Production Analysis

RTA using GOHFER

 DISCLAIMER
Production Analysis Results:
• Production analysis results are non unique!
• Rarely see all flow regimes
• However, the analysis can provide meaningful
comparisons from well to well in the same field or
development if care is taken to follow a consistent
workflow
• Type curve shapes provide the first indication of
completion efficiency
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
The following 7 slides show the basic workflow of the Production
Analysis Matching process and may be used as a reference later on.

1. Import Production Data and view plot to check accuracy

2. Input best guess inputs on Actual Production Page (Inner and Outer
Boundary, Reservoir inputs, Estimate of Perm and Frac half-length, etc.
3. Adjust inputs to best fit Log-Log Type Curve. Final match will be done
with Pseudo Plot and Semilog plot adjustments.
4. Pseudo Plot: Fit Straight line (Area/Aspect) through data, select Update.
5. Semilog Plot: Fit Straight line (Perm/Length) through data, select
Update.
6. Iterate between Pseudo Plot and Semilog Plot, view Type Curve match.
7. View Actual Production plot and view Production Match values.
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Enter estimated perm in the Results section of the Production Analysis Input Data screen.
• This should get the data to plot reasonably on the Log-Log Type Curve plot
• Increasing the permeability moves the raw data up and to the right on the Log-Log type curve plot
• Decreasing the permeability moves the raw data down and to the left on the Log-Log type curve plot.
• Skin, fracture half-length and horizontal length move the type curve up and down and change the shape of the transient flow
portion of the type curve.

k = 0.021 md

k = 1.021 md
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Enter estimated perm in the Results section of the Production Analysis Input Data screen.
• This should get the data to plot reasonably on the Log-Log Type Curve plot
• Increasing the permeability moves the raw data up and to the right on the Log-Log type curve plot
• Decreasing the permeability moves the raw data down and to the left on the Log-Log type curve plot.
• Skin, fracture half-length and horizontal length move the type curve up and down and change the shape of the transient flow
portion of the type curve.

Initial skin = 0.00 Initial skin = 1.00

Transient Flow section

k = 0.021 md k = 0.021 md

Eff Frac ½ length = 200 ft Eff Frac ½ length = 500 ft

k = 0.021 md k = 0.021 md
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Select the Completion Type
Select the Inner Bound Flag. This sets the inner boundary for the model.
• Fracture stimulated wells use the uniform flux or infinite conductivity models.
• Vertical un-stimulated wells use the radial flow model
• Horizontal wells use the uniform flux or infinite conductivity horizontal well models.

There are 4 options for Inner Bound Flag.

• Fracture stimulated wells - Uniform Flux or Infinite Conductivity Fracture
• Vertical un-stimulated wells - Radial Flow model
• Horizontal wells - Uniform Flux or Infinite Conductivity Fracture

A fractured well behaves like a vertical well with a wellbore radius ½ the fracture
length for an infinite conductivity fracture rwa = rwexp-s
• Uniform Flux rwa=xf/2.7128
• Infinite Conductivity rwa=xf/2
• Finite Conductivity rwa=xf/f(FcD)
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Estimate Effective Drainage Area with the Pseudo Plot
• Input an estimated Total Drainage area.
• It is always recommended to start with a large value for drainage area then iterate to a smaller
value. The default value of 200 acres will be a sufficient starting value for most wells.
• The effective drainage volume will be estimated with the Pseudo Plot.
• The initial data plotted on the Pseudo Plot is a result of the initial estimate of the well’s
drainage area entered in the Production Analysis Input Data.
• On the Pseudo plot, the slope of the late time data is used to estimate the
effective gas in place.
• Use the smart line to determine the volume.
• Do not attempt to match the entire line.
• Use the late time trend and match the top of the data.
• Grab the smart line endpoints and align with the top of the data.
• Select the Update button located at the bottom of the screen and the plot will
be readjusted.
• Repeat the following steps; grab the smart line endpoints and align with the
top of the data and select the update button until the smart line and the data
converge and selecting the update button no longer results in a significant
change to the plot
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Estimate effective permeability and skin or fracture half length with the SemiLog plot
• The initial perm estimate should have been input on the Actual Production page.
• The Semi log plot is only accurate during the infinite acting pseudo radial flow period.
• The best way to use this plot is to get the slope right around the first boundary, which is the leftmost
vertical line on the plot (L).
• The data points that show up in red are the programs attempt to pick the time period that it thinks the
well is in infinite acting pseudo radial flow.
• On the SemiLog plot, the slope of line is the perm and is used determine the
Transient Time.
• Use the smart line to match the slope of the data just before the first boundary.
• Match the bottom on the data points.
• Select the Update button at the bottom of the screen to update the results and
the Type Curve Plot.
• Select the Type Curve Plot and view the match.
• Return to the Semilog plot and adjust the slope of the smart line and select the
Update button to refine the match on the Type Curve Plot.
• Multiple iterations will likely be necessary.
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Determine if the well is in Boundary dominated flow
• Look at the type curve match on the Type Curve Plot. If the data is plotting on a unit slope the well is in
boundary dominated flow.
• The Green Pwd’ Data may need to be unchecked to see the Brown Pwd data (see insert below).
• For radial flow the well starts into boundary dominated flow around a dimensionless time of 0.1
• For linear flow the well starts into boundary dominated flow around a dimensionless time of ~3
• As time passes and the data is updated the effective drainage volume will increase until the well reaches
boundary dominated flow (the outer boundary).
 Basic Workflow of the Analysis
Curve fit the Log-Log plot on the input tab
• Minor adjustments to permeability and fracture half length or skin may be required to achieve an
acceptable match during transient flow.
• Reservoir geometry becomes important after a dimensionless time of 0.1. The shape is changed by
setting the aspect ratio and the well x-offset and the well y-offset entries.
• Boundary effects can be checked by selecting the infinite acting boundary model and observing the time
at which the actual data deviates from the type curve.
“How-To” use the Production Analysis
(Pressure Transient Analysis – PTA)
in GOHFER
Production Analysis
EXAMPLE #1: Simple Vertical Gas Well
Note if Pressure is WHP or BHP
Import .CSV Production Data File
1 3

