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Analytical Methods WT Paper PDF

The document discusses analytical versus numerical methods for well testing and reservoir modeling. It argues that analytical methods are better suited for well testing as they allow understanding of the underlying physics and identification of key parameters. Numerical methods are too complex, model more degrees of freedom than supported by available data, and cannot reveal the true reservoir properties given the diffusive nature of pressure transients. The document advocates for using simple analytical models where possible and linking them to numerical models to generate complex scenarios when needed, rather than relying solely on numerical simulations.

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Marcelo Ayllón Ribera
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61 views44 pages

Analytical Methods WT Paper PDF

The document discusses analytical versus numerical methods for well testing and reservoir modeling. It argues that analytical methods are better suited for well testing as they allow understanding of the underlying physics and identification of key parameters. Numerical methods are too complex, model more degrees of freedom than supported by available data, and cannot reveal the true reservoir properties given the diffusive nature of pressure transients. The document advocates for using simple analytical models where possible and linking them to numerical models to generate complex scenarios when needed, rather than relying solely on numerical simulations.

Uploaded by

Marcelo Ayllón Ribera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CIPC 2003

Louis Mattar
Fekete Associates Inc
Analytical Solutions
in Well Testing

Well Test Equation

P P 1 P
+
=
2
2
y
t
x
2

Solutions
Analytical

Semi-Analytical

Numerical - Finite Difference


Numerical - Finite Element
Boundary Element?
Analytical Element?

Issues
Complexity of Model / Solution
Inverse Problem
Diffusity

Issue
Complexity

Definitions
Analytical Models solve the
problem directly (transforms,
substitutions, calculus)
Solution is continuous across
domain.

Definitions
Numerical Simulation is the process
of dividing the reservoir into
discrete blocks, having different
reservoir properties, in order to
deal with complex reservoir
problems.

Well Test Equations


Analytical Vs Numerical

P P 1 P
=
+
2
2
t
y
x
2

n+1
i1,j

n+1
i,j
2

n+1
i+1,j

2P +P
x

n+1
i1,j

P
+

n+1
i,j
2

n+1
i+1,j

2P +P
y

n+1
i,j

1 P P
=
t

n
i,j

Numerical Vs Analytical

Analytical :
-Whole reservoir
-Single phase
-Exact
-Homogeneous *
-Regular Boundaries**

Irregular Shapes

Irregular Boundaries

Modified Analytical ElementsA


k1
k3

k2

Rubiks Cube (Integral Transforms)

Advantages of Analytical
Solutions
Better Understanding
Cause and effect
Physics of the process
Groups that control response
kh/q or k/c

Numerical

Numerical
- Discretize Reservoir
(1+ Million Cells)

- Complex Reservoir
- Heterogeneous
- Computationally intensive
- Multiphase**

Complexity?
or
Simplicity?

Occam's Razor
If you have two theories
which both explain the
observed facts then you
should use the simplest until
more evidence comes along

Numerical Simulation may be


justified when reservoir complexities
are known.
But how often, or how well, do we
know these reservoir complexities, in
advance?
Often these reservoir complexities
are only discovered through testing

Issue
Inverse Problem

Inverse Problem

Well test interpretation is


essentially an Inverse
problem, and in general,
is better suited to
Analytical Solutions

Direct problem
versus
Inverse problem
Direct Problem: 2 + 3 = ?
Answer : 5
Inverse Problem:
The Answer is 5.
What are the two numbers ?

Characteristics of
Inverse Problems
non-unique solutions

K2
K1

2-Boundaries or Composite?

A good looking history match


is not a good enough answer.

x
x
x

x
x

The selected MODEL must


be appropriate
Numerical models are too
complex-too many Degrees of

Freedom
Reservoir Complexities are
often unknown a priory
Cannot see forest for trees

Analytical models allow us


to focus on the main issues
Create a conceptual analysis.
Pattern recognition
Judgement
Consistency checks

Much better than numerical


simulator

Issue
Diffusivity

Diffusive Nature of PTA


7

9
5

3
6

9
2 4 7
1 2
1
8
9
8 5 4
4
7
6
3
1
6
5
3

Diffusive Nature of PTA


Homogeneous

5.2

The question is, how much


information is contained about
the spatial distribution of
permeability in the well-testing
response in a heterogeneous
formation?
Average permeability in a region
Not
Permeability at a fixed radius

Sageev and Horne (SPEFE 1988, 428 437)

It is possible to have a hole in the


reservoir

as large as half the distance


between a production well and an
observation well, without

any discernible difference


being evident in interference test

Obs

Hole

Well

Linking Analytical & Numerical


Obtain Analytical Solution
Use geostatistical model to
Generate Permeability Field
Populate Numerical Simulator
Example
Naturally Fractured Reservoir
Determine Fractal Parameters
Generate Permeability Field

Modeling can mean 2 things:


a) Model recognition from a set of
data - Well Testing
b) using a model to forecast future
performance - Numerical

Conclusions:

K eep
I t
S imple
S tupid

Einstein
Everything should be made
as simple as possible,
but not simpler

Mathematics:
Great Servant
(Analytical)

Terrible Master
(Numerical)

I would rather be
vaguely right
(Analytical)

than precisely wrong


(Numerical)

Justification for Numerical


Detailed Geological Description
of complex reservoir geometry
available in advance
Multi-phase fluid flow, where gas
is not fluid of interest
Water cut matching

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