Reservoir Engineering I

PCB2023

PVT
Pressure Volume
Temperature
Dr. Mohammed Abdalla Ayoub

Lessons Outcomes

To describe various tests under PVT study

To relate oil physical properties generated from

PVT study for MBE applications

To determine gas physical properties from PVT

study

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PVT - Scope

Reservoir fluid analysis provides key data to

the petroleum engineer.

Quality of the testing is important to ensure

realistic values used in design.

Sample quality is the first quality issue.

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PVT Analysis

Provides data for field evaluation and design

Reservoir calculations
Well flow calculations
Surface facilities

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PVT Analysis

Correlation

between

pressure

and

volume

at

reservoir temperature.

Various physical constants in reservoir calculations;

viscosity, density, compressibility.

Effect of separator conditions on Bo & GOR. etc.

Chemical composition of the volatile components.

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PVT Analysis

Scope of the analysis depends on the nature of the fluid.

Dry gas:

composition, specific gravity, Bg, z, and viscosity

Wet gas:

as above plus information on liquid drop out, quantities and

compositions.

Oil system:

Bubble point pressure, composition of reservoir and produced

fluids, Bo, GOR, Bt and viscosity. All as function of pressure. Co.
Below Pb considerations.
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PVT Analysis

Gas condensate:

Reflect wet gas and oil.

Dew point pressure

Compressibility above Pd.
Impact of dropping below Pd

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Sampling

Clearly the sample has to be representative of

the reservoir contents or the drainage area.

Desirable to take samples early in the life of

the reservoir.

Either sub-surface or surface sampling.

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Surface Sampling

Samples of oil and gas taken from separator

connected with the well.

Fluids recombined in the laboratory on the basis

of the produced GOR.

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Sub-Surface Sampling

Can only be representative

when pressure at sampling

point is above or equal to the

saturation pressure.

At pressure close to saturation

pressure serious possibility of
sample integrity being lost.

In recent years considerable

advance in downhole fluid

sampling
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Vertical and
Horizontal
Separators

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Wellhead sampling

A low cost option.

Only possible for very

undersaturated
systems.

Still single phase at

wellhead.

Phase Behavior

Fluids uniquely described

by phase diagram.

Within the phase diagram,

system is in two phase.

Single phase

Two phase

Whereas outside the

phase envelope is single

phase

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Phase Behavior
The separation of oil and
gas as predicted by the
phase diagram results in
each phase having its own
phase diagram.

The oil exists at its bubble point .

The gas exists at its dew point.

This behavior has important implications on well sampling

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Equipment for PVT Analysis

Apparatus

for

transfer

and

recombination

of

separator oil and gas samples.

Apparatus for measuring gas and liquid volumes.

Apparatus for performing separator tests.

PVT cell and displacing pumps.

High pressure viscometer.

Gas chromatograph or equivalent.

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PVT Tests

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 behavior over exploration, development and production.

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Laboratory Tests

Primary tests

Routine laboratory tests

Special laboratory PVT tests

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Primary Tests

API

Gas specific gravity

Separator gas composition

GOR

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Routine Laboratory Tests

Constant-Composition Expansion - CCE

Differential Liberation

Constant-Volume Depletion CVD

Separator Test

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Main PVT Tests

Flash vaporization or relative volume test (pressurevolume relations, flash liberation, flash)

vaporization, or flash expansion.

Differential vaporization test.

Separator tests.

Viscosity measurements.

Compositional measurements.

Special studies: e.g. Interfacial tension.

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Simple layout of a PVT Facility

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Flash Vaporization
( Relative Volume ) Test

Determination of the correlation between pressure and

volume at reservoir temperature.

The system never changes during the test.

The gas remains in equilibrium with the oil through out the
test.

The behavior below the bubble point does not reflect reservoir
behavior, where gas has greater mobility than the oil.

This

test

determines

the

Bubble

Point

pressure

corresponding to the reservoir temperature.

