Properties of Black Oils

Reservoir Fluid Study

 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

Sampling
Clearly
the
sample
has
to
the reservoir contents or the drainage area.

representative

Desirable to take samples early in the life of the reservoir.

Either sub-surface or surface sampling.

of

Sub-Surface Sampling
It is desirable to obtain a fluid
sample as early in the life of a field
as possible so that the sample will
closely approximate the original
reservoir fluid.
Collection of a fluid sample early
in the life of a field reduces the
chances of free gas existing in the
oil zone of the reservoir.

Surface Sampling
Production rate is carefully
controlled and separator gas and oil
are sampled.
The gas and liquid are recombined
at the producing ratio to obtain a
sample representing the reservoir
liquid.
It is important to emphasize that an
oil reservoir must be sampled
before reservoir pressure drops
below bubble point pressure (Pb).

Reservoir Fluid Study has five main procedures (or tests):

1. Composition
2. Flash Vaporization ( Constant Composition Expansion)
3. Differential Vaporization
4. Separator Tests
5. Oil and Gas Viscosity

A Black oil Reservoir Fluid Study provides the

following physical properties as a function of reservoir
pressure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Bubble point pressure (Pb)

Oil formation volume factor (Bo)
Solution gas-oil ratio (Rs)
Total formation volume factor (Bt)
Oil viscosity (o)

All of the above properties will be determined as a

function of reservoir pressure during its reduction from
initial value to bubble point to very low pressure.

In addition, the Reservoir Fluid Study provides the

followings factor at various separator pressures: 1- Gas deviation factor (Z-factor)
2- Gas formation volume factor (Bg)
3- Gas viscosity ( g)

1- Composition
Composition: Measurements of every one of the
hundreds of different chemical species is impossible.
Even determining the composition of the major fraction
of the crude oil is difficult.
Generally, in every case, composition of all light
components are determined from methane to hexane and
all of heavier components are grouped as a plus
component such as heptane plus C7 +.

2. Flash Vaporization (Constant

Composition Expansion)
1. A sample of reservoir fluid is placed into a laboratory cell.
2. Pressure of the cell is adjusted to P > initial reservoir Pressure.
3.Temperature of the cell is adjusted to temperature equals to
reservoir temperature.
4. Pressure is reduced and temperature is kept constant during all
phases pf the test.
5.No liquid or gas is removed from the cell.
6.At each step, pressure and volume of the reservoir fluids are
measured.

Note
Determination of the correlation
volume at reservoir temperature.

between

pressure

and

The system never changes during the test.

The gas remains in equilibrium with the oil throughout 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
corresponding to the reservoir temperature.

Point

pressure

Pressure is plotted versus volume. This figure shows two

straight lines of different slopes. The intersection of these lines
determines the bubble point pressure of the sample.

EXAMPLE :
The data from a flash vaporization on a black oil at 220oF are given
below. Determine the bubble-point pressure.

Solution:
1. Plot pressure versus volume.
2. Draw two straight lines, each one passing suitable
data points.
3. Determine the intersection point (Pb, V) of the two
lines.

3. Differential Vaporization

3. Differential Vaporization
1.Temperature is set at the reservoir temperature.
2.The sample is set in the laboratory cell and brought to
the bubble point pressure.
3. Pressure is reduced by increasing the cell volume and
the cell is agitated to ensure equilibrium between gas and
liquid.
4.Then all gas is expelled from the cell while pressure is
held constant by reducing cell volume.
5.The gas is collected and its quantity and specific gravity
is measured. The volume of liquid remaining in the cell
(Vo) is measured.

6.Calculate the relative oil volume as follows:

Relative Oil Volume (BoD) = Volume of cell liquid/
Volume of residual oil
7.Calculate Z-factor for the removed gas
Z-factor= VR PR TSC / VSC PSC TR
Where
R = cell condition, SC = standard conditions.

Gas formation volume factor is calculated :

BgD = 0.0282 Z T/P cu ft/scf
Calculate Relative total volume at any pressure:
BtD = BoD + BgD (RsDb - RsD)

Note
Below
bubble
point
in
reservoir
gas
separation in the reservoir is a constant changing system.

liquid

A test has been design to attempt to simulate this process.

In
the
differential
vaporization
gas is removed from the cell step wise.

test

liberated

At
each
step
below
bubble
point,
volumes
densities , gas expansion and compressibility determined.
Bubble point starting point.

Differential Vaporization vs. Flash Vaporization

Flash liberation consider
ed
to
be
representative of the
process in the reservoir
above bubble point
pressure.
Differential liberation
considered
to
be
representative of the
process in the reservoir
below bubble point
pressure.

4- Separator Test
The primary objective of conducting separator tests,
therefore, is to provide the essential laboratory
information necessary for determining the optimum
surface separation conditions, which in turn will
maximize the stock-tank oil production.

The test involves placing a hydrocarbon sample at its saturation

pressure and reservoir temperature in a PVT cell. The volume of
the sample is measured as Vsat.
The hydrocarbon sample is then displaced and flashed through a
laboratory multistage separator systemcommonly one to three
stages.
The pressure and temperature of these stages are set to represent
the desired or actual surface separation facilities.
The gas liberated from each stage is removed and its specific
gravity and volume at standard conditions are measured.
The volume of the remaining oil in the last stage (representing the
stock-tank condition) is measured and recorded as Vost.
These experimental measured data can then be used to determine
the oil formation volume factor and gas solubility at the bubblepoint pressure as follows:

5. Oil and Gas Viscosity

Oil viscosity is measured using Rolling Ball
Viscometer or Capillary viscometer.
Gas viscosity is usually obtained
correlation using gas specific gravity.

from