Estimating formation permeability from single-point flow data

Many operators do not routinely run pre-stimulation pressure buildup tests in low permeability gas reservoirs. Frequently, all that is available is a single-rate flow test. To obtain permeability estimates for FERC filings and to evaluate the reservoir, a new method has been developed for analyzing typical pre-fracture production data. Permeability estimates obtained from this method have been used as a major source of data in numerous successful tight gas determinations, including the Cotton Valley, Wilcox Lobo, and Canyon formations in Texas. The paper shows that this simple method can be quite reliable. This conclusion is based on a comparison of permeabilities estimated with this technique and with more rigorous determinations from pressure buildup tests.

Estimating formation permeability from single-point flow data Academic Article