PVT ANALYSIS

Compiled by : SACHIN NAMBIAR

Contact No: 9067111274

IMPORTANT TERMINOLOGIES

Properties of Oil
Gravity Crude oil density is defined as the
mass of a unit volume of the crude at a
specified pressure and temperature. It
is usually expressed in pounds per
cubic foot. The specific gravity of a
crude oil is defined as the ratio of the
density of the oil to that of water. Both
densities are measured at 60°F and
atmospheric pressure

Oil FVF ( Bo) The oil formation volume factor, is the

volume in barrels occupied in the
reservoir, at the prevailing pressure
and temperature, by one stock tank
barrel of oil plus its dissolved gas.

As the pressure is reduced below the

initial reservoir pressure, pi, the oil
volume increases due to the oil
expansion. This behavior results in an
increase in the oil formation volume
factor and continues until the bubble-
point pressure is reached.
At pb, the oil reaches its maximum
expansion and consequently attains a
maximum value of Bob for the oil
Unit : formation volume factor. As the
pressure is reduced below pb, volume
of the oil and Bo are decreased as the
solution gas is liberated. When the
pressure is reduced to atmospheric
pressure and the temperature to 60°F,
the value of Bo is equal to 1.
Solution GOR The gas solubility, Rs, is defined as the
( Rs) number of standard cubic feet of gas
that dissolve in one stock-tank barrel
of crude oil at certain pressure and
temperature. It is determined from
differential tests.

The solubility of a natural gas in a

crude oil is a strong function of the
pressure, the temperature, the API
gravity, and the gas gravity
.
Unit : For a particular gas and crude oil to
exist at a constant temperature, the
solubility increases with pressure
Gsi = OOIP X Rsi
until the saturation pressure is
= STB oil x reached. At the saturation pressure
(bubble-point pressure), all the
available gases are dissolved in the oil
and the gas solubility reaches its
maximum value.

Rather than measuring the amount of

gas that dissolves in a given stock-tank
crude oil as the pressure is increased,
it is customary to determine the
amount of gas that comes out of a
sample of reservoir crude oil as
pressure decreases.

Oil viscocity The viscosity is defined as the internal

(µo) resistance of the fluid to flow.
It is a strong function of the
temperature, pressure, oil gravity, gas
gravity, and gas solubility. Whenever
possible, oil viscosity should be
determined by laboratory
measurements at reservoir
temperature and pressure.

Dead-Oil Viscosity
The dead-oil viscosity is defined as the
viscosity of crude oil at atmospheric
pressure (no gas in solution) and
system temperature.
Dynamic Viscocity Saturated-Oil Viscosity
Unit = cP ( ) The saturated (bubble-point)-oil
viscosity is defined as the viscosity of
Kinematic Viscocity the crude oil at the bubble-point
pressure and reservoir temperature.
Unit = cst ( )
Undersaturated-Oil Viscosity
The undersaturated-oil viscosity is
 defined as the viscosity of the crude oil
at a pressure above the bubble-point
and reservoir temperature.
Oil Undersaturated Isothermal Isothermal compressibility coefficient
Compressibilit Compressibility Coefficient is defined as the rate of change in
y (Co) volume with respect to pressure
increase per unit volume, all variables
other than pressure being constant,
including temperature.

For a crude oil system, the isothermal

compressibility coefficient of the oil
phase, co, is categorized into the
following two types based on
reservoir pressure:

1. At reservoir pressures that are

Saturated isothermal compressibility greater than or equal to the bubble-
coefficient point pressure ( p ≥ pb), the crude oil
exists as a single phase with all its
dissolved gas still in solution. The
isothermal compressibility coefficient
of the oil phase, co, above the bubble
point reflects the changes in the
volume associated with oil expansion
or compression of the single-phase oil
with changing the reservoir pressure.
The oil compressibility in this case is
termed undersaturated isothermal
compressibility coefficient.

