Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
Methods of Calculation
There are several empirical methods that are designed to predict the non-linearity
behavior of the IPR for solution gas drive reservoirs. Most of these methods require at
least one stabilized flow test in which Qo and Pwf are measured. All the methods include
the following two computational steps:
Using the stabilized flow test data, construct the IPR curve at the current average
reservoir pressure Pr.
Predict future inflow performance relationships as to the function of average
reservoir pressures.
The following empirical methods that are designed to generate the current and future
inflow performance relationships:
1. Vogel’s method
2. Standing’s method
3. Couto`s Method
4. Al saadoon`s Method
5. Fetkovich’s method
6. Wiggins’ method
7. The Klins-Clark method
1) Vogel's Method
Vogel (1968) based on a computer simulation of dissolved gas drive reservoirs,
where in his calculated IPRs using a wide range of reservoir and fluid parameters,
proposed the general IPR curve of Figure (1-29). Often this same Vogel relation is
successfully applied to other types of reservoir drive systems.
Vogel normalized the calculated IPRs and expressed the relationships in a
dimensionless form. He normalized the IPRs by introducing the following dimensionless
parameters:
Pwf
Dimensionless pressure =
Pr
Qo
Dimensionless flow rate = (Q
o )max
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
Where (Qo)max is the flow rate at zero wellbore pressure (100% drawdown), i.e., AOF.
Fig. (1-29): Inflow performance relation (Vogel).
Vogel plotted the dimensionless IPR curves for all the reservoir cases as shown in
Figure (1-29) and arrived at the following relationship between the above dimensionless
parameter:
𝐐𝐨 𝐏𝐰𝐟 𝐏 𝟐
(𝐐𝐨 )𝐦𝐚𝐱
= 𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟐 (
𝐏𝐫
) − 𝟎. 𝟖 ( 𝐏𝐰𝐟 ) ----------------------------------------------------------- (1.13)
𝐫
Where:
Qo = oil rate at Pwf
(Qo)max = maximum oil flow rate at zero wellbore pressure, i.e., AOF
Pr = current average reservoir pressure, psig
Pwf = wellbore pressure, psig
Vogel’s method can be extended to account for water production by replacing the
dimensionless rate with QL/(QL)max where QL = Qo + Qw.
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
This has proved to be valid for wells producing at water cuts as high as 97%.
The method requires the following data:
Current average reservoir pressure Pr
Bubble-point pressure Pb
Stabilized flow test data that include Qo at Pwf
Vogel’s methodology can be used to predict the IPR curve for the following two types of
reservoirs:
Saturated oil reservoirs Pr ≤ Pb
Undersaturated oil reservoirs Pr > Pb
Saturated Oil Reservoirs
When the reservoir pressure equals the bubble-point pressure, the oil reservoir is
referred to as a saturated oil reservoir. The computational procedure of applying Vogel’s
method in a saturated oil reservoir to generate the IPR curve for a well with a stabilized
flow data point, i.e., a recorded Qo value at Pwf, is summarized below:
Step 1: Using the stabilized flow data, i.e., Qo and Pwf, calculate: (Qo)max from Equation
𝐐𝐨
(𝐐𝐨 )𝐦𝐚𝐱 = 𝐏 𝐏 𝟐 ------------------------------------------------------------------- (1.14)
𝟏−𝟎.𝟐( 𝐰𝐟 )−𝟎.𝟖( 𝐰𝐟 )
𝐏𝐫 𝐏𝐫
Step 2: Construct the IPR curve by assuming various values for Pwf and calculating the
corresponding Qo from:
𝐏𝐰𝐟 𝐏 𝟐
𝐐𝐨 = (𝐐𝐨 )𝐦𝐚𝐱 [𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟐 (
𝐏𝐫
) − 𝟎. 𝟖 ( 𝐏𝐰𝐟 ) ] -------------------------------------------------- (1.15)
𝐫
Problem (1-3): A well is producing from a saturated reservoir with an average reservoir
pressure of 2500 psig. Stabilized production test data indicated that the stabilized rate
and wellbore pressure are 350 STB/day and 2000 psig, respectively. Calculate:
1. Oil flow rate at Pwf = 1850 psig
2. Calculate oil flow rate assuming constant J
3. Construct the IPR by using Vogel’s method and the constant productivity index
approach.
