Petroleum Production Systems

Chapter 10. Forecast of Well Production

10.1. Introduction

In the previous chapter the well inflow and vertical flow performances (IPR and VFP) were combined to provide the well deliverability. The intersection of the plots of flow rate versus bottomhole flowing pressure of those two components of the reservoir and well system is the expected well deliverability. This intersection point describes a specific instant in the life of the well. It depends greatly on the type of flow regime controlling the well performance.

For infinite-acting behavior, transient IPR curves can be drawn from a single pressure value on the p_wf axis. This is the initial reservoir pressure. The intersections with the VFP curve at different times are the expected flow ...