Heriot-Watt University

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

PVT
Pressure Volume Temperature
Adrian C Todd
 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.
PVT Analysis

Provides data for field evaluation and design

Reservoir calculations
Well flow calculations
Surface facilities
 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.
 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.
 PVT Analysis
Gas condensate:
Reflect wet gas and oil.
Dew point pressure
Compressibility above Pd.
Impact of dropping below Pd
Sampling

Clearly the sample has to 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.
 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
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
Vertical and
Horizontal
Separators
Separator Gas Sampling
Separator Liquid Sampling by Gas
Displacement
Separator Liquid Sampling by Water
Displacement
Wellhead sampling
A low cost option.
Only possible for very
undersaturated
sytsems.
Still single phase at
wellhead.
Sampling Wet Gas and Gas Condensate
Systems

Use and value of any PVT study dependant

on the quality of the sample collected.
Sampling wet gas and gas condensate fluids
can give rise to errors.
During sampling procedure it is possible to
alter the conditions so that samples are not
representative.
An important consideration is the phase
behaviour.
Phase Behaviour.
Fluids uniquely Single phase
described by phase
diagram.
Within the phase
Two phase
diagram system is
two phase.
Whereas outside
the phase envelope
single phase
 Phase Behaviour.
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 behaviour has
important implications
on well sampling
 Sampling Wet
Gas and Gas
Condensate
Reservoirs

Potential locations
for reservoir
sampling
Sampling Wet Gas and
Gas Condensate
Reservoirs
Location
1. Reservoir
2.Bottom-hole
3.Well Head
4. Separator
For. Against
1. Ideal 1. Impossible
2. 1-phase 2. Representative ? Technology, Cost, Handling.
3. Cost 3. 2-phase ? Representative ?,
4. Cost, 1-phase, 4.Gas/liquid volumes,, separator conditions,

buffer,sampling volume Representative ?,

Sampling Wet Gas and
Gas Condensate
Reservoirs-Flowing well.

Well behaviour can

significantly influence
nature and
characteristics of fluids
produced.
Flowing well gas
condensate - mist flow
 Sampling Wet Gas
and Gas Condensate
Reservoirs-Shut in well
after flow.
Well acts as a separator
Liquid rains down and
accumulates at bottom
of well.
Pressure builds up in
the well and disturbed
formation.
Some gas goes back
into solution.
Well flow after shut in.
Large variations in
compositions of produced
fluids.
Early period lean gas
produced. High GOR
When fluids produced from
bottom of well. Liquids much
lower GOR.
Then fluids from disturbed
reservoir zone
Eventually fluids from
undisturbed reservoir
Sampling Wet Gas and Gas
Condensate Reservoirs
In assessing quality of samples
important to know how long it will
take for unrepresentative samples to
be displaced from reservoir.
Volumetrics required on wells,
facilities and near well volumes
 Separator Sampling Points
A very practical issue is
the location of sampling
points on separators. Liquid in gas line
Often located for
convenience for
accessibility.
Important to recognise
that the gas and liquid in
a separator are at their
Iso kinetic sampling
saturation pressure.
Small changes will result
Gas in liquid line
in liquid drop out and gas
being produced
 Sampling Details

Important to record and keep note off following.

These records to go with samples
Date and time
Cylinder identification
Location of sampling points.
Temperature and pressure
GOR in separator
Any special details ( H2S in sample, etc
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.
Equipment for PVT Analysis-Subsurface
Samples
Equipment for PVT Analysis-Surface Samples
Equipment for PVT Analysis-Gas Condensate
Samples
 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 behaviour over exploration, development and
production
Main PVT Tests
Flash vaporisation or relative volume test.
Differential vaporisation test.
Separator tests.
Viscosity measurements.
Compositional measurements.
Special studies: e.g. Interfacial tension.
Simple layout of a PVT Facility
Flash Vaporisation ( 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 behaviour below the bubble point does not
reflect reservoir behaviour, where gas has greater
mobility than the oil.
This test determines the Bubble Point pressure
corresponding to the reservoir temperature.
 Flash Vaporisation
(Relative Volume ) Test

Liberated gas remains in

equilibrium with oil
Flash Vaporisation (Relative Volume ) Test
By plotting P versus V, a break in the slope is obtained at
the Bubble Point pressure.
Flash Vaporisation
(Relative Volume ) Test
Tests at constant pressure
and varying temperature
enables thermal expansion
coefficient to be obtained for
well flow calculations.

