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Dynamic Data Analysis – v5.12.01 - © KAPPA 1988-2017
Chapte
r 4 – R ate Transient Analysis (RTA)- p125/743
4 –
Rate Transient Analysis (RTA)
OH – DV – TB
4.A
Introduction (with a short history)
Rate Transient Analysis (RTA) and PTA are both about getting pressure and rate data and do
‘some kind’ of analysis. They converged recently but they do not share the same history…
RTA started with the empirical observation of rate decline. In 1919 Arnold tried to establish a
relation between the first year production and ultimate recovery. In 1924 Cutler published
production decline responses on a linear plot.
Fig. 4.A.1 – Arnold plot (1919)
Fig. 4.A.2 – Cutler plot (1924)
In the 1940’s Arps published a formulation of constant pressure production including
exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic decline responses. The first loglog, well test style type-
curves came with Fetkovich in the 1970’s, still assuming constant flowing pressure at a time
where PTA was already about superposition and convolution. Ten years later Carter extended it
to the gas case.
Fig. 4.A.3 – Arps plot
Fig. 4.A.4 – Fetkovich type curve