Why Perform a Well Test?

By DRC | Thu, 9 Jun 2005

A pressure transient test (commonly referred to as a well test) is traditionally used to determine the efficiency of a completion, check for the presence of skin damage, or to determine reservoir properties such as permeability.

Pressure Transient Testing can yield:

• SKIN DAMAGE
• PERMEABILITY
• RESERVOIR LIMITS
• COMMUNICATION
• DELIVERABILITY

Many engineers perform a well test when an unexpected drop in pressure or rate occurs on a producing well. The well test is used as a diagnostic tool to determine either the cause or a possible solution.

Well tests are performed by significantly changing the flow rate of a well.



A build-up is the most common form of a well test because it can be done by simply shutting in a producing well and recording the pressure change and shut-in time.


A drawdown is also a simple test performed by opening a shut in well and recording the pressure change versus time.

Well tests give many important pieces of information which can be used to determine reservoir production ability and reservoir size. Also, well tests can be used to determine if damage is accruing or if stimulation will improve production.