Reservoir-Fluid Property Correlations—State of the Art W.D. McCain Jr.,* SPE, Cawley, Gillespie & Assocs, Inc. ‘Suramar, Tis pper press corenons wo Gormioe reservoir Dai properties from Geld daa, The best valle correlations ‘rere selected by comparizon with database of hundreds of eervolr- Dui sds of samples represcating all areas of the ree world involved inactive petroleum exploitation from 1980 to 1986, Also, coreltons of formaton-water properties ae ive. Introduction ‘Values of reservoir igi and gus properties ae often needed when Inboretory PVT data ae ot svaable. This oper shows bow to ‘he normally avalabe ld data to estinate uid properties. "While at Texas ABM U., Thad accesso a database of hundreds ot reel snes red by Ge Lars i. Te feoprptical and geological orpiat of the reservoir samples bad ‘Ehcareilly removed fom the daa bo be samples were know to represent all reas ofthe re word in which petleam expoi- tation was ative during the ist 6 years ofthe 1980's "All eservoit-id property correlations avalable i the pewoe- tum enpncering Hterature were compared wit this database. Ths paper gives the best comets. Mdentifieation of Reservolr-Fiuld Type ‘Surprisingly accurate “le of thant’ aze avaiable! to identify ‘scrofa pe from eld dan. When inal proucing GOR {5°23,300 scSTB, the fii uid at reservoir condions ‘Poostie exceptions eccr ifthe stock-tank lil is eoloess or thea gravy higher an about SO-APL. Reservoir igude ae iter lack ols or volatile ols the peee- 1 mera balance equstions? work only for back os. The be- favor of volatile ols does tft the assumpons inbereat in the derivation of the materia balance equations Back os are ident Sd a ving inital prodocing GOR's below 2,000 stSTB and deeply colored stock tank oll with graves below 45°APL Reservoir pass ae lasiied as reuograde paces fen called condcaste pies of fa condense), Wet gases, and ry ese. Retrograde gee have inital producing GOR's > 3,300 scUSTB. ‘The few exceptions of oleh have ran higher han this re ide ‘Ueda ving deeply colored sock tank liquids with graves < {40°API. Retrograde behavior occurs for gases with inal roduc ing GOR’s of 150,000 sc STB or higher however, aw practical ‘ater, gate with inka producing GOR's = 30,000 sfSTB can te reed as wet gases. “Te term wet gas sued for a gas that doesnot release condea- sate in the reservoir Bt does form hydrocarbon iui tthe sur- ee. Te term dy eu sed for 4 gat tat does ot form any Fyaroarbon li tthe surface. ln ths coset, be terms "Wwet™ hi"dry" do ao efero water or water vapor, which i always present fo some eet. Properties of Reservolr Liquids ‘The physical properties discused next apply oly to black ls. Ea- _Boeerng a volatlell reervoir requires special laboratory study ot clacsred here. Solution GOR st Bubblepoint, Ry. The inal prodocing GOR roves good esnate of elon GOR for use at pressures equal {band above bubblepoint pressure. This wil ot etre i fee pas from gecap or aohe formations prodaced with the ol Field (uta fen exit a great deal of scater; however, end of con- ‘tat GOR usualy cn be cera before reservoir pressre drops below he babblepoint “Often the reported ales of producing GOR dont include tock tank vet gas Ins case, the use of inital producing GOR for rt ty Prange 6 ‘solution GOR results in values that are low by 10% or more. The ‘Mocktnk GOR can be estimated with? log Rr Ay 4a Jog 164s 18 150+ S08 Pe +s 08 Toes — where Ay=0.3818, y= 5.506, Ay=2.902, 4¢=1327, and As=~0.7385, Eq, 1 should not be sed if the Sepertoe tempers tate is > M40"F. ‘Addition ofthe estimate of stocktnk GOR from Eq. 1 w the separator GOR results in an estimate of soluion GOR accurate to ania 3 blepont