T
Distinguished
Author Series
Well-Test Analysis for Naturally
Fractured Reservoirs
Heber Cinco-Ley. CSIPSA and UNAM
Summary
Well testing provides a powerful tool to detect and to evaluate hetero-
geneities in naturally fractured reservoirs (NFR's). Experience has
shown that this type of reservoir may display behavior that consists
of a variety of flow models. This paper presents a discussion of the
applications and limitations of pressure-transient tests in the evalua-
tion of NFR's.
Introduction
Optimizing the exploitation of a reservoir requires a complete de-
scription of the formation. A combination of information from vari-
ous sources allows a reliable characterization of the system so that
data from seismology, geology, well logging, well tests, core and
fluid analysis, and well flow rates can be used to estimate reservoir ge-
ometry, oil and gas in place, and flow characteristics of the porous me-
dium among other factors. Well testing I-I 0 provides an ideal tool to
find reservoir-flow parameters and to detect and evaluate heteroge-
neities that affect the flow process in the formation.
NFR's contain a considerable amount of the world hydrocarbon re-
serves. As Fig. 1 shows, the rock in these types of systems may include
several elements (i.e., vugs, fractures, and matrix). Hydrocarbons are
contained in both fractures and rock matrix; usually, fractures act as chan-
nels to yield high well-flow rates. Reservoir studies must consider these
heterogeneities because they can affect oil and gas recovery significantly.
Because of the importance ofNFR's, many publications have appeared
that provide an understanding of the behavior of these types of reser-
voirs.11.I2 Currently, advances in well-test analysis allow a more reliable
characterization of these systems based on new flow models that properly
account for heterogeneities offractured reservoirs. Owing to space limita-
tions, discussing every publication that contributed to the technology
used is impossible.
Experience has shown that NFR's may behave according to a vari-
ety of reservoir-flow models: (I) homogeneous reservoir, (2) multi-
ple region or composite reservoir, (3) anisotropic medium, (4) single
fracture system, and (5) double-porosity medium. Fig. 2 shows the
main elements of these models, and Table 1 shows the different sets
of parameters that have to be found to describe the flow behavior in
the reservoir for each case. Next, we discuss the application and li-
mitations of these models in well-test analysis.
Homogeneous Reservoir Model. This model considers that reser-
voir properties are constant and do not vary throughout the reservoir.
Fractures and rock matrix act as a single medium so that fluid produc-
Copyright 1996 Society of Petroleum Engineers
ThiS paper is SPE 31162. Distinguished Author Series articles are general, descriptive pa-
pers that summarize the state of the art in an area of technology by describing recent devel-
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recognized as experts in the area, these articles proVide key references to more defrnitive
work and present specific details only to illustrate the technology. Purpose: to inform the
general readership of recent advances In various areas of petroleum engineering. A soft-
bound anthology, SPE Distinguished Author Senes: Dec. 1981-Dec. 1983.15 available trom
the SPE Book Order Dept.
,flY" • January 1996
tion is caused by the simultaneous expansion of both elements, and
fluid transfer between them, if any, occurs instantaneously without re-
sistance. This behavior is exhibited by either aheavily fractured reser-
voir with small matrix blocks (Fig. 2a) or by an NFR where fluids are
contained mainly in the fracture system (Fig. 2b). The presence of
fractures can be detected by the analysis of well logs and cores.
In general, well-test-analysis methods have been developed forho-
mogeneous reservoirs. The pressure behavior in these systems is con-
trolled by the formation flow capacity, kh; porosity ¢' fluid viscosity
Ji, and total compressibility, Ct. An essential part of well-test-analysis
methods is a flow-regime diagnosis achieved through the application
of a log-log graph of both pressure and pressure derivative. I3 This
process allows the detection of flow geometries and the presence of
heterogeneities in the reservoir. The parameters of the system areesti-
mated by use of the specialized graphs of pressure, p, vs. time. t (e.g.,
p vs.log t,p vs. t'1"pvs. t'l.,p vs. t_'h,p vs. lit, andp vs. :t, correspond-
ing to radial,14 linear,15 bilinear,16 spherical,17 constant pressure
boundary, 18 and pseudosteady-state 2 flows, respectively.
Fig. 3 illustrates the behavior of a single-well test (drawdown or
buildup) forradial flow in homogeneous systems. The first part of the
pressure-derivative graph (unit-slope straight line) shows the pres-
ence of well bore-storage effects followed (after a transition zone) by
a horizontal portion representing a radial-flow behavior. The kh of the
formation and the skin factor can be determined from the straight line
on the semi log graph. The estimated kh for an NFR represents an
equivalent value for the fracture/matrix system. As a complement to
single-well tests, interference tests are used toestimate the storativity
of the formation (¢crh); this value is usually high for NFR's because
it includes the storativity of both fractures and matrix.
Sometimes a high-productivity well produces from a reservoir
with small hydrocarbon reserves; here, the tluids are contained main-
ly in the fractures and the system behaves as a homogeneous medium.
Extended drawdown tests allow the early detection of this case during
the appraisal phase of the reservoir.
Multiple Region or Composite Reservoir Model. Some NFR's are
fractured regionally (Fig. 2c) and can therefore be considered to be
composed of two regions: a high- and a low-transmissibility region.
In this case, the reservoir behaves as a composite radial system. 19
Wells producing from the fractured region exhibit higher productiv-
ity than those in the unfractured region. The system is characterized
by the flow capacity of both regions (kh)1 and (khh.
A single-well pressure test carried out in a well in the fractured re-
gion is first affected by the properties of this nearby region and then
the pressure behavior is controlled by the unfractured region. Fig. 4
presents the graphs for the interpretation of this case. Here a log-log
graph of the pressure derivative shows, at early time, the typical be-
havior for wellbore-storage effects, followed by a horizontal straight-
line portion representing a radial tlow controlled by the fractured re-
gion. Then, after a transition period, the derivative curve exhibits
another straight-line portion above the first horizontal line. If a high
contrast exists between the properties of the two regions, the transi-
tion period can reach a unit-slope straight line. suggesting the pres-
51
 Matrix
• i' '::"
.. . '.. ~

