Well Test Design & Acquisition Strategies: Proactively Assuring Data Usability by Optimizing Design and Data Acquisition

Abstract Well testing is a key part of reservoir and well surveillance exercises as it helps us understand the changes in production & injection wells since the previous survey such as damage skin, flow efficiency, drainage area, productivity index and fluid distribution in the wellbore. Well testing has proved to be invaluable not just with reservoir information but also a tool for validating the completion efficiency as well as additional development. The results from the analysis of the acquired well test data will be used to determine stimulation candidates, needs for gaslift design/optimization and checking of downhole jewelry integrity. In recent times, we have struggled to acquire good data making the interpretation process difficult with some of the extracted results not in conformance with geology while others are just outright unphysical. Most of the cases of bad test results could be traced to deviation from BHP design, operational challenges, leaking valves and partly closure of downhole sleeves. This paper presents the challenges from our BHP (Bottom Hole Pressure) acquisition campaigns, impact on interpretation and remedial actions taken to improve the quality of the acquired data. The learnings from this will assist other engineers to streamline their interpretations and proactively managing well test operation through well test design, understanding the multiphase production complexity, importance of proper vendor selection/equipment calibration, operation supervision and proper operation documentation.