VISCOSITY of HYDROCARBON GASES under PRESSURE

ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

NORMAN L. CARR*
CHICAGO, ILL.
RIKI KOBAYASHI THE RICE INSTITUTE
MEMBER AIME HOUSTON, TEX.

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DAVID B. BURROWS CONTINENTAL OIL CO.
MEMBER AIME PONCA CITY, OKLA.

T.P.3915

ABSTRACT as a function of reduced pressures and temperatures,

i.e. :
The viscosity of hydrocarbon mixtures, whether in
(1)
the gas or liquid phase, is a function of pressure, tem-
perature, and phase composition. This paper presents T _ temperature, absolute units
methods for the prediction of the viscosity of the gas where:
R - critical temperature, absolute units
or less dense fluid phase over the practical range of
pressure, temperature, and phase compositions encoun- pressure, absolute units
tered in surface and subsurface petroleum production P
n
= critical pressure, absolute units
operations. The correlation necessary to predict the /1. = viscosity of gas at reduced temper-
effect of pressure on viscosities is presented in Part I. ature Tn and reduced pressure Pn
Serious discrepancies in high pressure gas viscosity data
in the literature are discussed. /1., = viscosity of gas at atmospheric
pressure and at temperature Tn
The application of the correlation to predict absolute
v,iscosities is discussed in Part II. Auxiliary correlations Serious discrepancies in the viscosity of pure hydro-
are presented to enable calculations of viscosities from carbon gases at high pressures have been called to
a knowledge of the pressure, temperature, and gravity our attention by Comings, Mayland, and Egly. They
of the gas phase. made a careful analysis of the following methods com-
monly used to measure gas viscosities:
INTRODUCTION 1. Oscillating disc viscometer4 "
2. Rolling ball viscometer,,7
A knowledge of the viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids
is needed to study the dynamical or flow behavior of 3. Capillary tube viscometer"
these mixtures through pipes, porous media, or more
generally wherever transport of momentum occurs in On the basis of their analysis of the problem and
fluid motion. Since flow is predominantly in the laminar their experimental data on the viscosities of methane,
region in petroleum reservoirs, the influence of fluid ethylene, carbon dioxide, and propane, they preferen-
viscosity on this flow is especially important. tially selected data obtained by the capillary tube
viscometer to develop their viscosity correlation. Since
As early as 1894, Onnes' and Onnes and de Haas' then a need has existed to verify the experimental
noted that the viscosities of homologs under correspond- technique of Comings, Mayland, and Egly for the
ing states could be correlated. The theorem of cor- determination of viscosities at high p}essure; to extend
responding states has been further developed and applied the data to mixtures of hydrocarbons; and to extend
to the viscosity of pure, nonpolar gases under pressure the range of their correlation to include higher pressures.
by Comings, Mayland, and Egly.' It was demonstrated
that the viscosity ratio could be expressed rather closely Using the correlation procedure of Comings, May-
land, and Egly, the prediction of gas viscosities is
resolved into the correlation of the effect of pressure,
Manuscript received in Petroleum Branch Offices Oct. 18, 1953. temperature, and composition on the viscosity of hydro-
Paper presented at Petroleum Branch Fall Meeting in Dallas.
Oct. 18-21, 1953. carbons and their mixtures and the prediction of vis-
'References given at end of paper. SPE 297-G cosities of mixtures of hydrocarbons and other natural
'Present address: Pure on Co., Crystal Lake, Ill. gas components at one atmosphere pressure.

PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS,AIME 47
 PART I
CORRELATION of the EFFECT of PRESSURE, TEMPERATURE, and
COMPOSITION on the VISCOSITY of HYDROCARBONS and their MIXTURES
BY NORMAN L. CARR

METHODS OF DETERMINING GAS VISCOSITY data involves the capillary tube or Rankine type
viscometer.
The coefficient of viscosity, /L, may be defined as the
Fig. 1 shows a comparison of the curves for the
ratio of the unit shear stress acting at a point in a
viscosity of methane at 86°F and 203 OF determined
fluid which is necessary to maintain a unit velocity
by means of the capillary tube viscometer and by
gradient perpendicular to the plane of shear. Viscosity,
means of a rolling ball viscometer. A comparison of
the shear modulus for the fluid, is somewhat analogous
to the resistance to shear in solids. Only in the laminar the viscosity data for propane is shown in Fig. 2.
region can the viscosity be defined simply as: Invariably, the values of viscosities obtained by the
rolling ball viscometer fall above those obtained by the
/L = w/du/dy (2) capillary tube viscometer. The influence of pressure
on the discrepancies may be studied in the light of
where: w = shear stress per unit area the influence of pressure on the dimensionless Reynolds

