Black-Oil Properties – Reservoir Fluid Studies

Instructional Objectives:
- List the different laboratory procedures that make up a complete black-oil laboratory
fluid study.
- Describe the laboratory procedure known as pressure-volume relations, list other
names for this procedure, discuss how to identify the data from this procedure if the
words accompanying the data are unreadable, and list the uses of the resulting data.
- Describe the laboratory procedure known as differential liberation, discuss how to
identify the data from this procedure if the words accompany the data are unreadable,
and list the uses of the resulting data.
- Describe the laboratory procedure known as a separator test and list the uses of the
resulting data.
- List the data from a black-oil laboratory fluid study that can be used directly in
engineering calculations.
- List the laboratory procedures from which data are used to calculate oil formation
volume factors and solution gas/oil ratios at pressures above bubble point pressure.
- List the laboratory procedures from which data is used to calculate oil formation volume
factors and solution gas/oil ratios at pressures below bubble point pressure.
- Explain optimum separator conditions and show how to determine them.
- Write the equations for calculating oil formation volume factors above and below
bubble point pressure.
- Write the equations for calculating solution gas/oil ratio above and below bubble point
pressure.
- Write the equation for calculating the coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil at
pressures above bubble-point pressure from laboratory data.
- Write the equation for calculating the oil density at pressures above bubble point
pressure from laboratory data.
- Describe the laboratory procedure known as CVD and explain what it is used for.

Introduction:

The following physical properties can be determined from the results of a black-oil reservoir
fluid study:
- Bubble point pressure,
and,
- Formation volume factor of oil,
- Solution gas-oil ratio,
- Oil density,
- Coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil,
- Oil viscosity
as functions of pressure as pressure decreases from initial reservoir pressure through the
bubble point to very low pressure.

1 A. El-Banbi
Also determined from the study are:
- z-Factor,
- Formation volume factor, calculated from z-factor,
- Specific gravity,
- Viscosity
of the gas evolved in the reservoir at pressures below the bubble point.

Which fluid properties can be used directly from laboratory report?

- Bubblepoint pressure
- Oil density
- Oil viscosity
- All gas properties

Which fluid properties must be calculated from data in laboratory report?

- Oil formation volume factor, Bo
- Solution gas-oil ratio, Rs
- Coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil, co

Why?
Above the bubble point the data are reported as:
reservoir volume
bubble - point volume

We want:
reservoir volume
Bo =
stock − tank volume

Below the bubble point, the data are reported as:

reservoir volume gas − in − solution
and
residual volume residual volume

We want:
reservoir volume gas − in − solution
Bo = and RS =
stock − tank volume stock − tank volume

2 A. El-Banbi
Laboratory Procedures for Black-Oil Fluids:
The five major procedures are:
- Composition measurement
- Flash vaporization
- Differential vaporization
- Separator tests
- Oil viscosity measurement

Composition Measurement:
Traditionally, compositional data in the oil industry have only been reported to C7+, the
compositional information being mainly based on low temperature fractionate distillation data.
This level is inadequate for accurate modeling of the phase equilibrium and physical properties
of the hydrocarbon mixtures.
In recent years, new methods have been developed for experimentally determining the
composition of hydrocarbon mixtures. These methods yield a far more accurate and detailed
description of the hydrocarbon systems. The compositional description of the reservoir fluid is
done by analyzing separately samples of the gas and liquid phases, which when recombined in
the correct gas to liquid ratio will yield the reservoir fluid composition. The compositional
description of the gas phase is carried out in one step: N2, CO2, C1 – C10 by capillary column
chromatography. The liquid phase compositional description is carried out in two steps:
1- To C10+ using the capillary column chromatography.
2- From C10 to C20+ using a mini distillation apparatus.

Flash Vaporization:
Also called constant mass depletion, constant mass expansion, constant composition expansion
(CCE), or pressure-volume relations.

pb

Vt Liquid Vt Liquid
Liquid
Vt
Liquid
Liquid
Liquid Gas
Vt Gas
Liquid Vt
Hg Hg Hg
Liquid
Hg
Hg

First Second Third Fourth

Step Step Step Step

3 A. El-Banbi
Procedure:
A ready recombined sample is charged to the PVT cell at constant pressure through a valve at
the top of the cell. The cell may be equipped with one or more windows for monitoring the
charging and subsequent operations. The charging process is performed at the pressure in the
sample cylinder. Constant pressure is maintained using mercury pumps.
The cell is immersed in a thermostat and heated to the reservoir temperature, or any other
required temperature, before the cell is charged. This is important because heating after
charging could, without proper monitoring of the oil pressure, lead to excess cell pressures due
to thermal expansion of the mercury and the sample. Once the system has been equilibrated at
the desired (usually reservoir) temperature, the PVT analyses can start.
The volume of the cell is allowed to expand and both volume and pressure are measured.

