Professional Documents
Culture Documents
=ER
SPE
4629
Decl
ine
Curve
Analysis
Using
Type
Curves
By
This paper was prepared for the 48th Annual Fall Meeting of the Society of Petroleum
Engineers of AIME, to be held in Las Vegasj Nev,j Sept. 30-Ott. 3, 1973. Permission to copy is
restricted to an abstract of not more tham 300 words. Illustrations may not be copied. The
abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented.
Publicat.icnelsewhere after publication in the JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY or the SOCIETY OF
PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL is usually granted upon request to the Editor of the appropriate
journal prcvijed agreement to give proper credit is made.
Discussion of this paper is izv5ted. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the
Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and,
with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines.
ABSTRACT
Fiate-timedecline-curve extrapolation is
one of the oldest and most often used tools
of the petroleum engineer. The various methods
used have always been regarded as strictly
empirical and not very scientific. Results
obtained
for a well or lease are subject to a
kg-log type curve analysis can be perwide
range
of alternate interpretations,mostly
formed Gn declining rate data (constant-terminal
as
a
function
of the experience and objectives
pressure case) completely analogous to the logof the evaluator. Recent efforts in the area
log type curve matching procedure presently
of decline-curve analysis have been directed
teing employed with constant-rate case pressure
towards a ~urely computerized statistical
transient data. Production forecasting is done
approach. Its basic objective being to arrive
by extending a line drawn through the rate-time
at a unique unbiased interpretation. AS
data cverlain along the uniquely matched or best
pointed out in a com rehensive review of the
theoretical type curve. Future rates are then
literature by R2msa , in the period from
simply read from the real time scale on which
1964 to date, (1968!?, several additional papers
the rate-time data is plotted. The ability
were
published which contribute to the underto calzulate kh from decline-curve dzta by tyFe
standing of decline-curves but addlitt.lenew
.-.eferen:es
and illustrations at end o? yapr,
JIECL.INE
CURVE ANALYSIS USI
SPE 4%
TYPE
CURVES
technology.
A new direction for decline-curve analysis
was given by Slider2 with his development of an
overlay method to analyze rate-time data.
Because his method was rapid and easily apFlied,
it was used extensively by Ikunsayin his evaluation of some 200 wells to determine the distribution o the decline-curve exponent term b.
GentryIsJ Fig. 1 displaying the Arps4 exponential, hyperbolic, and harmonic solutions all
on one curve could also be used as an overlay
to match all of a wells decline data. He did
not, however, illustrate this in his example
application of the zurve.
The overlay method of SMder is similar in
principal to the log-log tyFe zurve matching
procedure presently being employed to analyze
constant-rata Fressure build-up and drawdown
data 5-$. The exponential decline, often used
in decliae-curve analysis, can be readily
shown to be a long-time solution of the
It followed then
constant-pressure zase10-13
that a log-lo~pe
curve matching procedure
could be develcFed to analyze decline-zurve
data.
(3)
y=.
[l+;it]
Dd
(k)
=Dit
(5)
t =
D
0.00634 kt
(2)
. (7)
!J~~trw2
D:t
AIISl RATE-TIWW4U
ATIONS
%++&+&v()
BASIC EQUATIONS
4JLJ_
M. J. FEI
,PEf+629
Most engineers utilize the constantpressure solutionnot in a single constaRtFressure problem but as a series of constantIressure step functions to solve water influx
prcblems using the dimensionless cumulative
production Q~ (13). The relationship between
{Q~ and qD is
d(QD)
(8)
=QD
dtfi
D: ==
A
k@w.
(U)
pi
~=[:-lt
Jo (pi - Pwf)
q(t)
(9)
=
e
[[T .
t.
(pi - pwf)
(A)=
=imax
.
(10)
and
khpi
IJJ*3AJ3
but
qi =Jo
(18)
.*
~nb
[() rw
-- 1
2
in terms
0.00634 kt
@ B ct rw2
J.
(19)
Pwf
l-
01
Pi
NPi
* (13)
~=;[(q(p]t
q,
,U)
..**
(20)
SPE L625
i% =
Cg
(j5R2-pwf2)n
. (24)
RATE IJJUATIONS
Until recently, no simple form of a rate
equation existed for solution-gas drive reservoir shutin pressure. Fetkovich~ has
proposed a simple empirical rate equation for
solution-gas drive reservoirs that yields
results which compare favorably with computer
results obtained using two-phase flow theory.
The proposed rate equation was given as
q.