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du/dy = velocity gradient perpendicular to number'o defined as:
the plane of shear DVp
Re No. (3 )
The relationship between pressure drop and flow of
fluids through a smooth-walled, cylindrical, straight where
tube may be expressed simply by means of the well D = diameter or effective diameter of the
known Poiseuille's law,' provided laminar flow prevails channel through which flow occurs
in the tube and end effects can be made negligible.
Reynolds number,'o the criterion of dynamc similarity,
V = mean velocity of flow
may be used to define the region of laminar and p = density of fluid
turbulent flow in smooth-walled cylindrical, straight f1. = viscosity of fluid
tubes. Since the flow relations encountered in the oscil-
lating disc viscometer and the rolling ball viscometer Silice the ratio p / /L increases very rapidly with in-
are complicated, they provide means of determining creased pressure, high Reynolds numbers and hence
viscosities by comparative methods. The rolling ball turbulence is favored by high pressures for a given
viscometer was designed primarily to measure the vis- instrument. Figs. 1 and 2 indicate a rise in the dis-
cosities of liquid where laminar flow can easily be crepancies with increased pressures. The Reynolds num-
obtained. For gas viscosity determinations, it is difficult, ber may be shown to reach a maximum with respect
if not impossible to conduct experimental measurements to pressure for some isotherms so that the degree of
entirely in the laminar region using a rolling ball vis- turbulence in the rolling ball viscometer may also reach
cometer. If the condition of flow in the tube is laminar, a maximum value with respect to pressure. These points
then the viscosity is nearly linear in time of roll multi- of consistency are demonstrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
plied by a buoyancy factor which takes into account The Benedict, Webb, and Rubin Equation of State'"
the density of the rolling ball and the gas." If the has been applied in an analogy to predict the effect of
condition of flow is turbulent (this in itself is difficult pressure on the viscosity of methane, nitrogen, and two
to define in a rolling ball viscometer), then the rolling complex mixtures. The results of the computations indi-
ball viscometer must be calibrated for turbulence. Com- cated close agreement between the computed and
ings, Mayland, and Egly list the difficulties and uncer- experimental values. The results for methane are pre-
tainties attending such calibrations. On the basis of sented in Fig. 5.
their analysis, they concluded that: (1) the rolling ball
viscometer has been misused in the determination of /
/
the viscosity of gases at high pressures and (2) the /
rolling ball viscometer is not a suitable instrument for
the study of the viscosity of gases under pressure. /
/
/
/
/

,// /
V I
i
/~ Y . I
/
On the other hand, experimental determinations of /

gas viscosities may be made entirely in the laminar /

/
I
I
region by means of a capillary tube viscometer. Ran- "
/
V
kine"'" developed the theory of a capillary tube vis-
cometer and con~ructed an instrument for low pressure
/
/
///
/
/

" ;/ i
I
studies. Comings, Mayland, and Egly adapted the
2~3.1$
;;?-;/I I

j
Rankine viscometer for high pressure studies and deter-
mined viscosities for carbon dioxide, methane, and I~
/ / /1
/
/
ethylene up to 2,500 psia. The viscosity of propane
was determined to 615 psia.
86-F. I
~f/ RANI<INE VISCOMETER - COMINGS, £T AL ~ GENERAL
CORRELATION US(.O "BOV! 2500PW.
Basic viscosity data for methane and three mul- ROLLING BAU vISCOMETER -- - BlCHER AND KATZ'
i
ticomponent gas mixtures have recently been ob- 000
"'" .~ ,~

tained",15,,, up to 10,000 psia and 220°F. The experi-

° '000
"""
PRESSURE
1000
t PSIA ""'" <000

mental technique used in the accumulation of these FIG. I - COMPARISON OF METHANE VISCOSITY DATA,

