SPE 68234
Adjustment of Differential Liberation Data to Separator Conditions
Muhammad A. Al-Marhoun, SPE, King Fahd U. of Petroleum and Minerals
Copyright 2001, Society of Petroleum Engineers Inc.
This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2001 SPE Middle East Oil Show held in
Bahrain, 17–20 March 2001.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE Program Committee following review of
information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as
presented, have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to
correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any
position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Papers presented at
SPE meetings are subject to publication review by Editorial Committees of the Society of
Petroleum Engineers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper
for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is
prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300
words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous
acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented. Write Librarian, SPE, P.O.
Box 833836, Richardson, TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435.
Abstract
The actual reservoir process is neither flash nor differential.
Thus, regardless of the testing procedure, some adjustment
needs to be made to the resultant data to approximate the fluid
behavior in the oil production process. The conventional
method of adjustment extrapolates to negative values of
solution gas-oil ratio and formation volume factor leads to
values less than one at low pressure. Both extrapolations do
not conform to the physical behavior. This is due to the fact
that the conventional approach does not observe that the oil
relative density at reservoir conditions is the same regardless
of the process.
This paper presents a new approach to the adjustment of
differential liberation data to separator conditions. This
approach is based on the fact that both flash and differential
data should give the same value for the oil relative density at
the reservoir conditions. This is achieved by correcting all the
properties, i.e. solution gas-oil ratio, formation volume factor,
gas relative density and oil relative density. The new method
overcomes the disadvantages and limitation of the
conventional approach. This method is tested on 400 PVT files
from all over the world and the result is consistent with
physical behavior. A sample calculation is presented to outline
the new method.
Introduction
The differential solution gas-oil ratio is not the same as the
flash solution gas-oil ratio as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, the
differential and flash oil formation volume factors are not the
same as depicted in Fig. 2. Thus, regardless of the testing
procedures - flash or differential, some correction needs to be
made on the resultant data to approximate the fluid behavior in
the oil production process.
The oil that leaves the reservoir is flashed to the separator,
necessitating that the solution gas oil ratio and the formation
volume factor should be determined by a flash process.
In order to calculate the combination fluid properties from
standard data analysis, several assumptions were stipulated,
but these assumptions limit the range of application.
This paper describes a new method to adjust the
differential liberation data to separator conditions. This
method overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the
current method and come up with a correction procedure that
results in a consistent physical trend.
Reservoir Process
In differential liberation process, gas is removed from oil as it
is released from solution. While, in flash liberation process,
gas remains in contact with oil.
Generally, petroleum engineers consider that the liberation
process in the reservoir more closely approaches a differential
process. The fluid produced from the reservoir to the surface
is considered to undergo a flash process.
The actual liberation process in the reservoir is neither
flash nor differential. In certain localities, the process is flash,
and in others, the process is differential. In some other
localities the process does not match either of them. A
combination test proposed by Dodson2 is the closest to the
reservoir process. At each step of differential liberation test, a
sample is taken and flash liberated to obtain Rs, γo, Bo, and γg.
Here it can be seen that all properties including the γapi are
different at different pressures. Although this combination test
or composite liberation is an improvement and closest to
reservoir behavior, it does not match the actual reservoir
behavior. The appendix to reference 3 explains the differential
and flash processes, and their combination. From the
combination test, it is justified to correct all the properties
obtained by differential liberation test to flash liberation
including γg and γo.
Current Correction Procedures
In the current correction method of calculating the
combination fluid properties from standard data analysis,
several assumptions were made. The most important of those
assumptions as stipulated by Amyx et al.1 is:
1. The standard cubic feet of gas remaining in
solution at reservoir conditions which will be
2 MUHAMMAD A. AL-MARHOUN SPE 68234

