Rate-transient analysis (RTA) is a widely used method for analyzing well production data to determine reservoir/fracture properties and fluid in place. However, applying RTA to unconventional reservoirs poses challenges due to their complex nature, which can lead to uncertain RTA model selection and property estimates. To address this problem, laboratory analysis of unconventional reservoir core samples using the rate-transient analysis porosity and permeability (RTAPK) method is performed. Unlike conventional laboratory methods, RTAPK is designed to reproduce conditions under which wells are produced in the field. Reservoir heterogeneities associated with unconventional reservoirs can impact RTA-derived flow-regime signatures and property estimates. Therefore, in this thesis, the impact of matrix laminations/bedding permeability heterogeneity orthogonal and parallel to flow on RTAPK- derived flow-regime signatures and permeability is studied. Another common problem facing RTA of field data is inter-well communication. Therefore, a second objective of this study is to explore the effect of inter-well communication on RTAPK-derived flow-regimes. A final objective is to explore the dynamic range of the RTAPK device. To achieve the thesis objectives, both natural rock and artificial core plugs are analyzed with RTAPK. Numerical simulation is also performed to verify experimental results. Log-log diagnostic plots are used to identify flow-regimes for homogeneous and heterogeneous natural and artificial samples using RTAPK. A deviation in the transition from transient linear to boundary-dominated flow is observed (relative to homogeneous samples) for core plug samples with laminations/bedding permeability heterogeneity, where flow in the core plug is orthogonal and parallel to laminations/bedding. Variability in permeability estimates derived using different RTA methods also implies the presence of heterogeneity. Artificial rock samples are successfully manufactured and used to verify the results obtained from natural samples. Furthermore, inter-well communication is replicated using the RTAPK device. Lastly, samples with permeabilities ranging from 10 nd to 100 μd are analyzed with RTAPK, suggesting that the dynamic range could span this range or more. This thesis demonstrates that the effects of rock heterogeneity and parent-child interference can be effectively studied in the laboratory, which in turn can be used to inform the analysis of field data.