Analysis of Prestimulation Test Data in Devonian Shale Reservoirs Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Summary Prestimulation testing in Devonian shales has proved to be complicated because of the long duration of wellbore storage distortion that must be exceeded during flow and shut-in periods to obtain an analyzable test. This paper presents field examples of four prestimulation well tests that illustrate the practical difficulties in obtaining analyzable data. We were not able to analyze these tests with conventional semilog and type-curve methods. To understand the cause of the difficulties, we simulated a prestimulation well test to verify that the actual wells had not been produced long enough to exceed wellbore storage distortion. We then history matched the actual test data from two wells using a finite-difference simulator. Because we lacked good estimates of many formation properties, we performed a sensitivity study that indicated that the calculated permeability-thickness product is only slightly affected by errors in porosity and net pay estimates. We conclude with guidelines to aid in the design and implementation of a prestimulation test in Devonian shales.

published proceedings

  • SPE Formation Evaluation

author list (cited authors)

  • Holgate, K. E., Lancaster, D. E., & Lee, W. J.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • Holgate, KE||Lancaster, DE||Lee, WJ

publication date

  • June 1988