liberated upon producing that liquid to the Bod = formation volume factor obtained by
separator by a flash liberation process is the differential liberation test.
difference between the original gas in solution Bo = formation volume factor adjusted to separator
and the differentially liberated gas corrected for conditions.
the reservoir shrinkage of the fluid.
Implicitly, the adjusted differential formation volume factor at
2. The relationship between the formation volume bubble point pressure is equal to the formation volume factor
factors of flash and differentially separated at bubble point pressure obtained from separator test.
samples remains constant over the entire pressure
range of interest. Bo = Bobf at P = Pb (4)
In equation form, the corrected differential solution gas oil
ratio at pressures below bubble point pressure according to the Disadvantages of current correction procedure
first assumption mentioned above is as follows: The adjustment method used in the industry outlined above
has several disadvantages:
1. At lower pressure, the solution gas-oil ratio
Rs = Rsbf - (Rsbd - Rsd)(Bobf / Bobd) (1) extrapolates to negative values, which is unacceptable
where and does not conform to the physical trend. Actually,
the following observation should be true:
Rs = solution gas oil ratio adjusted to separator
conditions Rs ≥ 0
Rsbf = bubble point solution gas oil ratio obtained This is undoubtedly the result of ignoring the
from separator test required adjustment in gas and oil relative densities.
The gas liberated in differential liberation has a
Rsbd = bubble point solution gas oil ratio obtained relative density, which increases with the decreasing
by differential liberation test pressure. The oil relative density for flash and
differential are different.
Rsd = differential solution gas oil ratio Despite the fact that reservoirs do not reach
Bobf = bubble point formation volume factor such low reservoir pressure, but the error is impeded
in near low-pressure values.
flashed through the separator to stock tank 2. For the correction of formation volume factor, the
conditions. value obtained at lower pressure leads to a value less
than 1, which does not conform to the physical
Bobd = bubble point formation volume factor behavior.
differentially liberated to stock tank To overcome these problems, the range of
applying the calculation procedure is limited to a
conditions. pressure above 500 psia. This is not a solution to the
problem, but a convenient way to dispel clear
Implicitly, the adjusted differential solution gas-oil ratio at anomaly. Actually, the following observation should
pressures above bubble point pressure is a constant equal to be true:
the solution gas-oil ratio at the bubble point obtained from Bo ≥ 1
separator test. 3. When the values of corrected properties were utilized
to calculate the live relative density at bubble point
Rs = Rsbf at P ≥ Pb (2) pressure, it does not agree with the flash live relative
density at bubble point pressure. This problem is
encountered due to an oversight in correcting oil and
In equation form, the second assumption states that the gas relative densities at standard conditions, as can be
adjusted differential formation volume factor at pressures seen from the following equation:
below bubble point pressure is evaluated from a combination
of differential vaporization data and separator test data as γob = (γo+2.18 x 10-4 Rsb γg) / Bob (5)
follows:

