Heriot-Watt University

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

PVT

Pressure Volume Temperature

Adrian C Todd

PVT - Scope

Reservoir fluid analysis provides key data to

the petroleum engineer.
Quality of the testing is important to ensure
realistic values used in design.
Sample quality is the first quality issue.

PVT Analysis

Provides data for field evaluation and design

Reservoir calculations

Well flow calculations

Surface facilities

PVT Analysis

Correlation between pressure and volume at

reservoir temperature.
Various physical constants in reservoir
calculations; viscosity, density, compressibility.

Effect of separator conditions on Bo & GOR. etc.

Chemical composition of the volatile components.

PVT Analysis

Scope of the analysis depends on the nature of the fluid.

Dry gas:

composition, specific gravity, Bg, z, and viscosity

Wet gas:

as above plus information on liquid drop out, quantities and compositions.

Oil system:

Bubble point pressure, composition of reservoir and produced fluids, Bo,

GOR, Bt and viscosity. All as function of pressure. Co.
Below Pb considerations.

PVT Analysis

Gas condensate:

Reflect wet gas and oil.

Dew point pressure

Compressibility above Pd.

Impact of dropping below Pd

Sampling

Clearly the sample has to representative of

the reservoir contents or the drainage area.
Desirable to take samples early in the life of
the reservoir.
Either sub-surface or surface sampling.

Sub-Surface Sampling

Can only be representative

when pressure at sampling
point is above or equal to
the saturation pressure.
At pressure close to
saturation pressure serious
possibility of sample
integrity being lost.
In recent years
considerable advance in
downhole fluid sampling

Surface Sampling

Samples of oil and gas taken from separator

connected with the well.
Fluids recombined in the laboratory on the
basis of the produced GOR

Vertical and
Horizontal
Separators

Separator Gas Sampling

Separator Liquid Sampling by Gas

Displacement

Separator Liquid Sampling by Water

Displacement

Wellhead sampling

A low cost option.

Only possible for very
undersaturated
sytsems.
Still single phase at
wellhead.

Sampling Wet Gas and Gas Condensate

Systems

Use and value of any PVT study dependant on the

quality of the sample collected.
Sampling wet gas and gas condensate fluids can
give rise to errors.
During sampling procedure it is possible to alter
the conditions so that samples are not
representative.
An important consideration is the phase behaviour.

Phase Behaviour.

Fluids uniquely
described by phase
diagram.
Within the phase
diagram system is
two phase.
Whereas outside the
phase envelope
single phase

Single phase

Two phase

Phase Behaviour.

The separation of oil and

gas as predicted by the
phase diagram results in
each phase having its own
phase diagram.
The oil exists at its bubble
point .
The gas exists at its dew
point.
This behaviour has
important implications on
well sampling

Sampling Wet
Gas and Gas
Condensate
Potential locations
Reservoirs
for reservoir
sampling

Sampling Wet Gas and

Location
Gas Condensate
1. Reservoir
Reservoirs

For.

2.Bottom-hole

3.Well Head

4. Separator

Against

1. Ideal

1. Impossible

2. 1-phase

2. Representative ? Technology, Cost, Handling.

3. Cost

3. 2-phase ? Representative ?,

4.Gas/liquid volumes,, separator conditions,

4. Cost, 1-phase,
buffer,sampling volume Representative ?,

Sampling Wet Gas and

Gas Condensate
Reservoirs-Flowing well.

Well behaviour can

significantly influence
nature and
characteristics of fluids
produced.
Flowing well gas
condensate - mist flow

Sampling Wet Gas

and Gas Condensate
Reservoirs-Shut in well
after flow.

Well acts as a separator

Liquid rains down and
accumulates at bottom
of well.
Pressure builds up in
the well and disturbed
formation.
Some gas goes back
into solution.

Well flow after shut in.

Large variations in compositions of

produced fluids.
Early period lean gas produced.
High GOR
When fluids produced from bottom
of well. Liquids much lower GOR.
Then fluids from disturbed
reservoir zone
Eventually fluids from undisturbed
reservoir

Sampling Wet Gas and Gas

Condensate Reservoirs

In assessing quality of samples

important to know how long it will
take for unrepresentative samples
to be displaced from reservoir.
Volumetrics required on wells,
facilities and near well volumes

Separator Sampling Points

A very practical issue is the

location of sampling points on
separators.
Often located for convenience
for accessibility.

