Heriot-Watt University

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

Properties of Reservoir Liquids

Adrian C Todd

Composition

Petroleum engineers require a compositional

description tool to use as a basis for predicting
reservoir and well fluid behaviour.

Two approaches used.

Compositional model.

Black oil model.

The black oil model is a simplistic approach and used

for many years to describe composition and behaviour
of reservoir fluids

Black Oil Model

Considers fluid made up of two components

Gas dissolved in oil.-solution gas

Stock Tank Oil

Compositional changes in gas when changing P&T are ignored.

A difficult concept for thermodynamic enthusiasts.

At the core of many petroleum engineering calculations and assocaited

procedures and reports
Assocciated Black Oil parameters.
Gas solubility and Formation Volume Factors

Black Oil Model

2 components
Reservoir Fluid

Solution Gas
Stock Tank Oil
Solution
Gas
Rs - Solution
Gas to Oil Ratio

Stock
Tank Oil
Bo - Oil Formation Volume Factor

Reason for Fluid Composition Models

To predict physical properties.

Exploration

Exploitation

Multiphase transport

Black Oil Models

Prediction of reservoir fluid density

Prediction of solution gas-oil ratio

Prediction of oil formation volume factor

Largely empirical correlations

Important to determine the applicability of the

correlation used.

Gas Solubility

Although the gas, like the oil is a multicomponent

fluid the black oil model treats it as if we are
dealing with a two component system.
Amount of gas in solution in the oil depends on
reservoir conditions of T & P and the respective
compositions.
Solubility of gas, function of pressure,
temperature, composition of gas & oil.

Gas Solubility

Black oil model treats the amount of gas in

solution in terms of the gas produced
Solution Gas
Rsi scf/stb
+
Stock Tank Oil

1. Undersaturated
1 stb. oil

Bo res. Bbl. oil

Oil Reservoir

Gas Solubility

Definition.
The gas solubility,Rs is defined as the number
of cubic feet ( cubic metre) of gas measured
at standard conditions which will dissolve in
one barrel( cubic metre) of stock tank oil when
subjected to reservoir temperature and
pressure.

Gas Solubility

Above bubble point

pressure.
Oil is undersaturated
Solution GOR is
constant
At and below bubble
point pressure two
phases produced in the
reservoir as gas comes
out of solution.
Solution GOR reduces

Gas Solubility

Below bubble point gas released and mobility

effected by relative permeability considerations.
Gas separation in the production tubing is different
and considered to remain with associated oil.
Two basic liberation mechanisms.

Flash liberation

Differential liberation

Gas Solubility

Flash Liberation
The gas is evolved during a definite reduction in pressure
and the gas is kept in contact with the liquid until
equilibrium has been established.
Differential Liberation.
The gas being evolved is being continuously removed
from contact with the liquid and the liquid is in equilibrium
with the gas being evolved over a finite pressure range.
These processes considered in more detail in PVT section.

Oil Formation Volume Factor, Bo

Volume occupied by oil between surface conditions and

reservoir is that of the total system, the stock tank oil
and its associated solution gas.
A unit volume of stock tank oil to surface with its
associated gas will occupy at reservoir conditions a
volume greater than unity.
Relationship between volume of oil and its dissolved gas
and the volume at stock tank conditions is called the Oil
Formation Volume Factor.
Bo

Oil Formation Volume Factor, Bo

Definition
The oil formation volume factor, is the volume
in barrels ( cubic metre) occupied in the
reservoir, at the prevailing pressure and
temperature, by one stock tank barrel ( one
stock tank cubic meter) of oil plus its
dissolved gas.

Oil Formation Volume Factor, Bo

Above bubble point as
pressure reduces oil
expands due to
compressibility.
Below bubble point oil
shrinks as a result of
gas coming out of
solution.

Gas Solubility
Above bubble point
All gas in solution
At bubble point
All gas in solution
Below bubble point
Free gas and solution gas

At surface conditions
No gas in solution

Oil Formation Volume Factor, Bo

Above bubble point
oil expands as
pressure reduced

At bubble point
All gas in solution
Below bubble point
oil shrinks
At surface conditions
Oil at stock tank
conditions

Oil Formation Volume Factor, Bo

Reciprocal of the oil formation volume factor is

called the shrinkage factor, bo.
bo=1/Bo
The formation volume factor ,Bo multiplied by
volume of stock tank oil gives the reservoir
volume.
Shrinkage factor multiplied by reservoir volume
gives stock tank oil volume

Oil Formation Volume Factor, Bo

Important to appreciate that processing of oil & gas

will effect the amount of gas produced.
This will effect values of oil formation volume factor
and solution gas to oil ratio.
The amount of gas and oil
produced depends on the
processing conditions

The black oil model is an after

the event description of the
reservoir fluids.

