Chapter 6

Conventional PVT Measurements

6. 1 lntroduction instead of a DLE study, a CVD experiment is run on a volatile oil.

This chapter reviews the standard experiments performed by pres- Also, the C 7 + fraction may be separated into single-carbon-number
sure/volume/temperature (PVT) laboratories on reservoir fluid cuts from C 7 through approximately C 20 +by TBP analysis or simu-
samples: compositional analysis, multistage surface separation, lated distillation (see Chap. 5).
constant composition expansion (CCE), differential liberation ex-
pansion (DLE), and constant volume depletion (CVD). We present 6.1.3 Gas-Condensate PVT Analyses. The standard experimental
data from actual laboratory reports and give methods for checking program for a gas-condensate fluid includes (1) recombined well-
the consistency of reported data for each experiment. Chaps. 5 and stream compositional anal ysis through C 7 +, (2) CCE, and (3) CVD.
8 discuss special laboratory studies, including true-boiling-point The CCE and CVD data are measured in a high-pressure visual cell
(TBP) distillation and multicontact gas-injection tests, respectively. where the dewpoint pressure is determined visually. Total volume/
Table 6.1 summarizes experiments typically performed on oils pressure and liquid-dropout behavior is measured in the CCE ex-
and gas condensates. From this table, we see that the DLE experi- periment. Phase volumes defining retrograde behavior are mea-
ment is the only test never performed on gas-condensate systems. sured in the CVD experiment together with Z factors and
We begin by discussing standard analyses performed on oil and gas- produced-gas compositions through C 7 +. Optionally, a multistage-
condensate samples. separator test can be performed as well as TBP analysis or simulated
distillation of the C7+ into single-carbon-number cuts from C 7 to
6.1.l General Information Sheet. Most commercial laboratories
about C 20 + (see Chap. 5).
report general information on a cover sheet of the laboratory report,
including formation and well characteristics and sampling condi-
6.2 Wellstream Compositions
tions. Tables 6.2 and 6.3 1•2 show this information, which may be
important for correct application and interpretation of the fluid anal- PVT studies usually are based on one or more samples taken during
yses. This is particularly true for wells where separator samples a production test. Bottomhole samples can be obtained by wireline
must be recombined to give a representative wellstream composi- with a high-pressure container during either production testing ora
tion. Most of these data are supplied by the contractor of the fluid shut-in period. Altematively, separator samples can be taken during
study and are recorded during sampling. Therefore, the representa- a production test. Bottomhole sampling is the preferred method for
tive for the company contracting the fluid study is responsible for most oil reservoirs, while recombined samples are traditionally used
the correctness and completeness of reported data. for gas-condensate reservoirs.3- 8 Taking both bottomhole and sepa-
We strongly recommend that the following data always be reported rator samples in oil wells is not uncommon. The advantage of sepa-
in a general information sheet: (1) separator gas/oil ratio (GOR) in rator samples is that they can be recombined in varying proportions
standard cubic feet/separator barrel, (2) separator conditions at sam- to achieve a desired bubblepoint pressure (e.g., initial reservoir
pling, (3) field shrinkage factor used ( = B 0 ,p), (4) flowing bottom- pressure); these larger samples are needed for special PVT tests
hole pressure (FBHP) at sampling, (5) static reservoir pressure, (6) (e.g. , TBP and slim tube among others).
minimum FBHP before and during sampling, (7) time and date of
sampling, (8) production rates during sampling, (9) dimensions of
6.2.1 Bottomhole Sample. Table 6.4 shows the reported wellstream
sample container, (10) total number and types of samples collected
composition of a reservoir oil where C 7 + specific gravity and molec-
during the drillstem test, and ( 11) perforation intervals.
ular weight are also reported. In the example report, composition is
6.1.2 Oil PVT Analyses. Standard PVT analyses performed on res- given both as mole and weight percent although many laboratories re-
ervoir oils usually include ( 1) bottomhole wellstream compositional port only molar composition. Experimentally, the composition of a
analysis through C 7 +• (2) CCE, (3) DLE, and (4) multistage-separa- bottomhole sample is determined by the following (Fig. 6.1).
tor tests. The CCE experiment determines the bubblepoint pressure l. Flashing the sample to atmospheric conditions.
and volumetric properties of the undersaturated oil. It also gives 2. Measuring the volumes of surface gas, Vif, and surface oil, V0 •
two-phase volumetric behavior below the bubblepoint; however, 3. Determining the normalized weight fractions, wifi and w 0;, of
these data are rarely used. The DLE experiment and separator test surface samples by gas chromatography.
are used together to calculate traditional black-oil properties, B 0 4. Measuring surface-oil molecular weight, M 0 , and specific
' and R,, for reservoir-engineering calculations. Occasionally, gravity, y 0 .

88 PHASE BEHAVIOR
 TABLE 6.1-LABORATORY ANALYS~S PERFORMED ON TABLE 6.2-EXAMPLE GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET
RESERVOIR-OIL ANO GAS-CONDE~SATE SYSTEMS FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 4 OIL SAMPLE
Laboratory Analysis Formation Characteristics
Bottomhole sample Name Cretaceous
Recombined composition First well completed /19 (m/d/y)
C7 + TBP distillation o o Original reservoir pressure at 8,692 ft, psig 4,100
C7 + simulated distillation o o Original produced GOR, scf/bbl 600
Constant-composition expansion • • Production rate, B/D 300
Multistage surface separation • o
Separator temperature, ºF 75
Differential liberation • N Separator pressure, psig 200
CVD o • Oil gravity at 60ºF, ºAPI
Multicontact gas injection o o
Datum 8,000
•=standard, o = can be performed, and N = not performed.
Original gas cap No

5. Converting W¡¡; weight fractions to normalized mole fractions Well Characteristics

Y; and x¡. Elevation, ft 610
6. Recombining mathematically to the wellstream composition, z;. Total depth, ft 8,943
Eqs. 6.1 through 6.5 give Steps 1 through 6 mathematically.
Producing interval, ft 8,684 to 8,700
Z¡ = FgYi + (1 - Fg)X¡; . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.1) Tubing size, in. 27/s
- 1 Tubing depth, ft 8,600
Fg - 1 + [133, 300(y/ M) / Rs]' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6 .2 ) PI at 300 B/D, 8-D/psi 1.1
0

where Rs = GOR Vg/V0 in scf/STB from the single-stage flash; Last reservoir pressure at 8,500 ft, psig 3,954*
Date I /19 (m/d/y)
w'KJM; .
. . ....... (6.3) Reservoir temperature at 8,500 ft, ºF 217*
Y; = -I-(------=-)-(- - ) '
w-./M. + W-c /M-c
El 1 g 7+ g 7+ Well status Shut in 72 hours
}"C1+
Pressure gauge Amerada
Normal production rate, B/D 300
X¡= . . . . . . . . . . (6.4)
GOR, scf/bbl 600
""
~ (w-/M
Oj 1·) + (w-c
O 7+
/M-c
O 7+
)'
}"C1+ Separator pressure, psig 200
Separator temperature, ºF 75
and M-c Base pressure, psia 14.65
o 7+
Well making water, % water cut o
Sampling Conditions
Surface gas usually contains less than 1 mol% C 7 + material con-
sisting mainly of heptanes and octanes; M-c = 105 is usually a Sample depth, ft 8,500
good assumption. Surface oil contains less lha1+¡ mol% of the light Well status Shut in 72 hours
constituents C 1, C 2 , and nonhydrocarbons. Low-temperature dis-
GOR
tillation can be used to improve the accuracy of reported weight
fractions for intermediate components in the surface oil ( C 3 through Separator pressure, psig
C 6); however, gas chromatography is more widely used. Separator temperature, ºF
The most probable source of error in wellstream composition of a
Tubing pressure, psig 1,400
bottornhole sample is the surface-oil molecular weight, M 0 , which
appears in Eq. 6.2 for Fg and Eq. 6.4 for X¡. M 0 is usually accurate Casing pressure, psig
within ± 4 to 10%. In Chap. 5, we showed that the Watson character- Sampled by
ization factor, Kw, of surface oil (Eq. 5.35) should be constant (to
Sampler type Wofford
within ± 0.03 of the deterrnined value) for a given reservoir. Oncean
"Pressure and temperatura extrapolated to the midpoint of the producing
average has been established for a reservoir (usually requiring three
interval = 4,01 O psig and 220ºF.
separate measurements), potential errors in M0 can be checked. A
calculated Kw that deviates from the field-average Kw by more than
± 0.03 may indicate an erroneous molecular-weight measurement. and compositions of the resulting surface oil and gas, and recombin-
Eqs. 6.1 through 6.4 show that ali component compositions are ing these compositions to give the separator-oil composition; Tables
affected by M 0 c , which is backcalculated from M 0 with Eq. 6.5 and 6.6 report the results.
6.5. Fortunately, th1+amount oflighter components (particularly C 1) Separator gas is introduced directly into a gas chromatograph,
in the surface oil are small, so the real effect on conversion from which yields weight fractions, w 8. These weight fractions are con-
weight to mole fractions of the surface oil usually is not significant. verted to mole fractions, y¡, by use of appropriate molecular
weights; Tables 6.5 and 6.6 show the results. C 7 + molecular weight
6.2.2 Recombined Samples. Tables 6.5 and 6.6 present the separa- is backcalculated with measured separator-gas specific gravity, Y¡·
tor-oil and -gas compositional analyses of a gas-condensate fluid
and recombined wellstream composition. The separator-oil com-
position is obtained by use of the same procedure as that used for
bottornhole oil samples (Eqs. 6.1 through 6.5). This involves bring- ....... (6.6)
ing the separator oil to standard conditions, measuring properties

CÜNVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 89

 TABLE 6.3-EXAMPLE GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET
FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 7 GAS CONDENSATE

Formation Characteristics
Formation name Pay sand
Date first well completed /19 (m/d/y)
Original reservoir pressure at 10, 148 ft, psig 5,713
Original produced-gas/liquid ratio, scf/bbl
Production rate, B/D
Separator pressure, psig
Separator temperature, ºF
Liquid gravity at 60ºF, ºAPI
Datum, ft subsea 8,000
Well Characteristics
Elevation, ft KB 2,214
Total depth, ft 10,348
Producing interval, ft 10,124to 10,176
Tubing size, in. 2
Tubing depth, ft 10, 100
Open-flow potential, MMscf/D
Last reservoir pressure at 1O,148 ft, psig 5,713
Date / /19 (m/d/y)
Reservoir temperature at 1O,148 ft, ºF 186
Status of well status Shut in
Pressure gauge Amerada
Sampling Conditions
Flowing tubing pressure, psig 3,375
FBHP, psig 5,500
Primary-separator pressure, psig 300
Primary-separator temperature, ºF 62
Secondary-separator pressure, psig 20
Secondary-separator temperature, ºF 60
Field stock-tank-liquid gravity at 60ºF, ºAPI 58.5
Primary-separator-gas production rate, Mscf/D 762.14
Pressure base, psia 14.696
Temperature base, ºF 60
Compressibility factor, Fpv 1.043
Gas gravity (laboratory) 0.737
Gas-gravity factor, Fg 0.902
Stock-tank-liquid production rate at 60ºF, B/D 127.3
Primary-separator-gas/stock-tank-liquid ratio
In scf/bbl 5,987
In bbl/MMscf 167.0
Sampled by

For the example PVT report (Tables 6.5 and 6.6), the separator separator gas/wellstream ratio" (801.66 Mscf/MMscf), which is
gas/oil ratio, R,P, during sampling is reported as standard gas vol- equivalen! to mole per mole (Fgsp =0.80166 mol/mol). The re-
ume per separator-oil volume (4,428 scf/bbl). In this report, the units ported value of Fgsp can be checked with
are incorrectly labeled scf/bbl at 60ºF, where in fact the separator-oil -1
volume is measured at separator pressure (300 psig) and tempera-
ture (62ºF). The separator-oil forrnation volume factor (FVF), Bosp• Fgsp = (] + 2~30~osp)
osp sp
' . , ....... . , ......... , (6.8)
is 1.352 bbl/STB and represents the volume of separator oil required
to yield 1 STB of oil (i.e., condensate). N

The equation used to calculate wellstream composition, Z;, is where Mosp = L X ¡M;. . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.9)
i=l
Z; = FgspY; + (1 - Fgsp)X;, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.7)
p osp in lbm/ft3 is calculated with a correlation (e.g., Standing-Katz9)
where Fgsp = mole fraction of wellstream mixture that becomes or with the relation (62.4y 0 + 0.0136y 8R,)/B 0 , where R, and
separator gas. In the laboratory report, Fgsp is reported as "primary- B0 = separator-oil values in scf/STB and bbl/STB, respectively;

90 PHASE BEHAVIOR
 TABLE 6.4-WELLSTREAM (RESERVOIR-FLUID) removed gas, n 8; and specific gravity of removed gas, y-. If re-
COMPOSITION FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 4 quested, the gas samples can be analyzed chromatographi~ally to
BOTT9MHGl;E-0J!:. SAMPLE give molar composition, y.
Lmol% wt%
o~·
(g/cm~ ºAPI*
Molecular
Weight
The oil remaining after gas removal is brought to the conditions
of the next separator stage. The gas is removed again and quantified
by moles and specific gravity. Oil volume is noted, and the process
Nil Nil
is repeated until stock-tank conditions are reached. Final oil volume,
0.91 0.43 V0 , and specific gravity, y 0 , are measured at 60ºF.
N2 0.16 0.05 Table 6.7 gives results from four separator tests, each consisting
Methane 36.47 6.24 of two stages of separation. The first-stage-separator pressure is var-
Ethane 9.67 3.10 ied from 50 to 300 psig, and stock-tank conditions are held constant
at Opsig and 75ºF. GOR's are reported as standard gas volume per
Propane 6.95 3.27
separator-oil volume, Rsp• and as standard gas volume per stock-
í-butane 1.44 0.89 tank-oil volume, R,, respectively.
n-butane 3.93 2.44
!!..V-
i-pentane 1.44 1.11 !!..Rsp = V 8 ............ .... .................. (6.11)
n-pentane 1.41 1.09 osp
Hexanes 4.33 3.97 !!..V-8
and !!..Rs = V- . . . . . • . . . . . . . • • . • • . • • • • . • • • • • • . (6.12)
Heptanes plus 33.29 77.41 0.8515 34.5 218 o
Total 100.00 100.00 Total GOR is calculated by adding the stock-tank-oil-based GOR's
"At60ºF. from each separator stage.
Nsp
y 0 = stock-tank-oil density; and Yg- = gravity of gas released from Rs = L(!!..Rs)k · · ·........... . .....•......... (6.13)
the separator oil. k=l
Finally, the value of stock-tank-liquid/wellstream ratio in bbl/MMscf
Separator-oil FVF's, Bosp• are reported as the ratio of separator-oil
represents the separator barreis produced per 1 MMscf of wellstream.
volume to stock-tank-oil volume.
ln terms of F8sp and separator properties, this value equals
- vosp
bbJ _ 470(1-Fgsp)(Mosp/Posp) Bosp - V-' ...... .. .. ...... .......... ....... (6.14)
- B , .. .. .. .. .. . .. . (6.10) o
MM se f osp
Accordingly, the relation between separator gas/oil ratio and stock-
where 470= (1 million scf/MMscf)/[(379 scf/lbm mol)(5.615 ft3/bbl)]. tank gas/oil ratio at a given stage is
The separator-oil and -gas compositions can be checked for con-
sistency with the Hoffman et a/. 10 K-value method and Standing' si 1 !!..Rs
!!..Rsp = -¡¡-· .. . .. . ................ . ...... ... (6.15)
Jow-pressure K-value equations. osp
Because Bosp > 1, it follows that Rsp < R,.
6.3 Multistage-Separator Test Bubblepoint-oil FVF, B 0 b, is the ratio of bubblepoint-oil volume
The multistage-separator test is performed on an oil sample primari- to stock-tank-oil volume.
ly to provide a basis for converting differential-liberation data from
V
a residual-oil to a stock-tank=oil basis. Occasionally, severa) separa- B0 b = y~· .......... ....... ................. (6.16)
tor tests are run to help choose separator conditions that maximize o
stock-tank-oil production. Usually, two or three stages of separation The average gas gravity, y8 , is used in oil PVT correlations and
are used, with the Jast stage at atmospheric pressure and near-ambi- to calculate reservoir densities on the basis of black-oil properties.
ent temperature (60 to 80ºF). The multistage-separator test can also The average gas gravity is calculated from
be conducted for high-liquid-yield gas-condensate fluids.
Fig. 6.2 illustrates schematically how the separator test is per- Nsp
formed. Initially, the reservoir sample is at saturation conditions and L(yg)J!!..Rs)k
the volume is measured ( V0 b or V8d). The sample is then brought to y = _k=_l- - -- .......................... (6.17)
the pressure and temperature of the first-stage separator. Ali the gas g Nsp
is removed, and the oil volume at the separator stage, Vosp• is noted L(!!..Rs)k
together with the volume of removed gas, !!.. V8 ; number of moles of k= J

!
1
/ y;

!
/ Wellstream
Composition
,/ X¡ Z;

(/)
I
ID M¡¡

Reservoir Standard
Conditions Conditions

Fig. 6.1-Procedure for recombining single-stage separator samples to obtain wellstream

composition of a bottomhole sample; BHS = bottomhole sampler, GC = gas chromatograph,
FDP = freezing-point depression, and DM = densitometer.

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 91

 TABLE 6.5-SEPARATOR ANO RECOMBINED WELLSTREAM COMPOSITIONS
FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 7 GAS CONDENSATE
Separator Products Hydrocarbon Analysis
Separator Liquid Separator Gas Wellstream
Componen! (mol%) (mol%) (gal/Mscf) (mol%) (gal/Mscf)
C02 Trace 0.22 0.18
N2 Trace 0.16 0.13
Methane 7.78 75.31 61.92
Ethane 10.02 15.08 14.08
Propane 15.08 6.68 1.832 8.35 2.290
iso-butane 2.77 0.52 0.170 0.97 0.317
n-butane 11.39 1.44 0.453 3.41 1.073
iso-pentane 3.52 0.18 0.066 0.84 0.306
n-pentane 6.50 0.24 0.087 1.48 0.535
Hexanes 8.61 0.11 0.045 1.79 0.734
Heptanes plus 34.33 0.06 0.028 6.85 3.904
Total 100.00 100.00 2.681 100.00 9.159
Heptanes-Plus Properties
Oil gravity, ºAPI 46.6
Specific gravity 0.7946 0.795
at 60/60ºF
Molecular weight 143 103 143
Parameters
Calculated separator gas gravity (air = 1.000) 0.735
Calculated gross heating value for separator gas al 14.696 psia and 1,295
60ºF, BTU/ft3 dry gas
Primary-separator-gas*/-separator-liquid* ratio, scf/bbl at 60ºF 4,428
Primary-separator-gas/stock-tank-liquid ratio al 60ºF, bbl at 60ºF/bbl 1.352
Primary-separator-gas/wellstream ratio, Mscf/MMscf 801 .66
Stock-tank- liquid/wellstream ratio, bbl/MMscf 133.9
•Primary separator gas and liquid collected at 300 psig and 62ºF.