.........•....................
-, ::. .: .~ .:;

_~.-'-)_-+-_~(c~)_-1

Fracture
~~; ~'<
~ • :, • . •
. (;:.! •.. ,.,'>'
.. .'. '........
::" ·~.··~·i,'

~---'...::(d:L,J_==ok--_--'-(=e)_---L.._....!..:.!(fL~
~
"':"', ",' ,".
~
"~

o ~ 0 ~
Vug Matrix Low permeability Well Fractures
matrix

Fig. 1-Naturally fractured rock. Fig. 2-Types of NFR's.

ence of a pseudosteady-state flow; that is, the pressure varies linearly
with time. This is similarto the pseudostcady-state flow that is exhib-
ited by closed reservoirs at long times.
The semi log graph shows two straight lines corresponding to the
pressure data falling on the horizontal portions in the derivative
graph. The flow capacity of both the fractured and unfractured re-
gions can be estimated from the slope of these straight lines. The po-
rous volume of the fractured region is calculated from the data falling
in the pseudosteady-state-flow period.
Anisotropic Reservoir Model. Some NFR's exhibit parallel fracture
planes (Fig. 2d). The reservoir behaves as an anisotropic reservoir
medium; that is, the equivalent permeability in the direction offrac-
tures is much higher than the permeability in the direction normal to
the fractures. This medium exhibits a maximum permeability, kOla"
and aminimum permeability, kOlin (Fig. 5). The importance of charac-
terization of this type of reservoir cannot be overemphasized when
dealing with secondary and enhanced recovery projects.
The pressure-interference test is the ideal tool toevaluate the aniso-
tropy parameters,20 including k max and kOlin and the orientation of the
principal axis of permeability. Simultaneous interference tests mmt
be run with a minimum of three observation wells. As a recommenda-
tion, these wells must not be aligned in a straight line to ensure the cor-
rect evaluation of the parameters. The pressure responses of the ob-
servation wells look similar on a log-log graph (Fig.5), but they are
displaced in time. The interpretation of the tests is carried out through
the application of type-curve analysis for the radial-flow model by
use of the line-source solution. Parameters of anisotropic reservoirs
cannot be estimated from single-well tests because they only provide
values for permeability that correspond to the geometric average
permeability, kc, defined as (k Olax k Ol in)'I2.
Single-Fracture Model. Sometimes a well is producing near a major
fracture so that high flow rates are possible. The main fracture may
represent a permeable fault that acts as a channel to drain reservoir re-
gions located away from the wellborc (Fig. 2e). In somc cases, the
fracture (fault) goes through the aquifcr and water is produced even
if the well is producing at the crest of the reservoir2 J The flow system
is characterized by the fracture conducti vity, kjbf; the fracture half-
length, xr; the distance between the well and the fracture, dj; and the
formation flow capacity. kh.
The fracture can be detected and evaluated by well-test analysis. J 8
According to the derivative Jog-log graph (Fig. 6), a single-well test
is first affected by well bore-storage effects; then, if the fracture does
not intersect the well bore, there is a radial-flow period (horizontal
straight line); and, after a transition period, the well behaves as if it
were located near a constant pressure boundary ( - I-slope straight
line). Finally, the system reaches a bilinear-now period represented
by a one-quarter-slope straight line. Ref. 18 provides a set of type
curves to analyze this case.
Fig. 6 presents the specialized graphs of interpretation. Here, the
pressure data fOrlhe radial tlow are analyzed by applying the semilog
graph to estimate the formation now capacity kh and the skin factors.
dr is calculated from the slope of the straight-line portion in the
constant pressure boundary graph (p vs. lit). The conductivity of the
fracture, krhr, is obtained from the slope of the straight-line portion in
the bilincar-flow graph (p vs. t'/,).
Double-Porosity Model. This is the classic model for NFR's 22,23;
it considers thatthe formation is composed of two media: fracture net-
work and rock matrix. The fracture network essentially provides the
reservoir-flow channcls, and the hydrocarbons are contained in both
parts of the system. The models proposed to date in this category con-
sider regularly shaped matrix blocks and assume that fluid transferbe-
tween matrix and fractures occurs through transient orpseudosteady-
state flow conditions. The matrix blocks are rcpresented by cubes,
parallelepipeds, cylinders, or spheres.
The behavior of the double-porosity models is characterized by
several dimensionless parameters. A common variable forthese mod-
els is the fracture storativity ratio, w, which represents the fracture ex-
pansion capacity defined as