Data from Flash Vaporization Procedure:

p Vt
Pressure, Total Volume,
psig cc
5000 61.030
4500 61.435
4000 61.866
3500 62.341
3000 62.866
2900 62.974
2800 63.088
2700 63.208
2605 63.455
2591 63.576
2516 64.291
2401 65.532
2253 67.400
2090 69.901
1897 73.655
1698 78.676
1477 86.224
1292 95.050
1040 112.715
830 136.908
640 174.201
472 235.700

Determination of Bubble-Point Pressure from Flash Vaporization Data:

4 A. El-Banbi
 4500

3500

Pressure, psig

pb=2620
2500

1500
60 Vb=63.316 70
Volume, CC

By plotting the pressure versus the total volume, we can identify two lines with different slopes
in most cases. The point of intersection is the bubble-point pressure. In more volatile fluids,
identification of the intersection point is usually more difficult.

The volume of the hydrocarbon system as a function of the cell pressure is reported as the ratio
of the reference volume. This volume is termed the relative volume and is expressed
mathematically by the following equation:
𝑉𝑡
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑙 =
𝑉𝑠𝑎𝑡

Laboratory Data from Flash Vaporization:

An example Flash Vaporization data from a typical black-oil PVT report follows.

5 A. El-Banbi
The density of the oil at the saturation pressure is determined from direct weight-volume
measurements on the sample in the PVT cell. Above the bubble-point pressure, the density of
the oil can be calculated by using the recorded relative volume.

𝜌𝑠𝑎𝑡
𝜌=
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑙

The relative volume data frequently require smoothing to correct for laboratory inaccuracies in
measuring the total hydrocarbon volume just below the saturation pressure and also at lower
pressures. A dimensionless compressibility function, commonly called the Y-function, is used to
smooth the values of the relative volume. The function in its mathematical form is only defined
below the saturation pressure and is given by the following expression:
𝑝𝑠𝑎𝑡 −𝑝
𝑌= 𝑝(𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑙 −1)

The Y-function is usually computed by using the above equation. To smooth the relative volume
data below the saturation pressure, the Y-function is plotted as a function of pressure on a
Cartesian scale. When plotted, the Y-function forms a straight line or has only a small curvature.
The following figure shows the Y-function versus pressure for the Big Butte crude oil system.
The figure illustrates the erratic behavior of the data near the bubble-point pressure.

6 A. El-Banbi
 Y-Function versus pressure for Big Butte crude oil system (Ref. 4).

The following steps summarize the simple procedure of smoothing and correcting the relative
volume data:
Step 1. Calculate the Y-function for all pressures below the saturation pressure.
Step 2. Plot the Y-function versus pressure on a Cartesian scale.
Step 3. Determine the coefficients of the best straight fit of the data, or:

7 A. El-Banbi
 𝑌 =𝑎+𝑏𝑝
where a and b are the intercept and slope of the lines, respectively.
Step 4. Recalculate the relative volume at all pressure below the saturation pressure from the
following expression:
𝑝𝑠𝑎𝑡 −𝑝
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑙 = 1 + 𝑝 (𝑎+𝑏 𝑝)

Differential Vaporization:
Also called differential liberation or differential expansion.

Procedure:
The sample of reservoir liquid in the laboratory cell is brought to bubble-point pressure, and
temperature is set at reservoir temperature. Pressure is reduced by increasing cell volume, and
the cell is agitated to ensure equilibrium between the gas and the liquid. Then all the gas is
expelled from the cell while pressure in the cell is held constant by reducing cell volume.
The gas is collected, and its quantity and specific gravity are measured. The volume of liquid
remaining in the cell is also measured.
The process is repeated in steps until atmospheric pressure is reached. Then temperature is
reduced to 60oF, and the volume of remaining liquid is measured. This is called residual oil from
differential vaporization or residual oil.

Gas Gas
pb

Vo Liquid Vo Liquid
Vo Liquid Gas Gas

Liquid Liquid
Hg Hg Hg
Hg Hg

First step

8 A. El-Banbi
Data from Differential Vaporization Procedure:

Vo Incremental
p Gas Gas Oil Gas
Pressure, removed,* removed,** volume Gravity
psig cc scf cc
2620 - - 63.316 -
2350 4.396 0.02265 61.496 0.825
2100 4.292 0.01966 59.952 0.818
1850 4.478 0.01792 58.528 0.797
1600 4.960 0.01693 57.182 0.791
1350 5.705 0.01618 55.876 0.794
1100 6.891 0.01568 54.689 0.809
850 8.925 0.01543 53.462 0.831
600 12.814 0.01543 52.236 0.881
350 24.646 0.01717 50.771 0.988
159 50.492 0.01643 49.228 1.213
0 0.03908 42.540 2.039
0 39.572 at 60F
*at 220F and cell pressure
**at 60F and 14.65 psia

