Application of Type Curves –

Homogeneous Reservoir Model, Slightly

Compressible Liquid Solution
 All the type curves were developed assuming homogeneous-
acting formations producing slightly compressible fluids (i.e.,
liquids) however, the type curves can be used for gas-well-test
analysis with appropriate plotting functions discussed in later
sections.
RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Agarwal et al Ramey generated type curves for the situation of a constant-rate pressure-drawdown
test in a reservoir with the following characteristics:

• Slightly compressible, single-phase liquid flowing.

• Sufficient homogeneity so that the radial-diffusivity equation adequately models flow in the
reservoir.

• Uniform pressure in the drainage area of the well before production.

• Infinite-acting reservoir (no boundary effects during the flow period of interest for test-analysis
purposes).

• Constant withdrawal rate at the surface.

• Wellbore storage and concentrated wellbore damage or simulation characterized by a skin factor, s.
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.
This list of assumptions is tedious but important. When one more of these assumptions is not valid in a
specific case, there is no assurance that use of the type curves can lead to a valid test interpretation.

Of major importance is that the curves can be used for buildup tests and for gas-well tests).
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Some important properties of these curves

follow:
𝑞𝐵 Δt
𝐶= ∗
1. Examination of the analytical solution on which 24 Δp
the types curves are based shows that, at earlies
times when wellbore unloading is responsible for
100% of the flow in a drawdown test (or afterflow
rate equals rate before shut-in in a buildup test) Δp
is a linear function of Δt (Δp is pressure change and
Δt is time elapsed since test start). Thus, the log
Δp-logΔt curve is also linear with a slope of unity (a
45° line), and the wellbore storage coefficient C,
can be determined from any point (Δt, Δp) on this
line from the relation.
RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Note that, in a well with a liquid/gas interface in the wellbore,

25.65𝐴 𝑤𝑏
𝐶= bbl/psi
ρ 𝑤𝑏

And for a wellbore filled with a single-phase liquid or with gas,

𝐶 = 𝑐𝑤𝑏 𝑉𝑤𝑏 𝑏𝑏 𝑙 Τ𝑝 𝑠𝑖

And CD= 0.8936 C/φcthrw2

 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Successful application of Ramey`s type curves for quantitative

analysis depend significantly on our ability to stablish the correct
value of CD to be used for curve -matching type curves for a given
value of s. Curves for different values of CD have similar shapes,
which makes it difficult to find the best fit without prior knowledge
of CD. Direct calculation of C, and thus CD, FROM KNOWN Values of
Awb and ρwb or cwb and Vwb does not characterize test conditions as
well as the value of C determined from actual test performance as
reflected in the unit-slope lines.
RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

2. Wellbore storage has ceased distorting the

pressure transient test data when the type curve
for the value of CD characterizing the test
becomes identical to the type curve for CD=0 (Fig
4.3). This usually occurs about one and a half to
two cycles from the end of the unit-slope line.
Thus, these types curves can be used to
determine how much data (if any) can be
analyzed by conventional methods, such as the
Horner plot for buildup tests.
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

3. The type curves, which were development from drawdown tests, also can be used for buildup-test
analysis under certain circumstances if an equivalent shut-in time is used as the time
variable. T he equivalent time is valid under either of two conditions.

• First, equivalent time is valid for shut-in period lie within the middle-time region. Specifically, the pressure
responses from both the flow period and the shut-in period must of homogeneous, infinite-acting radial flow
must be applicable.

• If Δt≥0,1 tp and the pressure response from either the flow period or the shut-in period do not lie within the
middle-time region, the buildup-test data will not lie no the drawdown type curve, even when equivalent time is
used. A number of factors cause this behavior, including wellbore storage, boundary effects, nonradial flow
patterns in hydraulically fractured wells, and naturally fractured reservoirs. If any of these conditions are
suspected, equivalent time should be used with caution.

• Equivalent time is also valid for short shut-in times; that is, when Δt<<tp.
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

4. A log-log plot pD vs. tD differs from a log-log plot of 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓 𝑣𝑠. 𝑡 ( for a drawdown test) only by a shift in the
origin of the coordinate system; ie., log tD differs from log t by a constant and log pD differs from log 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓
by another constant. Eqs 4.14 and 4.15 show this.
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

The significance of this result is that the plot of an

actual drawdown test Log t vs Log ∆P should have a
shape identical to that of a plot of Log tD vs PD, but we
have to displace both the horizontal and vertical axes
(I,e., shift the origin of the plot) to find the position of
best fit (Fig. 4.4)
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Once a fit is found by vertical and horizontal shifting, we choose a match point to determine the relationship
between actual and dimensionless time and between actual pressure drawdown and dimensionless pressure for
test being analyzed. Any point on the graph paper will suffice as a match pint (i.e., the result is independent of
the choice of match point). For the match point chosen, we determine the corresponding values of (t, tD) and [(Pi
– Pwf), PD] . Then, from definition of PD and tD.