Presure, py. The bubblepoat pressure ofthe oil at reservoir condions abe ested With! Po=182AG p14), where Cal) x10 00817-20025ran) o to an accuracy of 15%. The specific gravity f he Separator gas fan be used for 743 however, Ry should lacude soek-tank eat {5 The equations are valid to 525°F, "A more ascurte etme of bobble pressure cn be obtained Solution GOR, Ry. Bas. 2 and 3 can be used wo estimate solution ‘GOR for pressures below te ubblepis. Enter any pressure be- low bubblepoint in place of pin Bq. 2 and calculate the corre. ‘sponding Yale of tol GOR with Eq. 3. The results should ‘be wide 15% of measured values. a feld-lerived bubblepoint presure bas been obtained from pressure measurements as describ above, he accuracy ofthe er- {mates of solation GOR can be improved. Stat by cresting a ta be of presures aad solution GOR's. Subtract the feld-derved ‘bubblpoint pressure from the babblepoin pressure calculated with Egg, 2 end 3 to obain a "dla presse.” Surat this “dela pres- fue” from all pressures in the R, Ys p uble. Tis ‘works very well for pressures near the bublepoat Its less ac (ur at low pressures. OW FVF, B,. The oil FVF for use at prestures equal oor below bubblepoin‘can be estimated with By 0.97594 1200-5)Cpay 2, o where Coop Ry tg!Y=)°S41.25T. ooo ) ‘The equation canbe usd for any pressure eq oor below the ‘bublepont by inserting the ig value of soltion GOR ‘erie a dscseed shove, The reuling FV value wl be with Si of idoraory-mearured values if accurate valves of solution ‘GOR are wed. if solution GOR’s are obtained with Eqs. 2 and 3, the accuracy of the rerulting FVF values wil be some unknown, ‘combination of the 15% accuracy of Eqs. 2 and 3 andthe 5% ac ‘ray of Eas. 4 abd 5. Do nt ute a temperstres above 35°F. ‘SP Reservoir Egieting, May 1991‘At pressures above bubblepoit pressure, the ol FVP is eae tated wih By=Bas excel PAPI 6 where FV a th beblepoin is etimated as discussed above, Es Tinton ofthe coe ficient of thermal compresiiy of oc, fe dscused ler. ‘011 Density at Reservoir Conditions, gx. Bg, 7 may be wed to ‘cle the density of theo in he eval a butlcpla pres fe (and below) from estimated values of B, and Pea os10 +0.01357R VB, cesses where ni the density of the eerol igi atthe pressure and temperte at which Band , were exinaed. A weighed aver- ge of separtor and soc-unl-gs specif raves shold be wed for ygstowever, the tse of separator gas gravity gives adequate teailf. The accuracy of is clcalton shouldbe sone unknown ‘combination of he accuracy ofthe esinates of , und; bow ‘ver, in practice, the calcalted densy is within 5% of laboratory ‘meatared values, ‘Deny of reservoir ol at pressures shove the bublepoat can be elite with Pom Pas exCaP-PO: « (Coetclent of Isothermal Compressbiy of Ot, The coet- ‘Set of otbermal compress oo, ofen cal 0 compres Bly, i defined for pressures sbove ihe bublepoint as ® eee“ UNIGVDI. +00) 18,188.90). >) oF g™(Ul0006e9)n- 60) ‘A prem elow he tei, ci empress esi AAG) o Gap) ae, po i? coy tag, tAsT+Aerg tAst Arig Pr ay ‘ales of compressibility calculated with Ea 1 are gencral- ly low, by as much as 30% at hgh pressares. Accuracy is improved st prearues near te bobbepoint. Te dataset wed to develop this xin incoed press a high as 9,500 psig; however, he Shor didnot give temperature range. "At pressures below the bublepolat,? ag) = =7.633-1.497 lop) +1.115 nT) 40.533 Ineyar) 40.186 tal). 