Chapter 2

Principles Of Fluid Flow

In Porous Media

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 1

 CLASSIFICATION OF FLUID FLOW
IN POROUS MEDIA
NO. OF
FLOW MOBILE TYPES OF FLUIDS GEOMETRY
REGIME PHASES
Steady - One incompressible Linear
State

Unsteady Two Slightly Radial

State compressible

Pseudo - Three compressible Spherical

Steady
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 2
 FLOW REGIMES

Steady - state Unsteady - State Pseudo steady - state

∂P ∂P ∂P
=0 ≠ Constant = Constant
∂t ∂t ∂t
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 3
 Flow Regimes

Location X

Steady state
Pressure

Pseudo-steady state

Unsteady state

Time
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 4
 FLOW GEOMETRY
Radial Flow
• Complete
penetration
• Perforate the entire
section

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 5

 FLOW GEOMETRY

Spherical flow due to Hemi - Spherical flow due

limited entry to partial penetration
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 6
 Types of Fluids

incompressible •Black oil

Slightly com •Volatile oil

pr essible
Volume

•Condensate
• Wet gas
Compressib
le
• Dry gas

Pressure
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 7
 The Diffusivity Equation
• Describes the flow of
– a slightly compressible fluid
– having constant viscosity
– in a porous medium
– at constant temperature
• Derived from basic relationships of
– continuity
– flow equation (Darcy’s law)
– equation-of-state
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 8
 The Continuity Equation

(Aρv)1 (Aρv)2

& = (Aρv )1 − (Aρv )2

m Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 9
 Flow Equation (Darcy’s Law)

kA∆p
q=
µL
or, in differential form,

k x ∂p
ux = −
µ ∂x
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 10
Equation of State for a Slightly
Compressible Liquid

c ( p − po )
ρ = ρ oe

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 11

 The Diffusivity Equation
One-dimensional, radial form:

1 ∂ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ φµ ct ∂p
⎜r ⎟ =
r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ k ∂t

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 12

Fluid Compressibility
1 ∂V ∂ln(V )
c≡− =−
V ∂p ∂p
Pore Compressibility

1 ∂φ ∂ ln(φ )
cf ≡ =
φ ∂p ∂p
Total Compressibility

ct = c f + So co + Sw cw + S g c g
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 13
 Fluid Compressibility , psi-1

Gas
Fluid @ 4000 psi , Cg is 250x10-6

Compressibility
Oil Order of 10 x 10-6
Range
Water 2 : 15 x 10-6

Rock 3 : 10 x 10-6

Note : Compressibility values for oil and water depend on the

dissolved gas

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 14

 Net Pay Thickness

h1

h2
h = h1 + h2 + h3
Shale
h3 Sand (No perforations
in this sand)
h4

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 15

 Net Pay Thickness

Vertical well, Vertical well,

horizontal formation slanted formation

Deviated well, Deviated well,

horizontal formation slanted formation
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 16
 Wellbore Radius

rw

Take the bit size not theDr.casing size

Hesham A. Bahaa 17
Radial Flow

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 18

Radial Flow Reservoir Model

Bulk
formation

rw
h

r
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 19
The Radial Flow Model Assumptions
Homogeneous & isotropic Single phase
reservoir Small & constant compressibility
Constant viscosity

Horizontal Flow

Radial flow Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 20

 SOLUTION OF THE DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION
1- Line Source Solution
Assumptions :
• Infinite reservoir
• The wellbore radius is zero
• The formation is producing at constant rate
• The reservoir is at a uniform pressure

⎛
qβµ ⎜ − 948φµ C t r ⎞⎟
2

P(r , t ) = Pi − 70.6 .Ei

Kh ⎜ Kt ⎟
⎝ ⎠
Ei (-x) = ln (1.781 x )
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 21
 Ei-Function Graph

6 Log approximation

4
-Ei(-x)
Ei-function
drops to zero
2

0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
-x
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 22
 Short-Time Approximation for Ei-
Function Solution

Applies when

948 φµ ct r 2
> 10
kt
(large radius or small time)

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 23

 SOLUTION OF THE DIFFUSIVITY EQUATION
2- LOG-APPROXIMATION SOLUTION
Assumptions :
• Infinite reservoir .
• The wellbore radius is zero .
• The formation is producing at constant rate
• The reservoir is at a uniform pressure .

qβµ ⎛⎜ ⎞
P(r , t ) = Pi − 162.6 ⎟
Kt
log − 3 .23 + 0. 87 s
Kh ⎜ φµ
2
⎟
⎝ Ct r ⎠
948 φµ ct r 2
Applies when < 0.01 (small radius or large time)
kt Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 24
 Pressure Profile During Drawdown

2000

t=0 ri ri ri ri

t = 0.01 hrs

t = 1 hr
Pressure,
psi
t = 100 hrs

t = 10000 hrs

1000
1 10 100 1000 10000
DistanceDr.
from center
Hesham A. Bahaaof wellbore, ft 25
 Pressure Profile During Buildup

2,000

t = 10,000 hrs
ri
1,800

ri
1,600 t = 100 hrs
Pressure,
psi
1,400
ri
t = 1 hr

1,200 ri
t = 0.01 hrs
t=0
1,000
1 10 100 1,000 10,000
Distance from
Dr. Hesham center of wellbore, ft
A. Bahaa 26
 Open System
Example : oil reservoir with water aquifer
qB
Pressure

Increasing Time qB

Transient
Steady State

rw re
Radius
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 27
 Closed System
qB No fluid is replacing the produced oil
Pressure

Increasing
Increasing Time Time No influx

Transient
(Steady State)
Semi-Steady State
rw Radius re
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 28
 Radius of Investigation Equations

kt
ri =
948φµct
• Time required to reach a given radius of
investigation ri:

948φµ ct ri2
t=
k
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 29
RADIAL FLOW
SYSTEM ⎛− ⎞
7.08 Kh⎜ P − P wf ⎟
q= ⎝ ⎠
⎛ re ⎞
µ β ln⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ rw ⎠

q = production rate , stb / d

K = permeability , mdarcy
h = net pay thickness , feet
re P = pressure , psi
h µ = viscosity , cp

rw B = formation vol. factor , bbl / STB

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 30
An oil well is producing at a stabilized rate of 600 STB/
day and a bottom hole flowing pressure of 1800 psi .
Analysis of PBU survey data indicates a permeability
of 120 md over a uniform thickness of 25 ft . The well
drains an area of approx. 40 acres .