Bo = Bod (Bobf ⁄ Bobd) at P ≤ Pb (3) The new method

The new method of adjustment of the differential liberation
Where data to the separator conditions is based on the following
assumptions:
SPE 68234 ADJUSTMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL LIBERATION DATA TO SEPARATOR CONDITIONS
1. All the parameters of the differential liberation at
bubble point are corrected to bubble point parameters
obtained by flash liberation. The considered
parameters include gas-oil ratio, formation volume
factor, and oil and gas relative densities.
2. All the parameters of the last differential liberation
stage to the atmospheric pressure do not need any
correction. This is considered as a flash liberation.
3. The properties between bubble point pressure and
atmospheric pressure is proportionally adjusted. The
parameters that are to be adjusted from the
differential liberation data to the separator test are
gas-oil ratio, formation volume factor, oil relative
density, and gas relative density.
The adjusted differential solution gas-oil ratios at pressures
below bubble point are evaluated from the following equation:
Rsi = Rsdi (Rsbf / Rsbd)
The adjusted differential formation volume factor at
pressures below bubble point pressure are evaluated from the
following equation:
Boi = Bobf + ci (Bodn - Bobf)
Where,
ci = (Bobd - Bodi) / (Bobd - Bodn)
The adjusted differential gas relative density at pressures
below bubble point is evaluated from the following equation:
γgi = γgf + di (γgd - γgf)
n-1
Where,
di = (γgd - γgd ) / (γgd - γgd )
1 i 1 n-1
Where, γgd is the gas relative density at the lowest
n-1
pressure with Rs-value that is not equal to zero.
The adjusted differential oil relative density and API oil
gravity at pressures below bubble point pressure are evaluated
from the following equations:
γoi = γof + ci (γod - γof)
γapii = 141.5 / γoi - 131.5
Results and Discussion
The new method of adjusting the differential liberation data to
the separator condition has been tested on 400 PVT files from
3
all over the world and the result is consistent with physical
behavior. The detailed results of an example for one
experimental data set taken from a PVT file given in Table 1
are presented in Tables 2-6.
Table 2 presents the adjustment of solution gas-oil ratio
curve to the separator conditions. Columns 1 and 2 in Table 2
are from Table 1. Column 3 is calculated from Eq. 1 and
column 4 is calculated from Eq. 6. Figure 3 shows the three
curves, differential data, the current correction method Eq. 1,
and the new method Eq. 6. At the bubble point, the values
obtained at both new and current methods are equal to the
bubble point value obtained from flash liberation. At
atmospheric pressure, both the differential liberation value and
the value obtained from the new method are the same and
equal to zero. This is the expected value while the current
correction procedure results in negative value, which is
considered to be wrong. The new method adjusts the data
between bubble point and atmospheric pressure proportionally
(6) according to Eq. 6.
Table 3 presents the adjustment of oil formation volume
factor to the separator conditions. Columns 1 and 2 in Table 3
are from Table 1. Column 3 is calculated from Eq. 3 and
column 4 is calculated from Eq. 7. Figure 4 compares the
three curves, differential data, current correction method Eq.3,
and the new approach Eq.7. From the figure, at the bubble
(7) point, both the new method and the current correction method
are the same and it equals to the bubble point value obtained
from the flash liberation. At the atmospheric pressure, the
(8) value obtained from both the differential liberation and the
new method are the same. This is for the reason that the last
differential step is similar to a flash liberation. The data
between the two end-points are corrected proportionally
according to Eq. 7. The current correction method gives
values for oil formation volume factor lower than the values
(9)
obtained from the differential liberation at the atmospheric
pressure, which can not be explained rationally.
Table 4 presents the adjustment of gas relative density
(10)
curve to the separator conditions. Columns 1 and 2 in Table 4
are from Table 1. Column 3 is the same as the differential
values, since the current practice does not adjust the gas
relative density, while it takes the differential value. Column
4 is calculated from Eq. 9. Figure 5 shows the two curves.
One of them shows the differential data, and the other curve
indicates the new correction method for gas relative density
according to Eq. 9. The value at the bubble point for the new
method is the same as that of the bubble point value obtained
from the flash liberation. At the lowest pressure where Rs >
(11) 0, the gas relative density is the same as the differential data.
This is due to the consideration that at the last step in pressure
reduction down to atmospheric pressure, the differential
(12) liberation is a flash liberation. Equation 9 calculates the
values of gas relative density between the bubble point and the
lowest pressure proportionally.
Table 5 presents the adjustment of oil relative density
curve to the separator conditions. Columns 1 and 2 in Table 5
are from Table 1. Column 3 is the same as column 2 because
4 MUHAMMAD A. AL-MARHOUN SPE 68234

