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Production test data are most critical for surface samples because portions of oil and gas samples are recombined in the laboratory on the basis of the separator GOR measured in the field. For proper control of the data, the PVT laboratory must have access to the production test report or other documentation in addition to the sampling sheets that accompany the sample bottles. Because a high proportion of sampling sheets contain inconsistencies, the report should be studied with the following objectives. 1. To identify what well conditioning has been performed. 2. To look for the stability of gas and liquid rates when the surface samples were taken and, possibly, to calculate averages at the time the samples were taken. 3. To ensure that the GOR is based on oil flow rate at separator conditions. 4. To determine which gas gravity and nonideality factors were used and the reference pressure and temperature. 5. To verify reservoir temperature and static pressure. If all samples meet the quality criteria, the choice can be made on the basis of field data alone, although the selection is an optimization process in some cases. The client may have additional data on the reservoir and should be consulted if any doubt exists concerning sample selection or data (e.g., the reservoir temperature and pressure that should be assigned for the PVT study). Primary emphasis should be given to (1) samples collected after proper well conditioning, (2) surface oil and gas samples taken simultaneously or close together, (3) a bottomhole sample that was collected above its bubble-point that compares well with the bubblepoint pressure for duplicate samples, (4) a good bottomhole sample in preference to a recombined surface sample, and (5) a recombined surface sample if doubt exists about the bottomhole sample. In cases where bottomhole samples have been backed up by surface samples (an excellent practice), creation of a recombined surface sample from the best surface samples might be worthwhile, especially if there are only one or two. This allows comparison with the bottomhole samples. In fact, in important wells, complete analyses on the two types of reservoir fluid samples might be useful. Such an approach would give a high level of confidence in the data and could provide a crosscheck of separator GOR's. Inadequate checking of sample quality or simple errors in recorded data can lead to PVT studies that are useless or even misleading, and this could have important financial penalties. The validation process described will enhance the quality and confidence in PVT study data greatly; but, of course, it takes effort. It is reasonable that the additional work and reporting that lead to higher-quality fluid studies be compensated by an appropriate increase in cost. All validation data do not have to be included in the PVT report; however, a minimum of one page should be assigned to explain sample selection and to detail any quality or field data problems. A conflict of interest may exist when the sampling company and the laboratory are within the same organization because of the reluctance to report sample quality problems. In contrast, however, there is the advantage of ready access to necessary data. In such circumstances, a solution might be to have the quality-control data interpreted and the relevant field data validated by a client employee or an independent consultant. Sample and sampling data quality control are effectively part of PVT quality assurance. They complement normal laboratory checking procedures used during a study and in the final report, which still can occasionally cast doubt on apparently valid samples (e.g., saturation pressure above reservoir pressure or extremely stable oil/water emulsions).
September 1994 JPT