Integrated Reservoirs
Final amount of stock
tank oil and produced
gas will depend on a
fully optimised
processing throughout
the system from fields
to vessel transport.

Total Formation Volume Factor, Bt

Sometimes convenient to know volume of the

oil in the reservoir by one stock tank unit of oil
plus the free gas that was originally dissolved
in it.

Total formation volume factor is used, Bt.

Sometimes termed two-phase volume factor.

Total Formation Volume Factor, Bt

Definition
The total formation volume factor is the
volume in barrels (cubic metre ) that 1.0
stock tank barrel ( cubic metre ) and its
initial complement of dissolved gas
occupies at reservoir temperature and
pressure conditions.

Bt Bo Bg R sb R s
Rsb = the solution gas to oil ratio at the bubble point.

Total Formation Volume Factor, Bt

Bt Bo Bg R sb R s
P = Pb
Bob

P < Pb
Bg(Rsb-Rs)

GAS

OIL

Bt
OIL

Bo

Hg
Hg

Sometimes used in the material balance equation

Does not have volume significance in the reservoir.

Total Formation Volume Factor, Bt

Bt Bo Bg R sb R s
Above Pb, Bt = Bo

Below the bubble point

Solution Gas & Free Gas

R=

Rs scf/stb

R-Rs scf/stb

Saturated

Stock Tank Oil

1 stb. oil
Gas
Oil

Bo res. Bbl. oil & dissolved gas/stb

Oil Reservoir
(R-Rs)Bg res. bbl.free gas / stb

Oil Compressibility

Volume changes of oil above the bubble point are very

significant in recovering undersaturated oil.

Oil formation volume factor reflects these changes

More fundamentaly in the coefficient of compressibility of the oil.

or oil compressibility

1 V
co

V P T
In terms of Bo
Assuming
compressibility does
not change with
pressure, between
conditions 1 & 2.

1
co
Bo

Bo

V2
co P2 P1 ln
V1

Pb

Black Oil Correlations

Over the years many correlations developed based

on the black oil model.
Based on measured data on oils of interest.
Empirical correlations relate black oil parameters,
Bo & Rs

to reservoir tempersture

reservoir pressure

oil & gas surface density.

Black Oil Correlations

Important to appreciate that these correlations

are empirical
apply to a particular set of oils using a best fit
approach.
Using correlation for fluids whose properties
not similar to the correlation can lead to
errors.

Black Oil Correlations

Based on crudes across various oil provinces

Most common, Standing, Lasater & others

Pb= f ( Rs,g, o,T )

Pb f

Where Pb=bubble

point
Rs=solution gas-oil ratio
g=gravity of dissolved gas
o=density of stock tank oil
t= temperature

Standings Correlation
For calculation of bubble point pressure

R
Pb 18.2 s
g

0.83

10

0.00091T 0.0125(

API 1.4

For calculation of oil formation volume factor

g
Bo 0.9759 0.000120 R s

0.5

1.25T

1.2

Standings Correlation
Oil formation volume factor
GOR=300scf/stb
Gas gravity = 0.6
Oil gravity =0.3
Temperature =120oF

Standings Correlation

Gas Solubility

Black Oil Correlations

Correlations and ranges

Prediction of Fluid Density

The estimation of the density of a reservoir

liquid is important to the petroleum engineer.
Specific Gravity of a Liquid

o
o
w
API Gravity

Specific gravity is the density ratio

between water at the same T&P.
Usually 60o/60o
Both liquid and water are measured at
60o and 1 atmos. pressure
Degrees. API

141.5
131.5
o
SpecificGravity @ 60 F

Specific gravity relative to water @ 60oF

Prediction of Fluid Density

Several methods of estimating density at

reservoir conditions.
Methods depend on the availability and nature
of data.
When compositional data available Ideal
Solution Principle can be used.
When we have produced gas and oil data
empirical methods can be used.