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Flash Vaporization (Relative Volume )

Test

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Liberated gas remains in

equilibrium with oil

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Flash Vaporization (Relative Volume ) Test

By plotting P versus V, a break in the slope is obtained at the Bubble
Point pressure.

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CCE Test Procedures

pb

Vt

Liquid Vt

Liqui
Liquid
d

Vt

Liqui
Liquid
Liquid
d

Gas
Vt
Liquid

Hg

Hg

Hg

Vt

Gas

Liquid

Hg
Hg

First
Step
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Second
Step

Third
Step

Fourth
Step
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Flash Vaporization (Relative

Volume ) Test
Tests at constant pressure and
varying temperature enables
thermal expansion coefficient to
be obtained for well flow
calculations.

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Flash Vaporization
(Relative Volume) Test

Above bubble point compressibility of oil at

reservoir temperature can be determined.
No free gas

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Flash Vaporization
(Relative Volume ) Test

Main objectives:

Reservoir

bubble

point

pressure.
Together with information
from

separator

formation

volume

tests,
factor

above bubble point.

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Exercise 1 Flash vaporization

The data from a flash vaporization on a black oil at 220 oF are

given. Determine Pb and prepare a table of relative volume for
the reservoir fluid study. (data in example 10-1, Mc Cain)
Pressure (psig) Total Volume (cc)
5000
61.030
4500
61.435
4000
61.866
3500
62.341
3000
62.866
2900
62.974
2800
63.088
2700
63.208
2605
63.455
2591
63.576
2516
64.291
2401
65.532
2253
67.400
2090
69.901
1897
73.655
1698
78.676
1477
86.224
1292
95.050
1040
112.715
830
136.908
640
174.201
472
235.700

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Solution (Mc Cain):

Plot of Pressure vs. Vt
Table 10-1 pg. 4
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Differential Vaporization

Below bubble point in reservoir gas liquid separation in the

reservoir is a constant changing system.

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

In the differential vaporization test liberated gas is

removed from the cell step wise.

At each step below bubble point, volumes densities , gas

expansion and compressibility determined.

Bubble point starting point.

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Differential Liberation Test

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

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Differential Liberation Expansion Test

Procedures
Gas

pb

Vo

Liquid

Gas Vo

Liquid

Liquid

Gas

Gas Vo
Liquid

Hg

Hg

Hg

Liquid

Hg

Hg

First step
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Differential Vaporization

8-10 pressure reduction steps at reservoir temperature.

Final step to 60oF.

Remaining oil Residual Oil

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Differential Vaporization
OUTPUTS from Differential Vaporization test
1. Relative Oil Volume,

BoD

Volume of oil at each pressure divided by volume of oil at std conditions

(14.7 psia & 60 oF)

2. Relative Total Volume, BtD

3. Z factor
4. Gas formation volume factor,

5. Solution gas oil ratio, RsD

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Exercise 2: Differential Vaporization

The data from a differential vaporization on a black oil at 220 oF are

given. Prepare a table of solution gas-oil ratios, relative oil volumes,
and relative total volumes by this differential process. Also include
z-factors and formation volume factors of the increments of gas
removed.

(Solution (Mc Cain example2):

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Exercise 2: Differential Vaporization

Notes on answers

1. Solution gas oil ratio, Rs has units at surface

conditions (scf/stb)

2. Oil formation volume factor has units at reservoir

conditions & surface condition (res. bbl/stb)

3. Gas formation volume factor has units at reservoir

conditions & surface condition (res. bbl/scf)

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Differential Vaporization vs. Flash Vaporization

Flash liberation considered to take place between

reservoir and surface.

Differential

liberation

considered

to

be

representative of the process in the reservoir below

bubble point pressure.

Differential tests carried out to obtain oil formation

volume factors and GORs to predict behavior below
bubble point pressure.
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Separator Tests

Objective: to determine impact of separator conditions on

Bo, GOR, and produced fluid physical properties.

Carried out to give an indication of oil shrinkage and GOR

when fluids produced to surface.

There are no unique values for Bo & GOR. They depend on

separator conditions.

Starting point for the test is the bubble point pressure.

