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Production forecasting decline curve analysis: Difference between revisions

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[http://www.aimehq.org/programs/award/bio/j-j-arps J.J. Arps] collected these ideas into a comprehensive set of equations defining the exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic declines. His work was further extended by other researchers to include special cases. Following section gives a historical perspective of work done on the subject;
[http://www.aimehq.org/programs/award/bio/j-j-arps J.J. Arps] collected these ideas into a comprehensive set of equations defining the exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic declines. His work was further extended by other researchers to include special cases. Following section gives a historical perspective of work done on the subject;
* Arps 1945 and 1956.
* Brons 1963 and Fetkovitch 1983 applied constant pressure solution to diffucisivty equation and demonstrated that exponential decline curve actually reflects single phase, incompressible fluid production from a closed reservoir. DCA is more than a empirical curve fit.
* Fetkovitch 1980 and 1983 developed set of type curves to enhance application of DCA.
* Doublet and Blasingame 1995 developed theoretical basis for combining transient and boundary dominated flow for the pressure transient solution to the diffusivity equation.


==Decline curve analysis (DCA) today
*Arps 1945 and 1956.
The major application of DCA in the industry today is still based on equations and curves described by Arps. Arps applied the equation of Hyperbola to define three general equations to model production declines.
*Brons 1963 and Fetkovitch 1983 applied constant pressure solution to diffucisivty equation and demonstrated that exponential decline curve actually reflects single phase, incompressible fluid production from a closed reservoir. DCA is more than a empirical curve fit.
*Fetkovitch 1980 and 1983 developed set of type curves to enhance application of DCA.
*Doublet and Blasingame 1995 developed theoretical basis for combining transient and boundary dominated flow for the pressure transient solution to the diffusivity equation.


In order to locate a hyperbola in space one must know the following three variables.
==Decline curve analysis (DCA) today The major application of DCA in the industry today is still based on equations and curves described by Arps. Arps applied the equation of Hyperbola to define three general equations to model production declines.
# The starting point on Y axis, (qi), initial rate.
# Initial decline rate (Di)
# The degree of curvature of the line (b).  


Arps did not provide physical reasons for the three types of decline. He only indicated that exponential decline (b=0) is most common and that the coefficient b generally ranges from 0 to 0.5.
In order to locate a hyperbola in space one must know the following three variables.
 
#The starting point on Y axis, (qi), initial rate.
#Initial decline rate (Di)
#The degree of curvature of the line (b).
 
Arps did not provide physical reasons for the three types of decline. He only indicated that exponential decline (b=0) is most common and that the coefficient b generally ranges from 0 to 0.5.


ARPS Equation Insert
ARPS Equation Insert


Clearly all wells do not exhibit exponential behavior during depletion. In many cases a more gradual hyperbolic decline is observed where rate time performance is better than estimated from exponential solutions implying that hyperbolic decline results from natural and artificial driving energies that slow down pressure depletion. Hyperbolic decline is observed when reservoir drive mechanism is solution gas cap drive, gas cap expansion or water drive. It is also possible where natural drive is supplemented by injection of water gas. The type of decline and its characteristic shape is a major feature of DCA. We shall be talking more about this as we go further. The various types of declines experienced by a well are documented in the '''Fig 1 and Fig 2'''.
Clearly all wells do not exhibit exponential behavior during depletion. In many cases a more gradual hyperbolic decline is observed where rate time performance is better than estimated from exponential solutions implying that hyperbolic decline results from natural and artificial driving energies that slow down pressure depletion. Hyperbolic decline is observed when reservoir drive mechanism is solution gas cap drive, gas cap expansion or water drive. It is also possible where natural drive is supplemented by injection of water gas. The type of decline and its characteristic shape is a major feature of DCA. We shall be talking more about this as we go further. The various types of declines experienced by a well are documented in the '''Fig 1 and Fig 2'''.
 