12) “The ress are acute to within 108 at pressures above 500 psa Below $00 pi, the sour witha 20%. Ibe bubblepoint pres iris know, the acuracy of estimates of ol compressibility at ‘resures below bubblepoint can be improved by using? Inte.) =—7.573-1.450 In(p)~0.383 laps) +1402 I(T) 40.256 tnkyan)+0.49 In) 3) [gs 12 and 13 ae valid to 330°F and 5,30 psa, (01 Viscosity, xy: Estimation of i viscosity at pressures below the bbbleolnt sa twostep procedure Fis, the viscosity ofthe fl without dislved gas (dead oi), pp, estimated at reservoir texperanrel™: og logo #1)=1.8653 0.025086, ~0.5644 log T. as 1st at ith rng oft S8°AP a0 15°F. SPE Reser Raging, May 1991 ‘The, the effect of solution GOR corresponding to the presse of, fntret i taken ito account wih! Hema? eee as) where A=10.715(R,+100)-0515 46) aod BeS.44R, +150)-239, ay gu 15hoagh 17 were derived wi am0 295° an 250 pi. ‘Oil vec at pressures above the bobblepoint x estimate by first calelating viscosity the bubblepoint with Eas. 14 through 17 from the slaion GOR a the bableoint and then adjusting ‘viscosity 0 higher pressures wih” Hom neal DiPad®, (18) where B=Cyp expCh+C4p), see) snd C)=2.6, Cy=1.187, Cy=11.513, and Cy -8.98K10-3. Es. 18 ant 19'were developed from a data babe wih pressures 10',300 psi: the aplcabletemperatires were no give." appears that th east oo coat to ober prope tes ofthe ole too complied tobe explained bythe ited Sei at orally avaiable. Thos, the values fo viscosity car ‘ulated with Es. 16 trough 19 shold be considered to be “order- ‘otsmagnitade™ exits ony Properties of Reservoir Gases oper of iy ue wie conse int Then heel toms necessary for estimating properties of reervolwet aes wll te ducused. Retoprade gues wl ot be coniredbeease ‘special abortry report required for these aes. Compressibility Equation of State The equation of sae most ‘fea used by petroleum eopaers is pv=onkT. +20) ‘Te Stnding Kats? correlation o factors has stood the test cof time, Tir graphical conlaton may be represented 8) ELH dally dally +Aallg +l Wipe Het Aa et AT Wp? Atha +Aalle p> +AW( Asie y Opp? EAA pe?) 20 Fp=02P pM : 2) where Ay =0,3265, Aa — 1,000, dy = ~0.5339, 4 =0.01500, As==0 0816S, Agm0.S175, Ay= 0.7361, 440-1844, Ap 051056, 4yo=0.6158, and 420.7210. Eq 2 ‘ee Standing Rite corelston to within 1% for 0.2 eesseenananteeneen o aod B= 12166-2.63951(10-2)5+6.79461(10-92 45.47119(10-5$9 ~1.58586(0-9 oo, Bg, 62 its the exiting graphical coreatin® wo within 5% atm peratures between 100 and 400°F and salinities to 26%. ‘Water vscosiy a |x can be ajsted to reservoir presse wit ly ~0.9894+4.0295%10-5p+3.1062x10-%92. (65) 1,65 fits dla at 8610 167°F and pressures below 10,00 pia fo within 4%. At pressure between 10,000 and 15,000 psa, he ft to witha 7% ‘Moisture Content of Natral Gas. The dexpiat water-vapor con foot of tural at gull with iid water may be ale lated wit WeAipB, eeseeesee edo where A=P 9,0 ci PMO OTHE 6 Tin ue so log B= 3088.17) 46.6048, 65 gs. 66 trough 68 give ests that areas acute as moire conta canbe measured (aboot 5%) a pressures to 10,00 pia wrtcriy henge nae tte pow TEgTEy Seibel be alps nc oes es pit mt sant, o where S=salisity, m1, Bq, 69 agree with he exiting graphical Corea? 10 within 1% "The sbovecorlations were developed fr drys systems con taining no nonhydrocarbon components. The prescce of heavier Iydroarbons in wet ates orreroprade gases wl increase the water enteat by a mach 88 10% a 1,000 psa and 20% at 10,000 pai ‘Natural gus that coniins substantial mounts of COp and/or HS till conan more water vapor.°© ANhoogh no data are available, the inrease is probably on the order of 3. Substantial amounts tof mirogen or helium wll lower the moisture coateat.3) Limited ‘aun ar avaiable; the decrease is probably 510 10%. Hydrate Formation. Hydrocarbon gs ad quid water wil com- bite to form slid called gas hydrates a temperatures above che Aemperotire which water freezes Eq 7Ocanbe wed estimate te temperate at which hydrates wil frm Ty=U/2.TIOTIAO-2)~2.7822410-2) 7,)-5.6452900- (0a 7)=1.29859C10-9) dn) +1.40712110-*900 9) P) ++1.7857410~0a p)2-+1.13028010-9)00 4)? ++5:97282(10-400 ,)2a p)=2.32792(10-#)n 9,08»)? ~2,6808(10-50np)?