Expected Developments.
in Transient Testing
Summary. This paper discusses
the developments expected in six
areas of pressure-transient testing
during the next 5 to 10 years (ad-
vances in measurements, new
models, computer-aided analysis, in-
tegration with other reservoir-
des~ription methods, standardiza-
tion, and new testing methods). Its
purpose is to stimulate discussion
among those working in well-test
analysis about the developments
needed in this area of technology.
. marize the state of the art or discuss the use
898
M.M. Kamal, SPE, Arco Oil & Gas Co.
Introduction
Transient tests are used in all areas of pe-
troleum engineering to provide useful infor-
mation about the well/reservoir system. For
example, they can be used to evaluate the
types of fluids discovered and the potential
of wildcats and development wells by drill-
stem tests; to estimate the completion effi-
ciency after perforating, gravel packing, or
fracturing of a well; to monitor the changes
in reservoir pressures and wellbore skin
throughout the well's life; to determine the
communication among several wells by in-
terference and pulse tests; to provide infor-
mation about injection wells through
step-rate and fallofftests; and to play an im-
portant role as one of the reservoir-
description methods. Transient testing is a
rigorous, reliable, and relatively well-
understood tool of the trade.
Use of transient tests is widespread for
several reasons.
1. They provide information needed to
manage oil and gas reservoirs (e.g., perme-
ability, reservoir pressure, and effective
fracture length).
2. They are relatively simple to run (in
some cases, we need only a surface pres-
sure gauge and a valve).
3. The results from these tests are not
tool-dependent (Le., we don't need differ-
ent interpretation methods for pressure
gauges from different manufacturers if their
accuracy, precision, and resolution are in
the same range).
4. Interpretation models are available in
the literature (probably because several of
these models were developed at academic
institutions and service companies).
From time to time, papers l -6 that sum-
of current technology are presented. This
paper looks to the future. It points out areas
where technical advances are needed to
solve existing problems in reservoir descrip-
tion and management. Areas of expected de-
velopment were determined on the basis of
the current state of technology and the forces
that most likely will dictate the directions
of the work. Although transient testing is
considered to be a "mature" area of reser-
Copyright 1991 Society of Petroleum Engineers
SPE 2059'
voir engineering, it still is one of the most
active areas of interest in research, devel-
opment, and field operations. The high level
of activity is expected to continue because
(1) several technical problems have not been
solved (e.g., rigorous analyses of tests in
heterogeneous formations or reservoirs un-
dergoing secondary or tertiary recovery are
needed); (2) computer and communication
developments have provided more capabil-
ities to transfer, to process, and to analyze
data; (3) the industry is becoming aware of
the benefits of comprehensive reservoir
description, which requires integration of
several characterization methods where tran-
sient testing is proving to be a key element;
and (4) results from work in this area have
been successful in the past. Therefore, it is
likely that resources will be allocated to de-
velop the needed technology.
The key word describing the expected de-
velopments is "evolution." While a revolu-
tionary development could occur, it is more
likely that small, steady steps will contrib-
ute to well-test-analysis development in the
next few years.
Advances In Measurements
Flow rate and pressure are the two parame-
ters monitored and used in well testing.
Flow rate originally was used as the con-
trolling variable and pressure response was
measured vs. time. The name "pressure-
transient analysis" reflects this procedure.
The flow rate usually was changed at the
surface. The pressure response was meas-
ured either at the surface or downhole. Now,
either flow rate or pressure is used as the
controlling variable, and the response of the
other parameter is measured (we have not
only PD vs. tD type curves, but also l/qD
vs. tD type curves). Thus, "well-test anal-
ysis" is a more appropriate name than
pressure-transient analysis. Analysis meth-
ods that use the transient behavior of the
flow rate and pressure simultaneously also
are available. Nevertheless, most tests are
run by changing the flow rate at the surface
and measuring the bottomhole-pressure
(BHP) response vs. time.
Pressure Measurement. Perhaps the most
significant development in transient-test
August 1991 • JPT

