Well Test Interpretation
SKM4323
TYPE CURVES
Azmi Mohd Arshad
Department of Petroleum Engineering
WEEK 06
Introduction
• Type curves first appeared in oil industry literature
in the seventies.
• Several kinds, as listed below, are used to interpret
a test in a vertical well with a infinite homogeneous
reservoir:
– Agarwal et al. type curves;
– McKinley type curves;
– Earlougher and Kersch type curves;
– Gringarten et al. type curves.
• Gringarten et al. curves are the most complete and
practical to use. They are also the most widely used
in oil industry literature.
Gringarten Type Curves
• A type curve represents the variations in pressure
versus time for a specified reservoir‐well
configuration.
• It is calculated using an analytic model and
expressed in dimensionless variables.
• The analytic model used by Gringarten to describe a
vertical well in an infinite homogeneous reservoir is
discussed by F. Daviau (1986).
Gringarten Type Curves…/2
Gringarten Type Curves…/3
Procedure
• Plot the measured pressure drop Δp versus Δt on tracing
paper lying on the type curves, using the log‐log scale of the
type curves.
• Look for the portion of an underlying type curves matching
the data best. Only translation are allowed during this step,
keeping the two grids parallel.
• Note the specifications of the type curve where the measured
points match; they correspond to value of CDexp(2S).
• Pick a match point, M, whose coordinates can be read in both
the type curve system of axes (pD, tD/CD) as well as in the field
data system (Δp, Δt). The point M can be chosen anywhere on
the plot, not necessarily on the curve.
Gringarten Type Curves…/4
Gringarten Type Curves…/5
Gringarten Type Curves…/6
Gringarten Type Curves…/7
Interpretation
• The ordinate of the match point is measured:
– in the type curve system of axes: pD
– in the field data system of axes: Δp.
kh
As: pD = Δp (in practical US units)
141.2 qBμ
• The proportionality factor between pD and Δp can be used to
determine the reservoir’s kh:
(p D ) M
kh = 141.2 qBμ (5.4)
(Δp) M
Gringarten Type Curves…/8
Interpretation
• In the same way the abscissa of the match point, M, is measured in the type
curve system of axes, tD/CD and in the field data system of axes: Δt..
0.000295 kh
t D /C D = Δt (in practical US units) (5.5)
μC
As kh is already determined
• The proportionality factor between tD/CD and Δt can be used to calculate C,
the wellbore storage:
0.000295 kh (Δt) M
C= (5.6)
μ (t D /C D ) M
Gringarten Type Curves…/9
Interpretation
• The type curve where the data have been matched is
characterized by CDexp(2S).
CD is then calculated:
0.89 C
CD = (in practical US units) (5.7)
hφ c t rw2
• The value of CDexp(2S) is used to determine the skin:
1 (C D exp (2S))
S = ln (5.8)
2 CD
Gringarten Type Curves…/10
Using Type Curves During Buildup
• Type curves were established for constant flow rate
production (drawdown).
• The curves can be used directly to analyze buildup if:
– Δt << tp after constant flow rate;
– Δt << tp(n‐1) after a multirate history
tp(n‐1) duration of the last production
period before shut‐in.
• These conditions are the same as for using MDH method.
• If these conditions do not exist, using the types directly may
lead to inaccurate results.
Gringarten Type Curves…/11
Gringarten Type Curves…/12
Using Type Curves During Buildup
• The effect of short production time can be seen in a
flattening out of the type curve, the buildup curve
under the drawdown type curve.
• Attempting to force a match between the buildup
data points and a drawdown curve would result in a
type curve located too high on the set of curves and
therefore in inaccurate results.
Gringarten Type Curves…/13
Using Type Curves During Buildup
• The most useful method of using drawdown type curves
for buildup is Agarwal’s method. It consists in plotting
each measurement versus an equivalent time, Δte as
defined below instead of versus Δt:
Δt
Δt e =
Δt (5.9)
1+
tp
• The equivalent time is very close to Δt for Δt values that
are small compared to production time.
Gringarten Type Curves…/14
Using Type Curves During Buildup
• The buildup measured
points plotted versus
Δte are located on a
drawdown curve and
the flattening effect of
buildup disappears.
• F. Daviau indicates that
Agarwal’s method can
be used for buildup
provided that the semi‐
log straight line was
reached during the
previous drawdown
period.
Example 6
(In‐class workshop)
‐ Drawdown ‐
Example 7
(In‐class workshop)
‐ Buildup ‐
References
1. Bourdarot, Gilles : Well Testing: Interpretation
Methods, Éditions Technip, 1998.
2. Internet.
