Inflow Performance

Relationship
IPR
by
Dr. Leslie Thompson

Production System

Fluid Production
Path of produced fluids
Reservoir
Perforations, gravel pack, etc.
Downhole equipment, casing, tubing.
Mixing with gas-lift gas

Wellhead, production chokes

Flow lines, manifolds
Separator

Fluid Production
In each flow segment, the fluids interact
with the production components
Pressure, temperature and flow velocity
are altered.
Fluid properties constantly changing.

Pressure Losses

Driving Force
The driving force that moves fluids along the
reservoir and production system is the energy
stored in the form of compressed fluids in the
reservoir.
As the fluids move along the system components,
pressure drop occurs. The pressure in the
direction of flow continuously decreases from the
reservoir pressure to the final downstream
pressure value at the separator.

IPR
The flow of oil, gas and water from the
reservoir is characterized by the Inflow
Performance relationship.
IPR is a measure of Pressure losses in the
formation.

The functional relationship between flow rate

and bottomhole pressure is called IPR.
Indicator of well performance.
q f p pwf f p

Productivity Index
Measure of the wells capacity to
produce fluids from reservoir to
wellbore.
Definition: Fluid production rate for 1 psi
pressure drop from reservoir to
wellbore.

Productivity Index
q t
PI
p t pwf t
PI

Productivity Index, STB/d/psi

p t

Average pressure in the wells drainage area, psi.

p wf t
q(t)

Bottomhole flowing pressure, psi

Production rate, STB/d

Parameters Controlling IPR or PI

Rock Properties
Permeability, Relative permeability

Fluid Properties
Bo, o, Bw, w, co, cw
Bg, g, z, cg

Flow Regime in the Reservoir

Darcy Flow
Non-Darcy (inertial, Forchheimer) flow

Phases Flowing
Single Phase (Oil, Gas)
Two Phases (O+G, O+W, G+W)
Three Phases (O+G+W)

Parameters Controlling IPR or PI

Fluid Saturation Distribution

Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
Formation Damage of Stimulation
Relationship between IPR/PI and other
variables (k, fluid properties, relative
permeability, etc.) can be very complex.

Determination of PI
Testing the Well
Measure q, pwf, p
q t
PI
p t pwf t

Develop PI models (equations)

PI = f(k, kro, krg, krw, Bo, Bg, Bw, etc.)
e.g., steady-state single phase flow
q
PI

p pwf

kh

re 1
s
141.2 B ln

r
2
w

Steady-State Radial Flow

W e ll, r w
R e s e r v o ir , ( r e , k )

D a m a g e d Z o n e , (r s, k s)

Radial Flow
Consider single-phase radial flow in a cylindrical
reservoir of radius re with a well in the center
produced at a constant rate qsc STB/D.
If the outer boundary is held at a constant pressure
pe, after some time we will have steady-state flow,
q(r)/B = qsc for all r and t where q(r) is the flow rate in
RB/D through a cylinder of radius r. Moreover, p/t =
0.

Darcys Law becomes

k p
kh
p
qsc r 1.127 10 2rh

r
B r 141.2 B r
3

Radial Flow
In the outer zone, re > r > rs
kh
p
qsc r
r
141.2 B r

Separating variables and integrating

pe

dp

p r

re

141.2qsc B dr
r r
kh

141.2qsc B re
pe p r
ln
kh
r

Radial Flow
At r = rs, the pressure is given by
141.2qsc B re
p rs pe
ln
kh
rs

For the inner (damaged zone) Darcys

law
ks h
p
qsc
r
141.2 B r

Radial Flow
Separating variables and integrating
p rs

141.2qsc B s dr

p r dp

k
h
r
s

141.2qsc B rs
p rs p r
ln
ks h
r

Eliminating p(rs)

141.2qsc B re 141.2qsc B rs
pe p r
ln
ln
kh
ks h
r
rs
141.2qsc B re
k rs

ln ln

kh
rs k s r

Radial Flow
Expanding and simplifying
141.2qsc B re
k rs
rs
rs
pe p r
ln ln ln ln

kh
r
r ks r
rs
rs
141.2qsc B re k

ln
1 ln

kh
r ks r

Evaluating at the wellbore

pe pwf

rs
141.2qsc B re k

ln
1 ln

kh
r
k
r
w
s
w

Skin
We define
k
rs

s
1 ln
k s rw

The term s is known as the (Hawkins) skin

factor
Steady state radial flow equation becomes
pe pwf

141.2qsc B re

ln

kh
rw

Notes on Skin
k
rs

s
1 ln
k s rw

Skin is a dimensionless number

If k = ks, the reservoir is not damaged,
and s = 0.
If k > ks, the reservoir is damaged, and s
> 0.
If k < ks, the reservoir is stimulated, and
s < 0.