48 OCTOBER, 1~,i4 • JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

 ·022 ,------,--,.------,---.,----r-----,--,..------,

.020

--l-----~

.016

.014

RANI(INE VISC. - - - SAGE ANO LACEY

. I
I
I I

FIG. 2- COMPARISON OF PROPANE VISCOSITY DATA

,
AT 220°F. , ,

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CORRELATION OF GAS VISCOSITY DATA
I
Table 1 gives the composition of the gas mixtures 1 i

on which viscosity determinations were made. In addi- r

tion, viscosity determinations were made on pure me-
i
"~ --

§ill~B!lolI~IIIIIIIIIII~n~I-ID
thane. These data and the data previously obtained
by Comings, Mayland, and Egly and by Michels and
Gibson" on nitrogen have been correlated as functions
10.1 2.3.4 .5.6.7.8.91.0 3 4 5 6 789100 200
of reduced pressures and temperatures. Fig. 3 presents PSEUOOREDUCED PRESSURE 1 PR
the final correlation of iLl iLl as functions of pseudo-
reduced pressure for various values of pseudoreduced FIG. 3- VISCOSITY RATIO VS PSEUDOREDUCED
temperatures. The viscosity ratios for pseudoreduced PRESSURE.
pressures below 1.0 have been obtained from the work
of Comings, Mayland, and Egly. Fig. 4, a crossplot of Il
Fig. 3, may be used to interpolate between the isotherms
of Fig. 3. For mixtures of hydrocarbons, the pseudo- PPc = ) X, Pc, (5)
critical concept of Kay" is applied. Thus, in place of
i= 1
the critical temperature in Equation (1) the pseudo-
critical temperature, were used. In the above equations:
x, = mol fraction of component i in the mixture
n
pTe = L x,Tc, (4)
TOI = critical temperature of component
scale
i, absolute

i= 1 Pc, = critical pressure of component i, absolute

:;cale
and the pseudocritical pressure,
The average deviation of the predicted viscosity ratio
from experimental points used in the correlation was
TABLE 1 - COMPOSITION OF GAS MIXTURES USED IN
VISCOSITY RATIO CORRELATION
found to be approximately 1.5 per cent. The maximum
deviation occurred at reduced pressures in excess of
A. HIGH ETHANE CONTENT GAS
10 for the high nitrogen content gas mixture. The
Mol maximum deviation was 5.4 per cent.
Component Per Cent
The success with which the viscosity ratios may be
0.6
73.4 Gas Gravity = .6B44
correlated as unique functions of reduced temperatures
25.6 and pressures is intimately related to the success with
0.2 which the volumetric behavior of the pure components
0.2 and mixtures can be correlated as a unique function of
reduced temperatures and pressures. Thus, in the region
B. HIGH NITROGEN CONTENT NATURAL GAS
near Tn = 1 and P R = 1 where correlation of volumetric
He 0.8 properties becomes difficult, the representation of vis-
N, 15.8 cosity ratios may be expected to have the greatest
CH, 73.1
C,HG 6.1 Gas Gravity = .6903 uncertainty. On the other hand, in the region of high
C,Hs 3.4 reduced temperatures, the accuracy of representing vis-
i - C~HlO 0.2 cosity ratios of hydrocarbon mixtures in general may
n - C4HIU 0.6
be expected to be good. It should be emphasized that
C. LOW ETHANE CONTENT GAS
Figs. 3 and 4 apply to the viscosity of a single phase
mixture, more particularly to the gas or less dense phase.
N, 0.3 Phase equilibria calculations may be necessary to insure
CH, 95.6 Gas Gravity := .5776
the existence of a single phase or to obtain the com-
C2H, 3.6
CoH, 0.5 position of the equilibrium gas phase.

PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS. AIM~~ 49

 PART II
APPLICATION of CORRELATION to the PREDICTION of VISCOSITIES of
NATURAL GAS MIXTURES
BY NOMAN L. CARR, RIKI KOBAYASHI, AND DAVID BURROWS

The usefulness of Figs. 3 and 4 in predicting the The agreement in all cases over the concentration range
viscosities of complex hydrocarbon mixtures is de- is within 1 per cent. Either the molecular weight or
pendent on the prediction of the atmospheric viscosities gas gravity may be applied to Fig. 6 to determine
of mixtures by relatively simple means. Methods for the atmospheric viscosities. Throughout this paper the
the prediction of the atmospheric viscosities of natural gas gravity is defined as:
gases which have been developed by past workers'!'~'
are discussed. Density of Gas at 60'F, 14.7 psi a (6)
G = Density of Air at 60'F, 14.7 psia

VISCOSITY AT ONE ATMOSPHERE PRESSURE Nonhydrocarbon components occur quite frequently

BY INTERPOLATION OF PURE COMPONENT in natural mixtures of hydrocarbons. The atmospheric
viscosities of some of the more common nonhydrocarbon