Ideal Solution Principle

An ideal solution is a hypothetical liquid

No change in characteristics of liquids is
caused by mixing.
The properties of the mixture are strictly
additive.
Ideal solution principles can be applied to
petroleum mixtures to determine density.

Ideal Solution Principle

Calculate density at 14.7

psia and 60oF of the
following hydrocarbon liquid
mixture.

From Tables of
Physical
properties

74.69
lb.
o
39.73
1.88
cu.ft.

Prediction of Fluid Density

Liquids in the reservoir contain quantities of

dissolved gas.
This gas clearly cannot contribute to a liquid
density at surface conditions.
Use a pseudo liquid density in the method to
calculate density at reservoir conditions.

Prediction of Fluid Density

pseudo liquid density

Apparent liquid density of C1 & C2 vs. system
density

pseudo liquid density

Step 1 : System density is
assummed.
Step 2: Apparent density of C1
& C2 determined
Step 3. System density calculated
using apparent liquid densitiy
values from step 2.
Step 4: New values of apparent
density determined.
Repeat steps 2-4 until convergence

Physical Properties Table

Prediction of Fluid Density

Trial & error method very tedious.

Standing & Katz correlation devised a correlation which
removes tedious approach.

Density of C3+ material calculated using additive volume.

Weight per. Cent of C2 in C2+ material calculated.

Weight per cent of C1 in C1+ material calculated

Pseudo Density of system including C1 & C2 at surface

read from correlation.

Standing &
Katz
Step 1: Density of C3+
correlation
Step 2:Wgt.% C2 in C2+
Step 3:Wgt.% C1 in C1+

Step 4: Density of
system including C1 &
C2

Calculating Reservoir Fluid Density

The pseudo density needs to be converted to

reservoir density by taking the effect of
reservoir conditions.

Firstly pressure

Secondly temperature.

Pressure & temperature effects determined by

Standing & Katz.

Effect of Pressure
Step 1: Pseudo density at
surface
Step 2: Correction for
pressure

Density at pressure
= density at atmos
+ correction value

Effect of
Temperature
Step 1: Density at pressure
and 60oF
Step 2: temperature
correction
Density at reservoir
conditions
= density at atmos temp
- correction value.

Standing & Katz

correlation
Step 1:
Density of C3+

Step 2:
Wgt % C2 in C2+
Step 3:
Wgt % C1 in C1+
Pseudo density at
surface

Reservoir Density, Gas Solubility, Gas

Composition and Surface Gravity Known

Recombine mixture according to volume.

Volume fraction of gas is the same as mole
fraction.

Add volumes per bbl of crude oil

Get weight % of C1 & C2

Determine pseudo density from Standing & Katz

Correct for reservoir pressure and temperature.

Formation Volume Factor of Gas Condensate

For a wet gas and gas condensate reservoirs

at surface produce liquids.
The formation -volume factor of a gas
condensate, Bgc, is the volume of gas in the
reservoir required to produce 1.0 stb of
condensate at the surface.

Viscosity of Oil

Viscosity of oil at reservoir conditions less

than dead oil because of dissolved gases.
Correlations are available from the literature.

Interfacial Tension

Interfacial tension,IFT, an important physical property in context

of recovery.
In particular for gas condensates.
Arises from inbalance of molecular forces at the interface
between phases.
In recent years magnitude of surface, gravitational and viscous
forces can have significant effect on mobility of various phases.
Major advance in relation to gas condensates where previously
considered liquid drop out was immobile.
Fluids can now be mobile due to low IFT values.

Comparison of Reservoir Fluid Models

Suitablity of the two approaches depends on the nature of the

fluid.
Heavier oils where GOR is low-Black Oil model is suitable
For more volatile systems compositional models are more
capable of predictiong behaviour.
Computational needs of compositional model used to be a
restriction when carrying out large reservoir simulations.
Full systems modelling from reservoir to the refinery puts the
black oil model in a former era.

Comparison of Reservoir Fluid Models

Black Oil Model

2 components -solution
gas and stock tank oil

Bo,& Rs etc

Empirical correlations
After the event
description of fluid
properties.

Compositional
Models
N components based
on paraffin series
Equation of state based
calculations
Feed forward
calculation of fluid
properties