TABLE 6.6-MATERIAL·BALANCE CALCULATIONS FOR

GOOD OIL CO. WELL 7 GAS-CONDENSATE SAMPLE
Liquid Composition al Specified Pressures
(mol%)
Componen! Al 3,500 psig Al 2,900 psig Al 2, 100 psig Al 1,300 psig Al 605 psig
C02 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.15 0.08
N2 0.13 0.08 0.06 0.03 0.01
C1 13.18 45.04 32.22 19.69 11.77
C2 8.12 14.05 13.99 12.32 7.44
C3 12.59 9.67 11 .25 11.66 9.31
i-C4 3.44 1.14 1.59 1.85 1.64
n-C4 5.21 4.82 6.12 7.35 7.17
i-C 5 2.67 1.25 1.77 2.43 2.79
n-Cs 5.74 2.16 3.48 4.62 5.50
C5 8.47 3.11 4.55 6.40 8.37

C7+ 40.27 18.51 24.79 33.50 45.91

Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

M0 , g/mol 96.6 54.1 64.3 78.2 95.6

Mr:t::,7+' g/mol 168.8 160.1 152.1 149.9 150.3

Po. g/cm3 0.3235 0.2642 0.1625 0.0892 0.0398

92 PHASE BEHAVIOR
 where M; =molecular weight and p; = componen! liquid density
in lbm/ft 3 at standard conditions (Table A-1). The C7+ material in
separator gases is usually treated as normal heptane.

6.4 Constant Composition Expansion

6.4.1 Oil Samples. For an oil sample, the CCE experiment is used
Wellstream to determine bubblepoint pressure, undersaturated-oil density, iso-
thermal oil compressibility, and two-phase volumetric behavior at
pressures below the bubblepoint. Table 6.9 presents data from an
example CCE experiment for a reservoir oil.
Fig. 6.3 illustrates the procedure for the CCE experiment. A blind
cell (i.e., a cell without a window) is filled with a known mass of reser-
voir fluid. Reservoir temperature is held constant during the experi-

..... .... . . ment. The sample initially is brought to a condition somewhat above
initial reservo ir pressure, ensuring that the fluid is single phase. As the
pressure is lowered, oil volume expands and is recorded.
The fluid is agitated at each pressure by rotating the ce!!. This
avoids the phenomenon of supersaturation, or metastable equilibri-

. . . . . n . ·:D stock-Tank oíl

um, where a mixture remains as a single phase even though it should
exist as two phases. 13 - 15 Sometimes supersaturation occurs 50 to

_ . . . . . ....1111···-::::::::: : ::-
Ps1=14.7 psia
100 psi below actual bubblepoint pressure. By agitating the mixture
at each new pressure, the condition of supersaturation is avoided, al-
lowing more accurate determination of the bubblepoint.
T5 1=60ºF
Just below the bubblepoint, the measured volume will increase
Fig. 6.2-Schematic of a multistage-separator test.
more rapidly because gas evolves from theoil, yielding a higher sys-
tem compressibility. The total vol u me, V,, is recorded after the two-
where (y8)k =separator-gas gravity at Stage k. This relation is based
phase mixture is brought to equilibrium. Pressure is lowered in steps
on the ideal gas law at standard conditions, where moles of gas are di-
of 5 to 200 psi, where equilibrium is obtained at each pressure.
rectly proportional with standard gas volume ( v8 = 379 scf/lbm mol).
Table 6.8 gives the composition of the first-stage-separator gas When the lowest pressure is reached, total volume is three to five
at 50 psig and 75ºF. The gross heating value, H 8, ofthis gas is calcu- times larger than the original bubblepoint volume.
lated by Kay's 12 mixing rule and componen! heating values, H;, The recorded cell volumes are plotted vs. pressure, and the result-
given in Table A-1. ing curve should be similar to one of the curves in Fig. 6.4.16 For a
black oil (far from its critica! temperature), the discontinuity in vol-
N
ume at the bubblepoint is sharp and the bubblepoint pressure and
Hg = LY;H¡ . . ....................... .. . .. (6.18)
i=I
volume are easily read from the intersection of the p-V trends in the
single- and two-phase regions.
Component liquid yields, L;, represent the liquid volumes of a
Volatile oils do not exhibit the same clear discontinuity in volu-
componen! or group of components that can theoretically be pro-
metric behavior at the bubblepoint pressure. Instead, the p-V curve
cessed from 1 Mscf of separator gas (gallons per million standard
is practically continuous in the region of the bubblepoint because
cubic feet). L¡ can be calculated from
the undersaturated-oil compressibility is similar to the effective

= 19.73y;(~J
two-phase compressibility. This makes determining the bubble-
L; ........................... (6.19)
point of volatile oils in a blind cell difficult. Instead, a windowed cell

TABLE 6.7-SEPARATOR TESTS (RESERVOIR-FLUlD) OF

GOOD OIL CO. WELL 4 OIL SAMPLE

Separator
Separator Separator Stock-Tank Vol ume Flashed-Gas
Pressure Temperature GORb GQRC Gravity FVFd Facto re Specific
(psia) (ºF) (ft3/bbl) (ft3/bbl) (ºAPI) (bbl/bbl) (bbl/bbl) Gravity

50 75 715 737 1.031 0.840

to
o 75 41 41 40.5 1.481 1.007 1.338

100 75 637 676 1.062 0.786

to
o 75 91 92 40.7 1.474 1.007 1.363

200 75 542 602 1.112 0.732

to
o 75 177 178 40.4 1.483 1.007 1.329

300 75 478 549 1.148 0.704

to
o 75 245 246 40.1 1.495 1.007 1.286
ªGauge.
b[n cubic feet of gas at 60º F and 14.65 psi absolute per barre! of oil at indicated pressure and temperature.
ºIn cubic feet of gas at 60º F and 14.65 psi absolute per barre! of stock·tank oil at 60º F.
dtn barreis of saturated oil at 2,620 psi gauge and 220º F per barre! of stock-tank oil at 60º F.
• tn barreis of oil at indicated pressure and temperature per barre! of stock-tank oil at 60º F.

CONVENTIONAL PYT MEASUREMENTS 93

 TABLE 6.8-FIRST-STAGE SEPARATOR-GAS TABLE 6.9-CCE DATA (RESERVOIR-FLUID)
COMPOSITION ANO GROSS HEATING VALUE FOR FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 4 OIL SAMPLE
GOOD OIL CO. WELL 4 OIL SAMPLE*
Saturation (bubblepoint) pressure* , psig 2,620
Component mol% gal/Mscf
Specific volume at saturation 0.02441
H2S Nil pressure*, ft3/lbm
C02 1.62 Thermal expansion of undersaturated 1.08790
N2 0.30 oil at 5,000 psi= Vat 220ºF/Vat 76ºF

C1 67.00 Compressibility of saturated oil at

reservoir temperature
C2 16.04 4.265
From 5,000 to 4,000 psi, vol/vol-psi 13.48x 10 - 6
C3 8.95 2.449 From 4,000 to 3,000 psi, vol/vol-psi 15.88x10-6
1.29 From 3,000 to 2,620 psi, vol/vol-psi 18.75x10-6
i-C4 0.420
n-C4 2.91 0.912 Pressure/Volume Relations*

i-Cs 0.53 0.193 Pressure Relative volume

(psig) (L)t Yfunction+
n-Cs 0.41 0.155
5,000 0.9639
C5 0.44 0.178
4,500 0.9703
C1+ 0.49 0.221
4,000 0.9771
Total 100.00 8.793
3,500 0.9846
Heating Value
3,000 0.9929
Calculated gas gravity (air = 1.000) 0.840
Calculated gross heating value, BTU/ft3 2,900 0.9946
1,405
dry gas at 14.65 psia and 60ºF 2,800 0.9964
' Collected at 50 psig and 75ºF in the laboratory. 2,700 0.9983
2,620** 1.0000
is used to observe visually the first bubble of gas and the liquid vol- 2,605 1.0022 2.574
umes below the bubblepoint. 2,591 1.0041 2.688
Reported data from commercial laboratories usually include bub-
2,516 1.0154 2.673
blepoint pressure, pb; bubblepoint density, P ub' or specific volume,
v ob(v = 1/ p ); and isothermal compressibility of the undersaturated 2,401 1.0350 2.593
oil, c0 , at pressures above the bubblepoint (Table 6.9). The table also 2,253 1.0645 2.510
shows the oil's thermal expansion, indicated by a ratio ofundersatu-
2,090 1.1040 2.422
rated-oil volume ata specific pressure and reservoir temperature to
the oil volume at the same pressure and a lower temperature. 1,897 1.1633 2.316
Total volumes are reported relative to the bubblepoint volume. 1,698 1.2426 2.219
V, 1,477 1.3618 2.118
Vrr = V. . .. .. . .. . ........... . ..... ..... , . . (6.20)
ob 1,292 1.5012 2.028
Traditionally, isothermal compressibility data are reported for pres- 1,040 1.7802 1.920
sure intervals above the bubblepoint. In fact, the undersaturated-oil 830 2.1623 1.823
compressibility varies continuously with pressure, and, because
640 2.7513 1.727
V, = V0 (V,., = V, 0 ) for p > Pb• oil compressibility can be ex-
pressed as 472 3.7226 1.621
'At 220ºF.

e= _virrP
(ªav,.,) =_viru (ªavro)
7 P
; P > Pb ·7
......... (6.21)
" Saturation pressure.
1 Relativa volume = VIV a in barreis at indicated pressure per barre! at saturation
pressure.
5 1

* Y function = (Psat - p)i(PabsH VIV5 at - 1).