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VISCOSITIES
components are plotted on Fig. 7. The molecular weight-
Fig. 6 is a plot of viscosity versus molecular weight viscosity relationship of these components cannot be
which is essentially the plot proposed by Bicher and expected to correlate with the hydrocarbons, since the'
Katz 2! to determine the viscosity of hydrocarbon gas kinetic behavior of these molecules differs considerably
mixtures at atmospheric pressure. It was developed from from hydrocarbons of the same molecular weight. The
the viscosities of natural mixtures containing a moderate viscosity of i-butane, n-butane, n-octane, and n-nonane,
amount of isomers. Bicher and Katz observed that the which were computed by the method of Hirschfelder;,,25
viscosities of methane-propane mixtures at one at- are also plotted on Fig. 7. The values for n-decane were
mosphere pressure read from a plot of viscosity versus obtained by extrapolation. The viscosity of i-butane is
molecular weight checked the experimental values shown to be higher than that of n-butane, whereas
obtained by Trautz and Sorg." Fig. 9 shows this com- Sage, Yale, and Lacey'" report the viscosity of n-butane
parison graphically for the methane-propane system. to be greater than that of i-butane.

6.0

1\
5.0

4.0

3.5

3.0

, 1$
..<>s~V
'DO~
~ 2.5 ~Du.
C~D
0
1\
I-
II 10 ,o,o?~S
<t
Q:
I r" Sll,o?~,
2.0 ~ Il
i'- ,~
~
t: 1\ \ i'-CS' i'-
Vl
0
0
\ i'- "- r--
Vl \ 1\ [\,.. I"- r--
> 1\ i'- r--
1.5
I" ~ r-- r-- r--
\ i'- I",
1\ t--t--
r-
I
l-

1.q).8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2
PSEUDOREDUCED TEMPERATURE, TR

FIG. 4- VISCOSITY RATIO VS PSEUDOREDUCED TEMPERATURE.

50 OCTOBER,19;>4 • JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

 .040 nonhydrocarbons. The insert plots were obtained from
the viscosity of the pure components and Fig. 6. The
presence of each of the nonhydrocarbons is to increase
.O~5
the viscosity of the hydrocarbon mixtures .
The accuracy with which the viscosities of mixtures
W
III
of methane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons
<5 .OSO
at one atmosphere may be predicted from Fig. 6 is not
'"
f=
~
known with certainty, since experimental data are
\oJ unavailable. Methods used to calculate viscosities seem
" to indicate that Fig. 6 may be extended to complex
>- .025
I- mixtures involving components heavier than propane.
iii
0
"
III
;;
.020 CALCULATION OF VISCOSITY AT
LOW PRESSURE

.015 L--
'. -
.-+-
EXPERIMENTAL '1
---~--
'4
Heming and Zipperer" proposed the following mi \.-
ture rule for the viscosity of a mixture of gaseous com-
---- KINETIC PRESSURE ANALOG
- - - FIGS. 3 AND 4 !
ponents:
I n
2000 4000 6000 8000 10,000

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PRESSURE, PSI A. JJ.jXI YM.
FIG. 5- COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTAL VISCOSITIES i = 1
t.tm == (7)
OF METHANE WITH KINETIC THEORY CALCULATIONS. n

Fig. 10 presents the viscosity of nitrogen-ethane and

carbon dioxide-propane mixtures at one atmosphere.
L
i= 1
xiyM,

Both lines show a nearly linear relationship of the effect

of concentration on viscosity. Insert plots on Fig. 6
In which: 1-'. = viscosity of component i
show corrections to the hydrocarbon viscosity values 1-'", = viscosity of mixture
which may be applied to account for the presence of = mol fraction of component i
x,
hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. A linear M, = molecular weight of component i
effect of concentration has been assumed to apply over
the concentration range from 0 to 15 mol per cent of Equation (7) affords a simple and reliable means

10 GAS GRAVITY ~0IR" 1.0001 25 3.0 35

05 '5
.016 -'L L'I .1' l'1. I'
.I L.ILIJ ..

.015 .0015
N2 h''9,c; .0015 T
CO 2
0
w
go.;
0
w
0
0<>:
.,
.014
1-1 "-I
, -r " 0.0010 "°.I 001 o
zl ,
00 : .0
.,... -=11>
0 -
II>
>
,
,
.013 ~ >.00 .0005 ,
J 0
III 0: 0
....
en 0'"
0
0a.. .012 0 0
0 5 10 15 0 5 10 I~
i= MOL % N2 MOL % CO2
z
III .011
0
~~ , 1
- .

ft .010 ,
.~
- .