the current practice takes the differential values without ci = variable defined by Eq. 8
correction. Column 4 is calculated from Eq. 11. Figure 6
di = variable defined by Eq. 10
shows the two curves of the differential data and the new
correction method for oil relative density based on Eq. 11. It γapi = stock tank oil gravity, oAPI
is noticeable that, at bubble point pressure, the new method
γg = gas relative density (air = 1)
assumes the flash value as the adjusted value. At atmospheric
pressure, the new method takes the differential value as the γgd = gas relative density obtained by differential
adjusted value. The atmospheric pressure differential step is
liberation test (air = 1)
considered to be a flash liberation. Equation 11 calculates the
values of oil relative density between bubble point and γgf = gas relative density obtained from separator test
atmospheric pressure proportionally. The correction of oil
(air = 1)
relative density at different pressures is sound because if oil
samples at different pressures were flashed to atmospheric γo = oil relative density (water = 1)
pressure, different API gravity would result.
γod = oil relative density obtained by differential
Table 6 presents the calculated live oil relative density at
different reservoir pressures. Columns 1 and 2 in Table 6 are liberation test (water = 1)
from Table 1. Column 3 is calculated using Eq. 5 with current
γof = oil relative density obtained from separator test
method adjusted parameters. Column 4 is the new approach
values using Eq. 5 with corrected parameters. Figure 7 shows (water = 1)
that the new approach is the same as the flash liberation value
γob = bubble point oil relative density (water = 1)
for the live oil relative density at the bubblepoint pressure and
reservoir temperature. At atmospheric pressure, the value γop = oil relative density at pressure P and reservoir
based on the new approach value for the live oil relative
temperature (water = 1)
density is the same as the differential liberation calculated
value. The current method of correction failed to match the P = pressure, psia (kPa)
bubble point and the atmospheric values.
Pb = bubble point pressure, psia (kPa)
Conclusions Rs = solution gas-oil ratio, SCF/STB [std m3/stock-
1. A new method to adjust differential liberation data to
tank m3]
separator test is outlined and tested on numerous
experimental data sets and the method is found to Rsb = solution gas-oil ratio at bubble point pressure
give the right physical trend.
Rsbd = bubble point solution gas-oil ratio obtained by
2. The new method gives the correct oil relative density
at reservoir conditions when the adjusted data are differential liberation test
used while the current method of correction fails to
Rsbf = bubble point solution gas-oil ratio obtained from
give the right oil relative density at reservoir
conditions. separator test
3. The new method successfully gives the expected
Rsd = solution gas-oil ratio obtained by differential
values for all the PVT properties at both bubble point
and atmospheric pressures while the current method liberation test
succeeded in some and fails in other cases.
Subscripts
Nomenclature i ith differential stage
Bo = oil formation volume factor, bbl/STB [res n number of stages in the differential liberation test
3 3
m /stock-tank m ] d differential liberation test
Bob = bubble point oil formation volume factor f flash liberation test
Bobd = bubble point formation volume factor
References
differentially liberated to stock tank conditions.
1. Amyx, J. W., Bass, D. M., and Whitting, R. L.,
Bobf = bubble point formation volume factor flashed "Petroleum Reservoir Engineering," McGraw-Hill
Book Co., Inc., New York (1960) 395.
through the separator to stock tank conditions.
2. Dodson, C.R., Goodwill, D., and Mayer, E.H.,
Bod = formation volume factor obtained by differential "Application of Laboratory PVT Data to Reservoir
liberation test.
SPE 68234 ADJUSTMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL LIBERATION DATA TO SEPARATOR CONDITIONS 5

Engineering Problems," AIME Trans., Vol. 198, Table 3: Adjustment of Oil Formation Volume Factor
1953. Curve to Separator Conditions.
3. Moses, P. L., "Engineering Applications of Phase Current
Behavior of Crude Oil and Condensate System," JPT Pressure Diff. Data Correction New
(July 1986), 715-723. (psia) Curve Method Approach
4. Carlson, M. R., "Tips, Tricks and Traps of Material 2079 1.342 1.2890 1.2890
Balance Calculations," Journal of Canadian 1815 1.316 1.2640 1.2678
Petroleum Technology (December 1997), Vol. 36, 1615 1.296 1.2448 1.2514
No. 11, pp. 34-48 1415 1.274 1.2237 1.2335
1215 1.255 1.2054 1.2180
SI Metric Conversion Factors 1015 1.235 1.1862 1.2016
141.5/(131.5+ γapi) = γo (unit-less) 815 1.213 1.1651 1.1837
bbl x 1.589 873 E + 01 = m3 615 1.192 1.1449 1.1665
fto3 x 2.831 685 E – 02 = om3 415 1.171 1.1248 1.1494
( F + 40)/1.8 – 40 = C 215 1.145 1.0998 1.1281
psi x 6.894 757 E + 00 = kPa 115 1.126 1.0815 1.1126
15 1.053 1.0114 1.0530

Table 1: Differential and Flash Data. Table 4: Adjustment of Gas Relative Density Curve
No. Pressure Bod Rsd γg γapi γop to Separator Conditions.
1 2079 1.342 586 0.9336 0.718362 Current
2 1815 1.316 524 0.9607 0.725318 Pressure Diff. Data Correction New
3 1615 1.296 477 0.9859 0.730938 (psia) Curve Method Approach
4 1415 1.274 426 1.019 0.737369 2079 0.9336 0.9336 0.8024
5 1215 1.255 381 1.0551 0.742957 1815 0.9607 0.9607 0.8339
6 1015 1.235 334 1.1017 0.748982 1615 0.9859 0.9859 0.8632
7 815 1.213 283 1.1673 0.755805 1415 1.0190 1.0190 0.9017
8 615 1.192 235 1.2503 0.762440 1215 1.0551 1.0551 0.9436
9 415 1.171 187 1.3651 0.768937 1015 1.1017 1.1017 0.9978
10 215 1.145 131 1.5553 0.776587 815 1.1673 1.1673 1.0740
11 115 1.126 92 1.742 0.781273 615 1.2503 1.2503 1.1705
12 15 1.053 0 0 36.0 0.802257 415 1.3651 1.3651 1.3039
Flash 2079 1.289 526 0.8024 38.1 0.718639 215 1.5553 1.5553 1.5250
115 1.7420 1.7420 1.7420