2. Below the bubble-point pressure,

the solution gas is liberated with
decreasing reservoir pressure or
redissolved with increasing the
pressure. The changes of the oil
volume as the result of changing the
gas solubility must be considered
when determining the isothermal
compressibility coefficient. The oil
compressibility in this case is termed
saturated isothermal
compressibility coefficient.
Total FVF (Bt) The ratio of the total volume of the
hydrocarbon mixture, that is, oil and
gas, if present, at the prevailing
pressure and temperature per unit
volume of the stock-tank oil.
 Where
Rsb = gas solubility at the bubble-point
pressure, scf/STB
Rs = gas solubility at any pressure, scf/STB
Bo = oil formation volume factor at any
pressure, bbl/STB
Bg = gas formation volume factor, bbl/scf

Properties of Gas
Ideal Gas law The kinetic theory of gases postulates
that the gas is composed of a very large
number of particles called molecules. For
an ideal gas, the volume of these
molecules is insignificant compared with
the total volume occupied by the gas. It is
also assumed that these molecules have
no attractive or repulsive forces between
them, and it is assumed that all collisions
of molecules are perfectly elastic.

Based on this kinetic theory of gases, a

mathematical equation, called equation of
state, can be derived to express the
relationship existing between pressure,
p, volume, V, and temperature, T, for a
given quantity of moles of gas, n. This
relationship for perfect gases, called the
ideal gas law.

Density of gas Density of a gas is defined as the mass of

the gas divided by reservoir volume.

Specific Gravity Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of

the gas density to that of the air. Both
densities are measured or expressed at
 the same pressure and temperature.

Standard The standard volume then is defined as

Volume ( Vsc) the volume of gas occupied by 1 lb-mole
of gas at standard conditions.

Compressibilit Behavior of Real Gases

y In dealing with gases at a very low
pressure, the ideal gas relationship is a
convenient and generally satisfactory
tool. At higher pressures, the use of the
Reduced properties of a fluid are set of ideal gas equation of state may lead to
state variables normalized by the fluids errors as great as 500%, as compared to
state properties at critical point. errors of 2–3% at atmospheric pressure.
As per Van-Der waal this law indicates The reason for this is that the perfect gas
that all fluids when compared at same law was derived under the assumption
Tpr and Ppr, have approx. same z factor that the volume of molecules is
and all of them deviate from ideal gas insignificant and neither molecular
behaviour at same degrees. attraction or repulsion exists between
them. This is not the case for real gases.

To express a more exact relationship

between the variables p, V, and T, a
correction factor, called the gas
compressibility factor, gas deviation
factor, or simply the Z-factor, must be
introduced.
Gas FVF ( Bg) Volume of gas, as measured at reservoir
conditions, to the volume of the gas as
measured at standard conditions, that is,
60°F and 14.7 psia. This gas property is
then defined as the actual volume
occupied by a certain amount of gas at a
specified pressure and temperature,
divided by the volume occupied by the
same amount of gas at standard
conditions.

Place psc = 14.7 psia and Tsc = 520

𝑟𝑐𝑓
𝑠𝑐𝑓

𝑟𝑏𝑏𝑙
𝑠𝑐𝑓

Gas Expansion Reciprocal of the gas formation volume

Factor ( Eg) factor, called the gas expansion factor.

Gas The isothermal gas compressibility is the

compressibility change in volume per unit volume for a
unit change in pressure.

For ideal gas z=1

CASE I : Production of reservoir hydrocarbons (a) above bubble point pressure, (b) below
bubble point pressure

CASE II : Application of PVT parameters to relate surface to reservoir hydrocarbon volumes;

above bubble point pressure

Figure depicts the situation when the reservoir pressure has fallen from its initial value pi to some
lower value p, which is still above the bubble point. As shown in the P T diagram (inset) the only fluid
in the reservoir is undersaturated liquid oil. When this oil is produced to the surface each stock tank
barrel will yield, upon gas oil separation, Rsi standard cubic feet of gas. Since the oil is undersaturated
 with gas, which implies that it could dissolve more if the latter were available, then the initial value of
the solution gas oil ratio must remain constant at Rsi (scf/stb) until the pressure drops to the bubble-
point.

CASE III : Application of PVT parameters to relate surface to reservoir hydrocarbon volumes;
below bubble point pressure

In this case each stock tank barrel of oil is produced in conjunction with R scf of gas, where R (scf/stb)
is called the instantaneous or producing gas oil ratio and is measured daily. As already noted, some of
this gas is dissolved in the oil in the reservoir and is released during production through the
separator, while the remainder consists of gas which is already free in the reservoir.