J?
ij
()
(~R2 -pwf2)n
(23)
Ki
~R2=-
kLi2
N
() Pi
NF+~Ri2
(27)
M. J. FE! )VICH
3PE 4629
= [+J+,1%
(y
C@)
A unit solution, (qoi/N .) = 1, ofEq. 28
is plotted as a log-log
ty~ curve for
various values of n, Fig. 6, in terms of the
(For
deel.ine-curvedimensionless lttie t
=0, q .%(q .)
.
these de~ivations with p
For the limiting range o~fback-pr%ure %%?
sloFes (n) of 0.5 and 1.0, the Arps empirical
decline-curve exponent (l/b) is 2.0 and 1.5
respectively or b =0.500 and 0.667
a surprisingly narl;owrange.
respectively
To achieve an~pnential
decline, n must
be equal to zero, and a harmonic decltne
In Fractical applications,
requires n+-.
if we assume an n of 1.0 dominates in solutiongas (dissolved-gas)drive reservoirs and ~
vs. N is l%near for non-uniquely defined
rate-?ime data, we would simply fit the ratetime data to the n = 1.0 curve. On the Arpsj
solution type curves, Fig. 1, we would use
(l/b) =20rb
=0.667.
The rate-time equatior obtained using
Aq. 23A and Eq. 27 is
qo(t)
(29)
oi
p(~)t+r
The unit solution of Eq. 29 is plotted
as a log-log type curve for various values
of n, Fig. 7. This solution results in a
complete reversal from that of the previous
one, n =0 yields the harmonic decline and
n + .W gives the exponential decline. For
the limiting range of back-Fressure curve
slopes (n) of 0.$ and 1.0, the decline-surve
(3C)
()*t
q~
C&)
.e
..0.
(31)
gi
The unit solutions of Eqs. 30 and 31 are
plctted as a log-log type curve cn Fig. 8. For
the limiting range of back-Fressure curve
slopes (n) of 0.5 and l.oj the AW
declinecurve expment (l/b) is 00 and 2, or b = O
(exponential) and 0.500 respectively.
The effect of back-pressure on a gas well
is demonstrated for a back-prassure curve
slope n =1.0 on Fig. 9. The back-pressure
is expressed as a ratio of Pwf/Fi* Note that
as pwf -+, p. (Ap+O) the type curva approaches
exymentlalldecline,the liquid case solution.
Whereas back-prsssure does not change the type
of decline for tha liquid-case solution it
does change tha type of decline in this case.
Using the more familiar rate and material
balance equations for gas wells, we can obtain
the cumulative-time relationship 5;integrating
the rate-ttie equations 30 and 31 with
Gp=
/t
o
qg(t)dt
(32)
&
[1 + (2n-1)
SPE 4629
+t]e
()
&,..
:-
(33;
and n = 0.5
Ftg. 10 *: follows
qm
=0.33
qi =
Dd
@=
~
j
1000 BOPIVI
=
0.G33
=12.0
.Di=
1000BO~
%
30,303 BOPM
= Dit = Di 100MO.
~=
100 Mo
0.12 MO.-l
5PE 4629
M. J. FETKOVICH
did
not than e for the well after the fracture
to rate cannot take place among all wells. The
ratio ./N . may thenbe different for different treatment. tThe before frac. plot can be
considered as a type curve itself and the
group %#f hlls. A total lease or field
after
frac. data overlayed and matched on it.)
production analysis would then give different
results than summing the results from individual Thus all the data were used in an attempt
to de~e
b. When a match is attempted on the
well analysis. A stilar situation can also
Arps
unit
solution
type curves, it was found
exist for production from stratified reservoirs
that a b of between ~.6 and 1.0 could fit
26, 27, (no-cw~~flow)o
the data. Assuming a solution-gas drive, a
match of the data was made on the Fig. 6
ARPS EXK)NENTIAL DECLINE EXAMPLE
type curve with n = 1.0, b = 0.667.
Fig. 11 shows the results of a type curve
Using the match Feints for the before
analysis of Arpsl example of a well with an
frac.
data we have from the rate match mint,
apparent exponential decline. In this case,
there is not sufficient data to uniquely
1000 BOPM
establish a value of b. The data essentially
qw 0.2.43 = w=
qoi
fall in the region cf the type curves where all
qoi
curves coincide with the expnmtial solution.
As shown on Fig. 11 a value ofb =0,
1000 BOPM
= 4115 BOPM
qo~ =
1.0 (harmonic) appear to
(~pnential) orb=
243
fit the data equally well. (Of course all
values in between would also fit the data.)