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
Solution:
Part A.
Step 1: Calculate (Qo)max:
350
(Q o )max = = 𝟏𝟎𝟕𝟔. 𝟏 STB /day
2000 2000 2
1 − 0.2 ( − 0.8 (
2500) 2500)
Step 2: Calculate Qo at pwf = 1850 psig by using Vogel’s equation
Pwf Pwf 2
Q o = (Q o )max [1 − 0.2 ( ) − 0.8 ( ) ]
Pr Pr
1850 1850 2
Q o = 1076.1 [1 − 0.2 ( ) − 0.8 ( ) ] = 𝟒𝟒𝟏. 𝟕 STB/day
2500 2500
Part B.
Calculating oil flow rate by using the constant J approach
Step 1: Apply Equation (1.1) to determine J
Qo
J=
Pr − Pwf
350
J= = 0.7 STB /day / psi
2500 − 2000
Step 2: Calculate Qo
Qo = J (Pr − Pwf) = 0.7 (2500 − 1850) = 455 STB/day
Part C.
Generating the IPR by using the constant J approach and Vogel’s method:
Assume several values for Pwf and calculate the corresponding Qo.
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
pwf Vogel`s Qo = J(pr- pwf)
2500 0 0
2200 218.2 210
1500 631.7 700
1000 845.1 1050
500 990.3 1400
0 1067.1 1750
3000
2500
2000
Pwf psi
1500
Vogel s
Normal
1000
500
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000
Q STB /day
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
Under-saturated Oil Reservoirs
Beggs (1991) pointed out that in applying Vogel’s method for under-saturated
reservoirs, there are two possible outcomes to the recorded stabilized flow test data
that must be considered, as shown schematically in Figure (1-30):
Fig. (1-30): Stabilized flow test data.
The recorded stabilized bottom-hole flowing pressure is greater than or equal to the
bubble-point pressure, i.e. Pwf ≥ Pb
The recorded stabilized bottom-hole flowing pressure is less than the bubble-point
pressure Pwf < Pb
Case 1: The Value of the Recorded Stabilized Pwf ≥ Pb
Beggs outlined the following procedure for determining the IPR when the stabilized
bottom-hole pressure is greater than or equal to the bubble point pressure Figure (1-30):
Step 1: Using the stabilized test data point (Qo and Pwf) calculate the productivity index J:
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
𝐐𝐨
𝐉=
𝐏𝐫 − 𝐏𝐰𝐟
Step 2: Calculate the oil flow rate at the bubble-point pressure:
Qob = J (Pr - Pb) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1.16)
Where:
Qob: is the oil flow rate at Pb
Step 3: Generate the IPR values below the bubble-point pressure by assuming different
values of Pwf < Pb and calculating the corresponding oil flow rates by applying the
following relationship:
𝐉𝐏𝐛 𝐏 𝐏 𝟐
𝐐𝐨 = 𝐐𝐨𝐛 +
𝟏.𝟖
[𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟐 ( 𝐏𝐰𝐟 ) − 𝟎. 𝟖 ( 𝐏𝐰𝐟 ) ] ------------------------------------------------- (1.17)
𝐫 𝐫
The maximum oil flow rate (Qomax or AOF) occurs when the bottomhole flowing pressure is
zero, i.e. Pwf = 0, which can be determined from the above expression as:
𝐉𝐏𝐛
𝐐𝐨 = 𝐐𝐨𝐛 + ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1.18)
𝟏.𝟖
It should be pointed out that when Pwf ≥ Pb, the IPR is linear and is described by:
𝐐𝐨 = 𝐉(𝐏𝐫 − 𝐏𝐰𝐟 )
Problem (1-4): An oil well is producing from an under-saturated reservoir that is
characterized by a bubble-point pressure of 2130 psig. The current average reservoir
pressure is 3000 psig. Available flow test data show that the well produced 250 STB/day
at a stabilized Pwf of 2500 psig. Construct the IPR data.
