Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation

Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Fluid Characterisation
Introduction

Usually referred to as PVT (pressure, volume, temperature), correct fluid

characterisation and modelling is critical part to all aspects of petroleum
engineering since all fluid flow, whether through reservoir rock, tubing or
pipeline, depends on PVT properties.

Fluid property data is usually found by laboratory measurement of

bottomhole or recombined surface samples and summarised in a PVT
report. The most useful results are from the separator or flash
experimental procedures.

Predicted properties are usually determined by:

1. black oil model correlations (volumetric parameters) or
2. mathematical models using compositional analysis (equations of
state)
Since equations of state are complex and require significant
mathematical manipulation to represent multiphase oil and gas
properties, it is most convenient - and usually more than accurate
enough - to use a properly matched black oil model.

A matched black oil model can be used to determine the following oil, gas
and water properties:
1. wellbore related: phase proportions and volumes, densities,
viscosities, interfacial tension
2. reservoir related: fluid compressibilities, viscosities

Fluid components

Reservoir fluids have a fairly simple chemistry, being composed primarily

of hydrocarbons (i.e. hydrogen and carbon atoms).
A typical crude oil is 85% carbon (C), 13% hydrogen (H) and 2% other
impurities (N2, CO2, H2S).
The more carbon atoms, the heavier (and longer) the molecule e.g. C70
and greater is tar.
A light oil has more lighter components (e.g. C1-C6) and less heavy
components (e.g. C20+).

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 Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation
Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Most hydrocarbons are simple “straight chain” combinations e.g. the 4

common gases:

H H H H H H H H H H

H C H H C C H H C C C H H C C C C H

H H H H H H H H H H

Methane Ethane Propane Butane

(CH4) (C2H6) (C3H8) (C4H10)

Some have circular or “ring” structures e.g. naphthenes (e.g.

cyclohexane) and aromatics:

Other (less desirable) components include asphaltenes and waxes

(typically C25-C35):

The lightest straight chain liquids (i.e. C5 to C10) form the main
components of petrol or gasoline

Octane numbers refer to a mixture of these components that have the

same ignition performance as a theoretical mixture of octane (C8 -
handles compression best) and pentane (C5 - worst i.e. causes
“knocking”). A 93 octane number fuel would perform like a 93:7%
mixture of octane and pentane.

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 Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation
Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Typical Oil Compositions:

ns:

70

Volatile (“light”) oil (42° API)

Am ount of e a ch com pone nt (m ol %)

60

50

40

30

20

10

+
7

18

19
10

12

13

16
1

C2

C5

C8

0
C

C1

C1

C1

C1

C
C

C2
Com pone nt
70

Black (“normal”) oil (30° API)

Am ount of e a ch com pone nt (m ol %)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
+
14

15

16

17

18

19
10

11

12

13
1

20
C

C
C

C
C

Com pone nt

70

Biodegraded (“heavy”) oil (20° API)

Am ount of e a ch com pone nt (m ol %)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
+
0

11

12

14

15

17

18

9
9
C1

C2

C4

C7

8
C

20
C1

C1

C1

C1
C

Com pone nt

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 Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation
Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Fluid Types

Hydrocarbon fluids can be classified according to their position on the

phase diagram at reservoir conditions:

Volatile oil Gas condensate

Liquid Gas

Black oil critical Wet gas

Heavy
point
oil

Pbubble Dry gas

Pressure Pdew

10% gas

5% liquid

10% liquid

Temperature

A path plotted on the phase envelope from reservoir pressure and

temperature to wellhead and separator pressure and temperature will
describe the phase distribution, i.e. percent of oil and gas at any point.

In terms of API gravity and gas-oil ratios (GORs), typical characteristics

of each fluid type are as follows:

S.G. API Gravity GOR (scf/stb) GOR

(liquid)
(sm3/sm3)
Heavy oil 0.93 12 – 25 < 100 < 20
Black oil 0.85 25 – 40 100 – 2,500 20 – 450
Volatile oil 0.81 40 – 50 2,500 – 4,500 450 – 800
Gas 0.75 50 – 70 4,500 – 50,000 > 800
condensate
Wet gas 50 – 70 50,000 –100,000
Dry gas n/a < 10 stb/mmscfd liquid

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 Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation
Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Black Oil Correlations

Black oil correlations are more correctly termed volumetric correlations

since this is their principal application.
They can be applied to heavy oils, black oils, volatile oils, gas-
condensates and gases.
Widely used correlations include Standing, Glaso, Lasater and Vasquez-
Beggs. In the majority of cases, the Standing correlation will give
accurate results. For volatile oils, the Lasater correlation often gives a
better representation.
All correlations require surface measured oil and gas parameters (oil and
gas gravity and GOR). Measured properties at bubble point conditions are
used to match the correlation:

Bubble point (Pb) @ T

Oil gravity (°API)

Black Oil Model GOR (scf/stb) @ P,T

Gas gravity (S.G.)

Solution GOR (scf/stb) Formation Volume Factor (Bo)

(rb/stb) @ P,T

The calculated results of Pb, GOR and Bo are usually expressed in

graphical form:

Solution GOR

GOR Bo
(scf/stb) (rb/stb)

Pbubble Pressure Pbubble Pressure

Oil density can be determined at any pressure and temperature using the
following equation:

350.4 . γ o + GOR ( P, T ) . γ g . 0.0764

ρ o ( P, T ) = [lb/cuft]
Bo ( P, T ) . 5.614

where γo = oil specific gravity = 141.5/(131.5 + oAPI)

γg = gas specific gravity

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 Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation
Production System Modelling (ENM204)

For low to medium GOR oils, Bo is the controlling influence.

For high GOR (volatile) oils, the right hand side of the equation becomes
significant.

Although simple to use, correlations have limitations depending on their

experimental origins.
Wherever possible, correlations must be matched or validated with
laboratory data.
Required match data is Pbubble, Bo and μo at the bubble point.

Gas-Condensate Applications

This is simply a gas which deposits liquids when the pressure is dropped
from initial reservoir conditions.
Liquid (condensate) dropout starts at the dew point, increases to a
maximum then decreases again.
This behaviour is called retrograde, hence the term retrograde gas-
condensate.

Rich gas
Liquid condensate

critical
point Lean gas
condensate

Pbubble
Pdew

Pressure Gas

10% gas
5% liquid

10% liquid

Temperature

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Pg Dip / MSc / Energy Programme Fluid Characterisation
Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Downhole samples is usually difficult to obtain correctly, so surface

sampling (gas and liquid) is used.
Surface samples are then analysed and recombined in a ratio determined
from stabilised well test rates.
Recombination ratio usually expressed as a gas-oil ratio (GOR) or
condensate-gas ratio (CGR).
Typical gas-condensate characteristics are:

CGR (stb/mmscf) GOR (scf/stb)

Rich yield condensate 200+ < 5000
(vol oil)
Medium yield condensate 100 – 200 5,000 – 50,000
Light yield condensate 20 – 100 10,000 – 50,000

PVT laboratory measurements usually include:

1. constant composition expansion (CCE) to find pressure-volume
relationships (Pdew, rel vol & z)
2. constant volume depletion (CVD) to find condensate yield or liquid
dropout behaviour

Produced CGR
(stb/mmscf)

Pdew Pressure

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