𝑞𝐵𝜇 𝑃𝐷
𝑘 = 141,2 ( )𝑀𝑃
ℎ 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓

0,000264 𝐾 𝑡
And 𝛷𝐶𝑡 = 2 ( )𝑀𝑃
𝜇𝑟𝑤 𝑡𝐷
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Use of Ramey's Type Curves.

The theory of Ramey’s type curves leads to the following procedure for using the curves for test analysis. The
procedure is given for a slightly compressible liquid; Tables 4.1 and 4.2 show the changes necessary when a gas-
well test is analyzed.

1. Plot (Pi -Pwf) vs. t (drawdown test) or (Pws-Pwf) vs. ∆te = ∆t/(1+∆t/tp) (buildup test) on log-log
paper the same size as Ramey’s type curve.

2. If the test has a uniform-slope region (45° line at earliest times), choose any point [t, (Pi – Pwf)]
on the unit -slope line and calculate the wellbore – storage coefficient C:

𝑞𝐵 𝑡
𝐶= ( )
24 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓 𝑈𝑆𝐿
 RAMEY’S TYPE CURVES.

Then calculate the dimensionless wellbore -storage coefficient:

0,894𝐶
𝐶𝐷 =
𝛷𝐶𝑡 ℎ𝑟𝑤2

Note that estimate of Φ and 𝐶𝑡 are required at this point.

If a unit- slope line is not present, C and CD must be calculated from wellbore properties, and
inaccuracies may result if these properties do not describe actual test behavior.

3. Using type curves with CD as calculated in Step 2, find the curve that most nearly fits all the plotted
data. This curve will be characterized by some skin factor, s; record its value.
4. With the actual test – data plot placed in the position of best fit, record corresponding
values of (Pi – Pwf, PD) and (t, tD) from any convenient match point.

5. Calculate K and Φ𝐶𝑡 , does not establish Φ𝐶𝑡 on the basis of test performance unless CD can
be established without assuming values for Φ𝐶𝑡 ; it simply reproduces the values assumed in
Step 2.

In summary, the procedure outlined in

Steps 1 through 5 provides estimates of
K, S and C.
 Example 4.1 - Lee
Drawdown Test Analysis by Use of Ramey’s Type Curves. Problem. Determine K, S and C from the data below and
in Table 4.3, which were obtained in a pressure drawdown test on an oil well.
q= 500 STB/D
Φ= 0,2
μ= 0.8 cp
𝐶𝑡 = 10 ∗ 10−6 𝑝𝑠𝑖 −1
𝑟𝑤 = 0,3 𝑓𝑡
h= 56 ft
𝐵𝑜 = 1,2 𝑅𝐵/𝑆𝑇𝐵
Pi= 3000 psia
 Solution:
We must first prepare the data for plotting (Table 4.4)
Fig.4.5 shows the plot of the data.
From the unit – slope line (on which the data lie for t≤0,0218 hour),

𝑞𝐵 𝑡
𝐶= ( )
24 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓 𝑈𝑆𝐿

(500)(1,2) (0,0218)
C= ∗
(24) (47)

C=0,0116 RB/psi
Then,
0,894 𝐶
𝐶𝐷 =
𝛷𝐶𝑡 ℎ𝑟𝑤2

0,894 0,0116
=
(0,2)(1 × 10−5 )(56)(0,3)2

≅ 1,03 × 103

≅ 1 × 103

For CD = 103, the best-fitting type curve is for s=5. A time match point is t=1 hour when tD = 1,93 x
104. A pressure match point is (Pi – Pwf) 100 psi, when PD = 0,85.

From the match, we also note that wellbore -storage distortion ends at t=5.0 hours (the type curve
for CD= 103 becomes identical to the type curve for CD =0).
From the pressure match point,
𝑞𝐵𝜇 𝑃𝐷
𝑘 = 141,2 ( )𝑀𝑃
ℎ 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃𝑤𝑓

141,2 500 1,2 0,8 0,85

=
56 100

= 10,3 𝑚𝑑

From the time match point,

0,000264 𝑡
𝛷𝐶𝑡 = ( )𝑀𝑃
𝜇𝑟𝑤2 𝑡𝐷

0,000264 10,3 1
=
(0,8)(0,3)2 1,93 × 104

= 1,96 × 10−6 𝑝𝑠𝑖 −1

Compare these with the values used to determine CD from C:

𝛷𝐶𝑡 = 0,2 1 × 10−5

= 2 × 10−6

This is the same value we used to calculate CD. As noted previously, the time match point
does not provide an independent estimate of ΦCt.