The volatilized-oil content of gases is quantified in terms of their volatilized

-oil/gas ratio, typically expressed in units of STB/MMscf or stock-tank m3 per s

td m3 of separator gas. The volatilized-oil/gas ratio of equilibrium gases of bl
ack oils is usually less than 1 to 10 STB/MMscf (approximately 0.04 to 0.4 gal/M
scf).The volatilized-oil content of these gases is so low that it usually is ign
ored. In contrast, the volatilized-oil content of gases from volatile oils is mu
ch greater. Their volatilized-oil/gas ratio typically ranges from 10 to 300 STB/
MMscf or 0.4 to 8 gal/Mscf.
Several benchmark properties can be correlated with the reservoir fluid s initial
molecular weight. Fig. 1 plots the initial formation volume factor (FVF) and ini
tial dissolved gas/oil ratio (GOR) as a function of reservoir-fluid molecular we
ight for 36 reservoir fluids. The abscissa in Fig. 1 spans from a molecular weig
ht of 15 to 180. This range of molecular weights covers the full spectrum of pet
roleum fluids ranging from dry gases to heavy oils.

Fig. 1 (a) Initial formation volume factor (FVF) and (b) initial dissolved GOR a
s a function of initial fluid molecular weight.
Volatile oils exhibit an initial oil FVF in the range of 1.5 to 3.0. Black oils
exhibit an initial oil FVF in the range of 1.1 to 1.5. Volatile oils exhibit an
initial GOR in the range of 900 to 3,500 scf/STB. Black oils exhibit an initial
GOR in the range of 200 to 900 scf/STB. These relations establish molecular weig
ht as a credible correlating parameter. McCain[1] has found success in the use o
f the heptanes-plus content as a correlating parameter.
The inverse of the oil FVF yields a measure of the original oil in place (OOIP)
per unit volume of reservoir pore space. Because the oil FVF is greater for vola
tile oils than black oils, the latter yield greater OOIP per unit volume. Blackoil reservoirs contain 850 to 1130 STB/acre-ft (bulk) while volatile-oil reservo
irs contain less, typically 400 to 850 STB/acre-ft.
Although volatile-oil reservoirs contain less oil per unit volume, they typicall
y yield slightly higher oil recoveries than black-oil reservoirs because of thei
r higher dissolved-gas content and lower oil viscosity. Ultimately, volatile-oil
reservoirs may yield greater oil reserves than black-oil reservoirs. Light blac
k oils and heavy volatile oils are among the most economically attractive reserv
oir fluids.
There has been no systematic study to determine the relative percentage of black
-oil and volatile-oil reservoirs; however, an examination of the world s 500 large
st reservoirs reveals that black-oil reservoirs overwhelmingly dominate the grou
p. [2] One reason there are more black-oil than volatile-oil reservoirs is that
the latter are characteristically located at greater depths than the former. As
exploration continues to go deeper, more volatile-oil reservoirs can be expected
to be discovered.
Oil fluid properties
Black and volatile oils, as well as other petroleum fluids, are characterized ro
utinely in terms of their standard pressure/volume/temperature (PVT) parameters:
?Oil formation volume factor (FVF) (Bo)
?Gas FVF (Bg)

?Dissolved GOR (Rs)

?Volatilized oil/gas ratio (Rv)
These fluid properties, in addition to some others, are prerequisites for a wide
variety of reservoir-engineering calculations, including estimating the origina
l oil in place (OOIP) and original gas in place (OGIP) and material-balance calc
ulations.