Introduction

This textbook explains how to use well pressures and

flow rates to evaluate the formation surrounding a
tested well. Basic to this discussion is an un-
derstanding of the theory of fluid flow in porous media
and of pressure-volume-temperature (PT! relations
for fluid systems of practical interest. This book
contains a review of these fundamental concepts"
largely in summary form. -
#ne ma$or purpose of well testing is to determine
the ability of a formation to produce reservoir fluids.
%urther" it is important to determine the underlying
reason for a well&s productivity. ' properly designed"
executed" and analy(ed well test usually can provide
information about formation permeability" extent of&
wellbore damage or stimulation" reservoir pressure"
and (perhaps! reservoir boundaries and hetero-
geneities.
The basic test method is to create a pressure
drawdown in the wellbore) this causes formation fluids
to enter the wellbore. If we measure the flow rate and
the pressure in the wellbore during production or the
pressure during a shut-in period following production"
we usually will have sufficient information to
characteri(e the tested well.
This book begins with a discussion of basic
e*uations that describe the unsteady-state flow of
fluids in porous media. It then moves into discussions
of pressure buildup tests) pressure drawdown tests)
other flow tests) type-curve analysis) gas well tests)
interference and pulse tests) and drillstem and wireline
formation tests. %undamental principles are
emphasi(ed in this discussion" and little effort is made
to bring the intended audience + undergraduate
petroleum engineering students to the frontiers of the
sub$ect. This role is filled much better by other
publications" such as the ,ociety of Petroleum
-ngineers& monographs on well resting
.
&
/
and 'lberta
-nergy 0esources and 1onservation Board&s gas well
testing manual.
2
Basic e*uations and examples use engineering
units. 3owever" to smooth the expected transition to
the Intl. ,ystem of 4nits (,I! in the petroleum in-
dustry" 'ppendix % discusses this unit system and
restates ma$or e*uations in ,I units. In addition"
answers to examples worked out in the text are given
in ,I units in 'ppendix %.
References
.. 5atthews" 1.,. and 0ussell" 6.7.8 Pressure Buildup and Flow
Tests in Wells, 5onograph ,eries" ,P-" 6allas (.9:;! ..
/. -arlougher" 0.1. <r.8 Advances in Well Test Analysis,
5onograph ,eries" ,P-" 6allas (.9;;!,.
.. Theory and Practice of the Testing of Gas Wells, third
edition" Pub. -10B-;=-2>" -nergy 0esources and
1onservation Board" 1algary" 'lta. (.9;=!.