Productivity Index
For steady-state radial flow
PI

pe pwf

kh

re

s
141.2 B ln

rw

Wells productivity is increased if

s is reduced
rw is increased
is reduced
h is increased

Example
A reservoir with the following properties
is flowed at a bottomhole pressure of
4500 psi. Calculate the flow rate.
Suggest two ways of increasing the
wells production rate by a factor of 2.

Properties
Property

Value

Source

Permeability, md

5.2

Pressure Transient Analysis

Thickness, ft

53

Well logs

Viscosity, cp

1.7

Fluid Analysis

Formation Volume Factor, RB/STB

1.1

Fluid Analysis

Wellbore radius, ft

0.328

Well drainage area, acre

640

Well spacing

Skin factor

10

Pressure Transient Analysis

Average reservoir pressure, psi

5635

Pressure Transient Analysis

Solution
First, we convert the wells drainage area to an
2
equivalent drainage radius using re A
The reservoir area is 640 acre = 640 acre43560
ft2/acre = 27878400 ft2. The equivalent reservoir
drainage area is re = 2979 ft.
PI

p p wf

kh

re 1
s
141.2 B ln

rw 2

5.2 53
PI
0.0561 STB/psi
141.21.11.7 ln 2979 0.5 10
0.328

Solution
Solving for Rate

q PI p p wf 0.0561 5635 4500 63.6 STB/d

To double the rate, we could double the pressure

drop. The current pressure drop is 1135 psi, so
double this value is 2270 psi, which means that we
must reduce the bottomhole pressure to 5635 2270
= 3095 psi.

Solution
Another method of doubling the wells rate would be
to double the Productivity Index to a value of 0.1122
STB/psi.
We would do this by decreasing the skin factor by
stimulating the well.
To determine the new skin factor
PI 0.1122

5.2 53
141.21.11.7

snew = 0.7.

2979

0
.
5

new
0.328

ln

Pseudosteady State Flow

Rate of change of pressure with time at
each point in a closed reservoir is
constant.
Each point in the reservoir contributes
equally to the flow.

Productivity Index
q
PI

p p wf

kh
141.2 B

re
ln
rw

3
s

Non-cylindrical Drainage Area

Deitz Shape Factor, CA
PI

p p wf

kh
1 2.2458 A

s
141.2 B ln
2

2 rw C A

5.615 N p B
AveragepPressure
t pi
Vpc

Dietz Shape Factors

Notes
With all else equal, asymmetric well-reservoir
configurations have lower PI and flow rate
compared with a symmetric well-reservoir
configuration
For psuedosteady state flow with constant well
flowing pressure, average reservoir pressure and
flow rate decline continuously due to depletion.
For single phase flow, PI does not change with
changes in changes in flow rate and average
reservoir pressure due to depletion.

Absolute Open Flow Potential

AOF For a given well-reservoir pair and average
reservoir pressure, AOF is the maximum theoretical
flow rate that the well can provide.

q PI p pwf

q AOF qmax PIp

AOF is useful in analyzing IPR in terms of

pwf
p

versus

q
qmax

Single Phase IPR

Pwf

Pr

q PI p pwf

q
PI
p
wf

qmax PI p
q
qmax

Future Linear IPR

Pwf

As time t incresases, reservoir

Pr

pressure Pr decreases and cumulative

production Np increases.

q J Pr Pwf
q
qmax

IPR for Gas Wells

Gas PVT properties are a function of pressure (g, z,
Bg, cg)
If p < 2500 psi and steady-state gas flow (q Mscf/D)
p p
2
e

2
wf

1424q Z T

kh

r
ln e s
r

Pseudosteady-state flow
p p
2

2
wf

1424q Z T

kh

1 2.2458 A

ln
s
2
2 r C

w
A

PI for Gas Wells

Pseudosteady-state flow
q
PI PI

p pwf

kh p pwf

1 2.2458 A

s
1424Z T ln
2

2 rw C A

PI for gas wells is a function of pressure.

When average reservoir pressure changes, gas properties
change.
PI is not constant during the wells life

Typical Gas IPR

Gas IPR

Well Pressure, psi

6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0

10000

20000

30000

40000

Rate, MSCF/d

50000

60000

70000

IPR for non-Darcy Gas Flow

At high flow rates, Darcys Law is not valid.
There are many high flow rate gas wells where
Darcys law is not obeyed in the near-wellbore region
(i.e., where gas velocities are greatest).
The observed pressure drop exhibits a ratedependent skin effect

st s Dq

st denotes the total apparent skin factor, and D is a

non-Darcy coefficient.

