US Patent 7874357 Diagnosis of formation characteristics in wells

A technique for estimating the permeability profile of a well includes generating a well and formation model. The technique includes producing the well so that hydrocarbons flow from the formation and through the well. The technique includes measuring pressure at a plurality of points along at least a portion of the well without an intervention in the well and estimating a permeability profile along the portion of the well by use of the plurality of pressure measurements.