Liquid in gas line

Important to recognise that the

gas and liquid in a separator
are at their saturation
pressure.
Small changes will result in
liquid drop out and gas being
produced

Iso kinetic sampling

Gas in liquid line

Sampling Details

Important to record and keep note off following. These records to go

with samples

Date and time

Cylinder identification

Location of sampling points.

Temperature and pressure

GOR in separator

Any special details ( H2S in sample, etc

Equipment for PVT Analysis

Apparatus for transfer and recombination of

separator oil and gas samples.

Apparatus for measuring gas and liquid volumes

Apparatus for performing separator tests

PVT cell and displacing pumps.

High pressure viscometer

Gas chromatograph or equivalent.

Equipment for PVT Analysis-Subsurface

Samples

Equipment for PVT Analysis-Surface Samples

Equipment for PVT Analysis-Gas Condensate

Samples

PVT Tests

To provide data for reservoir calculations

To provide physical property data for well flow calculations

For surface facility design

The reservoir calculations are the main driving force for the various tests.

Over recent years reservoir simulation capability has generated the need
to extend compositional description from C7+ to in some cases C29+.
PVT report provides source of all reservoir engineering properties for
behaviour over exploration, development and production

Main PVT Tests

Flash vaporisation or relative volume test.

Differential vaporisation test.

Separator tests.

Viscosity measurements.

Compositional measurements.

Special studies: e.g. Interfacial tension.

Simple layout of a PVT Facility

Flash Vaporisation ( Relative Volume ) Test

Determination of the correlation between pressure and volume

at reservoir temperature.

The system never changes during the test.

The gas remains in equilibrium with the oil through out the test.

The behaviour below the bubble point does not reflect reservoir
behaviour, where gas has greater mobility than the oil.
This test determines the Bubble Point pressure corresponding
to the reservoir temperature.

Flash Vaporisation
(Relative Volume ) Test

Liberated gas remains in

equilibrium with oil

Flash Vaporisation (Relative Volume ) Test

By plotting P versus V, a break in the slope is obtained at
the Bubble Point pressure.

Flash Vaporisation
(Relative Volume ) Test

Tests at constant pressure

and varying temperature
enables thermal expansion
coefficient to be obtained for
well flow calculations.

Thermal expansion,

V2 V1

V2 T2 T1

V1 volume at T1 , V2 volume at T2

Flash Vaporisation (Relative Volume ) Test

Above bubble point compressibility of

oil at reservoir temperature can be
determined.
No free gas

V2 V1
c
V2 P1 P2
V2 =volume at pressure P2
V1 =volume at pressure P1

Flash Vaporisation (Relative Volume ) Test

Main objectives:
Reservoir bubble point
pressure.
Together with
information from separator
tests, formation volume
factor above bubble point.

Differential Vaporisation

Below bubble point in reservoir gas liquid separation in

the reservoir is a constant changing system.
A test has been design to attempt to simulate this
process.
In the differential vaporisation test liberated gas is
removed from the cell step wise.
At each step below bubble point, volumes densities ,
gas expansion and compressibility determined.
Bubble point starting point.

Differential Vaporisation

Flash liberation process

Differential liberation process

Differential Vaporisation

Differential Vaporisation

Differential Vaporisation

8-10 pressure reduction steps at reservoir temperature.

Final step to 60oF.

Remaining oil Residual Oil

Differential Vaporisation vs.Flash Vaporisation

Flash liberation considered to take place

between reservoir and surface.
Differential liberation considered to be
representative of the process in the reservoir
below bubble point pressure.
Differential tests carried out to obtain oil
formation volume factors and GORs to predict
behaviour below bubble point pressure.

Separator Tests

Objective to determine impact of separator conditions on Bo,

GOR, and produced fluid physical properties.
Not the interest of facility designers.
Carried out to give an indication of oil shrinkage and GOR when
fluids produced to surface.
There are not uniques values for Bo & GOR. They depend on
separator conditions.