V2 V1
Thermal expansion, =
V2 ( T2 T1 )
V1 = volume at T1 , V2 = volume at T2
Flash Vaporisation (Relative Volume ) Test
Above bubble point compressibility of
oil at reservoir temperature can be
determined.
No free gas

V2 V1
c=
V2 ( P1 P2 )
V2 =volume at pressure P2
V1 =volume at pressure P1
Flash Vaporisation (Relative Volume ) Test

Main objectives:
Reservoir bubble point
pressure.
Together with
information from separator
tests, formation volume
factor above bubble point.
 Differential Vaporisation
Below bubble point in reservoir gas liquid
separation in the reservoir is a constant
changing system.
A test has been design to attempt to simulate
this process.
In the differential vaporisation 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.
Differential Vaporisation

Flash liberation process

Differential liberation process

Differential Vaporisation
Differential Vaporisation
 Differential Vaporisation
8-10 pressure reduction steps at reservoir temperature.
Final step to 60oF.
Remaining oil Residual Oil
Differential Vaporisation vs.Flash Vaporisation

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 behaviour below bubble point
pressure.
 Separator Tests
Objective to determine impact of separator
conditions on Bo, GOR, and produced fluid physical
properties.
Not the interest of facility designers.
Carried out to give an indication of oil shrinkage and
GOR when fluids produced to surface.
There are not uniques values for Bo & GOR. They
depend on separator conditions.
Starting point for the test is the bubble point
pressure.
Fluid produced at surface conditons. Stock tank oil
Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point
Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point
Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point
Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point
Separator Tests
PVT Cell pressure kept at
bubble point

V res
 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
 Hydrocarbon analysis
Analysis from C1 to an upper C number based
on paraffin series.
Historically C6 & C7+. Much higher analysis
capability.
C+ characterised by specific gravity and
apparent molecular weight.
Latter by depression of freezing point.
Higher C+ characterisation helpful to process
engineers re. solid phase formation.
Wax and Ashphaltenes

Solid phase formation series concern.

Heavy components at low temperatures can
form solid phases.
Wax in transfer lines and process facilities.
Ashphaltene are larger molecules of hydrogen
and carbon plus sulphur, oxygen or nitrogen.
Ashphaltenes do not dissolve in oil but are
dispersed as colloids.
Wax
Crystallization
Temperature
Different tests used:
Filtering and measuring
resistance to flow at
different temperatures.
Appearance temperature
is considered to be
affected by super
cooling.
The disappearance
temperature is
considered to be the
equilibrium value. Core Laboratories
Wax
Crystallization
Temperature

Core Laboratories
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
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
Volumetric relationship of fluids in an oil
PVT test

Reference point
bubble point
 Volumetric relationship of fluids in an oil
PVT test

Reference point
Stock Tank Conditions
Volumetric relationship of fluids in an oil PVT
test
 Interfacial Tension, IFT
Impact of IFT now considered an important
aspect
particularly for gas condensates
IFT has a significant impact on the behaviour
of residual condensate saturation and
associated relative permeability.
IFT is very low as critical point approached
 Interfacial Tension Measurements
Most common method pendant drop

=
(
gd e2 L V ) (
gd e2 L V )
=
l l

l = shape factor a function of ds/de

 Interfacial Tension Measurements
For very low IFT size of tube too small to suspend drop.
Thin wire can be used
Light scattering has been used.
Heriot-Watt method -rising film method
Retrograde Condensation

Saturation pressure is the dew point pressure.

Gas condensate cells have a window to
visualise dew point.
Not possible to determine by change of slope
of compressibilities of gas and liquid..
 Gas Condensate
Main aspects of PVT study:
Constant mass expansion
Constant volume depletion
Specialised tests ( IFT)
Compositions of oil & gas
Compositions of fluids are generally made by blowing
down samples and recombining the resultant liquid and
gas phase compositions.
Gas Condensate- Constant Mass Study
No fluids removed from the cell
Purpose to determine z value above dew point.
Determine dew point pressure

Dew point observed as drops on window

Gas Condensate- Constant Volume Depletion

Carried out to simulate condition below dew point

Series of pressure expansions
Volume of cell returned to original volume
Gas Condensate- Constant Volume Depletion
Liquid volume produced below dew point
generates a liquid drop out curve.
Gas Condensate-Special tests IFT and
Full Compositional data

Gas
Hg

Density cell

Stirrer

High pressure
sampling

Hg

Condensate
Gas Condensate-Special tests IFT and
Full Compositional data
Pendant drop