From the time match point,
The difference in forecasted results from the
two ewtreme interpretationswould be great in
qoi
t =
= 0.60 =
0+115 BOPM)(1OO MO
%
later years. For an economic limit of 20 BOP?4,
r
N
pi
pi
5.sequivalent to b = 0.5. Match pints
determined from these curves could have been
;sed to zalculate~ and ~/Npi and finally
()
pi =
685,833 BBL
then
q
~=
4115 BOPM
685,833
N ...4
=0.134
.
Oi
qoi
100C BOPM
0.134
1000 BOPM
qoi
Dd
pi
q.
~ .m6W(loo
+
() pi
MG.~
pi
= 660,4.42BBL
then
q oi
=
N
pi
..-.
.,--,
---
7463 BOPM
= .011300 MC.-l
660,w2 BBL
We can now zheck the two limiting conditions to be Considered following an inzrease
in rate after a well stimulation. They are:
1. Did we simply obtain an acceleration
of production, the well~ reserves remaining
the same?
Did the reserves hcrease h direzt
proportion to the increase in producing rate
as a resu t of a radius of drainage readjustment 3 ? BefGre treatment, N . was fOUnd
to be 685,833 BBL. Cumulative F~%duction
determined from the i-atedata prior to stimulation was 223,500 BBL. N
then at the
time of the fracture treatm~i%tis
pi
=685,833 EBL-
pi =
J&J 130PM
-1
.006000 MO.
= 1,243,833 BBL
J%
qT(t) = qi~
~Npi 1
() t
-qi
t
+-qi2e
pi 2
.(35)
o.016J_42MO.-l
qT(t) =ql
(t) +q2
(t)
(36)
2.
+Ws
7463 BOPM
= .006000 M0.-1
------
qT(t)
= 58,824 BOPY e
50sGOOBO~
In
[
($)
-$]
M(t~l
kh (Pwfl - Pwf2)
103(~)[n(~)-~]
~(tod-~~)
..*
(37)
t
=0.006967
Dd
= 2.02
=ql
[
Pwfl - pwf2
Pi - ~wfl
(pi - Pwfl)
141.3(@)
.*.*.
e - (O*535)t
kh
or
- (o.2oo)t +
where t is in years.
q (t) =
M. J. FETKOVICH
SPE L629
1000 psi
Psi - 1000
50 Psi psi = 221 BOPD
4000
,)
lWf?T.
TN17
...4.-1.-
flIIRVR
...v-
AN?ITY.STS
.,.,
-----
IISTNC
J.
..
TVPT7
.
..-
PIIT+VF<
.
.--
.sPr?
.-
J. L)G
6+t.,~
wallbore radius r (obtained from the buildup analysis) is u%d to obtain a good match
between build-up ant decline-zurve ~alculated.
kh. .
TYPE CUFWdS l~iiKNOkJNRESERVOIR AND FIJJ~
PROPER71EL
Ct
(-J=
D!
~=
G
G
= l%i~knsss, ft.
Jo
J;
k,
SPE L629
Fi
M. J. FE!
Fi
Fwf
)VICH
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12*
13.
:4.
15.
16.
%
(qi
q(t,
q~
Dd
QD
r
e
r
w
~f
tw
D
lXLmensionlessmxnulative production
External boundary radius, ft.
Wellbore radius, ft.
Effective wellbore radius, ft.
Time, (Days for tD)
Dimensionless time, (@. 7)
Vis20sity, cp.
11
REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
Analysis>
Gentry, R. W.: llDe~line-curVe
J. Pet. Tech. (Jan., 1972) 38.
4.
17.
5*
18.
6.
19.
J. Pet. Tech.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
SPE 4629
27.
28.
29.
30.
310
ACKNOtilEIXXMENT
I wish to thank phillipS Petroleum Co. for
permission to publish this FaFer.
(1)
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E
RATE
- TIME
EQUATIONS
Qlt) =
Q,
l+
;FORb>o
bD,,]~
Qlt)
=
Q1
;
~ D,t
FORb=O
0.00
lDd.
r
Fig. 1 - Type curves for Arps empi.
cal
rate-time
D1l
9 8 7 -
8
7
5 -
4 3 -
2 -
0.1
9
6
7
6
5
qD
4 qD
4
3
L-
Bsl
0.01
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!i
1;
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ANALYTICAL
TY~E_C#RVE SOI.UTION
5
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NPi OR G
Np OR Gp
~i~.
5A - Graplical
representation
of material
balance
equation,
TR VS Np APPROXIMATELY
BEGINNING OF DECLINE
PRORATED WELL
WHEN DECLINE
5B
Graphical
BEGINS
Npi OR G
N~Gp
Fig.