VOLATILE/[Link] OIL 1
The V,., function at undersaturated conditions may be fit with a se-
cond-degree polynomial , resulting in an explicit relation for under-
GAS saturated-oil compressibility (see Chap. 3) .

OL
... Total volumes below the bubblepoint can be correlated by the Y
function, 16· 17 defined as

y= Pb - P Pb - P
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.22)
6000
paia
BUBBLEPOINT
5000 paio
41100
pala
4500
p•ia
p(Vrr-1)

where p and Pb are given in absolute pressure units. As Fig. 6.5

shows, Y vs. pressure should plot as a straight line and the linear
trend can be used to smooth Vrr data at pressures below the bubble-
point. Standing l 6 and Clark 17 discu ss other smoothing techniques
and corrections that may be necessary when reservoir conditions
and laboratory PVT conditions are not the same.
6000 DEv.f'OINT 41!00 4590
paio 5000 pala p1ia P•IO
6.4.2 Gas-Condensate Samples. The CCE data for a gas condensate
Fig. 6.3-Schematic of a CCE experiment for an oil and a gas usually include total relative volume, Vrr, defined as the volume of
condensate. gas or of gas-plus-oil mixture divided by the dewpoint volume. Z fac-

94 PHASE BEHAVIOR
 IH

•• '
.1

P)

E
u r..,
.
cu t
E ¡;¡_

-
:::1
o
>
- u._, + ·- ~
~
t:

H
..L .,
~~ t-

,.,. -
;
-
70 -t:t .I
j h.., '-.-8:_- r.--
._._.... 'T
!:h: ~~
1 ~c.¡:_ .ttt:t :I -:-
' ~ -~Ú
•• H+ 1
-++-• .,.,... .... ·~!-

:t:+i .+,.. H
; ~, -+
., --:·_ ~t:+i H
f!;t:ff.;:
i •.

¡¡~~
1

,+ , ;.
'¡

~r
·H-
~t .... ~- ~+
-·-·--
:H =:1t:±:ti -1 L f-F 1.t~+ rt+d 3:~
IOOO .. 6000 #00
Pressure, psia
Fig. 6.4-Volume vs. pressure for an oil during a OLE test (after Standing16).

tors' are reported at pressures greater than and equal to the dewpoint calculate reservoir performance.16,l9- 21Fig.6.6 illustrates the labo-
pressure. Table 6.10 gives these data for a gas-condensate example. ratory procedure of a OLE experiment. Figs. 6.7A through 6.7C
Reciproca! wet-gas FVF, b8 w, is reported at dewpoint and initial and Table 6.11 give DLE data for an oil sample.
reservoir pressures, where these values represent the gas equivalent A blind cell is filled with an oil sample, which is brought to a
or wet-gas volume at standard conditions produced from 1 bbl of single phase at reservoir temperature. Pressure is decreased until the
reservoir gas volume. fluid reaches its bubblepoint, where the oil volume, V 0 b , is recorded.
Because the initial mass of the sample is known, bubblepoint densi-
bgw = (5.615 X 10- 3) ~;: IT = 0.198 IT' ........ (6.23) ty, p ob• can be calculated.
The pressure is decreased below the bubblepoint, and the cell is
with b 8 w in Mscf/bbl, pin psia, and T in ºR. agitated until equilibrium is reached. Ali gas is removed at constant
Most CCE experiments are conducted in a visual cell for gas con- pressure. Then, the volume, L1 V8 ; moles, Lln 8 ; and specific gravity,
densates, and relative oil (condensate) volumes, Vro, are reported at y 8 , of the removed gas are measured. The remaining oil volume, V 0,
pressures below the dewpoint. V,0 normally is defined as the oil vol- is also recorded. This procedure is repeated 10 to 15 times at de-
ume divided by the total volume of gas and oil, although sorne re- creasing pressures and finally at atmospheric pressure. Residual-oil
ports define itas the oil volume divided by the dewpoint volume. volume, V0 ,, and specific gravity, y 0,, are measured at 60ºF.
Other properties are calculated on the basis of measured data
6.5 Ditferential Liberation Expansion (LlV8 , V0 , Lln , y , V0,, and y 0,), including differential solution
8 8
The DLE experiment is designed to approximate the depletion pro- gas/oil ratio, R,d; differential oil FVF, B0 d; oil density, Po; and gas
cess of an oil reservoir 18 and thereby provide suitable PVT data to Z factor, Z. For Stage k, these properties can be determined from

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 95

 ,, 1 11 u Bubblepoint
Temperature Pressure Volume
~... 80
º5F psia
1,970
cm3
82.30
..... 163 2,437 86.88

~
185 2,520 87.92
205 2,615 89.05

"'
~ (

(11)

E-
c.> --
CD
. .,
E
:J
o•
>
·~~ .,.,
.o
~
~,,

~
• ,,
,-,¡._~
., · ~

o IODO /600 MXJO l/IOO

Pressure. psia
Fig. 6.5-PVT relation and plot of Yfunction for an oil sample at pressures below the bubblepoint.

k calculations, volume factors, R, and B 0 , are used to relate reservoir-

L 379(An t 8 oil volumes, V0 , to produced surface volumes, v8 and V 0 ; i.e.,
(R,d)k = j= I V- ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.24)
or V-
R, = V~ .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . . . .. (6.28)
o

(6.25)
. ..... .. .. . . .. ...... . . ........... (6.29)

Differential properties R,d and B0 d reported in the DLE reportare

relative to residual-oil volume (i.e., the oil volume at the end of the
DLE experiment, corrected from reservoirto standard temperature).
k
V-
350y 0, + L 0.0?64(M,d)j(y )j 8 R,d = V~ . .. . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . . .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . .. (6.30)
or
j=l
- Vº
an d B od - V-. ........... . .. . .. .. . ..... ..... .. (6.31)
or
(6.26)
The equations commonly used to convert differential volume fac-
(6.27) tors to a stock-tank basis are
with V0, and Vo in bbl, R,d in scf/bbl, B 0 d in bbl/bbl, A V8 in ft3, p
in psia, An 8 in lbm mol, p 0 in lbm/ft3, and Tin ºR. Note that the sub-
scriptj = 1 indicates the final DLE stage at atmospheric pressure and
R, = R,b - (R,db - R,d)(::~) ....... .. . .... .... (6.32)
reservoir temperature. Reported oil densities are actually calculated
by material balance, not measured directly.
and B 0 = B 0 d(:::J, ........................... (6.33)
6.5.1 Converting From Differential to Stock-Tank Basis. Perhaps
the most important step in the application of oil PVT data for reservoir where B0 b = bubblepoint-oil FVF, R,b = solution gas/oil ratio
calculations is conversion of the differential solution gas/oil ratio, from a multistage-separator flash, and Rsdb and B odb = differential
R sd• and oil FVF, Bod• to a stock-tank-oil basis. 16•2 For engineering º volume factors at the bubblepoint pressure. The term (B 0 b/B 0 db),

96 PHASE BEHAVIOR
 TABLE 6.10-CCE DATA FOR GOOD OIL CO. DIFFERENTIAL LIBERATlON EXPERIMENT
WELL 7 GAS-CONDENSATE SAMPLE
Pressure
(psig) Relative volume
Deviation Factor
z
""r----1
•' L_____J ... ······· .:o
6,000 0.8808 1.144
OL
5,713* 0.8948 1.107**
5,300 0.9158 1.051 BUB!l..EPOINT 4000
5090 pala
5,000 0.9317 1.009 pma

4,800 0.9434 0.981

. .D
4,600
4,400
4,300
0.9559
0.9690
0.9758
0.953
0.924
0.909
. . . . . . . . .. RESIJUJL
OL

4,200
4,100
0.9832
0.9914
0.895
0.881
= Gas is bled down
to Psc at TA
~flashed)
~:fJ 14.7 60 F
plio

4,ooot 1.0000 0.867+

3,905 1.0089 Fig. 6.6-Schematic of OLE experiment.
3,800 1.0194
3,710 1.0299 CVD analysis, ways to check the data for consistency,23-25 and how
to extract reservoir-engineering quantities from the data.23,26
3,500 1.0559
Initially, the dewpoint, p d• or bubblepoint pressure, p b• of the res-
3,300 1.0878 ervo ir sample is established visually and the cell volume, Vcell• at
3,000 1.1496 saturated conditions is recorded. The pressure is then reduced by
300 to 800 psi and usually by smaller amounts (50 to 250 psi) just
2,705 1.2430
below the saturation pressure of more-volatile systems. The cell is
2,205 1.5246 agitated until equilibrium is achieved, and volumes V0 and V8 are
1,605 2.1035 measured. At constan! pressure, sufficient gas, Ll V8 , is removed to
return the cell volume to the original saturated volume.
1,010 3.5665
In the laboratory, the removed gas (wellstream) is brought to at-
Pressure/volume relations of reservoir fluid at 186ºF.
e Reservoir pressure.
mospheric conditions, where the arnount of surface gas and conden-
•• Gas FVF = 1.591 Mscf/bbl. sate are measured. Surface compositions Y.¡¡ and x 0 of the produced
toewpoint pressure. surface volumes from the reservoir gas are measured, as are the vol-
tGas FVF = 1.424 Mscf/bbl.
umes Ll V0 and Ll V8 , densities p 0 and P¡¡ and oil molecular weight
M 0 . From these quantities, we can calculate the moles of gas re-
representing the volume ratio, V0 ,/V0 , is used to eliminate the resid- moved, Lln 8 .
ual-oíl volume, V0,, from the Rsd and Bod data. Note that the conver-
sion from differential to "flash" data depends on the separator _ ilV0 p 0 ilV¡¡
Lln 8 - ~ + 379
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.34)
conditions because B 0 b and R,b depend on separator conditions. o
Although, the conversions given by Eqs. 6.32 and 6.33 typically These data are reported as cumulative wellstream produced, nP, rel-
are used, they are only approximate. The preferred method, as origi- ative to the initial moles n.
nally suggested by Dodson et a/.,22 requires that sorne equilibrium
oil be taken at each stage of the DLE expe1iment and flashed through k

a multistage separator to give the volume ratios, R, and B 0 • This lab- (';; )k = k¿(Llng)j. .. .. .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. (6.35)
oratory procedure is costly and time-consuming and is seldom used. j=I