INPUT
Fig. 1-Schematic of pressure-gauge drift
(after Ref. 9).
measurements during the last 30 years is the
quartz crystal gauge. This type of gauge al-
lowed well testing with only small changes
in pressure (e.g., pulse testing 7 ) and re-
sulted in practical new interpretation tech-
niques (e.g., pressure derivatives) that
otherwise would have been difficult to de-
velop. Pressure gauges currently in use may
be divided into three types: mechanical,
electrical, and oscillating crystal. Mechan-
ical and electrical gauges use a Bourdon
tube, a floating piston, or a flexible bellows
to convert pressure to mechanical displace-
ment. In mechanical gauges, the pressure-
sensing element is connected to a stylus that
etches the pressure as it changes with time
on a paper-thin metal chart, which is read
by magnifying instruments. Mechanical
gauges are reliable and in wide use under
the general designation "Amerada"
gauges. 9 In electrical gauges, the pressure-
sensing elentent is coupled to a transduction
device that converts the displacement hlto
an electrical signal or signal-generating
form. 10 Strain and capitance gauges are
typical electrical gauges. Oscillating crys-'
tal gauges typified by the Hewlett-Packard
gauges combine the pressure-sensing ele-
ment and the transduction device into one
unit. These gauges also may be called
"direct-exposure transducers" because the
vibrating quaitz crystal is directly exposed
to the pressure so that the mechanical defor-
mation occurs directly in the transduction
device. 10
The accuracy, resolution, and sensitivity
of pressure gauges vary over wide ranges.
Accuracy is the ratio of the error in the
measured value to the ful1-scale output of
the pressure gauge (expressed in percent).
Resolution is the smallest change in the
measured value that will cause a measura-
ble change in the trarisducer output (ex-
pressed in percent of full scale or psi).
Sensitivity is the ratio of the change in the
transducer output to a chartge in the value
of the measured pressure. The accuracy of
mechanical gauges is about 0.25%; their
resolution ranges from 0.25 psi for a 500-psi
pressure element to 5 psi for a iO,OOO-psi
pressure element. For electrical gauges, the
accuracy rariges from 0.025 to 0.1 %, and
the resolution ranges from 0.01 to 0.02 psi
'0;
"-
ui
a:
:::J
(j)
(j)
w
a:
0..
TIME, min
Fig. 2-Schematic of time required to
reach thermal stabilization (after Ref. 9).
for a 1O,OOO-psi pressure element. The ac-
curacy of oscillating crystal gauges ranges
from 0.025 to 0.035%; resolution is around
0.01 psi for a 1O,OOO-psi pressure ele-
ment. 9 Table 1.4 in Ref. 9 and Table 1 in
Ref. 10 detail the specifications of various
gauges.
Because of relatively low accuracy and
high resolution, use of the mechanical gauge
is gradually diminishing. The accuracy and
resolution of electrical gauges come close
to those of oscillating crystal gauges. Some
electrical gauges (e.g., strain gauges), how-
ever, drift (Le., over a period of time, they
show a change in the output value, which
is not a function of the measured pressure).
The total error owing to drift increases with
time, which means that caution should be
exercised when such gauges are used in
long-term tests (e.g., interference tests).
Fig. 1 is a schematic of drift.
Oscillating crystal gauges require longer
times to reach thermal stabilization or to
overcome sudden pressure changes (see
Figs. 2 and 3). Capacitance gauges use the
deformation of one or more electrodes to
alter the capacitance (and hence the frequen-
cy output) of the gauge. The electrodes are
deformed as a result of,the pressure change.
The thoe required for capacitance gauges to
reach thermal stability is somewhere be-
tween that of strain gauges and standard
quartz gauges. Because capacitance gauges
use mechanical movement to reflect pres-
sure change, they also drift.
In certain cases, BHP measurements are
impossible (e.g., sucker-rod pumpmg wells)
or unnecessary (e.g., dry gas wells). In such
cases, pressure is measured either directly
or indirectly at the surface (e.g., acoustic
measurements of liquid levels in the
annulus).
The expected advances m the area of pres-
sure measurement will result from three
sources.
1. Development in pressure-gauge man-
ufacturing. Advances will result from im-
proved understanding of the physics that
control the gauge performance and use of
more suitable material. For example, the
time required for thermal stabilization of
quartz crystal gauges was reduced through
use of a tighter thermal match between the
two crystals in the gauge.
 in ;
0.
r:
w 1E1~-----'------'-----"-----'------r-----,------,____- .
(f)
LL
LL'
o
W
a:
::J QUARTZ GAUGE
(f)
(/)
w
-----------
a:
CL
TIME. min
Fig. 3-Schematic of time required for
stabilization after sudden pressure change
(after Ref. 9).
2. Improved understanding of pressure-
gauge characteristics. Reservoir engineers
who sometimes design and usually analyze
the transient tests will gain knowledge about
gauge characteristics, leading to selection of
the most appropriate pressure gauge based
on the test objective. For example, when a
multiple well test (long test time, small pres-
sure change) is run, a strain gauge may not
be used because of drift. On the other hand,
a strain gauge may be acceptable for a build-
up test, and it requires less time than the
quartz crystal gauge to reach thermal stabili-
zation.
3. Improved algorithms for calculation of
BHP from surface pressures. These are ex-
pected to improve, especially those for high-
flow-rate gas wells, where pressure may be
measured at the surface, and for pumping
wells, where acoustic measurements are
used.
Flow-Rate Measurements. Surface flow-
rate measurements are usually adequate for
analysis purposes as long as the rates are
monitored continuously and thus are not dis-
cussed here. Downhole flow-rate measure-
ments show promise to enhance and expand
our ability to describe reservoirs through
transient testing. II
Several recent publications 12-15 address
the use of simultaneous rate and pressure
measurements. Refs. 12 and 13 describe
techniques to analyze conventional tests, and
Refs. 14 and 15 discuss specific tests that
require transient-rate data. These develop-
ments provided a motive to improve flow-
rate measurements because, in several cases,
1:>
<I
: 1EQ~----~------t-----~-----+------~~~1-----~~~~
a:
::J
en
en
w
a:
0-
en
en
w
...J
Z
o
!Iiw 1E-1 ~-----t----:"-:"'----+----+----:"++------+------+----------1
::;;
is
1E-7 1E-6 1E-5 1E-4 1E-3 1E-2 1E-1 1EQ 1E1
DIMENSIONLESS TIME
Fig. 4-Various flow regimes for horizontal wells.
they require measurement of the transient expands the scope of transient testing.
flow rate either as it decreases to a level un- Resources are allocated and a new model
measurable by existing meters and/or in usually is developed when a need arises.
multiphase flow conditions. Piers 16 de- Therefore, it is reasonable to expect devel-
scribes improvements in the measurement opments in the following areas.
of low flow rates. Siegfried et al.17 is one
example of several research projects that are Horizontal Wells. Activities in this area
under way at various organizations to ad- have increased lately, mainly because of ad-
dress this problem. vances in drilling and completion technolo-
The following advances are expected. gy. Several papers 19-22 address horizontal
1. Development of a reliable low-flow- well testing. Unlike vertical wells in
rate meter. homogeneous reservoirs where one or two
2. Development of the ability to measure flow regimes (infinite-acting radial flow and
flow under two- and multiphase flow con- pseudo-steady state) exist, horizontal wells
ditions (see Ref. 18). may have four flow regimes (see Fig. 4).
3. Clarification of the directions for sub- Solutions are available for uniform-flux and
sequent improvements in the use of flow infinite-conductivity horizontal wells in
meters and development of reliable specifi- bounded reservoirs and for reservoirs with
cations for the accuracy and resolution of an upper constant-pressure boundary
each flow meter. (simulating a gas cap). Rosenzweig et
Advances also are expected in the trans- al.,23 however, suggest that the constant-
mission of data to the surface in real time pressure boundary may not adequately rep-
without a wireline. Several ideas are now resent a gas cap.
under investigation. As the industry tests more horizontal
wells, experience will dictate whether new
New Models solutions are needed to analyze these tests.
Development of new interpretation models Treatment of a gas cap or aquifer seems to