+4.66106(10-9)0 99)* +5.3842410~)0 4) p)~1.47278(10-8)00 7) 00)? ++1.39381(10-#)n 7) dnp)? +1.48850(10-Syn 7) 4D. 5 +0) ‘The eximateofhyrate-forming temperaare could be i ero by S°F or mre, Do at use Bq. 70a emperaturcs above 62°F, pres ures sbove 1,500 psn, oF gas specifi gravis above 0.9. "Toe pesnceof HS andlor COs nthe gas will ase am a= creas in hyrateforing temperate, bu data a foo Lied te quantify ‘The presence of dissolved sls inthe water will decrease the tempeatre which hydrates form, The decrease canbe calclt= ihe AT\=AS+BP+CS, 7 aD where A=2,20919— 10.5746 +1212, oso (TDD B= ~0.106056+0.72269275-0.850037,2, - 3) snd C=0,00347221-0.0165564y, +0.019764y,?. m4 Eq 71 agrees withthe existing dats exactly when the results are ouned to the nearest whole degree Fabreselt. Egs. 71 through ‘Tare based on gas specific graves <0.68 and salinities <20%. ahbitor soften added tothe water i contact with gas to reduce the yrate-formi be caleulated wit Ty=2,335wi100M—Miw. cee) ‘Tre revue of Bg. 75 are wel within the seater of the experimen- ‘alas “The presence of gui hydrocarbons wid te gas and liquid water vil dcreasehydrate-foming tempers Data se limite, and the temperature decrease has no been quantified. Nomenclature ABC = coetBcients ‘By = FVE of dry ga, res sch of RBIscf = oll FVF, RBISTB (= war FVF, RBVSTB By = FVF of wet gas, RB/STB y= coefficient of isothermal compressibility of gas, afuig = #0 of mole faction of CO, sod HS in Ea 30 ‘fags = mole faetion of HyS in Ea. 30 ‘Gey = addtional ae prodaced, Eqs. 42 through 44, ScUSTB tines specific gravity ‘m= mass, bm mol [M = moleclar weight of solute in Eq. 75, Ibm ‘mol (My = apparent molecular weight, Ibn mot (Mal = apparent moleala weight of, Inaba mol "p= presare, pia pe = poesia pressure, pi TE, peendotial pressure adjusted for acids ‘content, pain Pp = pozadoredced presse usigo = por peste Of pure water a temperature of interest, pia 2 = universal gas constant, 10.732 (psn? )/(bm ‘mol"R), or producing GOR 2, = solution GOR, so /ST ‘Rept = producing GOR from primary separator, Rey ~ pstee GOR fom sock wk, STR 2, Gin op ne, sc 2 gy eo my 59 7 Spree Bp 1513, 20,23, Sim, mace 1 = byron ener, *F af = Sleeue i tydaetorton pera, *F Te pooled operate, 277 Fase epee std for ge ‘ome Tp = perce enperatee 2 Time Uy = spe volo, STR Wf 2 sdume af wa, 15 fe eit ts, 207d Tings ge vote ag rss elision iB, corcion yy = cng iS Sing temperate edoton heaven w = weg pone eh B75 17S ott cone of os, tit Wn = one cone in cot Wit ie, eat Mor = cn op con with pe ‘oe, hone y= compan of pa oe ion 1 prempesbiy trent son = Ske ol gov, “HE ‘T= ame wey 7S Sear of eatery sont = age ray of ps on rly sepasor 1 5 aed opener sees ‘on p= ence fe Si coun 05 Ze vical am pose and seri ‘cope 6p pe = veer op 2 ISS ic eae rs tenor temperature, «> = desi, gfem) in Ea. 38 or mt = ol density, Iba? ‘pon = fservoir ll densty at reservoir conditions, Thaw pr = pecooreduced dentity SP Reser Brgeig, May 1991 ‘sro ~ socetank ol density at standard conditions, Toevt? ou = water deasiy, Io? Subscripts id = CO,+H,S tir = ir 1b at bubblepoint pressure at reservoir temperate HS = hydrogen sulfide J = component j 2 recervoir conditions se = Sandard conditions SP = separstor ‘SPL = primary separator 'SP2 = Second stage separator ST = sock tak STO = socktank oll Acknowledgments 1 am gritefl to Core Laboratories Inc. and, in particular, o Pil Moses for providing the data used to evaluate these correlations. ‘Alo, than Cawley, Gillespie & Asoc. In. for permission to publish this paper. References 1. Moses, PL: “Eagicring A of Pas Behavior of Cade (08 and Conde Sea," 7PT ly 1980) 7-2 2, Sus, Re wactve OW al Rese Energy.” Trane, AIME (as30 tis 3-32 3, Rolin 8. MeCain,W.D. Je and Crepe, 1. “Estimation of ‘Ssttoe GO oe Os," JPT Gun. 199) 92-94; Tron, ADE, 2. 