TABLE 1-PARAMETERS AND APPLICATIONS OF FLOW MODELS FOR NFR's

Model Parameters Applications
Homogeneous kh and 5 Highly fractured reservoir or low-permeability
matrix
Multiple region or composite (kh)1 and (kh)2, 5 Regionally fractured reservoir
Anisotropic k max and kOlin Oriented fractures
Single fracture FeD, sl, dl, kl' and 5 Reservoir with dominant fracture or well near
a permeable fault
Double porosity (kh)l, 5, ),' and w Heavily fractured reservoir with intermediate
matrix permeability

52 January 1996 • .JIr l'

 -a. I
I
Radial flow
OJ
/~
0
...J
PI
Log t Log t
Fig. 3-0erivative and semilog graph for radial flow in homoge-
neous reservoir.
In undersaturated reservoirs, Eq. I calculates how much oil is being
produced from the fractures expressed as a fraction of the total oil pro-
duced. Typical values of ware between 0.001 and 0.5
Another parameter is the dimensionless diffusi vity of the matrix n
1]maD = 1]maT~/1]fh,;a, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)
where 1]ma = matrix hydraulic diffusivity, 1]f = fracture hydraulic dif-
fusivity, Tw = well bore radius, and hma = characteristic length of ma-
trix blocks. This parameter is related to how fast the matrix/fracture
interaction occurs. Typical values of 1]maD are between 10 - 9 and
10- 4 . As the value of this parameter increases, the interaction be-
twecn matrix and fractures occurs at shorter times.
A third parameterfor double-porosity reservoirs is the dimension-
less matrix/fracture interaction area defined as
(3)
where Vb = rock bulk volume, v'na = matrix volume, and Ajb = ma-
trix/fracture areas of interaction per unit of rock volume. Ajb is a key
parameter in the imbibition process present in waterflooding or water
encroachment. The value of AJD is 2, 4, and 6 for slabs, cylinders, and
cubes, respectively.
In some NFR's, fractures are partially filled by minerals which re-
duce the flow interaction between matrix and fractures. This situation
can be handled introducing a fracture skin factor expressed as:
SmaD = kmax"/k,,h ma , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4)
whereXd = average fracture-damage thickness andkd = average frac-
ture-damage permeability. The effect of SmaD is to delay the interac-
tion between matrix and fractures. For high SIIIGD values (severe re-
striction in the matrixlfracture interaction), the pressure behavior of
Fig. 5-log-log graph for observation pressures in interference
tests in an anisotropic reservoir.
.J)>>"f • January 1996
_ Ii
Weltbore Storage
a. / ; .
;~I pi
.3
I
I I
Log t Log t
Fig. 4-0erivative and semilog graph for radial flow in a two-re-
gion reservoir.
the system can be dcscribed by two parameters only: wand).. TheA.
results from a combination of AJD, S"'(lD, and 1]"'(lD as
A. = A jD1]maD/SmaD' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5)
The values forA. are between 10 -9 and 10 -4. Ahigh valueofthis pa-
rameter indicates a fast interaction bctween matrix and fractures and
vice versa. This case is referred to as the pseudosteady-state matrix-
tlow model, or the Warren and Root 22 model.
Fig. 7 presents typical behavior for a single-well test. Here, the log-
log graph of the pressure derivative shows the wellbore-storage ef-
fects at early time; and, after a transition period, there is a horizontal
line showing a radial flow dominated by the expansion of the frac-
tures. Following this, the rock matrix interacts with the fractures, pro-
ducing a V-shaped curve; and finally, when the matrix-fracture fluid
transfer reaches pseudosteady-state flow conditions, the derivative
follows another horizontal line. The semi log graph shows two paral-
lel straight lines, which represent the fracture-dominated flow period
and the total-system (fracture/matrix) -dominated now period, re-
spectively. The tlow capacity kh of the total system is estimated from
the slope of the semilog straight lines, and the skin factor is calculated
from either the first or the second straight line.
The shape of the transition between the two parallel semilog
straight lines depends on the magnitude of the restriction of the ma-
trix/fracture interaction; that is, if a free matrix/fracture interaction (no
restriction) exists, the transition may approach a straight line with a
slope equal to one-half the slope of the two parallel straight lines. The
fracture area perunit of rock volume is estimated from the intersection
of the transition straight line and the last straight line. If the matrix/
Wellbore
-a. !?
Storage
OJ
o
...J
1It
Fig. 6-0erivative and specialized graphs for a well near a con-
ductive fault.
53

