Well Testing in Heterogeneous Formations

This monograph emphasizes modifications in flow behavior that are caused by formation heterogeneity, making the exposition useful to both the novice looking for a general understanding and the experienced analyst looking to improve, or find alternatives to, existing methodology. Organizing a diverse body of information that is scattered throughout the international petroleum and groundwater literature, it illustrates the limitation of most current interpretational procedures, which are based upon theories developed for homogeneous, rather than heterogeneous, formations and presents the basic mathematical theories that have been advanced to describe pressure behavior in heterogeneous rock. A wide variety of heterogeneities are covered, including lateral permeability variation, vertical stratification, and natural fractures. Also discussed are sealing faults, interbedded shales, sand pinch-outs, finite drainage areas, and the influence of gas-oil and water-oil contacts within well drainage areas on the pressure performance. Actual text data are used to illustrate theoretical developments.