation of the hllild-llp curve
/~
to an infinite shut-in is more reliable:
~O>..
0' "T If the shut-in time is a small fraction of T, then 6.t in any
_j~""u"", time units may be plotted directly with little error. However,
~~~--- as 6.t becomes an appreciable fraction of T the resulting error
/ becomes greater and extrapolation of the straight line com-
,/"0 pressible flow portion of the build-up curve to an infinite
shut-in becomes a graphical impossibility.
/0'
/
,
/
2700

NOMENCLATURE
10 • 10 ' 10'
6' /(T +6')
pw = pressure in well during build-up, psi
FIG. 5 - PRESSURE BUILD-UP CURVE FOR A WELL COMPLETED IN A LOW
p, = static reservoir pressure, psi
PERMEABILITY, LOW FLUID VISCOSITY RESERVOIR. NUMBERS BESIDE q = ,tabilized well rate prior to shut-in, stock tank
PLOTTED POINTS SHOW SHUT-IN TIME IN HOURS. bbl/day
u = fluid viscosity, cp
For Fig. 5: B = formation volume factor, res. bblj stock tank bbl
(2) (116) (3.0) k = effective permeability, md
DF = 1- 898
=
0.23 (23 per cent or 206 psi) h = pay thickness, ft
log = ~ogarithm to base 10
Equation (3) may produce a negative answer which indi-
cates an improvement of capacity around the well bore. This
T = pseudo-production life of well (cumulative produc-
tion prior to shut-in q) -7-
might be obtained through acidizing, shooting or fracturing. A 6t = lime after shut-in, same units as T
build-up analysis prior and subsequent to a remedial operation
enables evaluation of the effectiveness of the job in terms of
Z = ~lope of the straight line (compressible flow) por-
tion of the build-up curve, psi/log cycle
the undamaged formation capacity. DF = damage factor, fraction of drawdown required to
overcome damage
pp = producing pressure of well prior to shut-in, psi
re = drainage radius, ft
PROCUREMENT OF DATA rw = well radius, It
p* == false static pressure, psi
Satisfactory data have been obtained using either a wire
line pressure recorder or sonic fluid level instrument. The
latter is convenient if shut-in time must be kept at a minimum.
Sonic data may be reduced in the field and testing can continue ACKNOWLEDGMENT
until a satisfactory straight line plot is obtained, supported by
at least four points. If the casing has been bled prior to The author wishes to thank the Signal Oil and Gas Co. for
closing in for test, considerable error may be introduced by permission to publish this paper. Special thanks are given
presence of a froth in the casing above the producing interval. J. J. Arps of the British-American Oil Producing Co. for assist-
Errors in extrapolating estimated liquid gradients to mean ance and certain of the data used.
formation or datum depth may be minimized by shutting in the
casing several days before testing.
Stabilization of the production rate prior to test has been
found to be one of the most important factors toward attain-
ment of reliable data. The time required for stabilization will REFERENCES
vary with the fluid and reservoir system, but in general, a
period of 10 days should be sufficient. 1. Muskat, M.: The Flow of Homogeneous Fluids Through
Porous Media, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., (1937) 153.
2. Horner, D. R.: "Pressure Build-up in Wells," Proc., Third
World Pet. Cong., The Hague, (1951) Sec. II, Drilling and
Production.
RELIABILITY OF CALCULATED DATA, ERRORS 3. Muskat, M.: The Flow of Homogeneous Fluids Through
Porous Media, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., (1937) 641.
Results of numerous tests indicate the calculated undamaged 4. Miller, C. c., Dyes, A. B., and Hutchinson, C. A., Jr.: "The
formation capacity and damage factor are more reliable than Estimation of Permeability and Reservoir Pressure from
the static pressure determination. Most wells do not produce Bottom-Hole Pressure Build-up Characteristics," Trans.
from unlimited reservoirs. If the shut-in time is permitted to AIME, (1950) 189, 91.
continue, a flattening out of the build-up curve usually occurs. 5. Smith, R. V., Williams, R. H., Dewees, E. J., and Archer,
R. V. Smith and co-authors' show examples of how offset pro- F. G.: "Pressure Build-up and Well Interference Tests,"
ducing wells may effect a continued fall-off of the build-up Oil and Gas lour., (Nov. 1, 1951) 52. * * *
128 PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS, AIME Vol. 198, 1953