Pseudosteady State Gas Flow

For Pseudosteady state flow
p p
2

2
wf

1424qZ T 1 2.2458 A

ln
s Dq
2

kh
2 rw C A

Back Pressure Equation (Rawlins Schellhardt)

p 2 p wf2 aq bq 2
1424Z T
a
kh
b

1 2.2458 A

ln
s
2
2 r C

w
A

1424Z TD
kh

Limiting Cases
When non-Darcy flow is negligible (b << a)
p 2 pwf2 aq

1 2
q p pwf2
a

When non-Darcy flow is dominant (b >> a)

p 2 pwf2 bq 2

1
q
p 2 pwf2
b

1
2

Generalized Gas Flow

Limiting forms of the gas flow equation can be
generalized as

qC p p
2

2
wf

Negligible non-Darcy flow, n = 1

Purely non-Darcy flow, n = 0.5
Both components play a role, 0.5 < n < 1

Equation can be rearranged as

1
1
log p 2 pwf2 log q log C
n
n

Back Pressure Analysis

At constant reservoir pressure, flow at
four different flow rates.
Measure stabilized bottomhole pressure at
each rate.

Plot log p 2 pwf2 versus log q

Straight line with slope 1/n.
With n, can construct the IPR.

Multiphase Flow
Need rates of oil, gas, water
PIo, PIg, PIw
PI o

qo

p p wf

ko h

1 2.2458 A

141.2 Bo o ln
s
2

rw C A

qw
kwh
PI w

p p wf
1 2.2458 A

141.2 Bw w ln
s
2

rw C A

qg
kg h
PI g

p pwf

2.2458 A
* * 1
s
141.2 Bg g ln
2

2 rw C A

k o kk ro
k w kk rw
k g kk rg

Multiphase IPR
IPR under multiphase flow conditions cannot be
easily calculated.
The most accurate method is by solving the
equations governing the flow in the porous
media through a reservoir simulator.
The IPR is so important to Production
Engineers that simplified or empirical methods
to estimate it are necessary.
The most common correlations are Vogel and
Fetkovich

Vogel IPR
Vogel used a numerical reservoir simulator to
generate the IPR. He studied several cases
for a specific condition:
Mechanism of production Solution Gas Drive
No water production
Reservoir pressure below bubble point
Saturated conditions

He changed several other conditions such as

fluid and rock properties

P
w
fr
q
m
ax
Vogel IPR

0.8

0.6

0.4

pwf
pwf
q
0.8

1 0.2
qmax
p
p

0.2

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

Vogel IPR
Vogel IPR can be obtained from well tests.
Although the method was developed for
solution gas drive reservoirs, the equation is
generally
accepted
for
other
drive
mechanisms as well.
It is found to give excellent results for any well
with a reservoir pressure below the oil bubble
point, i.e., saturated reservoirs.

Undersaturated Reservoirs
P

q J Pr Pwf

Pr
Pb

qb

qmax

Undersaturated Reservoirs
P

Pr
Pb

Pr = Pb

q = q - qb
qb

qmax

Undersaturated Reservoirs
P

q J Pr Pwf

Pr

Pwf
q qb
0.8
1 0.2

qmax qb
Pb

Pwf
Pb

Pb

qb

qmax

Fetkovich IPR
Based on observations of
hundreds of sets of field
production data
C and n are unique to each
well
The values of the constants
C and n are determined
from at two sets of rate and
bottomhole pressure data
at
a
given
average
reservoir pressure.

qo C p p
2

q o ,max Cp
qo
q o ,max

2 n
wf

2n

2
wf

1 2

Example
Given data,

p = 2,400 psia
qo = 100 STB/d
pwf = 1800 psia
Generate inflow performance curve using
both Vogel's and Fetkovich's (n = 1)
equations.

Example
Solution
Vogel's Equation
Determine qo,max
100
1800
1800
1 0.2
0.8

q o ,max
2400
2400

q o ,max 250 STB/d

So Vogels equation becomes

p wf
p wf
qo
0.8

1 0.2
250
2400
2400

Example
Fetkovich's Equation
Determine qo,max
100
1800
1

q o ,max
2400

q o ,max 228.6 STB/d

Example
Vogel
pwf, psia qo, STB/d
0
250.0
600
225.0
1200
175.0
1800
100.0
2400
0.0

Fetkovich
pwf, psia qo, STB/d
0
228.6
600
214.3
1200
171.5
1800
100.0*
2400
0.0

Multiphase IPR
300

250

Rate, STB/D

200

150

100

50

0
0

500

1000

1500
Pressure, psia

2000

2500

3000

Multi-layer inflow Performance

Cross-Flow between 2 Layers