Vo Incremental Vg
p Gas Gas Oil Gas Gas in
Pressure, removed,* removed,** volume Gravity solution
psig cc scf cc scf
2620 - - 63.316 - 0.21256
2350 4.396 0.02265 61.496 0.825 0.18991
2100 4.292 0.01966 59.952 0.818 0.17025
1850 4.478 0.01792 58.528 0.797 0.15233
1600 4.960 0.01693 57.182 0.791 0.13540
1350 5.705 0.01618 55.876 0.794 0.11922
1100 6.891 0.01568 54.689 0.809 0.10354
850 8.925 0.01543 53.462 0.831 0.08811
600 12.814 0.01543 52.236 0.881 0.07268
350 24.646 0.01717 50.771 0.988 0.05551
159 50.492 0.01643 49.228 1.213 0.03908
0 0.03908 42.540 2.039 0.0
0 39.572 at 60F
*at 220F and cell pressure
**at 60F and 14.65 psia 0.21256 Vr = 39.572 cc = 0.00024890 bbl

9 A. El-Banbi
Separator Test:

Procedure:
A sample of reservoir liquid is placed in the laboratory cell and brought to reservoir
temperature and bubble-point pressure. Then the liquid is expelled from the cell though two
stages of separation. Pressure in the cell is held constant at the bubble-point by reducing cell
volume as the liquid is expelled.
The temperature of the laboratory separator and stock tank usually are set to represent
average conditions in the field. The stock tank is always at atmospheric pressure.

10 A. El-Banbi
 scf
Rsb =
pb STB
Gas
Gas
scf
Liquid scf

Separator
resbbl
Stock
tank
Hg
Hg Liquid

STB

Liquid
resbbl
Bob =
STB

Data from a Separator Test:

11 A. El-Banbi
Results of Separator Tests:

1.495 800 41.0

Stock-tank oil gravity, °API

Solution gas-oil ratio, Rsb
Oil formation factor, Bob

790
°API

1.405 780 40.5

Rsb
770

Bob

1.475 760 40.0

50 150 200 250 300
100
Separator pressure, psig

Oil Viscosity:

Oil viscosity is measured in a rolling-ball viscosimeter or a capillary viscosimeter, either

designed to simulate differential liberation. Measurements are made at several values of
pressure in a stepwise process. The liquid used in each measurement is the liquid remaining
after gas has been removed at that pressure.

Gas Viscosity:

Measurement of gas viscosity is very tedious. Obtaining accurate measurements on a routine

basis is difficult. Thus, gas viscosity is estimated from correlations using the values of gas
specific gravities or the composition of the gas measured in the differential liberation.

Calculation of Formation Volume Factor, Bo, and Solution Gas-Oil Ratio, Rs:
- At pressures above bubble-point pressure combine data from:
- Flash vaporization and
- Separator test
- At pressures below bubble-point pressure combine data from:
- Differential vaporization and
- Separator test

We start by selecting
- Oil formation volume factor at bubble-point, Bob

12 A. El-Banbi
 and the corresponding
- Solution gas-oil ratio at bubble-point, Rsb
from separator test.

At pressures above the bubble-point pressure:

V 
Bo = Bob  t 
 Vb  F
Rs = Rsb

where,
Bo = Oil formation volume factor at selected pressure, resbbl/STB
Bob = Oil formation volume factor at bubble-point pressure, resbbl/STB
 Vt 
  = Relative volume from Flash Liberation at selected pressure
 Vb  F
Rs = Solution gas/oil ratio at selected pressure, scf/STB
Rsb = Solution gas/oil ratio at bubble-point pressure, scf/STB

At pressures above the bubble-point pressure:

V 
Bo = Bob  t 
 Vb  F
res bbl at p res bbl at p b res bbl at p
= x
STB STB res bbl at p b

At pressures below the bubble-point pressure:

 Vo 
 
 Vr  D
Bo = Bob
 Vo 
 
 Vr  Db

 Vg 
 
 Vr  D
Rs = Rsb
 Vg 
 
 Vr  Db
 Vo 
  = Relative oil volume from Differential Liberation at selected pressure
 Vr  D
 Vo 
  = Relative oil volume from Differential Liberation at bubble-point pressure
 Vr  Db

13 A. El-Banbi
  Vg 
  = Gas-in-solution from Differential Liberation at selected pressure, scf/residual bbl
 Vr D
 Vg 
  = Gas-in-solution from Differential Liberation at bubble-point pressure, scf/residual
 Vr  Db
bbl

At pressures below the bubble-point pressure:

