Equations of State

and PVT Analysis

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Equations of State
and PVT Analysis
Applications for Improved
Reservoir Modeling
Tarek Ahmed, Ph.D., P.E.
Gulf Publishing Company
Houston, Texas
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Equations of State and PVT Analysis:
Applications for Improved Reservoir Modeling
Copyright 2007 by Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas. All rights reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission
of the publisher.
HOUSTON, TX:
Gulf Publishing Company
2 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77046
AUSTIN, TX:
427 Sterzing Street, Suite 104
Austin, TX 78704
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ahmed, Tarek H.
Equations of state and PVT analysis : applications for improved reservoir modeling / Tarek Ahmed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-933762-03-9 (alk. paper)
1. Reservoir oil pressureMathematical models. 2. Phase rule and equilibriumMathematical
models. 3. PetroleumUnderground storage. I. Title.
TN871.18.A34 2007
622'.3382dc22
2006033818
Printed in the United States of America
Printed on acid-free paper.
Text design and composition by Ruth Maassen.
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This book is dedicated to my children
Carsen, Justin, Jennifer, and Brittany Ahmed
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Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
1 Fundamentals of Hydrocarbon Phase Behavior 1
Single-Component Systems 1
Two-Component Systems 19
Three-Component Systems 28
Multicomponent Systems 29
Classification of Reservoirs and Reservoir Fluids 32
Phase Rule 54
Problems 55
References 57
2 Characterizing Hydrocarbon-Plus Fractions 59
Generalized Correlations 62
PNA Determination 82
Graphical Correlations 92
Splitting and Lumping Schemes 99
Problems 130
References 132
3 Natural Gas Properties 135
Behavior of Ideal Gases 136
Behavior of Real Gases 141
Problems 176
References 178
4 PVT Properties of Crude Oils 181
Crude Oil Gravity 182
Specific Gravity of the Solution Gas 183
Crude Oil Density 184
Gas Solubility 200
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Bubble-Point Pressure 207
Oil Formation Volume Factor 213
Isothermal Compressibility Coefficient of Crude Oil 218
Undersaturated Oil Properties 228
Total-Formation Volume Factor 231
Crude Oil Viscosity 237
Surface/Interfacial Tension 246
PVT Correlations for Gulf of Mexico Oil 249
Properties of Reservoir Water 253
Laboratory Analysis of Reservoir Fluids 256
Problems 321
References 327
5 Equations of State and Phase Equilibria 331
Equilibrium Ratios 331
Flash Calculations 335
Equilibrium Ratios for Real Solutions 339
Equilibrium Ratios for the Plus Fractions 349
Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Calculations 352
Equations of State 365
Equation-of-State Applications 398
Simulation of Laboratory PVT Data by Equations of State 409
Tuning EOS Parameters 440
Original Fluid Composition from a Sample Contaminated
with Oil-Based Mud 448
Problems 450
References 453
6 Flow Assurance 457
Hydrocarbon Solids: Assessment of Risk 458
Phase Behavior of Asphaltenes 470
Asphaltene Deposit Envelope 480
Modeling the Asphaltene Deposit 482
Phase Behavior of Waxes 495
Modeling Wax Deposit 502
Prediction of Wax Appearance Temperature 505
Gas Hydrates 506
Problems 530
References 531
Appendix 535
Index 551
viii contents
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Preface
The primary focus of this book is to present the basic fundamentals of equations of state
and PVT laboratory analysis and their practical applications in solving reservoir engineer-
ing problems. The book is arranged so it can be used as a textbook for senior and graduate
students or as a reference book for practicing petroleum engineers.
Chapter 1 reviews the principles of hydrocarbon phase behavior and illustrates the use
of phase diagrams in characterizing reservoirs and hydrocarbon systems. Chapter 2 pres-
ents numerous mathematical expressions and graphical relationships that are suitable for
characterizing the undefined hydrocarbon-plus fractions. Chapter 3 provides a compre-
hensive and updated review of natural gas properties and the associated well-established
correlations that can be used to describe the volumetric behavior of gas reservoirs. Chap-
ter 4 discusses the PVT properties of crude oil systems and illustrates the use of laboratory
data to generate the properties of crude oil for suitable use or conducting reservoir engi-
neering studies. Chapter 5 reviews developments and advances in the field of empirical
cubic equations of state and demonstrates their practical applications in solving phase
equilibria problems. Chapter 6 discusses issues related to flow assurance that include
asphaltenes deposition, wax precipitation, and formation of hydrates.
About the Author
Tarek Ahmed, Ph.D., P.E., is a Reservoir Enginering Advisor with Anadarko Petroleum
Corporation. Before joining the corporation, Dr. Ahmed was a professor and the head of the
Petroleum Engineering Department at Montana Tech of the University of Montana. He has
a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma, an M.S. from the University of MissouriRolla,
and a B.S. from the Faculty of Petroleum (Egypt)all degrees in petroleum engineering.
Dr. Ahmed is also the author of other textbooks, including Hydrocarbon Phase Behavior
(Gulf Publishing Company, 1989), Advanced Reservoir Engineering (Elsevier, 2005), and
Reservoir Engineeering Handbook (Elsevier, 2000; 2nd edition, 2002; 3rd edition, 2006).
ix
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Acknowledgments
It is my hope that the information presented in this textbook will improve the understand-
ing of the subject of equations of state and phase behavior. Much of the material on which this
book is based was drawn from the publications of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Tribute is paid to the educators, engineers, and authors who have made numerous and sig-
nificant contributions to the field of phase equilibria. I would like to specially acknowledge
the significant contributions that have been made to this fascinating field of phase behavior
and equations of state by Dr. Curtis Whitson, Dr. Abbas Firoozabadi, and Dr. Bill McCain.
I would like to express appreciation to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for granting
me the permission to publish this book. Special thanks to Mark Pease, Bob Daniels, and
Jim Ashton.
I would like express my sincere appreciation to a group of engineers with Anadarko
Petroleum Corporation for working with me and also for sharing their knowledge with
me; in particular, Brian Roux, Eulalia Munoz-Cortijo, Jason Gaines, Aydin Centilmen,
Kevin Corrigan, Dan Victor, John Allison, P. K. Pande, Scott Albertson, Chad McAllaster,
Craig Walters, Dane Cantwell, and Julie Struble.
This book could not have been completed without the editorial staff of Gulf Publish-
ing Company; in particular, Jodie Allen and Ruth Maassen. Special thanks to my friend
Wendy for typing the manuscript; I do very much appreciate it, Wendy.
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