Table 1 Advantages and Disadvantages of various methods for assessing fluids flow pathways

Production dynamics

Assess changes in production well using indicators such as production rate and pressure.

No additional testing procedures or equipment required, straightforward in data acquisition.

Large data demand, theoretical calculations with various assumptions, and strong subjectivity.

^{75,76,77,78,79,80}

Well test

Determine communication through pressure interference from nearby wells.

Directly measure the pressure response between wells.

High costs, lengthy duration, interference with ongoing site production, and uncertain test outcomes.

^81,82

Tracer test

Compare tracer concentrations, analyze breakthrough time, and production curves. Tracers including chemical, radioactive isotopes, stable isotopes, and solid particulates.

Tracer tests can detect low tracer concentrations, effectively identifying subtle flow patterns and small-scale processes, with applications in environmental engineering and reservoir management.

Time-consuming, costly, unable to provide long-term monitoring, and prone to formation pollution.

^{83,84,85,86,87,88,89}