"Extension of the
coal degaslflcation
pseudopressure
function to multiple
well tests, where the
gas saturation may be
different throughout
the area of investigation,
will be very helpful In
estimating reservoir
DIMENSIONLESS FALLOFF TIME. ~tD/TD
anisotropy."
Fig. 5-Typical falloff curves with wellbore storage and skin effects.

900 August 1991 • JPT

 PRESSURE & PRESStJRE DERIVATIVE LOG-LOG PLOT
lEl~----------~---------'----------~----------r----------'
PRESSURE 0
DERIVATIVE +

<Xl
I
~
lEO
:>
a:w
0
oil
a:
E
~ 0
-'
w lE-l
0
+
+

lE-2-+--'-'-rrnTrt--'~~TTnn---r-r~Tn~--~~~Tn~~~~~~
lE-3 lE-2 lE-l lEO lEl lE2
TIME (HRS)

Fig. 6-Field example of a falloff test after gas injection in a WAG process.

be one area that needs further investigation.
The assumption of infinite conductivity is
another area that is expected to be addressed.
Neither the uniform-flux nor the infinite-
conductivity model considers the effects of
producing the fluids at one end of the
horizontal segment.
Multibank Systems. Secondary and tertiary
recovery operations involve injecting one or
more fluids into the reservoir. Some of these
fluids are immiscible with the oil (e.g.,
water) and some are miscible (e.g., CO 2 ),
Injection of these fluids results in gradually
changing saturations and mobilities away
from the injection well. Analyses of injec-
tivity, falloff, and step-rate tests under these
conditions require suitable models. Ab-
baszadeh and Kamal 24 presented a solution
for the water-injection case that showed that
reservoir-specific type curves are needed for
rigorous interpretation of water-injection
falloff tests. Fig. 5 shows a typical type
curve. The water bank immediately around
the wellbore is shown by the first horizon-
tal line on the derivative curve, the oil bank
is represented by the second horizontal line,
and a transition zone exists between the two
banks. Bratvold and Horne 25 deal with
nonisothermal water-injection situations
(e.g., when large quantities of cold water
are injected into a relatively warmer reser-
voir) and Yeh and AgarwaI26 with multi-
ple fluid banks.
Investigation of pressure falloff from in-
jection wells where multiple banks of gas

10l,---------~--------~--------r_------~--------~--------~

SUPERPOSITION TYPE CURVE

WELL WITH FINITE CONDUCTIVITY VERTICAL FRACTURE
w INFINITE HOMOGENEOUS RESERVOIR
> kfOWfO =3

~0:
~ 100~--------4---------+---------~~~~-4---------+--------~
o
z
«
w
a:
:::J
en
en
w
a:
Q.
en
en
~
6 10.1~~------4--.....~~l--=-------I------------4---------+--------~
enz
~
o
.-.

1O-2-+-~~"TTTTTr+--r-'~rTTT+--'~rT"T-rrrI---'---'--'""TT"rn+--____~-n+--- __-.~~
10-3 10- 2 10- 1 10 0 10 1 102 103
DIMENSIONLESS TIME 10

Fig. 7-Buildup in a coal degasification well.

and water have been injected-e.g., water-
alternating-gas (WAG) injection-is needed 100r----------r----------~--------_,----------_r--------__,

and expected. For example, Fig. 6 shows

a falloff test following the gas-injection cycle
in a WAG operation. The derivative curve
shows an increase in the slope following the
second horizontal line. The first horizontal
10~--------~~~~
line is partially masked by wellbore storage.
Does the second horizontal line reflect the
mobility of the water bank just ahead of the Cl

last gas bank? Does it reflect some average •

c.

mobility of several preceding banks? What

does the increase in slope at the end of test
indicate? Future developments will answer i:)<:l"
q,G /
these questions.
o<?, "
Another area of development is determi- ,- - - - NO PHASE REDISTRIBUTION (C 0 = 0)
nation of the optimum way to average rela- ,- " - - PHASE REDISTRIBUTION (CaD =100, CD =1000)
tive permeability data that may be needed / "
to produce type curves for rigorous interpre-
tation of single- and multibank problems.