4
1. Map Curves
2. Check Pressure to Convert WHP to BHP
if needed. Turn to “False” if BHP is
imported.
3. Click on Gas Rate in the Actual
Production to show plot.
If an input (example: Oil) show
up in the plot from a previous
data file, grab and drag it to the
left to remove it.
4. Turn curves on-off by un-checking box.

2
Simplest (and most dangerous) method is to view the “Decline Curve” Type Curve

• Grab and Drag the Multiplier and B factor

endpoints to move the data and match the decline
data.
• Keep in mind this is not the recommended
production analysis recommended method.
Production Analysis
 Log-Log Plot

Stimulation
effectiveness Unit
Slope

straight 1/2 Slope @ 1st

1/2 line boundary
Slope (used to
1/4 find kh)
Slope @ ~ 0.5
Rate Transient Analysis (RTA) method of Production Analysis in GOHFER

Input Reservoir and Well Data.

In this example we will assume the data and estimates have already been input
 IF Data isn’t visible on Plots…..
• Edit the Axis scale of the plot….
– Click-hold, drag (get a red line), release
– Right click on axis, select Properties, input Min-Max
• Take a look at the “Type Curve”.
• The following steps will iterate the Pseudo-Plot and the Semi Log Plot data
to improve the Type Curve plot (used in the analysis).

• Iterations are intended to move the

actual data (brown) to match the Type
Curve data based on the data inputs.
• The Pwd data (green) may be very
difficult to match due to the noise in
the data.
• Begin with the Pseudo Plot.
• Move the green Area/Aspect line so it intersects the data points on the “straight line
section” of the data.
• Click on the “Update” button.

• Slope of line determines Volume

and Aspect Ratio
• Steep slope, small drainage area
• Flat slope, larger drainage area

Tranasient Flow “ripples”

Boundaries are reached.
are moving out
• Move the green Area/Aspect line, Update
• Move the green Area/Aspect line, Update
• Repeat until image does not move after each Update (iteration).
• Moving an endpoint of the green line will highlight the Update
button.
• Y-intercept of the Area/Aspect line is the critical value.

Note: The “Gas in

Place” is actually the
EUR Value. This is an
error in the plot text.
• Select the Semi-Log plot.
• Move the green Perm/Length line so it intersects the early data points on the
“straight line section” of the data (typically around the ta….days = 10)
• Click on the “Update” button.

• Pseudo Radial Flow Period

• Used to determine Effective Frac
Length (Xf) and kh

Avoid using very early data

for this curve because these
points may be influenced by
clean-up.

Pseudo Radial Flow region

• Move the green Perm/Lengtht line, Update
• Notice the data points will highlight in RED. This is GOHFER
trying to curve fit the straight line data points.
• Repeat until image does not move after each Update (iteration).
• The slope of the line is the perm and the plot is used to
determine the Transient Time.
Return back to the Pseudo-Plot • Notice the RED data points?
• Move the green Area/Aspect line, Update
• Iterate (Update) between the Pseudo-Plot and the Semi-Log
plots until the data converges (plots don’t move).

