A method of investigating an earth formation. A tool having a pressure sensor is used in a borehole to collect formation fluid pressure data over time. A pressure derivative curve is generated from the formation fluid pressure data by conducting a piecewise linear regression of the data having optimal window length values L determined by calculating a derivative with respect to L of a pressure derivative value (DD), and selecting values of L where DD has a transition that departs from oscillatory behavior to gradual change. The pressure derivative is calculated with piecewise linear regression with the optimal window length values 2L. Different L values are generated for different groups of data points obtained over time. The pressure derivative is then used for flow regime determination.