The feasibility of detecting and estimating gas desorption parameters accurately from a history match of Devonian shale well-rest pressure data is examined. Both drawdown and buildup tests are analyzed, and based on the results of these analyses, a desorption-specific well-test design is proposed. The results from a simulated desolption-specific test suggest that it may be possible to characterize gas desorption from a well test with reasonable accuracy, even when the effects of desorption are partially masked by wellbore storage and skin effects.