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Properties of N a t u r a l G a s
2.1 Introduction
(2.1)
where the apparent molecular weight of gas can be calculated on the basis
of gas composition. Gas composition is usually determined in a
laboratory and reported in mole fractions of components in the gas. Let yt
be the mole fraction of component i, the apparent molecular weight of the
gas can be formulated using mixing rule as
(2.2)
(2.3)
and
(2.4)
where pci and Tci are critical pressure and critical temperature of compo-
nent i, respectively.
Example Problem 2.1
For the gas composition given in the following text, determine
apparent molecular weight, pseudocritical pressure, and pseud-
ocritical temperature of the gas.
O, 0.775
C2 0.083
C3 0.021
i-C4 0.006
n-C4 0.002
i-C5 0.003
n-C5 0.008
C6 0.001
C7+ 0.001
N2 0.050
CO2 0.030
H2S 0.020
Solution
This problem is solved with the spreadsheet program
MixingRule.xls. Results are shown in Table 2 - 1 .
If the gas composition is not known but gas-specific gravity is given, the
pseudocritical pressure and temperature can be determined from various
charts or correlations developed based on the charts. One set of simple
correlations is
(2.5)
(2.6)
Click to View Calculation Example
Table 2-1 Results Given by MixingRule.xlsa
which are valid for H2S < 3%, N 2 < 5%, and total content of inorganic
compounds less than 7%.
Corrections for impurities in sour gases are always necessary. The correc-
tions can be made using either charts or correlations such as the Wichert-
Aziz (1972) correction expressed as follows:
(2.7)
(2.8)
(2.9)
(2.12)
(2.13)
(2.14)
(2.15)
2.4 Viscosity
(2.17)
(2.18)
where
(2.19)
(2.20)
(2.21)
(2.22)
Dempsey (1965) developed the following relation:
(2.23)
where
Thus, once the value of jur is determined from the right-hand side of this
equation, gas viscosity at elevated pressure can be readily calculated
using the following relation:
(2.24)
Other correlations for gas viscosity include Dean-Stiel (1958) and Lee-
Gonzalez-Eakin (1966).
Solution
This problem is solved with the spreadsheet Carr-Kobayashi-
Burrows Viscosity.xls that is attached to this book. The result is
shown in Table 2-2.
(2.25)
Introducing the z-factor to the gas law for ideal gas results in the gas law
for real gas as:
(2.26)
Click to View Calculation Example
Table 2-2 Results Given by Carr-Kobayashi-Burrows
Viscosity.xls3
Input Data
Pressure: 10,000 psia
Temperature: 1800F
Gas-specific gravity: 0.65 air =1
Mole fraction of N2: 0.1
Mole fraction of CO2: 0.08
Mole fraction of H2S: 0.02
Calculated Parameter Values
Pseudocritical pressure: 697.164 psia
Pseudocritical temperature: 345.357 0R
Uncorrected gas viscosity at 14.7 psia: 0.012174 cp
N2 correction for gas viscosity at 14.7 psia: 0.000800 cp
CO2 correction for gas viscosity at 14.7 psia: 0.000363 cp
H2S correction for gas viscosity at 14.7 psia: 0.000043 cp
Corrected gas viscosity at 14.7 psia (^1): 0.013380 cp
Pseudoreduced pressure: 14.34
Pseudoreduced temperature: 1.85
In (Mg/p-rTpr): 1.602274
Gas viscosity: 0.035843 cp
a. This spreadsheet calculates gas viscosity with correlation of Carr, Kobayashi, and
Burrows.
(2.27)
(2.28)
(2.29)
(2.30)
(2.31)
(2.32)
and (2.33)
(2.34)
Example Problem 2.3
For the natural gas described in Example Problem 2.2, estimate
z-factor at 5,000 psia and 180 0 F.
Solution
This problem is solved with the spreadsheet program Brill-Beggs-Z.xls.
The result is shown in Table 2-3.
Click to View Calculation Example
Table 2-3 Results Given by Brill-Beggs-Z.xlsa
Input Data
Pressure: 5,000 psia
Temperature: 1800F
Gas-specific gravity: 0.65 1 for air
Mole fraction of N2: 0.1
Mole fraction of CO2: 0.08
Mole fraction of H2S: 0.02
Calculated Parameter Values
Pseudocritical pressure: 697 psia
Pseudocritical temperature: 345 0R
Pseudo-reduced pressure: 7.17
Pseudo-reduced temperature: 1.85
A= 0.5746
B= 2.9057
C= 0.0463
D= 1.0689
Gas compressibility factor z: 0.9780
a. This spreadsheet calculates gas compressibility factor based on Brill and Beggs
correlation.
Hall and Yarborough (1973) presented more accurate correlation to esti-
mate z-factor of natural gas. This correlation is summarized as follows:
(2.35)
(2.36)
(2.37)
(2.38)
(2.39)
and
(2.40)
(2.41)
(2.42)
p: 5,000 psia
(2.43)
where m is mass of gas and p is gas density. Taking air molecular weight
(2.44)
where the gas density is in lbm/ft3. This equation is also coded in the
spreadsheet program Hall-Yarborogh-z.xls.
(2.45)
(2.46)
Gas formation volume factor is frequently used in mathematical modeling
of gas well inflow performance relationship (IPR).
Gas expansion factor is defined, in scf/ft3, as:
(2.47)
or
(2.48)
(2.49)
(2.50)
(2.51)
2.9 Real Gas Pseudopressure
(2.52)
where pb is the base pressure (14.7 psia in most states in the U.S.). The
pseudopressure is considered to be a "pseudoproperty" of gas because it
depends on gas viscosity and compressibility factor, which are properties
of the gas. The pseudopressure is widely used for mathematical modeling
of IPR of gas wells. Determination of the pseudopressure at a given pres-
sure requires knowledge of gas viscosity and z-factor as functions of pres-
sure and temperature. As these functions are complicated and not explicit,
a numerical integration technique is frequently used.
Input Data
Temperature: 60 0 F
Pressure (psia)
Figure 2-1 Plot of pseudopressures calculated by PseudoP.xls.
(2.53)
2.12 Problems