. ..
I-
<{
j
-+'. H5
rl ~
~.008 ~o .0015 ,
>-
.... I UJn:
,-l- g..; -
~ .e107 -"1.0010
o z· !>
0
en 0
-
.... II> 0
:> .006 [il>.0005
0:
0:0
0 ....
0
.005 - 00 10 15
MOL % H:!S ..
UI III II , 11'ITln"'"
.004
10 " 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
FIG. 6- VISCOSITY OF PARAFFIN HYDROCARBON GASES AT ONE ATMOSPHERE.

PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS,AIME 51
 .024 r-r.....,--r-,--,--r--.-r. ...."-,-. .--r-r-r-T7r-,-r-r-.,..,.-,-T""......
.,..,,.-...,,-,-,-' analysis is known, the pseudocriticals used to compute
f-++-l++-+-H++-+-H,c-+, ' --+-....-1'-"'.4-+-+-h-'H--1y~H-+,++-+-1
, VT . 'i-- the pseudoreduced pressure and temperature may be
f-t--,---t-+-+-+-+-+ t +-¥:'f '.-f
.~2~-H++-+-H++-+y~f-++-+~f-+~~~-H~+-++-++~
.-:. I-I I-! --t:; -+ computed using Equations (4) and (5).
Katz" showed that the pseudocritical temperatures and
f-++-+~+-+ ~~~~+~~~~~'H-+-f-+~-+-+-+-H~,r+-+-H-I
f-+--+-+-~~.~~v~+-+--1j/~/+4~y~~I-+-f-+~-+-~~-+-+-++-l--1 pressures of natural gases could be correlated with
gas gravity. The pseudocritical gas gravity relation for
various gas streams from a given gas field showed an
even higher degree of correlation. The correlation ob-
tained by Bicher and Katz: Fig. 8, may be used to obtain
the pseudocritical pressure and temperature and thence
the pseudo reduced pressure and temperature of natural
gases. Again, insert plots are provided to indicate the
direction and magnitude of errors introduced in the
pseudo critical predictions by the presence of nonhydro-
carbon constituents. These corrections are hypothetical
in nature and assume that the hydrocarbon distribution
remains unaffected by the presence of the nonhydro-
carbons. This assumption is, of course, open to question.

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PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE GAS VISCOSITIES
OF NATURAL GASES FROM GAS GRAVITY
The gas viscosities of naturally occurring gases may
be obtained in the following manner:
1. From the experimental specific gravity of the
gas phase, determine the pseudocritical temperature and
pressure from Fig. 8. Corrections to these pseudocritical
, 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 properties for the presence of the nonhydrocarbon
TEMPERATURE 'F
gases (CO" N" and H,S) should be made if they are
FIG. 7- VISCOSITY OF NATURAL GASES
present in concentrations greater than 5 mol per cent.
As mentioned previously, if the compositions of the gas
AT Low PRESSURES.
phase are available, the calculated pseudocriticals are
recommended over this procedure.
for calculating the viscosity of natural gas mixtures
whose analyses are known. This equation was applied 2. Divide the known pressure (psia) by the pseudo-
to synthetic mixtures and compared with the results critical pressure to obtain the pseudo reduced pressure.
obtained from Fig. 6. For both binary and complex In like manner, divide the known temperature (OR)
by the pseudo critical temperature to obtain the pseudo-
mixtures, the calculated values were found to be in
reduced temperature.
close accord with Fig. 6. Table 2 shows comparison of
some of the mixtures calculated. 3. From the pseudo reduced temperature and pressure,
obtain the corresponding viscosity ratio from Figs. 3
and 4.
CALCULATIONS BASED ON
MOLECULAR THEORY 4. Obtain the viscosity of the gas at one atmosphere
from Fig. 6 and convert the viscosity ratio to the
Outstanding theoretical work has been published by absolute gas viscosity. Corrections of the atmospheric
Hirschfelder et al24 • 25 on the viscosity and other trans- viscosities for the presence of high contents of non-
port properties of gases. Basic equations and procedures hydrocarbon gases may be made from the insert plots
for calculating the temperature dependence of viscosity in Fig. 6. .
for 45 pure gases are given." Curtiss and Hirschfelder
developed relations to calculate the viscosities of mix- TABLE 2 - COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CALCULATED
tures at low pressures. Their relations have been applied VISCOSITY AT ONE ATMOSPHERE
to binary, ternary, and multi component systems with Cal·
amazing accuracy. This calculation of viscosity, which culated
by
is based upon molecular theory, probably gives the Temp. Experi-
OF mental
Mixture Per Cent Fiq. Per Cent
Gas Rule 22 Dev. 6 Dev.
most accurate means of computing temperature and
composition dependence of viscosity. The computational A' 79 .01040 .01055 + 1.44 .01042 -I- 0.19
150 .01180 .01185 -I- 0.42 .01158 - 1.86
methods of Hirschfelder et al have been adapted to
B' 150 .01326 .01333 -I- 1.29 .01299 - 2.04
graphical and nomographic solutions by Bromley and
200 .01420 .01419 - 0.07 .01375 -- 3.17
Wilke."
50 % C1-500/0C:I * * 68 .00906 .00911 -I- .55 .00908 -I- .22
392 .01386 .01382 .29 .01391 -I- .36
PSEUDOCRITICAL PRESSURES AND 50% C1·50% C,*' 68 .00984 .00983 .10 .00981 - .30
TEMPERATURES OF NATURAL GASES 392 .01496 .01490 .40 .01480 - 1.07
50% C,·50% C3*' 68 .00854 .00865 -I- .12 .00855 -I- 1.17
In order to obtain the effect of pressure on viscosity 392 .01326 .01322 .30 .01320 .45
from Fig. 6, it is necessary to know the pseudo reduced ~See Table 1 for composition
pressure and temperature of the mixture. If the gas **Mol Per Cent

