New Applications of the Pressure Derivative in Well-Test Analysis

Abstract

Summary This work presents and illustrates a new general procedure for constructing type curves on the basis of a new pressure-derivative group that involves the dimensionless pressure change divided by its logarithmic derivative. When type curves based on this group are constructed, the vertical scale of the dimensionless derivative group is automatically aligned with the vertical scale of the field-data derivative group. This automatic alignment of the vertical scales simplifies type-curve matching and is advantageous for determining whether field data actually represent the solution assumed by a given type curve. It is also shown that the basic idea used in constructing the type curves can be used to ensure that proper semilog straight lines are chosen when well-test pressure data are analyzed by semilog methods.