Dimensionless Vertical Well Critical Rate Correlations – Hoyland, Papatzacos, and Skjaeveland Formula
Dimensionless Vertical Well Critical Rate Correlations – Hoyland, Papatzacos, and Skjaeveland calculates dimensionless critical oil rate for pressure transient analysis workflows in reservoir engineering.
How engineers use this formula
Use this formula when the listed inputs (mu_o, B_o, q_o, h, rho_w, rho_o, k_h) are known and the assumptions behind the cited pressure transient analysis relationship match the engineering case being checked.
Assumptions
- Input values are representative for the well, reservoir, fluid, or equipment case being evaluated.
- The declared units match the field-unit constants used in the formula.
- The cited formula applies to the selected petroleum engineering workflow.
Limitations
- The calculation does not replace a full engineering model or operating procedure.
- Accuracy depends on the source correlation, assumptions, input quality, and unit consistency.
Common mistakes
- Mixing unit systems without converting the inputs.
- Using default example values as field recommendations.
- Applying the formula outside the source assumptions.
Default example
Using the default inputs, Q_oD equals 1.421236 dimensionless.
0.25
1.2
500
50
1.025
0.75
100
Inputs
mu_o
cPOil Viscosity
B_o
bbl/STBOil Formation Volume Factor
q_o
STB/dayCritical Oil Flow Rate
h
ftOil Column Thickness
rho_w
g/ccWater Density
rho_o
g/ccOil Density
k_h
mDHorizontal Permeability
Outputs
Q_oD
Dimensionless Critical Oil Rate
q_o
Oil Flow Rate (rearranged)
mu_o
Oil Viscosity (rearranged)
B_o
Oil Formation Volume Factor (rearranged)
h
Reservoir Thickness (rearranged)
rho_w
Water Density (rearranged)
rho_o
Oil Density (rearranged)
k_h
Horizontal Permeability (rearranged)
Source and review
reviewedHoyland, Papatzacos, and Skjaeveland (1989). SPE 19823. Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas.
Source