52 OCTOBER. 1954 • JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

 ~50 ~IOO , +100
ie ie ~
z0 z Z
0
§
IIJ
- _.
;:
..
:oJ 0 .0.6 -1.5
..8.. 0 "0.6 -2.0
t;

I..
0
G-0.6 -2.0
- t
4
..
-
3
(/)
8
(/) vi G- vi
IIJ
g:
III
g: i ::!
<L I

...J
-" 0
• 10
MOL '4 NZ "
-100
0
•
MOL ox.
10
COe "
0
•
MOL ...
'0
HoS ••
;3
>= -r-+- OTHER GASES I
§ 6
CONDENSATE WUL FLUID
o pPe
o ,
::>
IIJ
en
11.
u
"-
Q.

IIJ
It:
::> OTHER GASES
I-
«
It:
IIJ
11.
::;;
IIJ
I-

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pTe
...J 4 +50 +50 +50
« I
~ ~ '"z ~
!::: z 0
z
0 0 G-O.6-1.5
0:: ;::
o t t
o
o
::> ..
\I! 0 -os-•.Of ..
~o -a6-2.0
..
<>
::!o 0-2.0
IIJ
en
"-
CONDENSATE WELL FLUID 8
0:
...:IE
.
0
<>
:IE
.
0
<>

~
u I- ~ l-
I-
0.
500
•
MOL. '!Co
10
N.
•• 5
MOL~
'0
co.
15 -5q)
MOL.. ""
• "rS ••

i5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 LO U L2 L3 1.4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9 2o

GAS GRAVITY

FIG. 8- PREDICTION OF PSEUDOCRITICAL PRE3SURE AND TEMPERATURE FROM GAS GRAVITY.

EXAMPLE CALCULATION from gas specific gravity measurements are plotted in

Fig. 11. Viscosity values which were calculated using
The following example calculation is presented to compositions obtained by mass spectrometer fractional
illustrate the use of the correlation to obtain gas vis- analyses from which pseudocritical pressures and tem-
cosities from reservoir fluid data. The gas used in this peratures were obtained by the use of Equations (4)
iUustration was collected during one displacement oper- and (5) are also presented on the same plot. It is seen
ation in the stepwise pressure reduction during the that the viscosity values computed from the fractional
analysis of a bottom-hole sample. This procedure is analyses (which is considered the most accurate method)
followed to simulate differential liberation of gas from and those obtained from gas gravity measurements
a reservoir fluid. The reservoir temperature was 195°F, are in close agreement.
and the test pressure was 1,800 psig (1 ,815 psi a ). The
gravity of the liberated gas was determined by the use
of a tared glass weighing balloon. The gas gravity was EXPERIMENTAL 23
found to be .7018 (air =
1.000). The calculations pro- o FROM FIG. 6
ceed in the following manner:
.016 t - . - - - - + - - - + - - - , - - - - - t - - - - I
1. Molecular weight = (.7018 X 28.95) = 20.31
2. From which: LtJ