Gas
Hg
Density cell

High pressure Hg
sampling
Hg
Interface
Condensate
Rising film method

Vapour
1 cm

Liquid Rising film

thickness
Rising film method - near critical point

Vapour

1 cm

Liquid
Very thin meniscus
height
 Understanding PVT Rep[orts
Purpose of the PVT report:
Although can be used for applications from
reservoir to surface facilities. Reservoir engineering
provides the main basis.
Provides much of black oil information.
Material balance equation basis for report.
PVT report provides main data for MB equation.
Both flash and differential separation assumed.
Specific to a particular fluid
Example PVT report.
Example PVT report.
Example PVT report.
Example
PVT
report.
Separator Test
Separator
Test
Separator Test
READ THE FOOTNOTES
 Fluid Properties above bubble point
Relative Volume Test - Flash Vaporisation Test
Relative
Volume Test -
Flash
Vaporisation
Test
P

Pb

Vsat V
 Bo above bubble point

vol. reservoir oil

Bo =
vol. stock tank oil

vol. bubble point oil vol. reservoir oil

Bo =
vol. stock tank oil vol. bubble point oil
From separator
test
Above bubble point
Density above bubble point obtained by
combining data from separator test and
relative volume tests.

1 1 1 1

o = =
o = =
v o v ob vrel

vo v ob v rel
 Above bubble point

Compressibility above bubble point can be

obtained from relative volume test

1 v
Co =
v p T
1 v
Co =
v p T

1 v
Co =
v avg p T
Total Formation Volume Below Bubble
Point
Total formation
volume factor, Bt
Of little
significance, but Bo BT
sometimes used in
MB based
calculations
Total Formation Volume Below Bubble
Point If we multiply B x v . we get B over the

ob rel t
total pressure range above and below the
bubble point pressure.
Differential liberation tests
 Differential liberation tests
Volume changes during differential liberation
854-763=91scf/bbl residual oil

Residual oil not the same

composition as stock tank oil
Calculation of Gas-Oil Ratio
Below the Bubble point
The GOR resulting from the separator tests and
those from the differential test have different
values.
796 ft3/B STO & 854 ft3/B residual oil
The difference a result of the differential process of
pressure draw down over the total pressure.
In practise, reservoir pressure drop is a differential
process but the pressure drop through the tubing
and separator is a flash process.
 Calculation of Gas-Oil Ratio
Below the Bubble point
The separator value is
correct.

We need to complete
GOR values below the
bubble point.

The GOR is made up of

two elements,

Differential in the
reservoir.
Flash in the wells and to
surface.
Differential liberation

Flash liberation
Calculation of Gas-Oil Ratio
Below the Bubble point The differential GOR is

converted in the following

manner:
( R s ) diff = liberated gas-oil ratio by differential liberation
ft 3
( R s ) diff =
Separator test
bbl residual oil Differential test
ft 3 bbl residual oil ft3
=
bbl residual oil bbl bubble point oil bbl bubble point oil
ft 3 bbl bubble point oil ft3
=
bbl bubble point oil bbl stock tank oil bbl stock tank oil
ft 3
= ( R s ) flash
bbl stock tank oil Bob
( R s ) flash = ( R sb ) flash ( R s ) diff
R s = R si ( R s ) flash
Vb / Vresid
 Calculation of Formation Volume Factor
Below the Bubble point
Formation volume factors between bubble point and surface
also show a distinct difference between flash and differential.
 Calculation of Formation Volume Factor
Below the Bubble point

V/Vresidual = relative volume at pressure, B/B resid.

bbl Saturated oil bbl Residual oil bbl Saturated oil
=
bbl Residual oil bbl Bubble point oil bbl Bubble point oil
V Bob
Bo =
Vresid . Vb / Vresid
bbl Saturated oil bbl Bubble point oil bbl Saturated oil
= = Bo
bbl Bubble point oil bbl Stock Tank oil bbl Stock Tank oil

V Bob
Bo =
Vresid . Vb / Vresid
Viscosity Data

Pressures below bubble

point match differential
test
Viscosity
Composition of Reservoir Fluid
Composition of Separator Gas
Composition of Separator Gas
Gas
Condensate
PVT Report
Gas
Condensate
PVT Report
Liquid Drop Out
Curve

44%
High Pressure / High Temperature, HP/HT
Fluids
Recent years exploration activity has moved deeper.
High pressure and temperature accumulations found
Conventional PVT facilities do not enable testing
these fluids.
Ranges 250oC and 20,000 psi.
At these conditions role of water cannot be ignored.