An Improved Method To Predict Future IPR Curves

Abstract

Summary This paper presents a significantly improved yet simple method to predict future oilwell deliverability and inflow performance relationship (IPR) curves. For the 21 reservoirs studied, current empirical techniques overpredicted future performance by 117%, while the new approach reduced the average error to only 9%. This new method, when coupled with nodal analysis, could affect equipment sizing, investment planning, and property sales economics significantly because it provides more realistic predictions.