Pseudo critical pressure 667 (Fig. 8) = 6. 014

Q.
92 oF.
Pseudo critical temperature = 390 (Fig. 8) t-
Z
W
Pseudoreduced pressure = 1,815/667 = 2.721 o
Pseudo reduced temperature = (460 + 195)/390 ;.012
= 1.679
t-
iii
o 212' F.
o
3. From Figs. 3 and 4: (f)

1'/1'1 1.28 = >.010 ~--~~~--+_-----+_-----+_----=~

68' F.
4. From Fig. 6:
Viscosity at one atmosphere (iLl) = .0 I 223 cp
5. Therefore: .0080~----~20~-----40~----~60~----~8~0--~~OO~
The viscosity at 1,800 psig and 195°F = MOL. % PROPANE
1.28 X .01223 = .01565 cp FIG. 9- VISCOSITY OF METHANE-PROPANE MIXTURES
This and other points computed in the same manner AT ONE ATMOSPHERE: EXPERIMENTAL VS FIG. 6.

PETROLEUM TRANSACTIONS. AIME 53

 ·018 .016

l
.016 .015
I
/
I V
.014
.014
V
/V
i
>-
f- .013
/,
in
o(,)
.012
/!
'">
/
UJ
I I
<Q I I

010
0
Q.
~
,012 1- -- I - - 1--
Z
UJ
(,)

...>- .011 I
~
008 0~--2""0:-------=4::-0-----;:';60:-------:;8::-0----:-:!,OO iii
0 I
(,) _._----- --- --

MOL.% HYDROCARBON <Jl

:;: !

.010
FIG. 10 - VISCOSITY OF NITROGEN-ETHANE AND
- VISCOSITIES CALCULATED
USING GAS COMPOSITION -
CARBON DIOXIDE-PROPANE MIXTURE AT
.

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I
VISCOSITY VALUES CALCULATED
ONE ATMOSPHERE. .009 USING GAS GRAVITY MEASUREMENT

Additional analyses were performed on experimental

data obtained from five separate reservoir fluid samples
to check the two methods of obtaining pseudocritical
.0080 200 400 600 8CXI I000 I200
PRESSURE , PSIA
I

1400
I

1600
I

Ieoo
I

2000
I
t-
2200 MOO

pressures and temperatures. The deviation in gas vis-

cosities did not exceed 3 per cent. FIG. 11 - COMPARISON OF GAS VISCOSITIES OBTAINED
USING LIBERATED GAS COMPOSITION AND GAS
GRAVITY MEASUREMENTS.

CONCLUSIONS
versity of Illinois Engineering Experiment Station
A correlation of the effect of pressure, temperature, Bulletin No. 354 (1944), 42.
and composition on the viscosity of hydrocarbons at 4. Mason, S., and Maass, 0.: "Measurement of the
pressures greater than 14.7 psia is presented. The cor- Viscosity in the Critical Region," Canadian Journal
relation employs the theorem of corresponding states of Research (1940), 18B, 128.
and may be expected to apply wherever this theorem
accurately describes the volumetric behavior of the 5. Naldreth, S. N., and Maass, 0.: "The Viscosity of
mixtures in question. The viscosity of complex hydro- Carbon Dioxide in the Critical Region," Ibid.
carbon gas mixtures at one atmosphere may be com- (1940), 18B, 322.
puted from the gas analysis and almost as accurately
from the gas gravity. Reliable viscosities of complex 6. Sage, B. H., and Lacey, W. N.: "'Effect of Pressure
hydrocarbon gas mixtures at a given pressure and tem- Upon Viscosity of Methane and Two Natural
perature may be rapidly calculated from a knowledge Gases," Trans. AIME (1938), 127, 118.
of gas gravity only. 7. Hubbard, R. M., and Brown, G. G.: "Viscosity of
n-Pentane," Ind. Eng. Chem. (1943), 35, 1276.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
8. Bicher, L. B., and Katz, D. L.: "Viscosities of
the Methane-Propane System," Ibid. (1943), 35,
The authors wish to express their appreciation to 754.
R. E. Peck of the Illinois Institute of Technology for
9. Poiseuille, J.: Memoires des Savants Etrangers
his helpful suggestions and criticisms and to the man-
(1846), 9, 433.
agement of Continental Oil Co. for permission to
publish this paper. 10. Reynolds, 0.: "An Experimental Investigation of
the Circumstances Which Determine Whether the
Motion of Water Shall Be Direct or Sinous and
REFERENCES of the Law of Resistance in Parallel Channels,"
Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London), (1883),174,935.
1. Onnes, H. K.: "The Coefficient of Viscosity for
Fluids in Corresponding States," K. Akad. Wet., 11. Smith, A. S., and Brown, G. G.: "Correlating Fluid
versl. van vergad. (1894), 2, 126. Viscosity," Ind. Eng. Chem. (1943), 35, 705.
12. Rankine, A. 0.: "On a Method of Determining
2. Onnes, H. K., and de Haas, M.: "On the Coefficient
the Viscosity of Gases," Proc. Roy. Soc. (1910),
of Viscosity of Liquids in Corresponding States
83A,265.
According to Calculations by M. de Haas," Ibid.
(1894),3,62. 13. Rankine, A. 0.: "A Simple Viscometer for Gases,"
.T. Sci. Ins/r. (1924), 1, 105.
3. Comings, E. W., Mayland, B. J., and Egly, R. S.:
"The Viscosity of Gases at High Pressures," Uni- 14. Carr, N. L.: 'The Viscosity of Gas Mixtures at