Producing gas oil ratio can be split into two components

Solution gas GOR

Free gas GOR
Rs scf/stb, when taken down to the
reservoir with the one stb of oil,
will dissolve in the oil at the prevailing
reservoir pressure to give Bo rb of oil
plus dissolved gas.
The total underground withdrawal of hydrocarbons associated with the production of one stb of oil is

COLLECTION OF FLUID SAMPLES

Samples of the reservoir fluid are usually collected at an early stage in the reservoir's producing life
and dispatched to a laboratory for the full PVT analysis. There are basically two ways of collecting
such samples, either by direct subsurface sampling or by surface recombination of the oil and gas
phases. Whichever technique is used the same basic problem exists, and that is, to ensure that the
proportion of gas to oil in the composite sample is the same as that existing in the reservoir. Thus,
sampling a reservoir under initial conditions, each stock tank barrel of oil in the sample should be
combined with Rsi standard cubic feet of gas.

Subsurface sampling
A special sampling bomb is run in the hole, on wireline, to the reservoir depth and the sample
collected from the subsurface well stream at the prevailing bottom hole pressure. Either electrically or
mechanically operated valves can be closed to trap a volume of the borehole fluids in the sampling
chamber. This method will obviously yield a representative combined fluid sample providing that the
oil is undersaturated with gas to such a degree that the bottom hole flowing pressure pwf at which the
sample is collected, is above the bubble point pressure. In this case a single phase fluid, oil plus its
dissolved gas, is flowing in the wellbore and therefore, a sample of the fluid is bound to have the oil
and gas combined in the correct proportion.

Many reservoirs, however, are initially at bubble point pressure and under these circumstances,
irrespective of how low the producing rate is maintained during sampling, the bottom hole flowing
pressure pwf will be less than the bubble point pressure pb. In this case, there will be saturated oil
and a free gas phase flowing in the immediate vicinity of the wellbore, and in the wellbore itself, and
consequently, there is no guarantee that the oil and gas will be collected in the correct volume
proportion in the chamber.

In sampling a gas saturated reservoir, two situations can arise depending on the time at which the
sample is collected. If the sample is taken very early in the producing life it is possible that the fluid
flowing into the wellbore is deficient in gas. This is because the initially liberated gas must build up a
certain minimum gas saturation in the reservoir pores before it will start flowing under an imposed
pressure differential. This is called, critical saturation is a phenomenon common to any fluid
deposited in the reservoir, not just gas. Once the liberated gas saturation exceeds the critical value the
producing well will effectively steal gas from more remote parts of the reservoir and the sample is
likely to have a disproportionately high gas oil ratio.

The problems associated with sampling an initially saturated oil reservoir, or an undersaturated
reservoir in which the bottom hole flowing pressure has been allowed to fall below bubble point
pressure, can be largely overcome by correct well conditioning prior to sampling. If the well has
already been flowing, it should be produced at a low stabilized rate for several hours to increase the
bottom hole flowing pressure and thereby re-dissolve some, if not all, of the free gas saturation in the
vicinity of the well. Following this the well is closed in for a reasonable period of time during which
the oil flowing into the wellbore, under an ever increasing average pressure, will hopefully redissolve
any of the remaining free gas. If the reservoir was initially at bubble point pressure, or suspected of
being so, the subsurface sample should then be collected with the well still closed in. If the reservoir is
known to be initially undersaturated the sample can be collected with the well flowing at a very low
rate so that the bottom hole flowing pressure is still above the bubble point.

One of the main drawbacks in the method is that only a small sample of the wellbore fluids is
obtained, the typical sampler having a volume of only a few litres.

Surface recombination sampling

In collecting fluid samples at the surface, separate volumes of oil and gas are taken at separator
conditions and recombined to give a composite fluid sample.
The well is produced at a steady rate for a period of several hours and the gas oil ratio is measured in
scf of separator gas per stock tank barrel of oil. The oil sample is collected at separator pressure and
temperature whereas the gas oil ratio is measured relative to the stock tank barrel, thus the required
recombination ratio is

Dimensionally, the measured gas oil ratio must be multiplied by the shrinkage factor from separator
to stock tank conditions. This factor is usually determined in the laboratory as the first stage of a PVT
analysis of a surface recombination sample by placing a small volume of the oil sample in a cell at the
appropriate separator conditions and discharging it (flash expansion) to a second cell maintained at
the field stock tank conditions. During this process some gas will be liberated from the separator
sample, due to the reduction in pressure and temperature, and the diminished stock tank oil volume is
measured, thus allowing the direct calculation of S.