LINEAR
representation
of
mteri
al
balance
equation.
4567810z
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1.0
9
8
7
6 -
5
4
EXPONENTIAL
3 2 co
0.1
9
8
7
6 -
flATERIAL
g3
u
fiR=.
IATE
BALANCE
Pi
() Npi
2.667
2.000
1.714
0.375
1.500
1,333
0.667
1.250
0.800
1.125
0.689
1.050
0.952
-5
1,0Q5
i 0.995
0.500
0.583
3.G.D.
-$1
B
0.750
-7
4
3
EQUATION:
NP+P,
2
EQUATIONS:
TwO.PHASE
IOIL
& GAs):
Qo = oi
~R\
T)
([
- ,
R
- @j
11$
}01
Cl. it)
0.01
98-
RATE.TIME
EQUATION
[PM
= 01: ~
=
~+1
7-
2n+l
zn
P(i)
6SINGLE.PHASE
LKIUIO:
q.
JO6R - Pwf)
4
3
f
~:
2
i
0.00 1
,0.3
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SLOPE
n
2+
0.5
2.000
0.6
2.200
2.404)
0.454
2.600
2.800
0.365
3.mo
0.333
21.000
0.046
0.005
0.8
0.9
1.0
10.0
7\
1 .mo
0.7
0.1
9
8
1=;
100.0
1.000
0.500
0.417
0.357
201.000
7
6
~..5
824
0.1
,1
S3
u
MATERIAL
2
R=
IATE
BALANCE
-(*)
EQUATIONS:
TWO-PHASE
[OIL&GAS):
6R
~
GO = Jo,
0.01
:
RATE-TIME
EQUATION
(~
,!/
EQUATION:
q.
= O): ~
~R
\
%4
n
5
!-
W*
)[
(t)
2n+l
7
t+l
6
w)
5
4
3
SINGLE-PHASE
LIQUID:
RATE.TIME
EQUATION
fexwnentiall
l~f
GO = JO (6R - Pw$
q.
= 01: ~
(t)
.(i)
\
0.00
1
23
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23
10
~~
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Fig. 7 - Dissolved gas drive reservoir rate - decline type curves finite s~stem with constant
pressure at inner bwndary (ph~ = O @ rl,). E:rN transient effects not included.
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I
1 I
567810~,o
I
8 7 6 5 4
9
8
7
3 -
\\
0.1 L
\2
\.F
0.1
9
8
7
-%
i
\\,\,,l,,J
o
-@.
0
,%
\\\\
; -
:01
7 -
6 -
5 -
4 -
3 -
2 -
O.CO1
-,0-3
I
23
45678101
1 I
II
I I I 1I I
4567810
34
56/81
illl
.-.
234
0.001
567810
23
46678102
Dd
= 0,1
1000
EXPONENTIAL
MATCH POINTS
EXPONENTIAL,
t=loo
EXPONENTIAL,
b =O
b= 1
t= looh.hO. ;tDd=l.60
MO, ;tDd=l.lo
EXPONENTIAL
\l
-L
1480klo,
1
285 fI~O.
100
10
1000
FFIACTURE TREATED
AFTER FRAC
BEFORE FRAC
()
\,
h
\
MATCH POINTS
\
\
AFTER FRAC
BEFORE FRAC
1.0, (b = 0.667)
n = 1.0, (b = 0.667)
n =
q(t)
1000BOPM ; qDd
1.13
\
= o.134
\
\
\
100
10
t- MONTHS
Fig. 12 - Type-curve
analysis
of a st imulatw!
well before
treatment.
..-.
1000
Ioo,ooo
O-q=q+q
/
/
EXPONENTIAL
>
$
, 10,03(
$
_
b=O,
MATCH POINTS
EXPONENTIAL
LAYER 1
t=loy
LAYER 2
qz=+-ql
q(t)
= 1000BOPY
; qDd = 0.020
1,00
100
10
1
t - YEARS
~ig, 13 - Tjpe-curie
anal:.si
s of .s layered
reser,mir
+ Q(2)
<
*
\
-=2
\*
\
\ \
.-. .-
lUW
100
10
t - DAYS
Fig. 14 - Effect
of a change
in back pressure
on decline
using
graphical
supe~osition.
11
1
I
ing e
Fig. 15 - Tj~e-curve xatck.
Dd
F- :,., ..>
::
..
L~,,;;
. . .. . .
Pressure
at
0.00634 kt
3L
10
0.1
10
t-
~ucl
~Z
Iw
HRS.