Chapter 5

The Basic Differential Equation for Radial Flow in a

Porous Medium
5.1 Introduction
To derive and to solve the radial fluid flow in porous medium
1 k p
p

r c (5.1)
r r
r
t
2 p 1 p c p
2

(5.19)
r r
k t
r
1 p c p
or
(5.20)
r
r r r
k t

 5.2 Derivation of the Basic radial differential equation

Assumptions:
-- The reservoir is homogenous in all rock
properties and isotropic with respect to permeability
-- h=const. and hperf=h
-- Single phase fluid

Why not Cartesian geometry?

C.V.

C.V.

Conservation of mass:

Mass flow rate (in) mass flow rate (out)

Rate of change of mass in the volume element

2 r h dr 2 r h dr
t
t
(q )

or
2 r h
(5.2)
r
t

q r dr q r

Using Darcys law for a radial flow

( 2rh) k p

2rhk p

2rh

r
t

1 k p

r
(5.3)
r r r
t

1 k p

(5.3)
r r r
t
Since

1 V
m
and
V p
V

m

1 1 t
c

m p
p t p
p
c

t t

1 k p
p
r c (5.1)
r r r
t

 5.4 The Linearization of Equation 5.1 for Fluids of small and

constant compressibility
1 k p
p
r c (5.1)
r r r
t
1 k
p k p p k p k 2 p
p

r r
r r r r r 2
t
From Eq.(5.4)

1
p
c
cp c

p
r r

1 k
p k
p p k p k 2 p
p
r
c r

r 2 c
r r
r
r r r r
t
Note:

k
p
p
0 sin ce k , f (r ) ;
0 sin ce
small
r
r
r

 2 p 1 p c p
2

(5.19)
r r
k t
r
1 p c p
or
(5.20)
r
r r r
k t
It is for the flow of liquids or for cp<<1
c in equation(5.20) is the total ,or saturation weighted compressibility

c ct co s o cw s w c f
c abs co S o c w S wc c f (5.23)
abs 1 S wc

c S
o

c w S wc c f

(1 S wc )

abs 1 S wc Effective H .C. porosity

c S
o

c w S wc c f
1 S wc

Effective Saturation

k
diffusivit y cons tan t
c

weighted

compressibility

 5.3 Conditions of Solution

Radial flow equation

1 k p
p
r c (5.1)
r r r
t

The most common and useful analytical solution is for the

initial condition : p pi

for all r

boundary conditions : q const. at r rw

p pi at r

constant terminal rate solution (Chapter 7&8)

Radial flow equation

1 k p
p
r c (5.1)
r r r
t

The three most common conditions

(1) Transient --- Early time; no boundary effect
(Infinite acting reservoir)

p g (r , t )
p
f (r , t )
r

(2) Semi steady state --- The effect of the outer boundary has been felt.
p
0 at r re
r
and
p
const. for all r and t (5.7)
t
where

1 dV
V dp
cVdp dV
dp
dV
cV

q (5.8)
dt
dt
c

dp
q

dt
cV
dp
q

(5.10)
dt
c re2 h
or

p p average

p p i Vi

pressure

Vi

vol. avg.

qi

rate avg.

p p i qi

(3)Steady state

p pe const. at r re
due to natural water influx or the injection of some fluid and

p
0 for all r and t
t