LAB ANALYSIS OF RESERVOIR FLUIDS

1. CONSTANT-COMPOSITION EXPANSION TESTS ( FLASH LIBERATION )

Constant-composition expansion experiments are performed on gas condensates or crude oil to

simulate the pressure-volume relations of these hydrocarbon systems. The test is conducted for the
purposes of determining:

• Saturation pressure (bubble-point or dew-point pressure)

• Isothermal compressibility coefficients of the single-phase fluid in excess of saturation pressure

• Compressibility factors of the gas phase

• Total hydrocarbon volume as a function of pressure

The experimental procedure, as shown schematically in Figure involves placing a hydrocarbon fluid
sample (oil or gas) in a visual PVT cell at reservoir temperature and at a pressure in excess of the
initial reservoir pressure. In the flash experiment the pressure in the PV cell is initially raised to a
value far in excess of the bubble point. The pressure is subsequently reduced in stages, and on each
occasion the total volume vt of the cell contents is recorded. As soon as the bubble point pressure is
reached, gas is liberated from the oil and the overall compressibility of the system increases
significantly.
 2. DIFFERENTIAL LIBERATION TESTS

In the differential liberation process, the solution gas that is liberated from an oil sample during a
decline in pressure is continuously removed from contact with the oil, and before establishing
equilibrium with the liquid phase. This type of liberation is characterized by a varying composition of
the total hydrocarbon system.

The experimental data obtained from the test include:

• Amount of gas in solution as a function of pressure

• The shrinkage in the oil volume as a function of pressure

• Properties of the evolved gas including the composition of the liberated gas, the gas compressibility
factor, and the gas specific gravity

• Density of the remaining oil as a function of pressure

The differential liberation test is considered to better describe the separation process taking place in
the reservoir and is also considered to simulate the flowing behavior of hydrocarbon systems at
conditions above the critical gas saturation. As the saturation of the liberated gas reaches the critical
gas saturation, the liberated gas begins to flow, leaving behind the oil that originally contained it. This
is attributed to the fact that gases have, in general, higher mobility than oils. Consequently, this
behaviour follows the differential liberation sequence.
The test is carried out on reservoir oil samples and involves charging a visual PVT cell with a liquid
sample at the bubble-point pressure and at reservoir temperature. As shown schematically in Figure,
the pressure is reduced in steps, usually 10 to 15 pressure levels, and all the liberated gas is removed
and its volume is measured at standard conditions. The volume of oil remaining VL is also measured
at each pressure level. It should be noted that the remaining oil is subjected to continual
compositional changes as it becomes progressively richer in the heavier components.

Flash Liberation Differential Liberation

No gas is removed from the PV cell but instead At each stage of depletion the liberated gas is
remains in equilibrium with the oil. physically removed from contact with the oil and
no equilibrium is allowed to establish.

The overall hydrocarbon composition in the cell There is a continual compositional change in PV
remains unchanged. cell As a result the remaining hydrocarbons
becoming progressively richer in the heavier
components, and the average molecular weight
thus increasing.
From wellbore to surface. From reservoir to the wellbore.

3. CONSTANT VOLUME DEPLETION

In principle, the CVD experiment tries to mimic condensate reservoir depletion behavior. In
reproducing the depletion behavior, we assume that the dropped liquid will never be produced at the
surface.

The experiment begins by collecting a representative sample and starting the experiment at initial
reservoir pressure. From initial reservoir pressure until dew-point pressure, the reservoir remains
under single-phase conditions. The volume of the pressure cell is maintained constant and, as the
pressure is reduced, the excess volume due to expansion is removed. Once the pressure reaches dew-
point, further reduction in pressure results in dropping of the liquid. Again, the excess gas due to
expansion is removed to maintain constant volume of the cell. The dropped liquid is never removed
from the cell. The incremental removed gas at each step is measured and the composition is recorded.
The dropped liquid as a percentage of cell volume is also measured and recorded.

4. SEPARATOR TESTS

The objective of these tests are to examine the influence of separator P and T on FVF(Bo), GOR, Density of oil
and gas. It gives indication of oil shrinkage and GOR which occurs when fluids are brought to stock tank
conditions.

P and T are dropped at each stage.

Bosb =

Rssb =