 
== References ==
 
<references />
 
== Noteworthy papers in OnePetro ==
 
== Noteworthy books ==
 
Society of Petroleum Engineers (U.S.). 2011. Production forecasting. Richardson, Tex: Society of Petroleum Engineers. [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/776204491 WorldCat]&nbsp;or&nbsp;[http://store.spe.org/Production-Forecasting-P623.aspx SPE Bookstore]
 
== External links ==
 
== See also ==
 
[http://petrowiki.org/Production_forecasting_glossary Production forecasting glossary]
 
[http://petrowiki.org/Sandbox:Production_forecasting_building_blocks Sandbox:Production forecasting building blocks]
 
[http://petrowiki.org/Sandbox:Production_forecasting_expectations Sandbox:Production forecasting expectations]
 
[http://petrowiki.org/Sandbox:Production_forecasting_flowchart Sandbox:Production forecasting flowchart]
 
[http://petrowiki.org/Sandbox:Production_forecasting_in_the_financial_markets Sandbox:Production forecasting in the financial markets]
 
== Category ==
[[Category:5.6 Formation evaluation and management]] [[Category:5.6.9 Production forecasting]] [[Category:SPE - Production forecasting workshop series]] [[Category:Chapter 7]] [[Category:SB]] [[Category:DW InProgress]] [[Category:DW All Pages]]

Revision as of 09:26, 30 March 2016

Decline curve analysis (DCA) is a graphical procedure used for analyzing declining production rates and forecasting future performance of oil and gas wells. Oil and gas production rates decline as a function of time; loss of reservoir pressure, or changing relative volumes of the produced fluids, are usually the cause. Fitting a line through the performance history and assuming this same trend will continue in future forms the basis of DCA concept. It is important to note here that in absence of stabilized production trends the technique cannot be expected to give reliable results.

The technique is not necessarily grounded in fundamental theory but is based on empirical observation of production decline.

Three types of declines are observed :

  1. Exponential
  2. Hyperbolic
  3. Harmonic

There are theoretical equivalent to these decline processes. It can be demonstrated that under conditions such as constant well back pressure, equation of fluid flow through porous media under boundary dominated flow are equivalent to exponential decline. However for our purpose it is the empirical nature of this term which has a greater significance since it allows the technique to be applied to multiple fluid streams even ratios!

Golden rule of decline curve analysis (DCA)

The basic assumption in this procedure is that whatever causes controlled the trend of a curve in the past will continue to govern its trend in the future in a uniform manner


Decline curve analysis (DCA) history

J.J. Arps collected these ideas into a comprehensive set of equations defining the exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic declines. His work was further extended by other researchers to include special cases. Following section gives a historical perspective of work done on the subject;

  • Arps 1945 and 1956.
  • Brons 1963 and Fetkovitch 1983 applied constant pressure solution to diffucisivty equation and demonstrated that exponential decline curve actually reflects single phase, incompressible fluid production from a closed reservoir. DCA is more than a empirical curve fit.
  • Fetkovitch 1980 and 1983 developed set of type curves to enhance application of DCA.
  • Doublet and Blasingame 1995 developed theoretical basis for combining transient and boundary dominated flow for the pressure transient solution to the diffusivity equation.

==Decline curve analysis (DCA) today The major application of DCA in the industry today is still based on equations and curves described by Arps. Arps applied the equation of Hyperbola to define three general equations to model production declines.

In order to locate a hyperbola in space one must know the following three variables.

  1. The starting point on Y axis, (qi), initial rate.
  2. Initial decline rate (Di)
  3. The degree of curvature of the line (b).

Arps did not provide physical reasons for the three types of decline. He only indicated that exponential decline (b=0) is most common and that the coefficient b generally ranges from 0 to 0.5.

ARPS Equation Insert

Clearly all wells do not exhibit exponential behavior during depletion. In many cases a more gradual hyperbolic decline is observed where rate time performance is better than estimated from exponential solutions implying that hyperbolic decline results from natural and artificial driving energies that slow down pressure depletion. Hyperbolic decline is observed when reservoir drive mechanism is solution gas cap drive, gas cap expansion or water drive. It is also possible where natural drive is supplemented by injection of water gas. The type of decline and its characteristic shape is a major feature of DCA. We shall be talking more about this as we go further. The various types of declines experienced by a well are documented in the Fig 1 and Fig 2.


References


Noteworthy papers in OnePetro

Noteworthy books

Society of Petroleum Engineers (U.S.). 2011. Production forecasting. Richardson, Tex: Society of Petroleum Engineers. WorldCat or SPE Bookstore

External links

See also

Production forecasting glossary

Sandbox:Production forecasting building blocks

Sandbox:Production forecasting expectations

Sandbox:Production forecasting flowchart

Sandbox:Production forecasting in the financial markets

Category