However, the method is readily incorporated into an equation-of- where j = l corresponds to saturation pressure and (Lln 8 ) 1 = O. The
state (EOS) -based PVT program. initial amount (in moles) of the saturated fluid is known when the cell
is charged. The quantity np/ n is usually reported as cumulative wet
6.6 Constant Volume Depletion gas produced in MMscf/MMscf, which is equivalent to mol/mol.
The CVD experiment is designed to provide volumetric and com- Surface compositions Y¡¡ and x 0 of the removed reservoir gas and
positional data for gas-condensate and volatile-oil reservoirs pro- properties of the removed gas are not reported directly in the labora-
ducing by pressure depletion. Fig. 6.8 shows the stepwise procedure tory report but are recombined to yield the equilibrium gas (well-
of a CVD experiment schematically, and Figs. 6.9A through 6.9D stream) composition, y¡, which also represents the equilibrium gas
and Table 6.12 give CVD data for an example gas-condensate fluid. remaining in the cell. The C 7 + molecular weight of the wellstream,
The CVD experiment provides data that can be used directly by M 8c7+, is backcalculated from measured specific gravity
the reservoir engineer, including (1) a reservoir material balance ( Yw = y8 ) and reservoir-gas composition, y. C7+ specific gravity of
that gives average reservoir pressure vs. recovery of total well- the produced gas, y 8c 7 +,is also reported, but this value is calculated
strearn (wet-gas recovery), sales gas, condensate, and natural gas from a correlation.
liquids; (2) produced-wellstream composition and surface products Knowing the cumulative moles removed and its volume occupied
vs. reservoir pressure; and (3) average oíl saturation in the reservoir as a single-phase gas at the removal pressure, we can calculate the
(liquid dropout and revaporization) that occurs during pressure equilibrium gas Z factor from
depletion. For many gas-condensate reservoirs, the recoveries and pilV
oil saturation vs. pressure data from the CVD analysis closely z 8
= -- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.36)
iln 8 RT
approximate actual field performance for reservoirs producing by
pressure depletion. When other recovery mechanisms, such as wa- A "two-phase" Z factor is also reported that is calculated assum-
terdrive and gas cycling, are considered, the basic data required for ing that the gas-condensate reservoir depletes according to the ma-
reservoir engineering are still taken mainly from a CVD report. This terial balance for a dry gas and that the initial condition of the reser-
section provides a description of the data provided in a standard voir is at dewpoint pressure.

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 97

 1400

:e
..Q
¡¡¡ \ZOO
:::1
"C
·¡;;

- ...CD
CJ
11)

.t,
1000

l:C'° \
ri
o 800
o
...eo
:::1
o
(1) óOO '

...
¡¡¡
e
...CDCD
-
i5
400

zoo

Pressure, psig

Fig. 6.7A-DLE data for an oil sample from Good Oil Co. Well 4; differential solution gas/oil
ratio, Rsd·

Table 6.13 gives various calculated cumulative recoveries based

i2 = (i:)(1 - ~:) • ..................... . .. (6.37) on the reservoir initially being at its dewpoint. The basis for the cal-
culations is 1 MMscf of dewpoint wet gas in place, Gw; the corre-
where Gpw = cumulative wellstream (wet gas) produced and sponding initial moles in place at dewpoint pressure is given by
Gw = initial wetgas in place. As defined in Eq. 6.37, the terrn Gpw/G ..
equals np/n reported in the CVD report. From Eq. 6.37, the only un-
known at a given pressure is Z2, and the two-phase Z factor is then giv-
1 x 10 6 scf
en by 379 scf/lbm mol = 2, 638 lbm mol. ... .. .. .. (6.41)
p
22 = (pd/Zd)[l - (np/n)]' ....... .. ........ .... (6 .38 ) The first row of recoveries (wellstream) simply represents the
cumulative moles produced, np/n, expressed as wet-gas volumes,
Gpw• in Mscf.
Theoretical liquid yields, L;, are also reported for C 3 + through
C 5 + groups in the produced wellstreams at each pressure-depletion
stage. These values are calculated with
= (2, 638 lbm mol)(379 scf/lbm mol)
L; = 19.73y;(~;) .. ........... .. .............. (6.39)
3
X (1 X 10 Mscf/scf)(';;)
and by summing the yields of components in the particular "plus"
group. For example, the liquid yield of C 5 + material at CVD Stage = 1 X 10 3 (';;) . .. .... . . . . . . . . . .... .. .... (6.42)
k is given by
Recoveries in Rows 2 through 4 (Normal Temperature Separa-
tion, Total Plant Products in Primary-Separator Gas, and Total Plant
Products in Second-Stage-Separator Gas) refer to production when
the reservoir is produced through a three-stage separator. Fig. 6.10

98 PHASE BEHAVIOR
 l. 7

:E
.J:l
m
:::J
1. ó
"O

..
·¡;;
Q)
.....
:E
.J:l l. 5
-l:io
a:i
o
.
·~
ca 1. 4
a:
CD
E
:::J
o
> l. 3

o
m
·~

.
e

-
CD
CI)

i5
l. z.

.,.
l. 1

l. o 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

o 500

Pressure. psig
Fig. 6.78-DLE data for an oil sample from Good Oil Co. Well 4; differential oil FVF (relative
volume), Bod·

illustrates the process schematically. The calculated recoveries are B = Bgw = (Psc!Tsc)(ZT/p)
based on multistage-separator calculations that use low-pressure K gd Fgg Fgg
values anda set of separator conditions chosen arbitrarily or speci-
fied when the PVT study is requested. (14.7 /520)[[0.867(186 + 460)]/40151
0.8788
6.6.1 Recoveries: "Normal Temperature Separation." Column
1: lnitial in Place. In Column 1, Row 2a the stock-tank oil in solu- = 4.487 x 10- 3 ft 3 /scf. .. . ... ..... ..... . .. (6.44)
tion in the initial dewpoint fluid (N = 135.7 STB) is calculated by The producing GOR of the dewpoint mixture for the specified
flashing 1 MMscf of the original dewpoint fluid, Gw, through a separator conditions can be calculated as
multistage separator.
Rows 2b through 2d give the volumes of separator gas at each RP = ~ = [(757.87 + 96.68 + 24.23 Mscf/lbm mol)
stage of a three-stage flash of the initial dewpoint fluid: 757.87,
96.68, and 24.23 Mscf, respectively. The mole fraction of well- x (1 x 10 3 scf/Mscf)J/135.7 STB/lbm mol
stream resulting as a surface gas Fgg is given by
= 6, 476 scf/STB. (6.45)
G
F-gg = Gd = (757 .87 + 96.68 + 24.23 Mscf/lbm mol) The dewpoint solution oil/gas ratio, rsd• is simply the inverse of Rp.
w

x (1 x 10 3 scf/Mscf)/(379 scf/lbm mol)

r,.d = rp = R1p

= 0.8788 lbm mol/lbm mol, (6.43) 1.544 x 10 - 4 STB/scf = 154.4 STB/MMscf.

(6.46)
where Gd = total separator "dry" gas and the corresponding mole
fraction of stock-tank oil is 0.1212 mol/mol. Fgg is used to calculate Note that specific gravities of stock-tank oil and separator gases are
dry-gas FVF (see Eq. 3.41). For the dewpoint pressure, this gives not reported for the separator calculations.

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 99

 l. 6

l. 4

l. 2.

1.0
Q.

.
CJ

~
\
\

·¡¡; 0.8
oCJ
U)

>
o 0.6 1
Saturation
Pressure

0.4

o.z

o.o
o 1000 zoo o 3000 4000 5000 6000

Pressure. psig
Fig. 6.7C-DLE data for an oil sample from Good Oil Co. Well 4; oil viscosity, µ 0 •

Column 2 and Higher. On the basis of 1 MMscf of initial dew- At a given pressure, the mole fraction of the removed CVD gas
point fluid, Rows 2a through 2d give cumulative volumes of separa- wellstream that becomes dry separator gas is given by
tor products at each depletion pressure (Np, GP 1' GP 2' and GP 3).
+ GP1 + + GP 1 +
(F88 t
The producing GOR of the wellstream produced during a depletion (GP 1 GP3) - (GP 1 GP3)
= k . k-1
stage is given by Gw [(np/n)k - (np/n)k_ 1]
(GP 1 + GP2 + GP 3) - (GP 1 + GP2 + GP 3) (6.50)
(RP)k = k k-1
(NP)k - (NP)k-1 For p = 2, 100 psig, this gives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.47) F¡8 = [(301.57 + 20.75 + 5.61)-(124.78 + 12.09

For 2,100 psig, this gives + 3.16)J(l X 10 3)/(1 X 10 6)(0.35096 - 0.15438)
= 0.9558 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.51)
RP = ([(301.57 + 20.75 + 5.61) - (124.78 + 12.09 + 3.16)]
The dry-gas FVF at 2, 100 psig is
X (1 X 10 3))/ (24.0 - 15.4)
(14.7 /520)[0.762(186 + 460)/2, 115]
= 21,850 scf/STB. (6.48) Bgd = 0.9558