54 OCTOBER. 19:>4 • JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

 High Pressures," Ph.D Thesis, Illinois Institute of Viscosity of the Individual Gases," Gas und Was-
Technology (1952). serfoch (1936), 79, 49.
15. Carr, N. L., Parent, J. D., and Peck, R. E.: 'The 23. Trautz, M., and Sorg, K. G.: "Viscosity of Hydro-
Viscosity of Gases and Gas Mixtures at High gen, Methane, Ethane, Propane, and Their Bi-
Pressures," Paper Presented at the AIChE Reg- naries," Ann. Physik (1931), 10, 81.
ional Meeting in San Francisco, Sept. 13-16, 1953.
24. Hirschfelder, J. 0., Bird, R. B., and Spotz, E. L.:
16. Carr, N. L.: "Viscosities of Natural Gas Com- "Viscosity and Other Properties of Gases and Gas
ponents and Mixtures," Institute of Gas TechnJ/- Mixtures," Trans. AIME (1949), 71, 921.
ogy Research Bulletin No. 23, June, 1953.
25. Curtis, C. F., and Hirschfelder, J. 0.: "The Trans-
17. Michels, A., and Gibson, R. 0.: "The Measurement port Properties of Multicomponent Systems of
of the Viscosity of Gases at High Pressures, the Gases," J. of Chern. Phys. (1948), 16, 968.
Viscosity of Nitrogen at 1,000 Atmospheres," Proc. 26. Bromley, L. A, and Wilke, C. R.: "Viscosity
Roy. Soc. (1931), 134A, 288. Behavior of Gases," Ind. Eng. Chern. (1951), 43,
18. Kay, W. B.: "Density of Hydrocarbon Gases and 1641.
Vapors," Ind. Eng. Chern. (1936), 28, 1014. 27. Katz, D. L.: "High Pressure Gas Measurement,"
19. Smith, K. A, and Watson, K. M.: "High Pressure Refiner and Natural Gasoline Manufacturer (June,
Vapor-Liquid Equilibria, Activity Coefficients for 1942) .

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Ideal Systems," Chern. Eng. Progress (1949), 45, 28. N.B.S.-NACA Tables of Thermal Properties of
494. Gases.
20. Benedict, M., Webb, G. B., and Rubin, L. C.: 29. Rankine, A 0., and Smith, C. J.: "On the Viscosi-
"An Emperical Equation for Thermal Properties ties and Molecular Dimensions of Methane, Sul-
of Light Hydrocarbons and Their Mixtures," Chern. phuretted Hydrogen, and Cyanogen," London,
Eng. Prog. (1951),47,419. Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine
and Journal of Science (1921), 42, 615.
21. Bicher, L. B., and Katz, D. L.: "Viscosity of
Natural Gases," Trans. AIME (1944), 155, 246. 30. Sage, B. H., Yale, W. D., and Lacey, W. N.:
"Effect of Pressure on Viscosity of n-Butane and
22. Heming, F., and Zipperer, L.: "Calculation of the i-Butane," Ind. Eng. Chern. (1939), 31, 223.
Viscosity of Technical Gas Mixtures from the
***

PETROLECM TRANSACTIONS.AIME