Coal Degasification Wells. Gas production

from coal seams has increased significantly
in the U.S. in the last 10 years. So has the
number of wells in these projects. Kamal
an9 Six 27 indicate that developments out-
side the U.S. will also increase. Transient
testing is especially useful in managing
coalbed-methane reservoirs. Permeability
and fracture length are probably the most
important parameters governing the per-
formance of wells in those systems.
Coalbeds are usually completely immersed
in water when they are drilled. When pro-
duction begins from a well, water flows
from the cleat system to the well and the
reservoir pressure drops below the original
pressure. Gas starts to desorb from the coal
to reach equilibrium at the new lower pres-
sure. Once gas production starts, a mul-
tiphase system requires a special analysis
procedure other than the conventional
single-phase analysis usually used in well-
testing. Kamal and Six 27 presented a
method based on a pseudopressure function
to account for the multiphase flow of gas and
water. Fig. 7 shows the results of a buildup
test from a San Juan basin well that was frac-
tured and produced for 1 year. Both the ab-
solute and gas effective permeability can be
calculated with Kamal and Six's pseudopres-
sure method.
The existing solution, however, does not
consider the desorption of gas from coal or
the diffusion of gas through the coal until
Fig. 8-Comparison of dimensionless pressures with and without phase redistribu-
tion (from Ref. 30).
meabilities may be obtained from the same
transient test, development of ways to cal-
culate some average gas saturation around
the well and to determine the area over
which gas saturation is averaged will be in-
teresting and useful in reservoir simulation
studies for coal degasification projects.
Effects of Multiphase Flow in the Well-
bore. Understanding the effects of wellbore
storage on pressure data has increased our
ability to analyze transient tests. We even
use the wellbore storage phenomenon to our
advantage (e.g., to determine the correct in-
itial time and pressure in a test from the
Cartesian straight line that results from well-
bore storage at early time). Other wellbore
phenomena are multiphase flow and phase
segregation in the wellbore,29-31 which
probably affect transient data more than is
recognized. The effect of phase redistribu-
tion does not have to cause a "hump" before
it influences the result of the analysis 30 ;
C De 2S
• a
••
a.
however, the common practice is to ignore
it unless we see it. Fig. 8 (Fig. 7 in Ref.
30) shows this potential problem. The curve
for C</>D=1O and CD =l,OOO is silnilar to
the wellbore storage curve with CD = 100.
Therefore, data from a system with
C</>D=1O and CD = 1,000 may tie interpret-
ed with the CD = 100 curve with significant
errors in the estimated reservoir properties.
Phase redistribution effects appear in a sig-
nificant number of tests in gas-lift wells. in-
vestigations of this problem may benefit
from considering the location and operating
pressures for various gas-lift valves.
New Interpretation Methods. The in-
troduction of the pressure-derivative method
to analyze well tests 8 enhanced our ability
to recognize various flow regimes and to in-
terpret test data. Other interpretation
methods have been reported-e.g., use of
the dimensionless pressure change divided
by its logarithmic derivative 32 to align the
40
10
10
103
10

it reaches the cleat system (i.e., it assumes

instantaneous desorption and diffusion). Er-
tekin and Sung 28 consider the effect of
desorption. Although field experience indi-
cates that the effect of desorption may be
small, a complete solution that considers all
mechanisms is needed and, based on the
results of Refs. 27 and 28, seems possible.
Extension of the coal degasification pseudo-
pressure function to multiple well tests,
where the gas saturation may be different
throughout the area of investigation, will be 2
1 10 10 103
very helpful in estimating reservoir anisotro-
py. A high degree of anisotropy may require DIMENSIONLESS TIME GROUP, tdCD = 0.000295 ~~
modification of well spacing and result in
more efficient recovery. Because results in-
dicate that absolute and effective gas per- Fig. 9-Ratlo of pressure to pressure-derivative type curve (from Ref. 32).

902 August 1991 • JPT

 C e 2S
D
r-....
1040- t7
10 /1 ~
0 10 20
Q.

_0 10
a: 10 ",./ \
0
0
- " FIRST DERIVATIVE :2~ 10
6
'L:' \ \
A ~03
"0- ,\ \
Q.

'"_0 ~ ~

7,7 SECOND DERIVATIVE

7 ~ ~olllill I I III
7 Ll~l/1020,0 II IIII II
10

Fig. 10-Type curves for radial flow with skin and wellbore storage (from Ref. 35).