In terms of the solution oil/gas ratio, = 6.884 x 10- 3 ft 3/scf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.52)

1 In summary, the information provided in the rows labeled Normal

rs = rp = /f Temperature Separation gives estimates of the condensate and
p
sales-gas recoveries assuming a multistage surface separation. For
example, at an abandonment pressure of 605 psig, the condensate
21,580 ~cf/STB = 4.58 X 10 - s STB/scf recovery is 35.1 STB ofthe 135.7 STB initially in place (in solution
in the dewpoint mixture), or 26% condensate recovery. Dry-gas re-
= 45.8 STB/scf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.49) covery is (685.02 + 37 .79 + 10.40) = 733 .21 Mscf of the 878.78

100 PHASE BEHAVIOR

 TABLE 6.11-DLE DATA FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 4 OIL SAMPLE
Differential Vaporization
Solution Relativa Relativa Oil Deviation
Pressure GOR Oil Volume Total Volume Density Factor Gas FVF Incremental
(psig) (scf/bbi') (RB/bbl*} (RB/bbl*} (g/cm3) z (RB/bb() Gas Gravity
2,620 854 1.600 1.600 0.6562
2,350 763 1.554 1.665 . 0.6655 0.846 0.00685 0.825
2,100 684 1.515 1.748 0.6731 0.851 0.00771 0.818
1.850 612 1.479 1.859 0.6808 0.859 0.00882 0.797
1,600 544 1.445 2.016 0.6889 0.872 0.01034 0.791
1,350 479 1.412 2.244 0.6969 0.887 0.01245 0.794
1, 110 416 1.382 2.593 0.7044 0.903 0.01552 0.809
850 354 1.351 3.169 0.7121 0.922 0.02042 0.831
600 292 1.320 4.254 0.7198 0.941 0.02931 0.881
350 223 1.283 6.975 0.7291 0.965 0.05065 0.988
159 157 1.244 14.693 0.7382 0.984 0.10834 1.213
o o 1.075 0.7892 2.039
1.000..
OLE Viscosity Data at 220ºF
U)
Pressure
(psig)
Oil Viscosity
(cp)
Calculated Gas
Viscosity
(cp) .....
5,000
4,500
0.450
0.434
:>
4,000
3,500
3,000
0.418
0.401
0.385
ce
2,800 0.379 flJ
2,620
2,350
0.373
0.396 0.0191 w
2,100 0.417 0.0180 ~a;¡t,
1,850 0.442 0.0169
1,600
1,350
1,100
850
0.469
0.502
0.542
0.592
0.0160
0.0151
0.0143
0.0135
º'
liil1

i=J
600 0.654
0.783
0.0126
0.0121
'1J
350 J'n"3tlfi
159
o
0.855
1.286
0.0114
0.0093
Vi
Gravity of residual oil = 35.1 ºAPI at 60ºF.
"Barreis o! residual oi l.
00

At60º F.

Mscf dry gas originally in place, or 83.4%. These recoveries can be CONSTANT VOLUME DEPLE'TlON
compared with the reported wet-gas (or molar) recovery of76. 787%
at 605 psig. In addition to recoveries, the calculated results in this
section can be used to calculate solution oil/gas ratio, r,, and dry-gas .......·· /c=::J . ··· ··o ···:c=J
FVF, B8d, for modified black-oil applications.

6.6.2 Recovery: Plant Products. Rows 3 through 5 consider

theoretical liquid recoveries for propane, butanes, and pentanes-
plus assuming 100% plant efficiency. Recoveries in Rows 3 and 4
D:DD D .... 4500
.... 4000

are for the calculated separator gases from Stages 1 and 2 of the
.. . . .~·· · LJ.::::::::::::c=J
three-stage surface separation. Recoveries in Row 5 are for the pro-
.. .······· · ··· o
~. ... •
duced wellstreams from the CVD experiment and represent the ab-
solute maximum liquid recoveries that can be expected if the reser-
voir is produced by pressure depletion. Fig. 6.10 illustrates the
recovery calculations schematically. Liquid volumes (in gal/MMscf .......,,, , , ,
of initial dewpoint fluid) at CVD Stage k are calculated from

Fig. 6.8-Schematic of CVD experiment.

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 101

 35

*.. ~

?:."
o
> 38

>e
.;
:::i 25
o
a.
o
Q
"C
·:; 2B
a"
:::¡
o
o>
15
..:;
U)
U)

l!!
Q.
e:
·c;
111
e
..
Q.
3::

11
B 500 11100 1500
Pressure, psig

Fig. 6.9A-CVD data for gas-condensate sample from Good Oil Co. Well 7; liquid-dropout curve, V,.0 .

where j = 1 represents the dewpoint, Y; = compositions of well-

and (Le ) = 19, 730(44.09 /31.66)(0.0825(0.05374)
stream entering the gas plant at various stages of depletion, 3 2100
M; = component molecular weights, and p¡ = liquid component
densities in lbm/ft3 at standard conditions (Table A-1). + 0.0810(0.15438 - 0.05374)
Calculated liquid recoveries below the dewpoint use the moles of + 0.0757(0.35096 - 0.15438)]
wellstream produced ( t:.n 8 / n) and the compositions y; from the sep-
arator gas (Rows 3 and 4) or wellstream (Row 5) entering the plant. = 754 gal/MMscf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.54b)
Column 1 (lnitial in Place) gives the total recoveries assuming that
the en tire initial dewpoint fluid is taken to the surface and processed For the C 5 + recoveries at the dewpoint,
[i.e., k = 1 and (l"ln 8 /n) 1 = 1 in Eq. 6.53] .
Note that cumulative recovery of propanes from the first-stage ( Le S+ ) Pd = 19, 730((72.15/38.96)(0.0091)
separator during depletion (1,276 gal) is larger than the liquid pro-
pane produced in the first-stage-separator gas of the original dew-
point mixture (1,198 gal). This means that the stock-tank oil from
+ (72.15/39.36) (0.0152)
the separation of original dewpoint mixture contains more propane + (86.17 /41.43) (0.0179) + (143/49.6) (0.0685)]
than the cumulative stock-tank-oil volumes produced by depletion
and three-stage separation. = 5,513 gal/MMscf. . . .. .. . . ..... .. . . (6.55)
The results given in Rows 3 and 4 cannot be calculated from re-
ported data because surface separator compositions from the three- 6.6.3 Correcting Recoveries for Initial Pressure Greater Than
stage separation are not provided in the report. The results in Row Dewpoint Pressure. All recoveries given in Table 6.13 assume that
5 can be checked. Asan example, consider the C 3 recoveries for the the reservoir pressure is initially at dewpoint. This assumption is
initial-in-place fluid at 2,100 psig. made because initial reservoir pressure is not always known with
certainty when PVT calculations are made. However, adjusting re-
( Le
3td = 19, 730(44.09/31.66)[ (1)(0.0837) j ported recoveries is straightforward when initial pressure is greater
than dewpoint pressure. With QTable as recoveries given in Colurnns
= 2, 299 gal/MMscf ................. . .. (6.54a) 2 and higher in Table 6.13, Qd as hydrocarbons in place in Colurnn

102 PHASE BEHAVIOR

 2000 2500
Pressure, psig

Fig. 6.9B-CVD data for gas-condensate sample from Good Oil Co. Well 7; equilibrium gas
compositions, y¡.

1 at dewpoint pressure, and Q as actual cumulative recoveries based should be increased by 117 .3 Mscf for ali depletion pressures in the
on hydrocarbons in place at the initial pressure, CVD table.
For stock-tank-oil recovery, Qd = 135.7 STB, so liQd = 15.9
STB. Stock-tank-oil recovery at 4,000 psig is 15.9 + O = 15.9
STB; at 3,500 psig the recovery should be 15.9 + 6.4 = 22.3 STB,
and so on.
On the basis of 1 MMscf wet gas at the dewpoint or 1.1173 MMscf
Q = QTable + f1Qd; P < Pd• · · · · · · · · • · · • · · · · · · · (6.57) at initial reservoir pressure, the laboratory hydrocarbon pore vol-
ume (HCPV), VpHCJab• is the same.
(p/Z); ]
and liQd = Qd (p/Z)d - 1 , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.58)
[ VpHClab = ([Link])d

where !1Qd = additional recovery from initial to dewpoint pres-

sure. = (1 106){(14.7)[º·867(186 + 460)]}
For the example report, X 520 4,015

(5, 728/1.107) ] = 3, 943 ft 3

1
liQd = [ (4,015/0.867) - Qd

= 0.1173 Qd, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.59)

(~i·6)[ 1.107(~~~t 460)]}

recalling that moles of material at dewpoint is 2,638 lbm mol, moles
ofmaterialatinitialpressureof 5,728 psig is n = 2, 638(1 + 0.1173) = 1.1173 X 106 {
= 2, 94 7 lbm mol, and the basis of calculations is G w = 1.173
MMscf of wet gas in place at initial pressure of 5,728 psia. = 3, 943 ft 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . • • • . . . . . . (6.60)
The cumulative wellstream produced at the dewpoint pressure of
4,000 psig is 0.11 73(1, 000) = 117 .3 Mscf. Recovery at 3,500 psig The actual HCPV of a reservoir is much larger than VpHClab• and the
is 117.3 + 53.74 = 17 1.0 Mscf. Likewise, wet-gas recovery conversion to obtain recoveries for the actual HCPV is simply

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 103

 l. 5ml

l. 409

e
:s
l.308
.."'
a:"'
~

·5

..."'
e:

..
N l. 2mJ

s
a:

...u
u.. e
e :s
o "'"'e
·~ 1.1ee
·s:
CD
a.
'E
o ·5

o
"'... .
Q,

Q
~

l. 082

il.809

il. 71!0
QI .

