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Operators often avoid conventional drill-stem testing (DST) in offshore environments because it is costly and its value lacks transparency. Short-duration tests may be a promising alternative to conventional DSTs for learning formation conductivity, but they should not be restricted to exploratory wells. Short-duration tests can have a profound impact in any deepwater field-development setting. Stakes are high when unfavorable productivity and injectivity indices may change the well count calculus. Tools such as formation testers provide a credible alternative, but closed-chamber tests (CCT) and/or slug tests are also helpful for situations in which large volumes of formation fluid are sampled. Given that short-duration tests (CCT and slug) can last only a few minutes—particularly in high-conductivity reservoirs—we approached the challenge with a two-fold strategy. First, we developed a forward model to design the chamber length to ensure that we collected interpretable test data. Second, we combined the CCT and slug tests so that we could control the total test duration, particularly in high-conductivity reservoirs. The approach presented here allowed individual treatment of slug, CCT, and reverse-slug or injection test for underpressured reservoirs. Overall, the model presents a simple, yet complete approach to design and analysis of these short-term tests.
Operators often avoid conventional drill-stem testing (DST) in offshore environments because it is costly and its value lacks transparency. Short-duration tests may be a promising alternative to conventional DSTs for learning formation conductivity, but they should not be restricted to exploratory wells. Short-duration tests can have a profound impact in any deepwater field-development setting. Stakes are high when unfavorable productivity and injectivity indices may change the well count calculus. Tools such as formation testers provide a credible alternative, but closed-chamber tests (CCT) and/or slug tests are also helpful for situations in which large volumes of formation fluid are sampled. Given that short-duration tests (CCT and slug) can last only a few minutes—particularly in high-conductivity reservoirs—we approached the challenge with a two-fold strategy. First, we developed a forward model to design the chamber length to ensure that we collected interpretable test data. Second, we combined the CCT and slug tests so that we could control the total test duration, particularly in high-conductivity reservoirs. The approach presented here allowed individual treatment of slug, CCT, and reverse-slug or injection test for underpressured reservoirs. Overall, the model presents a simple, yet complete approach to design and analysis of these short-term tests.
The last several years have seen an increase in the popularity of horizontal wells. There are a number of applications for horizontal wells that are an enhancement to the traditional vertical well. By increasing the wellbore's contact area with the reservoir, a horizontal well increases the drainage efficiency of a marginal reservoir by: * more efficiently exploiting naturally fractured formations* reducing the likelihood of water coning and/or fingering* improving EOR via horizontal injection wells* intersecting vertical or near vertical formations To determine if a horizontal well will indeed provide the intended enhancement to productivity (or injectivity), an evaluation of the formation parameters and characteristics is recommended. Drill stem testing of vertical wells has long been a popular means of formation evaluation. However, the testing and subsequent formation evaluation of a horizontal well presents additional challenges. The successful operation of the downhole tools as well as the analysis of the collected data are not as straightforward as for a vertical well. This paper presents a case study of the successful testing and subsequent analyses of four open hole DSTs of a horizontal well. These DSTs were conducted during the well's drilling phase at ever increasing degrees of deviation; from 45 degrees for the first test to 90 degrees for the fourth test. This paper presents and discusses the: * downhole tools used and their relative positions in the hole* planning and preparation for the tests* analysis of the collected data for formation parameters and characteristics* aspects of the horizontal hole that affected the analysis. P. 371^
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractIn order to meet most test objectives, conventional transient well testing usually requires long flow and shut-in periods. However, the current industry drivers demand short, costeffective, and environmentally friendly test procedures, especially in exploration wells. This is particularly true in deepwater and arctic environments where conventional tests may be prohibitively expensive or logistically not feasible.While various short-term tests, test procedures, and interpretation methods are available for conducting successful short-term tests, clarity is lacking for specific applications of these methods. Some of these tests include surge testing, closed-chamber testing, slug testing, underbalanced perforating and testing, and back-surge perforation cleaning. This paper provides comprehensive evaluation of general closed-chamber tests, including general surge tests, and their comparison with special tests such as, FasTest,™ Impulse™ test, and slug tests. For each of these techniques, the review will examine:• Test design, testing procedure • Theoretical background of each of these techniques • Method of data analysis including comparison based on both theoretical and practical considerations to determine the expected reliability, accuracy, and ease of analysis. A large portion of the paper will be devoted to field examples. Several actual case studies are analyzed using the various techniques, and results are tabulated and presented. The analyses of several of these examples will be presented in significantly more detail to compare techniques available to analyze the well-testing data obtained from surge testing, closed-chamber DST, slug testing of oil wells, underbalanced perforating and testing, and back-surge perforation cleaning.
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