Solution:
The problem indicates that the flow test data were recorded above the bubble-point
pressure; therefore, the Case 1 procedure for under-saturated reservoirs as outlined
previously must be used.
Step 1: Calculate J using the flow test data.
Qo
J=
Pr − Pwf
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
250
J= = 0.5 STB/day/psi
3000 − 2500
Step 2: Calculate the oil flow rate at the bubble-point pressure by applying
Qob = J (Pr - Pb)
Qob = 0.5 (3000 − 2130) = 435 STB/day
Step 3: Generate the IPR data by applying the constant J approach for all pressures above
Pb and equation (1.17) for all pressures below Pb.
Pwf Equation Qo
3000 (1.4) 0
2800 (1.4) 100
2600 (1.4) 200
2130 (1.4) 435
1500 (1.17) 709
1000 (1.17) 867
500 (1.17) 973
0 (1.17) 1027
Qo vs. Pwf
3500
3000
2500
Pwf psi
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Qo STB / day
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
Case 2: The Value of the Recorded Stabilized Pwf < Pb
When the recorded Pwf from the stabilized flow test is below the bubble- point pressure,
as shown in Figure (1-30), the following procedure for generating the IPR data is
proposed:
Step 1: Using the stabilized well flow test data and combining Equation (1.16) with (1.17),
solve for the productivity index J to give:
𝐐𝐨
𝐉= 𝐏 𝐏 𝐏 𝟐 --------------------------------------------------------------- (1.19)
(𝐏𝐫 −𝐏𝐛 )+ 𝐛 [𝟏−𝟎.𝟐( 𝐰𝐟)−𝟎.𝟖( 𝐰𝐟 ) ]
𝟏.𝟖 𝐏𝐫 𝐏𝐫
Step 2: Calculate Qob by using Equation (1.16), or:
Qob = J (Pr − Pb)
Step 3: Generate the IPR for Pwf ≥ Pb by assuming several values for Pwf above the bubble
point pressure and calculating the corresponding Qo from:
Qo = J (Pr − Pwf)
Step 4: Use equation (1.17) to calculate Qo at various values of Pwf below Pb, or:
𝐉𝐏𝐛 𝐏 𝐏 𝟐
𝐐𝐨 = 𝐐𝐨𝐛 +
𝟏.𝟖
[𝟏 − 𝟎. 𝟐 ( 𝐏𝐰𝐟 ) − 𝟎. 𝟖 ( 𝐏𝐰𝐟 ) ]
𝐫 𝐫
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Petroleum Department Fourth Stage Production Engineering II
Lecture- / /2017
IPR
Problem (1-5): The well described in problem (1-4) was retested and the following
results obtained:
Pwf = 1700 psig, Qo = 630.7 STB/day
Generate the IPR data using the new test data.
Solution:
Notice that the stabilized Pwf is less than Pb
Step 1: Solve for J by applying equation (1.19).
Qo
J=
Pb Pwf Pwf 2
(Pr − Pb ) + − 0.2 ( ) − 0.8 ( ) ]
1.8 [1 Pr Pr
630.7
J= = 𝟎. 𝟓 STB/day/psi
2130 1700 1700 2
(3000 − 2130) +
1.8 [1 − 0.2 (3000) − 0.8 (3000) ]
Step 2: Qob = 0.5 (3000 − 2130) = 435 STB/day
Step 3: Generate the IPR data.
Pwf Equation Qo
3000 (1.4) 0
2800 (1.4) 100
2600 (1.4) 200
2130 (1.4) 435
1500 (1.17) 709
1000 (1.17) 867
500 (1.17) 973
0 (1.17) 1027
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