In The Name of God

Reservoir Fluid Properties

Reservoir Fluid Classification

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 1

Reservoir Fluid Determination
The petroleum engineer should determine the type of fluid very
early in the life of his reservoir.
Fluid type is the deciding factor in many of the decisions which
must be made regarding the reservoir.

• Method of fluid sampling

• Types and sizes of surface equipment
• Calculational procedures for determining oil and gas in place
• Techniques of predicting oil and gas reserves
• Plan of depletion
• Selection of enhanced recovery method

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 2

Black Oil Phase Diagram
1. Pressure lies along line 12 ,the oil is said to be undersaturated.

2. Oil is at its bubble point and is said to be saturated at point 2,

actually, the oil is "saturated" anywhere along line 23

3. Iso-vols are spaced

fairly evenly within
the envelope.

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 3

 Volatile Oil Phase Diagram
1.The critical temperature is close to reservoir temperature
2. Small reduction in pressure below the bubble point, point 2,
causes the release of a large amount of gas in the reservoir. A volatile
oil may become as much as 50 percent gas in the reservoir at only a
few hundred psi below the bubble-point pressure.
3. Iso-vols are not evenly
spaced but are shifted
upwards toward the bubble-
point line

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 4

Retrograde Gas Phase Diagram

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 5

 Retrograde Gas Phase Diagram
1. Critical temperature less than reservoir temperature and a
cricondentherm greater than reservoir temperature.
2. Initially, the retrograde gas is totally gas in the reservoir, point 1.
As reservoir pressure decreases, the retrograde gas exhibits a dew
point, point 2. As pressure is reduced, liquid condenses from the gas
to form a free liquid in the reservoir. This liquid will normally not
flow and cannot be produced.

3. The reservoir pressure path on the phase diagram, indicates that at

some low pressure the liquid begins to revaporize. This occurs in the
laboratory.

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 6

Wet Gas Phase Diagram
A wet gas exists solely as a gas in the reservoir throughout the
reduction in reservoir pressure. The pressure path, line 12 , does not
enter the phase envelope. Thus, no liquid is formed in the reservoir.
However, separator conditions lie within the phase envelope,
causing some liquid to be formed at the surface.

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 7

 Dry Gas Phase Diagram
Dry gas is solely gas in the reservoir and that normal surface separator
conditions fall outside the phase envelope. Thus, no liquid is formed at
the surface.

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 8

Reservoir Fluid Classification
Black oil = Low shrinkage Crude oil = Ordinary oil
Rs (SCF/STB) < 2000
Bo (bbl/STB) <2
C7+ fraction > 20 %
Liquid API Gravity < 45
Stock Tank Color Very dark, black, sometimes greenish, brown

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 9

Reservoir Fluid Classification
Volatile oil = High shrinkage Crude oil = Near Critical oil
Rs (SCF/STB) 2000-3300
Bo (bbl/STB) >2
C7+ fraction 12.5-20 %
Liquid API Gravity > 40
Stock Tank Color Usually brown, orange, or sometimes green

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 10

Reservoir Fluid Classification
Retrograde condensate gas = Condensate gas = Condensate
Rs (SCF/STB) 3300-50000
Bo (bbl/STB) -
C7+ fraction <12.5 %
Liquid API Gravity 40-60
Stock Tank Color Lightly colored, brown, orange, greenish or water-white

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 11

Reservoir Fluid Classification
Wet Gas
Rs (SCF/STB) >50000
Bo (bbl/STB) -
C7+ fraction <12.5 %
Liquid API Gravity 40-60
Stock Tank Color Lightly colored water-white

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 12

Reservoir Fluid Classification
Dry Gas = Gas
Rs (SCF/STB) infinity
Bo (bbl/STB) -
C7+ fraction <1 %
Liquid API Gravity -
Stock Tank Color -

Reservoir Fluid Properties © Ali Rafieefar 13