Fluid produced at surface conditions Stock tank oil

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Separator Test Procedures

pb

Rsb =

Gas

scf
STB
Gas

scf
Liquid

scf

Res(bbl)
Stock
tank
Hg

Liquid

Hg

STB
Liquid

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Bob =

resbbl
STB

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Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

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Separator volume factor =

L1/L2

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Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

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Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

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Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

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Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

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V res

44

Separator Test Data

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Viscosity

Measured at different pressures above and

below bubble point pressure.

Below bubble point pressure carried out under

differential conditions.

Rolling ball or capillary tube methods of

measurement

Exercise 3: Separator Test

Data from a separator test on a black oil are given. Note that the volume of separator liquid was
measured at separator pressure and temperature before it was released to the stock tank. Prepare a
separator test for the PVT study. (Example 10-3 Mc Cain)
Volume of oil at Pb and Tres = 182.637 cc

Volume of separator liquid at 100 psig and 75 oF = 131.588 cc

Volume of stock-tank oil at 0 psig and 75 oF = 124.773 cc
Volume of stock-tank oil at 0 psig and 60 oF = 123.906 cc
Volume of gas removed from separator = 0.52706 scf
Volume of gas removed from stock tank = 0.07139 scf
SG of stock tank oil = 0.8217
SG of stock separator gas = 0.786
SG of stock tank gas = 1.363
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Solution of Exercise 3

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Selection of Separator Conditions

The first step in calculating fluid properties is selection of separator

conditions.

There may be circumstances for a particular field which dictate a specific

separator pressure. If not, the separator pressure which produces the

maximum amount of stock-tank liquid is selected. This pressure is known as

optimum separator pressure.

It is identified from the separator tests as the separator pressure which

results in a minimum of total gas-oil ratio, a minimum in formation volume
factor of oil (at bubble point), and a maximum in stock-tank oil gravity

("API). Most black oils have optimum separator pressures of 100 to 120
psig at normal temperatures.
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Exercise 4

Select optimum separator conditions for Good

Oil Co. No. 4. Identify Rssb and Bosb.

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Solution of Exercise 4

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Outcomes

To describe various tests under PVT study

To relate oil physical properties generated

from PVT study for MBE applications

To determine gas physical properties from

PVT study

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Comparison between the Methods

Flash vaporization is used to characterize reservoir fluid above and below
reservoir bubble point pressure.
Differential vaporization considered to be representative of the process in
the reservoir below bubble point pressure.
Separator test considered to be representative of the process from the
bottom of the well to the stock tank when the reservoir pressure is equal
or less than Pb.

Under these assumptions, fluid properties above bubble point pressure

can be estimated by a combination of Flash vaporization and separator
test.
Fluid properties below bubble point pressure can be simulated by a
combination of differential vaporization and separator test.
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Oil Formation Volume Factor

At pressures above bubble-point pressure, oil formation volume factors are
calculated from a combination of flash vaporization data and separator test
data.

Vt
Bo
Vb F

res. bbl of oil @ P

P Pb
BoSb
STB
Oil Formation Volume Factor

At pressures below the bubble-point pressure, oil formation

volume factors are calculated from a combination of
differential vaporization data and separator test data.

Bo BoD
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BoSb res. bbl @ P

BoDb
STB

P Pb

Pressure
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2900
2800
2700
2620
2350
2100
1850
1600
1350
1100
850
600
350
159

Bo

1.421
1.430
1.440
1.451
1.464
1.466
1.469
1.471
1.474
1.432
1.396
1.363
1.331
1.301
1.273
1.245
1.216
1.182
1.146
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Solution Gas Oil Ratio (Rs)

Solution gas-oil ratio at pressures above bubble-point pressure is a constant equal
to the solution gas-oil ratio at the bubble point.

Rs RsSb

@ P Pb

Solution gas-oil ratios at pressures below, bubble-point

pressure are calculated from a combination of differential
vaporization data and separator test data.

