Vv Technology Today Series Heavy Components Control Reservoir Fluid Behavior William D. McCain Jr., SPE, $.A. Holditch & Assocs. Inc. ‘The five reservoir fluids (black oils, volatile oils, retrograde gas- ‘condensates, wet gases, and dry gases) are defined because tion ofeach fluid requires different engineering techniques. The uid type must be determined very early inthe life ofa reservoir (often before sampling or intial production) because fluid type is, the critical factor in many ofthe decisions that must be made about producing the fluid from the reservoir! Introduction Reservoir fluid type can be confirmed only by observing represen tative fluid sample in the laboratory. However, “ules of thumb” based on initial producing GOR, stock-tank liguid gravity, and ‘tock-tank liquid color usually wll indicate fuid type. Initial pro- 3,200 15.000 ‘00000 Intl sok tank uid avy. ag 0 ~40 Upio70 Nos Coo ck ak tad oak Cored —_Lghtiyclred ater wit Not “For engnetng pues TABLE 2—EXPECTED RESULTS OF LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE FIVE FLUID TYPES!” Black Ol ——Voatio ot —_“trgrade Wi Gas Dry Gas Prase angel esenclBibblepoht”—Bibbeport Dewpoint Nophaso change No phase ange | Mepis ps, ma Son “wes ces oy “or Orv at ebleont 20 320 ® * ° “For engineering purposes. defined for engineering purposes. They should not be confused with reservoir fluid descriptions defined by legal agencies that regulate the petroleum industry. Regulatory definitions of oi, erude oil, con- densa, gas, natural gas, casng-head gas, etc, are not related to these engineering definitions and, infact, often contradict them, Roferencos |. McCain, W.D.Je: The Properties of Pwo Fluids, seco edition, PennWell Books, Tulsa (1990) 148-58, 409-11 2. Moses, PL: "Engieering Applications of Phase Behavior of Crude Oi and Condensate Systems," JPT (lly 1986) 71. 5 MoCain, WD. Ir: "Reservoir uid Proper Carelations—Sateofthe ‘An." SPERE (May 1991) 26. 4. McCain, WD. Je! “Chemical Composition Determines Behavior of Reservoir Pid,” Pot Eng. nl (Oct 1993) 18 5. McCain, WD. J: "Black Oil and Volatile Ols—What's the Dilfer ence," Pet Eng, In. No, 1983) 24 6 Jacoby, KH. and Beny, VI. Je: "A Method for Predicting Depletion Performance of a Reservoir Producing Volatile Crade Oi,” Trans, ‘AIME (1957) 210, 27. Seultuis, RJ “Active Oil and Reservoir Energy.” Trams, AIME (2936) 118,33 8. Cordell, JC. and Eber, CK. “A Cate History Comparison of Pre ited and Actual Performance of ReservoieProucing Volatile Crude iL" JPT @Nov. 1965) 1291. 9. Resdthuter, FO. and Hinds, RF: “Compositional Material Balance “Method for Prediction of Recovery foe Volatile Oi Depletion Drive Reservoirs" Trans. AIME (1957) 210,19. 10, Coat, KH. and Smart, GT: "Application ofa Regression Based EOS PVE Progra to Laboratory Dat,” SPERE (May 1986) 277. LMeCain, WD. Jr and Bridges, B. "Volatile Oils and Reoprase Gases— What's the Difference." Pet. Eng. In. Jan, 1994) 3, 12. Niemstchik, GE Poetmans, FH. and Thompson, eS. "Corelation for Determining Gas Condensate Composition” paper SPE 26183 pes: 750 ented atthe 1993 SPE Gas Technology Symposium, Calgary, June 2530. 13, Gold, DK. MeCain, W.D. J, and Jennings, W. “An Improved Meth- ‘forthe Determination ofthe Reservoir Gas Speci Gravity for Ret- fograde Gases,” JPT ly 1989) 747, Tran, AIME, 287. 14, ayes, DG. al: “Two-Phase Compressibity Factors or Retrograde Gases," SPEFE (March 1992) 87, Tran, AIME, 293. 15.Crate BC and Hawkins, ME: Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineer ‘ng, Protice-Hal, Englewood Cis, NJ (1959) 39-44 82. 16, MeCain, WD. Je and iper LD. "Reser ie Gases Fah Sle Dif. ferenes." Pet Eng, In, (March 1994) 4, 1. McCain, WD. Jrs"Revise Gas-Oil Ratio Criteria—Key Indicator of Reservoir Fd Type,” Pet. Eng tl (Apa 1994) 57. Wiliam D. MeCain Jt. & 2 senior executive with S.A. Holditch & |ASSOCE. ING. College Station, TX. and a pat-tme visting pores 0° of petroleum enginaeting at Texas A&M. He has writen two ‘edtions of Properties of Petroleum Flucs. He holds 2 88 degree fom Missssp State U. and MS onc PhO degrees trom Georgio Inet. of Tecrmology. McCain teaches the SPE shor couse “o- View forthe ineiples and Practice Examination” and fought the short couse on reservo fluid properties. He so member of the Eaitorel Review Committee cna was G meme: of the 1986-65 Career Guidance, 1972-75 Textbook, and 1967-71 Education nd Accreditation (1970 chairperson) committees. ‘s September 1994 + IPI