Starting point for the test is the bubble point pressure.

Fluid produced at surface conditons. Stock tank oil

Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

V res

Viscosity

Measured at different pressures above and

below bubble point pressure.
Below bubble point pressure carried out under
differential conditions.
Rolling ball or capillary tube methods of
measurement

Hydrocarbon analysis

Analysis from C1 to an upper C number based on

paraffin series.
Historically C6 & C7+. Much higher analysis capability.
C+ characterised by specific gravity and apparent
molecular weight.
Latter by depression of freezing point.
Higher C+ characterisation helpful to process
engineers re. solid phase formation.

Wax and Ashphaltenes

Solid phase formation series concern.

Heavy components at low temperatures can form
solid phases.
Wax in transfer lines and process facilities.
Ashphaltene are larger molecules of hydrogen
and carbon plus sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen.
Ashphaltenes do not dissolve in oil but are
dispersed as colloids.

Wax
Crystallization
Different tests used:
Temperature

Filtering and measuring

resistance to flow at
different temperatures.
Appearance temperature is
considered to be affected
by super cooling.
The disappearance
temperature is considered
to be the equilibrium value.

Core Laboratories

Wax
Crystallization
Temperature

Core Laboratories

Summary of results provided by an oil sample

PVT test.

Saturation pressure, -bubble point.

Compressibility coefficient.

Coefficient of thermal expansion.

Relative total volume of oil and gas, Vt

Cumulative relative volume of gas. Vg

Cumulative relative volume of oil. Vo

Summary of results provided by an oil sample

PVT test.

Gas formation volume factor or gas expansion factor

Gas compressibility factor.

Specific gravity of gas

Liquid density

Viscosity of liquids as a function of pressure.

Oil formation volume factor

Solution gas- oil ratio. Shrinkage of separator oil to tank oil

Hydrocarbon analysis of reservoir and produced fluids

Volumetric relationship of fluids in an oil

PVT test
Reference point
bubble point

Volumetric relationship of fluids in an oil

PVT test
Reference point
Stock Tank Conditions

Volumetric relationship of fluids in an oil PVT test

Interfacial Tension, IFT

Impact of IFT now considered an important

aspect
particularly for gas condensates
IFT has a significant impact on the behaviour
of residual condensate saturation and
associated relative permeability.
IFT is very low as critical point approached

Interfacial Tension Measurements

Most common method pendant drop

gd e2 L V
l

gd e2 L V
l

l = shape factor a function of ds/de

Interfacial Tension Measurements

For very low IFT size of tube too small to suspend drop.

Thin wire can be used

Light scattering has been used.

Heriot-Watt method -rising film method

Retrograde Condensation

Saturation pressure is the dew point pressure.

Gas condensate cells have a window to
visualise dew point.
Not possible to determine by change of slope
of compressibilities of gas and liquid..

Gas Condensate

Main aspects of PVT study:

Constant mass expansion

Constant volume depletion

Specialised tests ( IFT)

Compositions of oil & gas

Compositions of fluids are generally made by blowing

down samples and recombining the resultant liquid and
gas phase compositions.

Gas Condensate- Constant Mass Study

No fluids removed from the cell

Purpose to determine z value above dew point.

Determine dew point pressure

Dew point observed as drops on window

Gas Condensate- Constant Volume Depletion

Carried out to simulate condition below dew point

Series of pressure expansions

Volume of cell returned to original volume

Gas Condensate- Constant Volume Depletion

Liquid volume produced below dew point

generates a liquid drop out curve.

Gas Condensate-Special tests IFT and

Full Compositional data
Hg

Gas
Density cell

Stirrer

High pressure
sampling
Hg
Condensate

Gas Condensate-Special tests IFT and

Full Compositional data
Pendant drop

Hg

Gas
Density cell

High pressure
sampling
Hg

Hg

Interface
Condensate

Rising film method

Vapour
1 cm

Liquid

Rising film
thickness

Rising film method - near critical point

Vapour
1 cm

Liquid
Very thin meniscus
height

Understanding PVT Rep[orts

Purpose of the PVT report:

Although can be used for applications from reservoir to surface
facilities. Reservoir engineering provides the main basis.