Rs RsSb ( RSDb RSD )

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BoSb SCF

BoDb STB

@ P < Pb

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Gas Formation Volume Factor

Gas formation volume factors are calculated with z-factors measured
with the gases removed from the cell at each pressure step during
differential vaporization.
Bg 0.0282

zT

res.cu ft
SCF

Total Formation Volume Factor, (Bt)

Total formation volume factors may be calculated as

Bt Bo Bg ( Rsb Rs )
If relative total volumes, Bt are reported as a part of the results of the
differential vaporization, total formation factors can be calculated as:

BoSb
Bt BtD
BoDb
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Total Formation Volume Factor, (Bt)

The total formation volume factor is the volume in barrels (cubic meter) that 1.0 stock tank
barrel (cubic meter) and its initial complement of dissolved gas occupies at reservoir
temperature and pressure conditions.

Coefficient of Isothermal
Compressibility of Oil
The following Equation may be used with the flash vaporization data to
calculate oil compressibility at pressures above the bubble point.

Co

Vt
ln
Vt

Vb F2
Vb F1

P1 P2

When the pressure is below the bubble point pressure, the following
equation can be used to calculate the Co
BoD
1 RsD

C o

Bg
BoD P T

R
sD T
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Example
A sample of reservoir oil from a nameless field was subjected to flash
vaporization, differential and separator tests. Data from these PVT tests are
summarized in TABLES a, b and c.
Pressure (psig)

Volume of fluid in PVT cell (cc)

1300

244.57

3500

249.90

TABLE a: Data from Flash vaporization

Pressure (psig)

1300
1150
1000
850
700
550
400
250
139
0

Cumulative Gas
Volume (cc)

Volume of Oil
in cell

0
385
938
1515
2140
2813
3558
4496
5386
8991

177.66
176.85
175.50
174.01
172.39
170.64
168.75
162.54
144.50
135.00

Oil displaced from PVT cell

55 cc

(1st stage separator at 212 psig

and 71oF)
Oil volume collected from the 45 cc
last separator stage
(0 psig and 60oF)
Gas volume collected
at 2000
standard conditions (0 psig
cc
and 60oF)
TABLE c: Data from Separator Test

Note: Test done at reservoir temperature of 212oF.

TABLE b: Data from Differential vaporization

62

Questions
1. Calculate the oil formation volume factor, Bo at 3500 psig.
2. Determine the Bo at 1000 psig.
3. Calculate the solution gas oil ratio, Rs (in scf/STB) at 3500

psig. (Note that 1 bbl = 5.615 ft3)

4. What is the expected value of Rs at 1000 psig? Justify.

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Answers
1.

V
249 .9 55cc
Bo t BoSb
*
1.249 bbl / stb
244 .57 45cc
Vb F
55cc
B
175 .5 45cc
Bo BoD oSb
*
1.208 res.bbl / stb
2.
BoDb 135 .0 177 .66
135
3. Since Rs is above Pb we use separator results

2000 cc 5.615 ft 3
Rs RsSb
*
249 .6scf / stb
45cc
1.stb
4. The Rs @ 1000 psig will be lower than Rs @ 3500 psig because some gas >1000
has been released.
Rs RsSb ( RSDb RSD )

BoSb

BoDb

55

8991 8991 385 938 45

249.6

177.66 * 5.615 198.5scf / stb

135
135

135

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Summary of results provided by an

oil sample PVT test.

Saturation pressure, -bubble point.

Compressibility coefficient.

Coefficient of thermal expansion.

Relative total volume of oil and gas, Vt

Cumulative relative volume of gas. Vg

Cumulative relative volume of oil. Vo

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Summary of results provided by an oil

sample PVT test.

Gas formation volume factor or gas expansion factor.

Gas compressibility factor.

Specific gravity of gas.

Liquid density.

Viscosity of liquids as a function of pressure.

Oil formation volume factor.

Solution gas- oil ratio. Shrinkage of separator oil to tank oil.

Hydrocarbon analysis of reservoir and produced fluids.

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Oil Formation Volume Factor

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Viscosity

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Solution Gas-Oil Ratio

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Density

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