vertical scale of the dimensionless deriva- Computer-Aided Analysis

tive group automatically with the vertical
scale of the field data (Fig. 9, Fig. 1 in Ref.
32), use of integral pressure functions when
the standard pressure derivative is very
noisy,33,34 and use of the second deriva-
tive 35 with the first derivative to identify
various flow regimes and to analyze entire
buildup tests by the superposition time
derivative of buildup data (Fig. 10, Fig. 12
in Ref. 35).
Similar and possibly different interpreta-
tion methods are likely to be developed.
Sometimes an idea that sounds very similar
to what is available significantly improves
existing analysis methods by simply present-
ing a different point of view. A good ex-
ample is the derivative method of analysis
that was at first viewed as equivalent to the
slope of the semilog plot.
Extension of New Solutions to Different
Reservoir Types. Any time a new model
is developed, we expect to see its applica-
tion extended to other types of reservoirs.
For example, if a model is developed for a
homogeneous reservoir, extension to
double-porosity and fractured wells will
follow.
Advances in computers have affected every
segment of petroleum engineering, includ-
ing transient testing. Most engineers use
some form of a computer program to design
and/or to analyze pressure-transient tests.
Computer characteristics that are useful in
pressure-transient testing are the ability to
transmit and to store large amounts of data,
the ability to perform numerical calculations
at high speed, graphics capabilities, and the
ability to run artificial-intelligence (AI)
programs.
Test Design. Although proper test design
is helpful and sometimes critical to running
of a successful test, the emphasis placed on
this task is usually insufficient. As a result,
computer programs currently available for
test design are less sophisticated than those
available for test analysis. Current test-
design programs are essentially a code for
the procedure described by Earlougher 36 ;
however, the advent of AI programs
promises to improve this situation. Several
techniques are included in AI. One is the ex-
(To Page 995)

102~-----------------------------------------------------,

__ SKETCH OF THE DERIVATIVE

_ REPRESENTATION

10°+-------~--------,-------~r-------_r--------r_------~
10- 4 10- 2 10- 1 100
ELAPSED TIME (HRS)

Fig. ii-Example sketch and simplified representation; differentiation interval = 0 (from

Ref. 38).
Expected Developments 102 -r----------------------______________________________•
in Transient Testing
(From Page 903)

"Standards for data

formats are needed
so that data obtained
from any well test can
be entered directly
Into any interpretation
software. which will
require that the data- o MEASURED PRESSURE DATA
['] MEASURED PRESSURE DERIVATIVE DATA
acquisition and 10-2 - COMPUTED MATCH USING INITIAL ESTIMATES
Interpretation software 0 2
10 10 103
comply with such DIMENSIONLESS TIME, tDIC
D
standards."
Fig. 12-Final match by regression analysis (from Ref. 41).

pert system, which is probably the most ap- these segments in a given order identifies or neural-network program for the first step
propriate for test design. 37 To design a the model behavior. The test data are passed of the analysis, and a multimodel program
test, an engineer usually combines the test through a previously trained network that for the second step. Such a system will al-
objective with well and reservoir properties "recognizes" the various models of be- low the engineer to run more comprehen-
obtained from various mes, personal knowl- havior. Nearly everyone who has worked sive tests and, more importantly, to obtain
edge of well testing, results from computer with pattern-recognition and neural-network a better reservoir description.
programs that perform calculations and systems prefers one over the other. HQW-
produce graphs, and information about tools ever, the industry needs to build some ex- Integration With Other
and equipment from field and service com- perience with both methods (and probably Reservoir Description Methods
pany personnel. An expert system program some other methods) before an optimum Well testing is a reservoir-description tool.
uses the same information with a set of rules method for this application becomes clear. Its value to the production and reservoir en-
to determine the optimum test design. Such Step 2 of the analysis (calculating the sys- gineer increases as it is used with other
a program will increase test-design activi- tem parameters) uses conventional programs reservoir-description methods to determine
ties, especially if a good library of tools and ranging from a mere plotting package to a reservoir parameters that are hard to obtain
gauge specifications is included in its data sophisticated program. The state-of-the-art otherwise. A combination of single- and
base. programs contain a large library of type multiple-well tests is usually the best way
curves for various reservoir and well sys- to obtain reservoir descriptions. 42 There
Test Analysis. Well-test analysis can be tems, a regression package to help obtain are two main advantages of using well test-
viewed as a two-step process. In the first a good type-curve match, and perhaps a ing as a reservoir-description method: the
step, the engineer determines the model of downsized numerical simulator to calculate large volume of the reservoir it can sample
behavior of the well/reservoir system (e.g., specific type curves for cases where analyt- (compared with logs and cores) and the rela-
a well with a finite-conductivity fracture in ical solutions are unavailable. The most sig- tively short time in which it is run (compared
a homogeneous reservoir or a well in a nificant advantages of these programs are with interwell tracers and field production
double-porosity bounded system). In the secc that they allow the engineer to view the data performance). The main drawback of well
ond step, the engineer calculates the vari- in different formats and improve the analy- testing is that it averages the properties over
ous parameters of the model (e. g. , sis through interactive type-curve matching a given volume of the reservoir (although
permeability and fracture length). Step 1 . and regression algorithms. 40-41 Fig. 12 some consider this an advantage). Of course,
lends itself to an AI method of analysis, (Fig. 10 of Ref. 41) shows how a regression- because it is an inverse process, well test-
whereas Step 2 can be handled by conven- analysis system obtains a good type-curve ing suffers from nonuniqueness and can
tional computer programs. match. Computers clearly are improving our benefit from use of information from other
The AI programs used for Step 1 will ability to interpret well tests. They provide reservoir-description methods.
probably be pattern-recognition or neural- easier and more accurate ways to plot data Use of well testing in reservoir descrip-
network programs. Expert systems also may and to calculate results and allow the use of tion will increase as more operators become
be used; however, the number of rules re- complicated models. aware of the importance of a good descrip-
quired and the potential changes in the rules Future well-test-analysis programs will tion for optimum reservoir-management de-
as new models are developed may make run faster and provide better graphics. They cisions and as more quantitative descriptions
such a system less than optimal. Pattern- also will be able to access common data of reservoirs are made through the use of
recognition programs have been developed bases with other reservoir-description geostatistical applications. Studies 43 of the
for well testing. 38,39 Fig. 11 (Fig. 6 in Ref. programs. However, the most significant use of transient testing in such applications
38) illustrates how pattern recognition can improvements will be seen in AI model- have begun and are expected to increase.
be used to identify the model of behavior. recognition programs coupled with current Other studies 44 -46 have shown that tran-
The pressure derivative is replaced by a parameter-calculation programs. It is sient testing can also be used to calculate
representation that identifies the slope of the reasonable to think that we soon will see an relative permeability data. Field tests are
curve as segments with known trends (e.g., integrated program that combines an expert needed to validate such ideas and point out
up, down, and plateau). The combination of system for test design, a pattern-recognition the direction for developments.

