WAVEX® Technology Summary
WAVEX® is a new technology that incorporates capillary threshold or initiation pressure, capillary flow, and wave mechanics into the pressure transient model. The method allows discrete identification of reservoir boundaries and integrated volume calculations during the test. These discrete boundaries can be organized into reservoir boundary images and ranked as to which is the most likely boundary arrangement. Data is processed directly from a fixed choke transient pressure test, not as a “history matching” process. There is no starting “guess” as to what the reservoir looks like. The process is performed “blind”. Images are often directly comparable to 3D seismic images. The image from a single well test has no directional orientation. The boundaries are oriented relative to each other using and integral energy balances angular information unique to the WAVEX® radial capillary model. The interaction of WAVEX® and 3D seismic produces a better understanding of the reservoir than either method by itself. The technology describes the cone of influence as a radial capillary structure based upon reservoir memory to the direction of flow produced by capillary entry pressure. The process identifies shock front singularities in the data and computes boundary distances and shapes at the point of cone of influence contact. We have all heard of the radius of investigation. The WAVEX® model describes the physical phenomena at the radius of investigation and uses this a physical wave as a means to measure the reservoir. The physical wave can be described as a wall of capillary pressure that separates the cone of influence from the remainder of the reservoir during the growth or transient phase of production. It is used as a means for exploring the reservoir laterally using the reservoir around the well bore as a reference. The method depends upon accurate petrophysical properties from electric logs and cores. The radial capillary model predicts the singular shift in semi log pressure slope (t*dP/dt) associated with a sealing boundary. The method explains why the radius of investigation calculation at the time of boundary contact produces the correct distance to a particular limit rather than the superposition model solution. The method can be used in reverse to check petrophysical calculations by time of travel to known limits. The methodology was developed from the perspective of an Operations Manager and is a practical and inexpensive way to gather information that reduces risk. WAVEX® technology arose from out-of-the-box thinking that questioned the traditional potential flow diffusion model. The solution recognizes capillary pressure rather than setting it to zero. Advances in science and engineering generally arise from questioning a widely held simplifying assumption, then solving the problem with the simplifying assumption not made. The accomplishment was to discover a diffusion wave operating in a reservoir and use it to dimension the reservoir for distance to each permeability limit, the shape of each limit, and the integrated volume of the reservoir for hydrocarbons explored. These discrete pieces of information are then used to build the most probable map of the reservoir.
For a FREE Pre-Test Consulation, contact: Dr.
Fred L. Goldsberry, P.E., President Voice:
(281) 893-7118
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