Provides much of black oil information.

Material balance equation basis for report.

PVT report provides main data for MB equation.

Both flash and differential separation assumed.

Specific to a particular fluid

Example PVT report.

Example PVT report.

Example PVT report.

Example
PVT
report.

Separator Test

Separator
Test

Separator Test
READ THE FOOTNOTES

Fluid Properties above bubble point

Relative Volume Test - Flash Vaporisation Test

Relative
Volume Test Flash
Vaporisation
Test

P
Pb
Vsat

Bo above bubble point

vol. reservoir oil
Bo
vol. stock tank oil

vol. bubble point oil

vol. reservoir oil
Bo

vol. stock tank oil vol. bubble point oil

From separator
test

Above bubble point

Density above bubble point obtained by

combining data from separator test and
relative volume tests.

1
1
o

vo v ob v rel
o

1
1

vo v ob v rel

Above bubble point

Compressibility above bubble point can be

obtained from relative volume test

1 v
Co
v p T
1 v
Co
v p T

1
Co
vavg

p T

Total Formation Volume Below Bubble

Point
Total formation

volume factor, Bt

Of little
significance, but
sometimes used in
MB based
calculations

Bo

BT

Total Formation
Volume
If we multiply
Bob x vrel.Below
we get BBubble
t over the total
Point
pressure range above and below the bubble

point pressure.

Differential liberation tests

Differential liberation tests

Volume changes during differential liberation

854-763=91scf/bbl residual oil

Residual oil not the same

composition as stock tank oil

Calculation of Gas-Oil Ratio

Below the Bubble point

The GOR resulting from the separator tests and

those from the differential test have different values.

796 ft3/B STO & 854 ft3/B residual oil

The difference a result of the differential process of
pressure draw down over the total pressure.
In practise, reservoir pressure drop is a differential
process but the pressure drop through the tubing
and separator is a flash process.

Calculation of Gas-Oil Ratio

The
separator
value
is
Below
the
Bubble
point
correct.

We need to complete
GOR values below the
bubble point.
The GOR is made up of
two elements,
Differential in the
reservoir.
Flash in the wells and to
surface.
Differential liberation
Flash liberation

The differential GOR is converted

Calculation of Gas-Oil Ratio
in the following manner:
Below the Bubble point

R s diff
R s diff

liberated gas-oil ratio by differential liberation

ft 3

bbl residual oil

Differential test

Separator test

ft 3
bbl residual oil
ft 3

bbl residual oil bbl bubble point oil bbl bubble point oil
ft 3
bbl bubble point oil
ft 3

bbl bubble point oil bbl stock tank oil

bbl stock tank oil

ft 3
R s flash
bbl stock tank oil

R s R si R s flash

R s flash R sb flash R s diff

Bob
Vb / Vresid

Calculation of Formation Volume Factor

Below the
Bubble
point
Formation
volume
factors
between bubble point and
surface also show a distinct difference between flash and
differential.

Calculation of Formation Volume Factor

Below the Bubble point

V/Vresidual = relative volume at pressure, B/B resid.

bbl Saturated oil
bbl Residual oil
bbl Saturated oil

bbl Residual oil bbl Bubble point oil bbl Bubble point oil
Bo

V
Bob
Vresid . Vb / Vresid

bbl Saturated oil

bbl Bubble point oil
bbl Saturated oil

Bo
bbl Bubble point oil bbl Stock Tank oil bbl Stock Tank oil

Bob
V
Bo
Vresid . Vb / Vresid

Viscosity Data

Pressures below bubble

point match differential
test

Viscosity

Composition of Reservoir Fluid

Composition of Separator Gas

Composition of Separator Gas

Gas
Condensate
PVT Report

Gas
Condensate
PVT Report

Liquid Drop Out

Curve
44%

High Pressure / High Temperature, HP/HT

Fluids

Recent years exploration activity has moved deeper.

High pressure and temperature accumulations found

Conventional PVT facilities do not enable testing
these fluids.

Ranges 250oC and 20,000 psi.

At these conditions role of water cannot be ignored.