Pressure. psig

Fig. 6.9C-CVD data for gas-condensate sample from Good Oil Co. Well 7; equilibrium gas Z
factor,~ ·

VpHCactual reservoir. Correcting for water saturation, Sw, the reservoir-oil satu-
Qacrual = Qlab V • · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · . . . . (6.61) ration can be calculated from V,0 with
pHClab
So = (1 - Sw)Vro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.64)
where Q 1ab = laboratory value given by Eqs. 6.55 and6.57. As anex-
ample, suppose geological data indicate a HCPV of 625,000 bbl For most gas condensates, V,0 shows a maximum near 2,000 to
(82.45 acre-ft), or 3.509 x 106 ft 3 . Then, original wet gas in place is 2,500 psia. Cho et al. 27 give a correlation for maximum liquid drop-
out as a function of temperature and C 7 + mole percent in the dew-
106
G = l 1173 X 10 6 3 ·509 X point mixture.
w • 3, 943
(V, )max = 93.404 + 4.799zc7+ - 19.73lnT, ..... . (6.65)
0

= 994.3 MMscf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.62)

with zc7+ in mole percent and T in ºF. The correlation predicts
and condensate in solution at initial pressure is given by (V,0 )max =23 .2% for the example condensate fluid compared with
24% measured experimentally (at 2, 100 psig). Fig. 6.11 shows val-
135.7(1.1173) 3 · 5 ~: 9~ 3
106
N = ues of (V,0 )max vs. T and zc 7 +from Eq. 6.65.
Considerable attention usually is given to matching the liquid-
= 134, 900 STB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.63) dropout curve when an EOS is used. Sorne gas condensates have-
what is referred to as a "tail," where liquid drops out very slowly
(sometimes for severa! thousand psi below the dewpoint) before fi-
6.6.4 Liquid-Dropout Curve. Table 6.11 and Figs. 6.9A through
nally increasing toward a maximum. Matching this behavior with
6.9D show relative oil volumes, V,0 , measured in the example CVD an EOS can prove difficult, and the question is whether matching the
experiment. V,0 is defined as the volume of oil, V0 , ata given pres- tail is really necessary (see Appendix C).
sure divided by the original saturation volume, V,. This relative vol- What really matters for reservoir calculations of a gas-condensate
ume is an excellent measure of the average reservoir-oil saturation fluid is how much original stock-tank condensate is "lost" be;.ause
(normalized) that will develop during depletion of a gas-condensate of retrograde condensation in the reservoir. The shape and magni-

104 PHASE BEHAVIOR

 1011

98

'#-
j
<.:I
~a. 7iJ
<.:I
.¿
CD
u
:::1
"C
o 88
d:
~

.."'
<.:I
QI Sil

--
! U)
E

..
"'...
GI

.!!
-¡
3:
Cll
48
::>
>
º+:: [Link]
Cll
:;
38
e(
E
:::1 e"'"'
a.
CJ

28

~
Ul

a .J
a 1aaa !Sila 2aila
Pressure, psig
25ilZ •• 00
Fig. 6.90-CVD data for gas-condensate sample from Good Oil Co. Well 7; wet-gas material
balance.

tude of liquid dropout reflects the change in producing oil/gas ratio, should be emphasized. In fact, the effect of shape and magnitude of
rp = r,. A tail on a liquid-dropout curve implies that the producing liquid dropout on fluid flow in the reservoir is negligible, and any
wellstream is becoming only slightly leaner (i.e., r, is decreasing EOS match will probably have the same effect on fluid flow from the
only slightly). The cumulative condensate recovery is given by reservoir into the wellbore (i.e., inflow performance).
Gp
6.6.S Consistency Check of CVD Data. Reudelhuber and Hinds24
NP = f r,dGP, ... .. . . ....... ... .. ..... .. .... (6.66) give a detailed procedure for checking CVD data consistency that
involves a material-balance check on components and phases and
o
yields oil compositions, density, molecular weight, and Me?+. To-
where Gp = cumulative dry gas produced. Cumulative condensate gether with reported data, these calculated properties allow K values
production is readily evaluated from a plot of r, vs. Gp. to be calculated and checked for consistency with the Hoffman et
One of the most important checks of an EOS characterization for aL.10 method.11,28 Whitson and Torp's23 material-balance equations
any gas condensate, particularly one with a tail, is NP calculated
are summarized later. Similar equations can also be derived for a
from CVD data vs. Np calculated from the EOS characterization. It
DLE experiment when equilibrium gas compositions and oil rela-
is alarming how much the surface condensate recovery can be un-
tive volumes are reported. Reported CVD data include temperature,
derestimated if the tail is not matched properly. We do not recom-
mend matching the dewpoint exactly with a liquid-dropout curve T; dewpoint pressure, p d• or bubblepoint pressure, p b; dewpoint Z
that is severely overpredicted in the region where measured results factor, Zd, or bubblepoint-oil density, p ob. Additional data at each
indicate little dropout. If the EOS characterization cannot be modi- Depletion Stage k include oil relative volume, V,0 ; initial fraction
fied to honor the tail of liquid-dropout curve, it is preferable to of cumulative moles produced, np/n; gas Z factor (not the two-
underpredict the measured dewpoint pressure and match only the phase Z factor), Z; equilibrium gas composition, y;; and equilibrium
higher liquid-dropout volumes. gas (wellstream) C7+ molecular weight, M,c,,.
In summary, oil relative volume, V,0 , is not importantper se; how- The equilibrium gas density, p 8 ; molecular weight, M8 ; and well-
ever, the effect of liquid dropout on surface condensate production stream gravity, Yw = M8 /Mair, are readily calculated at each

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 105

 TABLE 6.12-CVD DATA FOR GOOD OIL CO. WELL 7 GAS-CONDENSATE SAMPLE 2*
Reservoir Pressure, psig
Componen!, mol% 5,713** 4,ooot 3,500 2,900 2,100 1,300 605 o+
---
C02 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.19 0.21
N2 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.15 0.14
C1 61.72 61.72 63.10 65.21 69.79 70.77 66 .59
C2 14.10 14.10 14.27 14.10 14.12 14.63 16.06
C3 8.37 8.37 8.26 8.10 7.57 7.73 9.11
i-C 4 0.98 0.98 0.91 0.95 0.81 0.79 1.01
n-C 4 3.45 3.45 3.40 3.16 2.71 2.59 3.31
i-Cs 0.91 0.91 0.86 0.84 0.67 0.55 0.68
n-C 5 1.52 1.52 1.40 1.39 0.97 0.81 1.02
C7 1.79 1.79 1.60 1.52 1.03 0.73 0.80
C7+ 6.85 6.85 5.90 4.41 2.00 1.06 1.07
Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00
Properties
C7+ molecular weight 143 143 138 128 116 111 11 o
C 7+ specific gravity 0.795 0.795 0.790 0.780 0.767 0.762 0.761
Equilibrium gas deviation factor, Z 1.107 0.867 0.799 0.748 0.762 0.819 0.902
Two-phase deviation factor, Z 1.107 0.867 0.802 0.744 0.704 0.671 0.576
Wellstream produced, cumu lative 0.000 5.374 15.438 35.096 57.695 76.787 93.515
%of initial
From smooth compositions
C3+. gal/Mscf 9.218 9.218 8.476 7.174 5.171 4.490 5.307
C4+• gal/Mscf 6.922 6.922 6.224 4.980 3.095 2.370 2.808
Cs+• gal/Mscf 5.519 5.519 4.876 3.692 1.978 1.294 1.437
Retrograde Condensation During Gas Depletion
Retrograde liquid volume, O.O 3.3 19.4 23.9 22.5 18.1 12.6
% hydrocarbon pare space
• Study conducted at 186ºF.
... Original reservoir pressure.
t Dewpoint pressure.
:j:O-psig residual-liquid properties: 47.S ºAPI oil gravity at 60º; 0.7897 specific gravity at 60/60ºF; and molecular weight of 140.

Depletion Stage k [and at the dewpoint ( k = 1) for a gas-conden- nP)

sate sample] from (n,)k = 1- (n k'
N

(Mg)k =I (y;)k M;' . . .... . . . ... . .. . .......... (6.67)

i=I

(6.68) and (11 0 )k = (11 ,)k - (n 8)k, ......... . . . .. .. ... . ... . (6.73)

and moles and mass of the individual phases remaining in the cell at
(Mgt
and (yg)k = (y .. )k = 28 .97. . ............. . .... . (6 .69) Stage k are given by

M, - ~( Ll:g)}Mg)1.
1
On a basis of 1 mol initial dewpoint fluid (11 = 1), the cell vol-
ume is (m,)k =

ZdRT
vcell = ---¡¡;¡-- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.70)
(mg)k = (1~g)JMg)k.
for a gas condensate and
M,,b
Vce11 = Pub .......... . . - .. . ... . .. .. ... ........ (6.71)
.. .. . .......... . ...... /
In Eqs. 6.73 and 6.74,
for a volatile oil. Oil and gas volumes, respectively, at Stage k are

CVu)k= Vce11 (V,a)k

(l ,:1' (nnP) . _ (n,':)
' ._1 '
8
) . = ....... . ....... . .... (6.75)
1 1
and (vg)k = vcell[ 1 - (V,u)k]. . .. . .. . . . . ... .... . . . (6.72) J

Moles and mass of the total material remaining in the cell at Stage k M, = saturated-fluid molecular weight, and (np/11) 1 = O.
are given by Densities and molecular weights of the oil phase are calculated from