Once you feel comfortable with the plots,

Select the “Type Curve” plot.
Type Curve: Actual data should lay on type curve line

Aspect Ratio: 3.88

Actual data matches Type Curve

• Actual Production tab will show inputs and results of analysis
• Feel free to change the Configuration Name if you want
• Check the Rate Decline Plot and the Decline Curve Plot to see how they compare to the
RTA analysis
• Adjust the plots to match the RTA analysis (EUR) if you want.
Plots are connected to each other and they are very, very sensitive to changes.
EXAMPLE #2: 30 Stage Horizontal Gas Well

Note: Pressure is BHP, not WHP

Production Data imported and should (but may not) be mapped correctly.
30 frac Production Data file imported and checked.
(this data was generated, not actual data)

1. Map Curves
2. Check Pressure to Convert WHP to BHP
if needed. Turn to “False” if BHP is
imported.
3. Click on Gas Rate in the Actual
Production to show plot.
If an input (example: Oil) show
up in the plot from a previous
data file, grab and drag it to the
left to remove it.
4. Turn curves on-off by un-checking box.
 Input Reservoir and Well data

In this example we will assume the estimates for perm, Frac length, etc. have already been input
Check Type Curve to see what data looks like……….

One option at this point is to go back

and adjust some of the input values
to better fit the Type Curve.
Pseudo-Plot Iterations • Move the green Area/Aspect line, Update
• Move the green Area/Aspect line, Update
• Repeat until image does not move after each Update (iteration).
• Moving an endpoint of the green line will highlight the Update
button.
• Y-intercept of the Area/Aspect line is the critical value.

Note: The “Gas in Place” is actually the EUR

Value. This is an error in the plot text.
Semi-Log Plot Iterations • Select the Semi-Log plot.
• Move the green Perm/Length line so it intersects the
early data points on the “straight line section” of the data
(typically around the ta….days = 10)
• Click on the “Update” button.
Type Curve
Results
Production Forecast Plots
• Matching data is not exact but it’s close.
• Add’l iterations could be done to get a better match.
 Wattenberger Type Curve
• The Wattenberger type curve technique is sometimes referred to as the square of time plot. It is based
on the observation of extended linear flow periods observed in tight gas completions.
• The foundational assumption is: Hydraulically fractured well producing from the center of a rectangular
drainage shape where the fracture extends to the boundaries of the reservoir.

The assumption is that a straight

line is an indication of linear flow.
 Two concepts of “Linear Flow” in Horizontal wells

A different model assumes a reservoir enhanced A different model assumes a reservoir enhanced
permeability consistent with DFIT (large scale) results, and a permeability consistent with DFIT (large scale) results, and
frac length consistent with all the physics currently a frac length consistent with all the physics currently
understood about fracture cleanup and conductivity. In this understood about fracture cleanup and conductivity. In this
case the pressure transients from adjacent fracs will begin case the pressure transients from adjacent fracs will begin
to interfere early in the producing life. As the drawdown to interfere early in the producing life. As the drawdown
areas coalesce, a linear drainage pattern forms, with flow areas coalesce, a linear drainage pattern forms, with flow
from the reservoir to the combined fractures and lateral. In from the reservoir to the combined fractures and lateral. In
this case the assumed linear flow period represents the this case the assumed linear flow period represents the
formation linear flow rather than the fracture face linear formation linear flow rather than the fracture face linear
flow regime. flow regime.
EXAMPLE #3: 2 Horizontal Oil Wells

• Click on Production Analyses

and Create Analysis
• Add FieldStudy2well1.cvs
data file to project.
• Check the Production Data Property
“Convert to BHP”.
• Map the data curves from
FieldStudy2well1.csv
• Input Reservoir and Well Inputs from Word
document file.
• Depths, casing info, etc. is not required if
BHP is an input. This data is needed if BHP is
calculated from WHP.
• View Type Curve Plot (just to see if data is there).
• Got to the Pseudo-Plot to begin the analysis.
• Adjust the axis (both X and Y) to view early time data.
• Move the green Area/Aspect line to fit straight line portion, then hit Update
• Select the Semilog Plot
• Move the green Perm/Length line to fit straight line portion (typically between the
10 – 100 day range), then hit Update
• View “Type Curve” plot to see how the Pwd data is lining up on the red Pwd Fit line.
• Green data points were turned off (uncheck box) to see the match better.
• Continue to iterate between the Pseudo Plot and the SemiLog Plots

EUR ~ 182,000 bbls Oil

Forecast Production
 Results of Analysis.

• Notice: some things are not matching up?

• Fraction of Well Production is > 100%
 Re-Visit the Pseudo Plot and change the scale……
…..notice the RED data points?

EUR ~ 217,000 bbls Oil

Re-Visit the Semilog Plot…….

Results of Analysis #2…..

Match could be better

 Results of Analysis #3…..

EUR ~ 222,000 bbls Oil

 What the type curve says about your frac

The green line is an indicator of how effectively you stimulated your reservoir with
your frac treatment. The flatter the green line the less effective your frac treatment.
What the type curve says about your frac

The green line is an indicator of how effectively you stimulated your reservoir with
your frac treatment. The flatter the green line the less effective your frac treatment.