FMB rate (Cartesian)

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These questions apply to the flowing material balance (FMB) rate – Cartesian:

Does the normalized rate continuously decline?

  • The Cartesian plot of normalized rate (q/∆pp) versus normalized cumulative production (Q/∆pp) should have a declining trend, and tend towards a straight line.

Reasons for inconsistencies:

  • An increasing trend indicates non-reservoir effects, such as near wellbore cleanup, improving skin, wellbore liquid unloading (if pressures have been calculated from wellhead data).

Does the FMB-Rate plot have a single continuous stem?

  • Changes in rate or pressure are accounted for in the FMB-rate plot, and should not cause it to develop multiple stems.
  • In the case of multiple stems, the stem representing the correct reservoir model should be used for the analysis.

Reasons for inconsistencies:

  • The reservoir model has changed (for example, work-over, recompletion, refrac, etc.).
  • The wellhead pressures measurement location may have changed (for example, tubing, casing, before / after valve), or there may have been a change of flow path or tubulars.