JPT • August 1991 995

Standardization
No standards exist in the area of well test-
ing. Data are collected and transmitted in
various forms. Interpretation software is de-
signed on the basis of the best judgment of
the development group. Data received from
measurement tools need to be reread before
they are interpreted. Available computer
programs cannot be used directly to supple-
ment an integrated software package. Soft-
ware programs are written for specific
systems, and porting them to other systems
requires major overhauls. Organizations
with multiple systems find them to be the
cause of continuous debates and frustration.
Perhaps one reason for the lack of stan-
dards is that, until recently, the volume of
data generated during well tests was rela-
tively small. Another possible reason is that
the available interpretation models have been
simple; therefore, calculation of reservoir
properties required small programs. Because
this is no longer the case, standards are
needed and probably will be adopted in the
future.
To the best of my knowledge, standardi-
zation of well testing was first attempted in
the late 1970's and resulted in adoption of
3 in. x 3 in. as dimensions of the log cycles
for type curves. Standards for data formats
are needed so that data obtained from any
well test can be entered directly into any
interpretation software, which will require
that the data-acquisition and interpretation
software comply with such standards.
Thrasher 47 proposed such standards, stim-
ulating discussion among petroleum engi-
neers. Standards also may be adopted for
function solutions, plotting presentation, and
analysis report format.
New Testing Methods
Essenti\llly, there is only one testing method.
Either the flow rate or pressure is changed
and the response of the other element is
monitored. The changes occur over relative-
ly long times. One well, several wells, or
several locations in the same well are used
in these tests. All developments in the area
of well testing concern this method.
The reservoir and well parameters that can
be obtained from tests may expand if other
testing methods are used. Efforts are under
way in different organizations to develop
new testing methods. Understandably, such
efforts are proprietary but results may be-
come available soon.
Concluding Remarks
The expected developments in well testing
indicate that this "mature" area of reser-
voir engineering technology will continue
to be an active and exciting area of research,
development, and field applications. Evo-
lution of current technology will provide the
bulk of advancements in well testing. As the
title of this paper states, what was described
here is what is expected to develop. Some
of these developments will materialize, some
will not, and some unexpected developments
will surprise us (pleasantly, I hope).
996
Nomenclature References
B = FVF, RB/STB [res m 3 /stock- 1. Ramey, H.J. Jr.: "Pressure Transient Test-
tank m 3 ] ing," JPT (July 1982) 1407-13.
c = compressibility, psi -1 [kPa -1 ] 2. Gringarten, A.C.: "Interpretation of Tests in
Fissured and Multilayered Reservoirs With
C = wellbore storage coefficient, Double-Porosity Behavior: Theory and Prac-
bbl/psi [m 3 /kPa] tice," JPT (April 1984) 549-64.
3. Kamal, M.M.: "Interference and Pulse
Ca = apparent wellbore storage
Testing-A Review," JPT (Dec. 1983)
coefficient, bbl/psi [m 3 IkPa]
2257-70.
CaD = apparent dimensionless 4. Cinco-Ley, H.: "Evaluation of Hydraulic
storage coefficient Fracturing by Transient Pressure Analysis
=5.6146CaI27r4>ct hrw2 Methods," paper SPE 10043 presented at the
C'" = phase-redistribution pressure 1982 SPE IntI. Meeting on Petroleum Engi-
parameter, psi [kPa] neering, Beijing, March 19-22.
5. Ramey, H.J. Jr.: "Practical Use of Modern
C",D = dimensionless phase Well Test Analysis," paper SPE 5878
redistribution pressure presented at the 1976 SPE California Regional
parameter = khC", 1141.2qBiJ. Meeting, Long Beach, April 8-9.
6. Raghavan, R. : "Well-Test Analysis for Mul-
h = formation thickness, ft [m]
tiphase Flow," SPEFE (Dec. 1989) 585-94.
i = injection rate, BID [m 3 /d]
7. Johnson, C.R., Greenkorn, R.A., and
k = permeability, md Woods, E.G.: "Pulse-Testing: A New
