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1. Formation Volume Factor
A. Oil
B. Total (two phase)
2. Property Constants
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 2
1. Constant-mass expansion Experiment
2. Constant-Volume Depletion Experiment
3. Differential Liberation Experiment: Procedure
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 3
Names:
Constant-mass expansion (CME)
Constant-composition expansion (CCE)
Flash vaporization (FV)
Flash Liberation
Flash Expansion
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 5
The constant-mass (or constant-composition)
expansion experiment is sketched for a gas
condensate mixture in next slide, but it may also be
performed on oil mixtures.
A fixed amount of a reservoir fluid is transferred to
a closed cell in which the temperature is kept
constant, often at the reservoir temperature.
The volume of the cell may be varied. This may be
accomplished, by moving a piston up and down.
The maximum volume is typically around 400 cm
3.
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 6
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 7
A Schematic Diagram of
the Flash Liberation Test
In the flash liberation process, the
gas which is liberated from the oil
during a pressure decline remains in
contact with the oil from which it
was liberated.
The process, involves the following steps:
Step 1. The reservoir fluid sample is charged to a PVT cell
which is maintained at reservoir temperature
throughout the experiments.
Step 2. The cell pressure is elevated at a pressure higher
than the saturation pressure.
Step 3. The cell pressure is lowered in small increments.
The total volume of the hydrocarbon system is recorded
at each pressure.
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 8
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 9
Flash Liberation P-V Diagram
Step 4. A plot of the cell pressure-
total hydrocarbon volume is
constructed as shown in Figure.
Flash Liberation for Oil Mixture (Cont.)
Step 5. When the cell pressure reaches the bubble-point
pressure of the hydrocarbon system, a sign of formation
of a gas phase is noted.
This stage is marked by a sharp change in the pressure-volume
slope.
Step 6. As the pressure level is reduced below the
bubble-point pressure, the liberated gas is allowed to
remain in contact and reach an equilibrium state with
the oil phase. This thermodynamic equilibrium is assured
by agitating the cell.
Step 7. The equilibrium pressure level and the
corresponding hydrocarbon total volume is recorded.
Step 8. Steps 6 and 7 are repeated until the capacity of
the cell is reached.
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 10
The experimental data obtained from the flash
liberation test include:
The bubble-point pressure
The isothermal compressibility coefficient of the
liquid phase above the bubble-point pressure
c. Below the bubble point, the two-phase volume is
measured as a function of pressure
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 11
The foregoing process simulates the gas liberation
sequence, which is taking place in the reservoir at
pressures immediately below the bubble-point
pressure. This can be justified by the fact that the
liberated gas remains immobile in the pores and in
contact with oil until the critical gas saturation is
reached at a certain pressure below Pb
The flash liberation process best represents the
separator type liberation. When entering the separator,
the reservoir fluids are in equilibrium due to the
agitation occurring in the tubing. In the separator, the
two phases are brought to equilibrium and the oil and
gas are separated. This behavior follows the flash
liberation sequence.
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 12
Constant-Composition Experiment for
a Gas Condensate
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 13
A constant-mass expansion experiment gives
information
About the saturation pressure at the reservoir temperature
and
About the relative volumetric amounts of gas and oil in the
reservoir at various stages of the lifetime of the reservoir.
The experiment is started at a pressure higher than the
saturation point.
For a gas condensate mixture this means the experiment is
started at a pressure above the dew point pressure, and
For an oil mixture it is started at a pressure above the bubble
point pressure.
The initial mixture volume is recorded.
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 14
The mixture volume is increased stepwise. At each
step
The mixture volume and
The cell pressure
Are measured. Furthermore, the saturation point is
recorded.
It is the pressure at which an additional phase
starts to form.
For a gas condensate this additional phase appears as a
liquid droplet, and
For an oil it will be seen as a gas bubble.
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 15
Calculations of the Experiment for
a Gas Condensate
The term V sat is used for the saturation point
volume.
At each stage of the experiment the relative
volume is recorded, defined as the ratio between
The actual volume and
The volume
At the saturation pressure:
2013 H. AlamiNia Reservoir Fluid Properties Course: PVT Experiments (CME & CVD & DL) 18
:
=
1