Guidelines for Successful Interpretation of Challenging Welltest Field Data

OGBE, DAVID, U. of Alaska

In this paper we use practical field data to demonstrate the challenges often encountered in well test data interpretation. The objective of this paper is to provide practical guidelines to the well test analysts. The examples analyzed include test data affected by gauge movement, gauge oscillations and sensitivity problems, wrong flow rates reported in the test suite, ineffective shut-in and well not flowed properly prior to shut-in, leaking test lubricator and gas phase segregation. In each case, we present a coherent systematic approach to successful test data interpretation using computer-aided softwares. The results of the test data analyses are used to formulate guidelines to aid successful test-data interpretation.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90911©2000 AAPG Pacific Section and Western Region Society of Petroleum Engineers, Long Beach, California