kjD = fracture dimensionless Method for Describing Reservoir Flow Prop-
permeability erties Between Wells," JPT (Dec. 1966)
L = length of horizontal well, ft 1599-1604; Trans., AIME, 237.
[m] 8. Bourdet, D. et al.: "A New Set of Type-
Curves Simplified Well Test Analysis,"
LD = dimensionless length World Oil (May 1983) 95-106.
=Llh(.Jk/kx ) 9. Streltsova, T.D.: Well Testing in Heteroge-
p = pressure, psi [kPa] neous Formations, John Wiley & Sons, New
IIp = pressure difference, psi [kPa] York City (1987) 32-34.
10. Bergmann, I.C., Guimard, A., and Hege-
1lp I = logarithmic derivative of IIp,
man, P.S.: High Performance Pressure Meas-
psi [kPa] urement Systems, Johnston-Macco/ Schlum-
q = flow rate, BID [m 3 /d] berger, Houston (May 1980).
rw = wellbore radius, ft [m] 11. Meunier, D., Wittmann, M.J., and Stewart,
s = skin, dimensionless G.: "Interpretation of Pressure Buildup Test
Using In-Situ Measurement of Afterflow,"
t= time, hours
JPT (Jan. 1985) 143-52.
wf = fracture width, ft [m] 12. Kftcuk, F. and Ayestaran, L.: "Analysis of
wjD = fracture dimensionless Simultaneously Measured Pressure and Sand-
width = wflxf face Flow Rate in Transient Well Testing,"
XeD = dimensionless drainage-area JPT (Feb. 1985) 323-34.
13. Thompson, L.G. and Reynolds, A.C.:
length=xelL "Analysis of Variable-Rate Well-Test Pres-
xf = fracture half-length sure Data Using Duhamel's Principle,"
YeD = dimensionless drainage-area SPEFE (Oct. 1986) 453-69.
width=YeIL(.Jkxlk ) 14. Kftcuk, F., Karakas, M., and Ayestaran, L.:
iJ. = viscosity, cp [Pa· s] Y "Well Testing and Analysis Techniques for
Layered Reservoirs," SPEFE (Aug. 1986)
iJ.wo = viscosity ratio = iJ.w l iJ.o 342-54.
TD = dimensionless correlation time 15. Ehlig-Economides, C.A. and Joseph, J.: "A
4> = porosity, fraction New Test for Determination of Individual
Layer Properties in a Multilayered Reser-
Subscripts voir," SPEFE (Sept. 1987) 261-83.
16. Piers, G.E.: "Inflatable Diverter Flow-
D = dimensionless
mates," Proc., SPWLA 30th Annual Log-
e = effective ging Symposium (June 11-14, 1989) paper
f = fracture CC.
i = injection 17. Siegfried, R. W., Smith, L.J., and Cornette,
o = oil H.M.: "Tubing Conveyed Wellbore Fluid
Flow Measurement System," U.S. Patent
t = total system No. 4,928,759 (May 29, 1990).
W = water 18. Morris, S.L. and Hill, A.D.: "Ultrasonic im-
X,Y,z = in the x, Y, or z direction, aging and Velocimetry in Two-Phase Pipe
respectively Flow," paper presented at the 1990 Energy-
Sources Technology Conference and Exhibi-
tion of ASME, New Orleans, Jan. 14-18.
Acknowledgments
19. Daviau, F. et al.: "Pressure Analysis for
Thanks to Don McAllister and Tim Plover Horizontal Wells," paper SPE 14251 present-
for providing the information about artifi- ed at the 1985 SPE Annual Technical Con-
cial intelligence; to Ismail Buhidma, Brian ference and Exhibition, Las Vegas, Sept.
22-25.
Gobran, Bob Kramm, and Mike Reinart for
20. Clonts, M.D. and Ramey, H.J. Jr.: "Pres-
reviewing the manuscript; to Anita Davis sure-Transient Analysis for Wells With Hori-
and Kim Burt for preparing the manuscript; zontal Drainholes," paper SPE 15116
and to the management of Arco Oil & Gas presented at the 1986 SPE California Regional
Co. for permission to publish this paper. Meeting, Oakland, April 2-4.
August 1991 • JPT
21. Goode, P.A. and Thambynayagam, R.K.M.:
"Pressure Drawdown and Buildup Analysis
of Horizontal Wells in Anisotropic Media, "
SPEFE (Dec. 1987) 683-97.
22. Odeh, A.S. and Babu, D.K.: "Transient
Flow Behavior of Horizontal Wells: Pressure
Drawdown and Buildup Analysis," SPEFE
(March 1990) 7-15.
23. Rosenzweig, J.J., Korpics, D.C., and Craw-
ford, G.E.: "Pressure Transient Analysis of
the JX-2 Horizontal Well, Prudhoe Bay, Alas-
ka," paper SPE 20610 presented at the 1990
SPE Annual Technical Conference and Ex-
hibition, New Orleans, Sept. 23-26.
24. Abbaszadeh, M. and Kamal, M.: "Pressure-
Transient Testing of Water-Injection Wells,"
SPERE (Feb. 1989) 115-24.
25. Bratvold, R.B. and Horne, R.N.: "Analysis
of Pressure-Falloff Tests Following Cold-
Water Injection," SPEFE (Sept. 1990)
293-302.
26. Yeh, N.S. and Agarwal, R.G.: "Pressure
Transient Analysis of Injection Wells in
Reservoirs With Multiple Fluid Banks,"
paper SPE 19775 presented at the 1989 SPE
Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
