Introduction to Transient Test
Transient well testing is one of practical method to characterize reservoir properties or the ability
of the formation to produce fluid which has been studied since many years ago. It has
advantages compare to other technique in determining reservoir properties. One of them is that
well testing covers wider area to interpret, even more it can reach up to its boundary. In addition,
many types of test are also available depending on specific parameter to be analyzed.
To understand how it behaves in different reservoir conditions, transient well testing is good to
be studied using generated data from reservoir simulation model. The reaction is simply
recognized from pressure response by giving certain production or injection rate control. In order
to generate sufficient well test data from simulation, the model has to be correctly designed close
to its actual condition. One of parameter to be adjusted is the gridding system where Local Grid
Refinement (LGR) plays an important role.
The well test concept is basically sending a signal to the reservoir, then receiving its response
from the formation, at the end the permeability can be obtained from its decline. Response which
is received at the wellbore is used to evaluate the near wellbore properties. If response from a
boundary is reached, so the distance is possible to estimate from the time delay.
The whole process of well test requires specific set-up. The standard well test set-up consists of
surface rates, wellhead pressure (WHP), bottom hole pressure (BHP) including bottom hole
temperature (BHT), and acquisition interpretation. Transient well testing applies the inverse
solution of indirect measurement where input and output are known from the test, while the
system is going to predict or estimate from interpretation. The system means well and reservoir
characteristics, output represents pressure responses, and input shows a change of rate.
As part of field data, well test data contributes in production analysis model (i.e. well test
models, material balance models, and decline curve analysis). Those data are collected become
reservoir information that furthermore designed to be a predictive model. This model allows
engineers to simulate production forecast and run various scenarios with different production
strategies. Finally, economic study and decision making for the field development is conducted
by considering many aspects.
Well test can investigate a much larger volume of the reservoir compare to cores and logs.
Approximate depth of investigation of coring is only 10 cm and logging is 50 cm, while well
testing may reach 50-500 meters of investigation. Its larger area allows the estimations of
reservoir permeability, porosity, skin, average pressure, fracture length, heterogeneities, drainage
are, shape, open-flow potential, distances to the boundaries, and some others conditions.
Types of Transient Tests
Certain types of tests are dedicated to specific stage of reservoir discovery, development, and
production. In exploration and appraisal wells, Drillstem tests (DSTs) and wireline formation test
are normally run. During primary, secondary, and enhanced recovery stages, the conventional
transient well tests (i.e. drawdown, buildup, interference, and pulse tests) are run. Step-rate,
injectivity, falloff, interference, and pulse tests are executed during secondary and enhanced
recovery stages. Some tests are implemented throughout the life of reservoir, such as multilayer
and vertical permeability tests.
Each type of tests has various reservoir properties that can be obtained. Some tests interpret the
same properties, but the level of accuracy might be different. For instance, permeability
estimated from buildup test gives higher level of accuracy than drawdown test; otherwise skin
calculation from buildup test deliver lower accuracy than drawdown test. Table lists the types of
tests and various data which can be obtained from each test.
Table – Reservoir Properties Obtainable from Various Transient Tests
Types of Tests Data Obtained
Reservoir behavior
Fluid samples
Permeability
DSTs Skin
Fracture length
Reservoir pressure
Reservoir limit Boundaries
Pressure profile
Wireline formation tests Fluid samples
Some reservoir properties
Reservoir behavior
Permeability
Drawdown tests Skin
Fracture length
Reservoir limit Boundaries
Reservoir behavior
Permeability
Skin
Buildup tests
Fracture length
Reservoir pressure
Boundaries
Formation parting pressure
Step-rate tests
Permeability Skin
Mobility in various banks
Skin
Falloff tests Reservoir pressure
Fracture length
Location of front Boundaries
Communication between wells
Reservoir type behavior
Interference and pulse tests Porosity
Interwell permeability
Vertical permeability
Properties of individual layers
Horizontal permeability
Vertical permeability
Layered reservoir tests Skin
Average layer pressure
Outer boundaries
Flow Regimes Categories
At different times, fluid flows in the reservoir with different ways generally based on the shape and size
of the reservoir. Flow behavior classification is studied in terms of pressure rate of change with respect
to time. Three main flow regimes will be described in this sub-chapter; they are steady-state flow,
pseudo steady state flow, and transient state flow.
Steady State Flow
In steady state flow, there is no pressure change anywhere with time. It occurs during the late time
region when the reservoir has gas cap or aquifer support. This condition is also called constant pressure
boundary which pressure maintenance might apply in the producing formation. Figure below shows the
log-log plot of pressure drop and pressure derivative versus time of steady state flow regime. Pressure
derivative line drops significantly in this type of flow while pressure is constant.
