Enhanced Estimation of Reservoir Parameters Using Decline Curve Analysis

In the current study, two cases have been analyzed using traditional and modern decline curves in an attempt to estimate key reservoir parameters. In the first case, ECLIPSE reservoir simulator has been used for generating a set of declining rates for a well operating at ideal conditions, i.e. a homogenous cylindrical reservoir with isotropic permeability producing single phase oil at a constant bottomhole pressure. The generated data ware then used as an input for FAST RTA, a decline curve analysis software to investigate the reliability and accuracy of estimated permeability, skin, and drainage area by the software. In the second case, the declining rate of a real pumping well is analyzed in terms of previously cited parameters by the same software. The results of both cases indicate a good agreement between the actual and estimated parameters, with the Blasingame typecurve as the most accurate decline curve analysis method.

Keywords:

Decline Curve , Reservoir Parameters , Permeability , Skin