106 PHASE BEHAVIOR

 '
TABLE 6.13-CALeULATEO REeOVERIES* FROM evo REPORT
FOR GOOO OIL eo. WELL 7 GAS-eONOENSATE SAMPLE
Reservoir Pressure (psig)
lnitial in Place 4,000** 3,500 2,900 2,100 1,300 605 o
Wellstream , Mscf 1,000 o 53.74 154.38 350.96 576.95 767.87 935.15
Normal temperature separationt
Stock-tank liquid, bbl 135.7 o 6.4 15.4 24.0 29.7 35.1
Primary-separator gas, Mscf 757.87 o 41 .95 124.78 301.57 512.32 658.02
Second-stage gas, Mscf 96.68 o 4.74 12.09 20.75 27.95 37.79
Stock-tank gas, Mscf 24.23 o 1.21 3.16 5.61 7.71 10.4
Total plant products in primary separator*
Propane, gal 1,198 o 67 204 513 910 1,276
Butanes, gal 410 o 23 72 190 346 491
Pentanes, gal 180 o 10 31 81 144 192
Total plan! products in second-stage
separator*
Propane, gal 669 o 33 86 149 205 286
Butanes, gal 308 o 15 41 76 108 159
Pentanes, gal 138 o 7 19 35 49 69
Total plant products in wellstream*
Propane, gal 2,296 o 121 342 750 1,229 1,706
Butanes, gal 1,403 o 73 202 422 665 927
Pentanes, gal 5,519 o 262 634 1,022 1,315 1,589
\ • Cumulative recovery per MMscf ol original fluid calculated during depletion .
.. Dewpoint pressure.
tRecovery basis: primary separation at 500 psia and 70ºF, second-stage separation at 50 psia and 70ºF, and stock tank at 14.7 psia and 70ºF.
tRecovery assumes 100% plant efficiency.

(oo)k = ~~:~: · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · (6.76)

i(t).: 8
) (Y;)1] · .. . . . • . . . . . (6.79)
¡=2 J
(mo)k
and (M0 )k = (no)k, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.77)
C 7 + molecular weight of the oil phase can be calculated from

and the oil composition is given by

(x¡)k = (n,)k(z;h - (n8)k(Y;)k .............. (6.80)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6.78)
(n,)k - (n 8)k

K values can be calculated from K; = yjx;. and z; = overall com- Table 6.6 summarizes these calculations for the sample gas-conden-
position of the mixture remaining in the cell at Stage k. sate mixture.

L¡w¡,; = liquid yields (wellstream)

including "condensate"

OR
L¡1 ¡,; = liquid yields
(Separator Gas 1)

Separator 1 c,.(gas)

o-o
¡···~~;;,o~;d···¡

Separator 2
(tank gas) } no liquid yields

Dewpoint CVD Depletion

Stage (p<pd)

Fig. 6.10-Schematic of method of calculating plant recoveries in a evo report for a gas
condensate.

CONVENTIONAL PVT MEASUREMENTS 107

 Cho et al. correlation
50 ºF

-20+---"'-......,.::_-+-~~~-+-~~~--r-~~~-+~~~-+~~~-+~~~-t~~~---t

o 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Heptanes Plus, mol%
Fig. 6.11-Calculated maximum retrograde oil relative vol u mes trom the Cho et a/. 27 correlation.

The oil composition at the last depletion state (605 psig forthe ex- 14. Silvey, F.C., Reamer, H.H., and Sage, B.H.: "Supersaturation in Hydrocar-
ample condensate) can be measured, but it must be requested specif- bon Systems: Methane-n-Decane," Ind. Eng. Chem (1958) 3, No. 2, 181.
15. Tindy, R. and Raynal, M.: "Are Test-Cell Saturation Pressures Accurate
ically. Also, the residual-oil molecular weight, Mor, and specific
Enough?," Oil & Gas J. (December 1966) 126.
gravity, yor, remaining after depletion at atmospheric pressure are 16. Standing, M .B .: Volumetric and Phase Behavior of Oil Field Hydrocar-
typically measured and reported as shown in Table 6.12. These val- bon Systems, eighth edition, SPE, Richardson, Texas (1977).
ues can be compared with calculated values by use ofthe material- 17. Clark, N.J.: "Adjusting Oil Sample Data for Reservoir Studies," JPT
balance equations shown earlier. (February 1962) 143.
The material-balance calculations are more accurate for rich gas 18. Moses, P.L.: "Engineering Applications of Phase Behavior of Crude-Oil
and Condensate Systems," JPT (July 1986) 715.
condensates and volatile oils. In fact, obtaining reasonable material- 19. Amyx, J.W., Bass, D .M. Jr., and Whiting, R.L.: PetroleumReservoir En-
balance oil properties for lean gas condensates is difficult. Some- gineering , McGraw-Hill Book Co. Inc., New York City (1960).
times it is useful to modify the reported oil relative volumes (partic- 20. Craft, B .C . and Hawkins, M.: Applied PetroleumReservoir Engineering,
ularly those close to the dewpoint) to monitor the effect on first edition, Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1959) .
calculated oíl properties. 21. Dake, L.P.: Fundamentals of Reservoir Engineering, Elsevier Scientific
Publishing Co., Amsterdam (1978).
An altemative material-balance check that may be even more 22. Dodson, C .R., Goodwill, D. , andMayer, E.H.: "Application ofLabora-
useful for determining data consistency (particularly for leaner gas tory PVT Data to Reservoir Engineering Problems," Trans., AIME
condensates) involves starting with reported final-stage condensate (1953) 198, 287 .
composition, (x¡)k=N• and adding back the removed gases, (y¡h, for 23. Whitson, C.H. and Torp, S.B .: "Evaluating Constant-Volume-Depletion
each stage from k = N to k = l. This results in the original gas Data," JPT (March 1983) 610; Trans., AIME, 275.
24. Drohm, J.K., Goldthorpe, W.H. , and Trengove, R.: "Enhancing the Eval-
composition, (z¡)k=t• which can be compared quantitatively with uation of PVT Data," paper OSEA 88174 presented at the 1988 Offshore
the laboratory-reported composition. Southeast Asia Conference, Singapore, 2-5 February.
25. Drohm, J.K., Trengove, R., and Goldthorpe, W.H.: "On the Quality of
References Data From Standard Gas-Condensate PVT Experiments," paper SPE
17768 presented at the 1988 Gas Technology Symposium, Dallas,
1. "Core Laboratories Good Oil Company Oil Well No . 4 PVT Study," Core
13-15 June.
Laboratories, Houston.
26. Reudelhuber, F.O. and Hinds, R.F.: "Compositional Material Balance
2. "Core Laboratories Good Oil Company Condensate Well No. 7 PVT
Method for Prediction of Recovery From Volatile-Oil Depletion-Drive
Study," Core Laboratories, Houston.
Reservoirs," JPT (January 1957) 19; Trans., AIME, 210.
3. Flaitz, J.M. and Parks, A .S.: "Sampling Gas-Condensate Wells," Trans. ,
27. Cho, S.J., Civan, F., and Starling, K.E.: "A Correlation To PredictMaxi-
AIME (1942) 146, 13. mum Condensation for Retrograde Condensation Fluids and Its Use in
4. Katz, D.L., Brown, G.G ., and Parks, A.S .: "NGAA Report on Sampling Pressure-Depletion Calculations," paper SPE 14268 presented at the
Two-Phase Gas Streams from High Pressure Condensate Wells," (Sep- 1985 SPE AnnualTechnical Conference and Exhibition, Las Vegas, Ne-
tember 1945). vada, 22-25 September.
5. Reudelhuber, F.O.: "Sampling Procedures forOil Reservoir Fluids," JPT 28. Clark, N.J.: "Theoretical Aspects of Oil and Gas Equilibrium Calcula-
(December 1957) 15. tions," JPT (April 1962) 373.
6. Clark, N.J.: "Sampling and Testing Oil Reservoir Samples," JPT (Jan.
1962) 12.
SI M etric Conversion Factors
7. Clark, N.J .: "Sampling and Testing Gas Reservoir Samples," JPT
(March 1962) 266. º API 141.5/(131.5 + º API) =g/cm3
8. Recommended Practice for Sampling Petroleum Reservoir Fluids, API, bbl X 1.589 873 E- 01 = m3
Dallas (1966) 44. Btu x 1.055 056 E+OO =kJ
9. Standing, M .B. and Katz, D.L. : "Density of Natural Gases," Trans. ,
cp X 1.0* E - 03 = Pa · s
AIME, (1942) 146, 140.
10. Hoffmann, A.E., Crump, J.S., and Hocott, C .R. : "Equilibrium Constants ft X3.048* E-01 =m
for a Gas-Condensate System," Trans., AIME (1953) 198, l. ft3 X2.831685 E-02 =m3
11. Standing, M.B.: "A Set of Equations for Computing Equilibrium Ratios ºF ('F-32)/1.8 = ºC
of a Crude Oil/Natural Gas System at Pressures Below 1,000 psia," JPT gal x3.785 412 E-03 =m3 •
(September 1979) 1193. in. x 2.54* E+OO =cm
12. Kay, W.B.: "The Ethane-Heptane System," Ind. & Eng. Chem. (1938) lbmmol x4.535 924 E-01 =kmol
30, 459.
13. Kennedy, H.T. and Olson, C.R .: "Bubble Formation in Supersaturated
psi x 6.894 757 E+ 00 = kPa
Hydrocarbon Mixtures," Oil & Gas J. (October 1952) 271. 'Conversion factor is exact.

108 PHASE BEHAVIOR