Table 2: Adjustment of Solution Gas Oil Ratio Curve to

Table 5: Adjustment of Oil Relative Density Curve
Separator Conditions.
to Separator Conditions.
Current
Current
Pressure Diff. Data Correction New
Pressure Diff. Data Correction New
(psia) Curve Method Approach
(psia) Curve Method Approach
2079 586 526.0 526.0
2079 0.8448 0.8448 0.8343
1815 524 466.4 470.3
1815 0.8448 0.8448 0.8353
1615 477 421.3 428.2
1615 0.8448 0.8448 0.8360
1415 426 372.3 382.4
1415 0.8448 0.8448 0.8368
1215 381 329.1 342.0
1215 0.8448 0.8448 0.8375
1015 334 284.0 299.8
1015 0.8448 0.8448 0.8382
815 283 235.0 254.0
815 0.8448 0.8448 0.8390
615 235 188.9 210.9
615 0.8448 0.8448 0.8397
415 187 142.8 167.0
415 0.8448 0.8448 0.8405
215 131 89.0 117.6
215 0.8448 0.8448 0.8414
115 92 51.5 82.6
115 0.8448 0.8448 0.8421
15 0 -36.9 0.0
15 0.8448 0.8448 0.8448
6 MUHAMMAD A. AL-MARHOUN SPE 68234

Table 6: Calculated Live Oil Relative Density at

Reservoir Temperature.
Current
Pressure Diff. Data Correction New
(psia) Curve Method Approach
2079 0.718362 0.738425 0.718639
1815 0.725318 0.745606 0.726285
1615 0.730938 0.751376 0.732399
1415 0.737369 0.757943 0.739328
1215 0.742957 0.763601 0.745360
1015 0.748982 0.769645 0.751817
815 0.755805 0.776390 0.759056
615 0.762440 0.782806 0.766021
415 0.768937 0.788848 0.772794
215 0.776587 0.795561 0.780530
115 0.781273 0.799180 0.785084
15 0.802257 0.835243 0.802257
600 1.40

1.35
500 Formation volume factor (bbl/STB)
Solution gas - oil ratio (SCF/STB)

1.30
Rs Diff. Data Curve B o Diff . Data Curve
400
1.25

300 Rs Flash Data Curve 1.20 B o Flash Data Curve

1.15
200

1.10

100
1.05

0 1.00
15 415 815 1215 1615 2015 2415 15 415 815 1215 1615 2015 2415
Pressure (psi) Pressure (psi)

Fig. 1. Typical solution gas-oil ratio curves Fig. 2. Typical oil formation volume factor curves

600 1.4
Diff. Data Curve
Diff. Data Curve
500 Current Correlation Method
Formation volume factor (bbl/STB)

Current Correlation Method

Solution gas- oil ratio (SCF/STB)

The New Approach

The New Approach

1.3
400

300

1.2
200

100
1.1

-100 1
15 315 615 915 1215 1515 1815 15 315 615 915 1215 1515 1815
Pressure (psi) Pressure (psi)
Fig. 3. Adjustment of solution gas-oil ratio to separator conditions Fig. 4. Adjustment of oil formation volume factor to separator conditions
SPE 68234 ADJUSTMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL LIBERATION DATA TO SEPARATOR CONDITIONS 7

1.80 0.85

1.70 Diff. Data Curve

Current Correlation Method

1.60 The New Approach

0.85
Gas relative density

1.50

Oil relative density

1.40 Diff. Data Curve

Current Correlation Method

1.30 0.84 The New Approach

1.20

1.10
0.84
1.00

0.90

0.80 0.83
15 315 615 915 1215 1515 1815 15 315 615 915 1215 1515 1815
Pressure (psi) Pressure (psi)

Fig. 5. Adjustment of gas relative density to separator conditions Fig. 6. Adjustment of oil relative density to separator conditions

0.84

Diff . Data Curve

0.82 Current Correlation Method

The New Approach
Live oil relative density

0.80

0.78

0.76

0.74

0.72

0.70
15 315 615 915 1215 1515 1815
Pressure (psi)

Fig. 7. Calculated live oil relative density at reservoir temperature