Wellbore
Storage
-0. ;0
Cl
.3
Log t
Log t
Fig. 7-Derivative and semilog graph for radial flow in a double-
porosity reservoir.
fracture interaction is restricted, the transition zone approaches a sta-
bilized value that can be used to calculate A.
The parameters of the double-porosity model may also be esti-
mated through the application of type curves.
Comments
The previous discussion covers the basic models used in the analysis
of pressure transient tests in NFR's. In practice, combining these
models is sometimes necessary for reliable interpretation of the data;
therefore, the double-porosity model may be combined with the other
models that have been presented and discussed.
Another aspect that deserves special attention is related to the de-
sign and the conducting of the tests. Use of high-resolution pressure
gauges is desirable to detect small pressure changes observed in many
cases, and use of bottomhole shut-in tools is desirable to eliminate
wellbore-storage effects that can mask valuable information related
to heterogeneities in fractured reservoirs.
Conclusions
I. The behavior of NFR's can be studied through the application
of a variety of models that must be considered in simulation studies.
2. Pressure transient testing provides a reliable tool to detect and to
evaluate reservoir heterogeneities that affect the flow process and hy-
drocarbon recovery in NFR's.
3. The application of the pressure-derivative curve is essential in
the analysis of pressure tests to determine the proper flow model for
the reservoir.
4. Single- and multiple-well tests are complementary fordetermin-
ing flow characteristics of reservoirs.
5. Information obtained from a well test must be combined with
data from other sources to understand the production mechanisms
present in the reservoirs.
Acknowledgments
This paper is dedicated to Henry 1. Ramey, who must be considered
the "father of modern well-test analysis" for his valuable and funda-
mental contributions in this area.
Nomenclature
B = Oil FYF, L 3/L3
b= width, L
Ct = total system compressibility, Lt2/m
(~= distance to fault, L
f~D = dimensionless fracture conductivity = kfbflk:g
h = height, L
k = permeability, L 2
m= slope
p = pressure. m/Lt2
q = flow rate, L3/t
s = skin factor. dimensionless
(= time, t
Xj= fracture half-length, L
54
YJ = hydraulic diffusivity, k/rjJWt
rjJ = porosity
A= matrix/fracture interaction parameter
Jl = viscosity
w = relative fracture expansion
Subscripts
D = dimensionless
f= fracture
ma= matrix
max = maximum
min = minimum
t= total
I = Region I
2 = Region 2
References
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ability Fractured Gas Wells," JPT (Feb. 1968) 193; Trans., AIME. 243.
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Fractured Wells." JPT(Sept. 1981) 1749.
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Entry Flow Tests in Thick formations," SPEJ (Feb. 1975) 65; TrailS.,
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Heber Cinco-Ley is a professor at U. Natl. de Mexico (UNAM). His
research interests include reservoir engineering and reservoir simula-
tion, well-test analysis, and geothermal reservoir engineering. He pre-
viously was a research engineer at Ins!. Mexicano del Petr61eo and an
instructor at Stanford U. Cinco-Ley was a 1993-94 Section Program
Chairman, was on the Editorial Review Committee from 1987--89, and
was a member of several SPE Annual Meeting technical program com-
mittees. He holds BS and MS degrees from UNAM and a PhD degree
from Stanford U., all in petroleum engineering. Photograph for Cinco-
Ley is unavailable.
January 1996 • .fly!'