4, Sanig, MB. Vota and Phase Bhi of Fe Hyroear ‘ew Sites, SPE, Ricarson, TX (97 12 Mectin WD. drs The Proper of Parola Fide, soot ei- on, Pema Book, Tle (589) 120, 13,214,318 322, 313, a Marin 1. "Sinpie Egaon of ow ia Gas rive Reso: ‘dias Tiel Foundation of Malphace Presoe Baap Aaa en Dan AIME (1959) 216, 903 1 Nae Mind Boga, ILD. Colts or ld Physic Prep ty Proon" JPL Qe 188) 958-9. gee, AME "Comeae for Pt Pyare,” MS ‘he, U. of Ta, Tan, OX (970, ‘Mccain, W-D. Je Rls, 18 te Vile, AJ.: "The Coetceat ‘term Gopi of lc lst Pests Ble be Bab “Sepa” SPEFE (Sep 188) 659-82; Tn, AIME, 238. 10, Ng-TH. and toga £0. "On improved Tempers Voy Cecelia for Cro Ot ys” pape CIM 8-3-3 preset ‘te 19 Persie Seo CIM Ann Tec Meg, Bal, ay 10-3, 11, Beggs FLD, an Robinon JR: “Estinating te Viscosity of Cade (0 Spt," JP (Sept i875) 1160-1 12, Stig CB, od Katy DL "Deny of Natal Gases," Tra. AIME (9) 146, 140-0 1 Tas. Mate fo Cop 2-FacorCalettos" (Oi as J Dee. 20,1990) 646, 14, Drak PM and Abe Rane, 1: Calton of Facors fer Nana Ges Using Eun of Ste". Ce Pet. Teck OM ‘Sipe 919 336 15, Solon, RP? "Compresbity Factor foe High Molecular Weight Reserve Gases,” paper SPE 126 preset 1985 SPE A= 13 Tei Couftence and Exnibio, Las Ves, Sept 22-2. 16, When, Band Ans, es" Calne or Sour Gases, bon Proceing May 1972) 19-2, 19. Wher and Aa, Ka by Factor f Sour Natal (Ge Gin J. Ou Eng (Ap 1911) 26773 16, Moar, Bar, O.S, snd Ata "Comes of Nata (ses Gi Pet Heh (st -De. 1973) 17-80. {or Rewognde Caer "JPT Gly 1989) 77-3; Dra, AIME, 297 21 Lag buerreton Chars, Sober Wel Serves, Hows (1989) s m‘Author ‘Wiliam B. McCain dr Is an executive Setar ns Hoitch& Agr InCollege Staton, TX He previous was 1 petroleum engineer with Cawiey, ulaapie'& Aasoce in. In For Worth Sd taught petroleum engineering at ‘oxas ABM Grand Mlesteepp Stale U- Fe holds «BS dogree trom Mlsesppi State U and MS end PRD degrees from ‘Georgie Int cf Technology. Mecan wae smember_of the. 1908-80 Car Guidance Comte end the 1872-75 Textbook Commitee, He was 1672 Malsipl Section chal Than ncle member oie Education and Accreditation Com- Fates trom 1967 to 1971, eharng Hin 1870. 1 Metric Conversion Factors APL 141 S/(3L5+°APD_ = glom? m 8405 = Pa ‘at = " *c psi Wa sb 1801 175 sd im? coin wet SPERE ‘SMES ra aE Radtelmn cnet an Es 2. eta, J. an Webe, AT. iyioctboe- Wer td Formation ‘ast Clon" Peco ProctonHenook C.F wd, Rw Tole (et), SPE, Retro, 1X (9d) H, 221-2228. Oak TL: “The Bien af at Gs, Tengerare, td Pres 00 Se Compreniiy of Water" SPERE rb. 1988) 15-81, Dodson CR and Sending MD. "Pere, Vole, Tenge {Sob Relator fer Natal Ga Wor Maen" Dr. Prod Prac APL Daas (194) 173-73 Fame, Hie "Rapid Med fr Eating Reserves Compe ‘ine, JP (ape 968) 44-84 Tn, AME, 2. Mutews 5 S08 Ratl D.G Prsnre Blip and Flow Tess In a, Monograph Sere, SPE, Riarion, TX (196) 1 Calin, 0. Proper of Priced Waser," Pele Engineer ‘ne Hoot aly (oy, SPE, Rcrison, TX 987 217. Blinc, RP "Equi Mesure Contact of Naa Gas” r= each ball IGT, Cheapo (1988) 8,21 50. Ka, DL. eat: Handbook of Manual Gas Eninering, MeGoum- ». 2. ‘il book Go nc. New Yort Cay 1989) 19820, aso, Wt nd rot EM, J Ga send Thr Relation {othe Gperaon of Natrl Gas Ppels, Meoogriph Sees, USEM, Washing, DC (156) 8. Reba Aye 5. San D: “Pe Beta of Saul, FR: ‘Gase" Chem. Eng. Pro. (AME 1956 $2, 924-28 ‘SE Resevoir Engierng, May 1991