In this work the performance of wells in solution gas-drive reservoirs during the boundary-dominated flow period is examined. Both constant wellbore pressure and constant oil rate production modes in closed systems are considered.

For the constant wellbore pressure production mode, the conditions under which procedures in the literature can be used to analyze data are discussed. Specifically, Arps's equations for performance prediction are examined and it is shown that predictions of future performance are strong functions of well spacing, well condition, and fluid properties. The parameters, b (the decline exponent) and di (the initial decline rate), in the Arps equations are expressed in terms of physical properties. The conditions under which these equations can be used are specified. An empirical procedure to predict production rates is also presented.

In the case of constant oil rate production, an expression to correlate the pressure distribution in the reservoir is presented. The correlating function permits us to extend the definition of pseudosteady- state flow to solution gas-drive systems. Its use also allows the simultaneous computation of average properties (pressure and saturation) during boundary-dominated flow from wellbore information.

Keywords:
drillstem/well testing, reservoir surveillance, arp equation, prediction, boundary-dominated flow period, production control, decline curve, flow in porous media, procedure, fluid dynamics
Subjects:
Well & Reservoir Surveillance and Monitoring, Fluid Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Formation Evaluation & Management, Phase behavior and PVT measurements, Flow in porous media, Drillstem/well testing
Copyright 1989, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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