San Antonio, Oct. 8-11.
27. Kamal, M.M. and Six, J.L.: "Pressure Tran-
sient Testing of Methane Producing Coal-
beds," paper SPE 19789 presented at the
1989 SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, San Antonio, Oct. 8-11.
28. Ertekin, T. and Sung, W.: "Pressure-
Transient Analysis of Coal Seams in the Pres-
ence of Multimechanistic Flow and Sorption
Phenomena, " paper SPE 19102 presented at
the 1989 SPE Gas Technology Symposium,
Dallas, June 7-9.
29. Stegemeier, G.L. and Matthews, C.S.: "A
Study of Anomalous Pressure Build-Up Be-
havior," Trans., AIME (1958) 213, 44-50.
30. Fair, W.B. Jr.: "Pressure Buildup Analysis
With Wellbore Phase Redistribution," SPEI
(April 1981) 259-70.
31. Thompson, L.G., Jones, J .R., and Reynolds,
A.C.: "Analysis of Pressure Buildup Data In-
fluenced by Wellbore Phase Redistribution,"
SPEFE (Oct. 1986) 435-52.
32. Onur, M., Yeh, N., and Reynolds, A.C.:
"New Applications of the Pressure Deriva-
tive in Well-Test Analysis," SPEFE (Sept.
1989) 429-37.
33. Onur, M., Peres, A.M.M., and Reynolds,
A.C.: "New Pressure Functions for Well
Testing Analysis," paper SPE 19819 present-
ed at the 1989 SPE Annual Technical Con-
ference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Oct.
8-11.
34. Blasingame, T.A., Johnston, J.L., and Lee,
W.J.: "Type-Curve Analysis Using the
Pressure-Integral Method," paper SPE 18799
presented at the 1989 SPE California Regional
Meeting, Bakersfield, April 5-7.
35. Cinco-Ley, H. and Samaniego, F.: "Use and
Misuse of the Superposition Time Function
in Well Test Analysis," paper SPE 19817
presented at the 1989 SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio,
Oct. 8-11.
36. Earlougher, R.C. Jr.: Advances in Well Test
Analysis, Monograph Series, SPE, Richard-
son, TX (1977) 5, 166-69.
JPT • August 1991
37. MacAllister, D.J. and Kamal, M.M.: "A
Pressure Transient Test Design Expert Sys-
tern," paper presented at the 1991 Confer-
ence on Artificial Intelligence in Petroleum
Exploration & Production, Texas A&M U.,
College Station, May 15-17.
38. Allain, O.F. and Horne, R.N.: "Use of Ar-
tificial Intelligence in Well-Test Interpreta-
tion," JPT (March 1990) 342-49.
39. Al-Kaabi, A.U., McVay, D.A., and Lee,
W.J.: "Using an Expert System To Identify
a Well-Test Interpretation Model," JPT (May
1990) 654-61.
40. Rosa, A.J. and Horne, R.N.: "Automated
Type-Curve Matching in Well Test Analy-
sis by Using Laplace Space Determination of
Parameter Gradients," paper SPE 12131
presented at the 1983 SPE Annual Technical
Conference and Exhibition, San Francisco,
Oct. 5-8.
41. Abbaszadeh, M. and Kamal, M.M.: "Auto-
matic Type-Curve Matching for Well Test
Analysis," SPEFE (Sept. 1988) 567-77.
42. Kamal, M.M.: "The Use of Pressure Tran-
sients To Describe Reservoir Heterogeneity,"
JPT (Aug. 1979) 1060-70; Trans., AIME,
267.
43. Chang, J. and Yortsos, Y.C.: "Pressure-
Transient Analysis of Fractal Reservoirs,"
SPEFE (March 1990) 31-38.
44. Al-Khalifah, A.A., Horne, R.N., and Aziz,
K.: "In-Place Determination of Reservoir
Relative Permeability Using Well Test Anal-
ysis," paper SPE 16774 presented at the 1987
SPE Annual Technical Conference and Ex-
hibition, Dallas, Sept. 27-30.
45. Serra, K.V., Peres, A.M.M., and Reynolds,
A.C.: "Well-Test Analysis for Solution-Gas-
Drive Reservoirs: Part I-Determination of
Relative and Absolute Permeabilities,"
SPEFE (June 1990) 124-32.
46. Hatzignatiou, D.G. and Reynolds, A.C.:
"Determination of Effective or Relative Per-
meability Curves From Well Tests," paper
SPE 20537 presented at the 1990 SPE An-
nual Technical Conference and Exhibition,
New Orleans, Sept. 23-26.
47. Thrasher, T.S.: "Computer File Forrnat Stan-
dards," paper SPE 20596 presented at the
1990 SPE Animal Technical Conference and
Exhibition, New Orleans, Sept. 23-26.
SI Metric Conversion Factors
in. X 2.54" E+OO = em
psi X 6.894 757 E+OO = kPa
·Conversion factor is exact.
Provenance
Original SPE manuscript, Expected Devel-
opments in Transient Testing, received for
review Sept. 2, 1990. Paper accepted for
publication June 10, 1991. Revised manu-
script received June 7, 1991. Paper (SPE
20593) first presented at the 1990 SPE An-
nual Technical Conference and Exhibition
held in New Orleans, Sept. 23-26.
JPT
997