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

Fluid Characterisation

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 Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Fluid Characterisation

Most hydrocarbons are simple straight chain combinations e.g. the 4 common gases:

H H C H H H

H C H

H C H H H

H C H

H C H

H C H H H

H C H

H C H

H C H

H C H H

Methane (CH4)

Ethane (C2H6)

Propane (C3H8)

Butane (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 Production System Modelling (ENM204)

Fluid Characterisation

Typical Oil Compositions: ns:

70

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

Volatile (light) oil (42 API)

60

50

40

30

20

10

C 10

C 13

C1 1

C 12

C 16

C1 4

C1 5

C 19
C 19

C1 7

C 18

C 6

C 3

C 1

C 4

C2

C 7

C5

C 9

C8

Com pone nt
70

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

Black (normal) oil (30 API)

60 50

40

30

20

10

C 16

C 10

C 11

C 12

C 13

C 14

C 15

C 18

C 17

C 1

C 2

C 3

C 4

C 5

C 6

C 7

C 8

C 9

Com pone nt
70

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

Biodegraded (heavy) oil (20 API)

60 50

40

30

20

10

0
C 11 C1 0 C 12 C 14 C1 3 C 15 C 18 C 17 C1 6 C1 9 C 6 C 3 C 5 C1 C2 C4 C 8 C7 C 9 C 20 +

Com pone nt

C 20

C2 0

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

Fluid Characterisation

Fluid Types
Hydrocarbon fluids can be classified according to their position on the phase diagram at reservoir conditions:

Liquid
Heavy oil Black oil

Volatile oil

Gas condensate

Gas
Wet gas

critical point

Pbubble
Pressure

Dry gas

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. (liquid)

API Gravity 12 25 25 40 40 50 50 70 50 70 n/a

GOR (scf/stb) < 100 100 2,500 2,500 4,500 4,500 50,000 50,000 100,000 < 10 stb/mmscfd liquid

GOR (sm3/sm3) < 20 20 450 450 800 > 800

Heavy oil Black oil Volatile oil Gas condensate Wet gas Dry gas

0.93 0.85 0.81 0.75

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

Fluid Characterisation

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, gascondensates and gases. Widely used correlations include Standing, Glaso, Lasater and VasquezBeggs. 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) Gas gravity (S.G.) Solution GOR (scf/stb)

Black Oil Model

GOR (scf/stb) @ P,T 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 (scf/stb) Bo (rb/stb)

Pbubble

Pressure

Pbubble

Pressure

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

o ( P, T ) =

350.4 . o + GOR ( P, T ) . g . 0.0764 Bo ( P, T ) . 5.614

[lb/cuft]

where

= oil specific gravity = 141.5/(131.5 + oAPI) = gas specific gravity

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

Fluid Characterisation

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 o 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 gascondensate.

Liquid

Rich gas condensate

critical point Pbubble

Lean gas condensate

Pdew

Pressure

Gas

10% gas 5% liquid 10% liquid

Temperature

The Robert Gordon University 2008

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

Fluid Characterisation

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) Rich yield condensate (vol oil) Medium yield condensate Light yield condensate 200+ 100 200 20 100 GOR (scf/stb) < 5000 5,000 50,000 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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