Drawdown test analysis are done by direct application of the wellbore pressure solutions,

presented

in the previous chapter.

A plot of pressure versus the log of time (p, log(t)), will show the radial flow solution as a

straight line, see Fig. 12.2. This fact provides us with an easy and seemingly precise graphical

procedure for interpretation of the pressure data. The slope and intercept of the portion of the

curve forming a straight line is used for permeability and skin factor calculations.

The early portion of the data is unfortunately, distorted by wellbore storage and skin effects

as indicated in Fig. 12.2. Well tests have therefore to be made long enough to overcome both

effects and to produce a straight line in a semi logaritmic plot.

But even this approach presents drawbacks. Sometimes more than one "apparent" straight

line appears and analysis finds it difficult to decide which one to use. An alternative straight

line could be the signature of a fault located near the well.

The latter portion of the pressure transient is affected by the interference from other wells

or by boundary effects such as those that occur when the pressure response reaches the edge of

the reservoir.

Pressure Drawdown Test Under Semi Logarithmic Conditions

From the previous chapter in section "Wellbore pressure solutions", we may formulate the semi

logarithmic pressure solutions in SI-units and Field-units as:

In Fig. 12.2 we recognise the semi logarithmic data, as the data points being plotted on

a straight line, where m is the slope of the straight line. If we define the slope as a positive

number,

we may use Eqs. (12.1) or (12.2), to define the reservoir permeability, k. The known m-value

yields a permeability value

The skin factor S is conventionally identified from the same plot, see Fig. 12.2. The linear

pressure at time t = 1 hr is used in Eqs. (12.1) or (12.2) and the skin is directly calculated.
(Note that pw(1hr) in the equations below, is a data point on the straight line which needs not

necessarily correspond to an observed pressure.)

Pressure Drawdown Test Under Semi Steady State Conditions

When the pressure transient is affected by the interference from boundary effects or other

wells, the pressure curve deviates downwards from the straight line behaviour. Sometimes

such disturbances overlap with other kinds of "early time" effects like large scale reservoir

inhomogeneity, neighbouring sealing faults or other pressure disturbing zones. These effects

can completely mask the all-important pressure response such that proper pressure analysis

becomes impossible.

Under semi steady state test conditions we are investigating a sealed-off reservoir, where

the well is producing from its own drained area. At these late times in the development of

the well test procedure we may likely observe complicated pressure data which is masked

by several effects. Semi steady state tests are therefore normally not preferred when typical

reservoir parameters like permeability, productivity and skin are estimated. The analysis of

semi steady state data is more rigorous than might possible be interpreted by the wellbore

pressure equation.

The semi steady state equation is written,

where the pressure is a linear function of time.

Semi steady state data is plotted as a straight line in a line-line plot, as seen in Fig. 12.3.

The asymptotic pressure value p0 = pw(t = 0), in the figure, enables us to define the Dietz

shape factor CA. In Field Units, Eq. (12.3) can re-written,