Skip to content

Flowback Data

Format

Even though the software can handle mixed data formats (e.g., hourly followed by daily), for flowback data analysis, it's recommended to create a project containing only hourly data.

The time step can be in any hourly format, but the units for rates need to be standardized as 'rate per day.' For data in 'rate per hour' format, simply multiply by 24 to convert it to 'rate per day'.

\label{flowback}

Flowback dataset example

Here's an example Flowback dataset formatted to be uploaded via the standard whitson mass upload template. Download the file here:
Example Flowback Dataset

\label{flowback}

Key application

Flowback data is super popular to estimate initial reservoir pressure pRi, a critical input for early-stage reservoir characterization and forecasting. While dedicated tests like DFITs or downhole formation testers are ideal, they are not always available. This makes flowback data a powerful alternative when interpreted correctly.

In whitson+, two diagnostic methods are supported:

  • BHP flattening prior to hydrocarbon breakthrough, which uses the early pressure stabilization as an indicator of pRi

  • Approximate IPR fits based on early BHP and rate data, allowing for extrapolation to estimate initial reservoir pressure

If you want to know more about this, you can find additional information here.