Calculate the pressure profile and pressure drop

across 1 ft intervals from rw to 1.25 ft , 4 to 5 ft , 19 to
20 ft , 99 to 100 ft , and 744 to 745 ft .

Consider rw = 0.25 ft , µo = 2.5 cp , βo =1.25 bbl / STB

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 31
 Solution

⎡ µ o β o qo ⎤ ⎛ r ⎞
P = P wf + ln ⎜ ⎟
⎢⎣ 0.00708 Kh ⎥⎦ ⎝ r w ⎠

⎛
P = 1800 + 88 .28 ln ⎜
r ⎞
⎟
⎝ 0.25 ⎠

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 32

r , ft P , psi Interval ∆P
0.25 1800 Drainage Area
1.25 1942 0.25 – 1.25 142
4 2045
40 acres
5 2064 4-5 19
19 2182
20 2186 19 - 20 4
99 2328
100 2329 99 - 100 1 re = 745 ft
744 2506.1
745 2506.2 744 - 745 0.1
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 33
 As r increases , ∆P decreases
Well

Pe
∆P

Boundary
Reservoir

rw r re
Radius
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 34
 PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION
The solution of the diffusivity equation is applicable only for :

Infinite reservoir

Constant production

Single well

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 35

 PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION
It is applied to overcome the constraints of the
diffusivity equation solution . So , it is used to account
for the following effects :

Multiple Wells

Rate Change

Boundary
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 36
 1 - EFFECT OF MULTIPLE WELLS

Well 3 Well 4

Well 1 d 14
d13

d 12

Well 2

∆P total pressure drop at well 1 = ∆P due to well 1 +

∆P due to well 2 + ∆P due to well 3 +∆P due to well 4
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 37
 EXAMPLE
Pi = 4500 psi
Bo = 1.2 bbl / STB Well 2
160 STB / day
Ct = 20*10-6 psi-1
h = 20 feet

40
Porosity = 15 %

0f
t
K = 40 md
Well 1 100 STB / day
rw = 0.25 feet
Oil viscosity = 2.0 cp

ft
70 0
Calculate the sandface
pressure ( Pwf ) for well
Well 3
1 after 15 hours
200 STB / day
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 38
 Solution
Cause of Method of ∆P , psi
pressure drop @ calculation
well 1
Production of Log 270.2
well 1 approximation
Production of Line source 4.41
well 2
Production of Line source 0.08
well 3
(∆ P ) total = 274.69 psi
Pwf = 4500 – 274.69
= 4225.31 psi
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 39
 2 - EFFECT OF VARIABLE FLOW RATES

Rate Duration
q3

Flow Rate
q1 - 0 t4 q1
q4
q2 – q1 t4 – t1 q2

q3 – q2 t4 – t2 Time

t1 t2 t3 t4
q4 – q3 t4 – t3

Pwf
qβµ ⎛ Kt ⎞
Pwf = Pi − 162.6 ⎜ log − 3.23⎟
Kh ⎝ φµ Ct rw
2
⎠ Time
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 40
 EXAMPLE
Calculate the sand face pressure after 15 hours for a well
producing with variable rates as shown :

Pi = 5000 psi Rate , Duration ,

Bo = 1.1 bbl / STB STB / day hours
Ct = 20*10-6 psi-1 100 2
70 3
h = 20 feet
Porosity = 15 %
150 5
K = 40 md
rw = 0.3 feet 85 5
Oil viscosity = 2.5 cp Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 41
 SOLUTION

qβµ ⎛ Kt ⎞
Pwf = Pi − 162.6 ⎜ log − 3.23⎟
Kh ⎝ φµ Ct r w
2
⎠

Rate , q Time , t ∆P
100 - 0 15 319.6 (∆ P ) total = 283.49 psi
70 – 100 15 – 2 - 94.85 Pwf = 5000 – 283.49
150 – 70 15 – 5 249.18 = 4716.51 psi
85 - 150 15 - 10 - 190.44
Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 42
 3- Effect Of No-Flow Boundary

Actual Well No – Flow Boundary Image Well

r r
∂p
= 0
q ∂r q

(∆P) total = (∆P) actual + (∆P) image

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 43

 EXAMPLE
Data
Pi = 500 psi Fa
ul
t2
Bo = 1.1 bbl / STB
Ct = 25*10-6 psi-1

ft
0
20
h = 25 feet
Porosity = 17 % 100 ft
K = 600 md
rw = 0.3 feet Fault 1
Oil viscosity = 2.5 cp
Flow rate = 200 STB / day
Calculate the sandface pressure ( Pwf )
for well 1 after
Dr. Hesham 10 hours
A. Bahaa 44
 Solution
Cause of Method of ∆P , psi
pressure drop @ calculation
the well
Production of the Log 270.17
well approximation
The first fault Line source 10.64

The second fault Line source 1.0

(∆ P ) total = 281.8 psi

Pwf = 5000 – 281.8

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa = 4718.2 psi 45

The End Of
Chapter 2

Dr. Hesham A. Bahaa 46