 Vo 
 
Bo = Bob  r  D
V
 Vo 
 
 Vr  Db

res bbl at p
res bbl at p res bbl at pb residual bbl
= x
STB STB res bbl at pb
residual bbl
 Vg 
 
Rs = Rsb  r  D
V
 Vg 
 
 Vr  Db
scf in solution at p
scf in solution at p scf in solution at pb residual bbl
= x
STB STB scf in solution at pb
residual bbl

Calculation of coefficient of isothermal compressibility, co, at p > pb:

(V / V )
ln t b F 2
(Vt / Vb )F1
co =
p1 − p2
co = Coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil between pressures p1 and p2, psi-1
 Vt 
  = Relative volume from Flash Liberation at pressure p1
 Vb  F 1
 Vt 
  = Relative volume from Flash Liberation at pressure p2
 Vb F2
p1 = Selected pressure, psig
p2 = Selected pressure, psig

14 A. El-Banbi
Calculation of oil density, o, at p > pb:
 ob
o =
 Vt 
 
 Vb  F
Oil densities at pressures below bubble-point pressure can be taken directly from differential
liberation data.
𝜌𝑜 = Oil density at selected pressure, lb/cuft
𝜌𝑜𝑏 = Oil density at bubblepoint pressure, lb/cuft
 Vt 
  = Relative volume from Flash liberation at selected pressure
 Vb  F

At pressures above the bubble-point pressure:

 ob
o =
 Vt 
 
 Vb F
lb
lb cu ft at pb
=
cu ft at p cu ft at p
cu ft at pb

Exercise 1:
Prepare a table of oil formation volume factors, solution gas-oil ratios, oil densities, and oil
viscosities for the oil of the sample given in this chapter. Use optimum separator conditions.

Solution:

15 A. El-Banbi
 Properties of Reservoir Liquid at 220F
Formation Solution
Volume Gas-Oil
Factor Ratio Oil Density Oil Viscosity
Pressure Bo Rs o o
psig res bbl/STB scf/STB psi/ft cp
5000. 1.421 768 0.295 0.450
4500. 1.430 768 0.293 0.434
4100. 1.438 768 0.292
4000. 1.440 768 0.291 0.418
3500. 1.451 768 0.289 0.401
3000. 1.463 768 0.287 0.385
2900. 1.466 768 0.286
2800. 1.469 768 0.285 0.379
2700. 1.472 768 0.285
2620. = pb 1.474 768 0.284 0.373
2350. 1.432 686 0.288 0.394
2100. 1.396 616 0.292 0.416
1850. 1.362 550 0.295 0.440
1600. 1.330 488 0.299 0.469
1350. 1.301 430 0.302 0.502
1100. 1.273 374 0.305 0.542
850. 1.246 319 0.309 9.590
600. 1.217 263 0.312 0.653
350. 1.183 201 0.316 0.742
159. 1.145 141 0.320 0.854
Separator conditions are 100 psig and 75F

Exercise 2:
Prepare a table of gas formation volume factors, gas densities, and gas viscosities for the
solution gas of the sample in the notes.

Solution:

Properties of Reservoir Gas at 220F

Formation
Volume Gas
Factor Gas Density Viscosity
Pressure z-Factor Bo o
psig res bbl/Mscf psi/ft cp
2620. .840 1.089 0.07406 0.0210
2350. .845 1.220 0.06450 0.0196
2100. .851 1.374 0.05583 0.0183
1850. .860 1.575 0.04770 0.0173
1600. .872 1.844 0.04028 0.0164
1350. .886 2.217 0.03346 0.0156
1100. .903 2.767 0.02723 0.0149
850. .921 3.637 0.02151 0.0142
600. .942 5.234 0.01603 0.0134
350. .965 9.036 0.01052 0.0125
159. .984 19.347 0.00583 0.0116

16 A. El-Banbi
Other Laboratory Procedures:

The differential vaporization procedure doesn’t simulate the production from gas condensate
reservoirs. When the pressure goes below the dew point in gas condensate reservoirs,
condensate drops out in place and usually doesn’t move because its saturation is usually less
than the critical saturation for the condensate to move. Therefore, another procedure in the
laboratory is used to simulate production from gas condensate reservoirs. This procedure is
called Constant Volume Depletion (CVD).

Constant Volume Depletion (CVD):

Also called Constant Volume Expansion.

Procedure:

Gas Gas
pd

Gas Gas Gas Gas

V Gas V V
Liquid Liquid
Liquid
Hg Liquid
Hg Hg Hg
Hg

First step Second step

In the CVD procedure, the pressure is reduced at steps starting form the saturation pressure
and a gas volume is removed from the PVT cell at constant pressure such that the volume of
the cell is kept constant. The relative volume of gas and liquid are measured and both the
volume and the composition of the gas removed are measured.

Comments:

The CVD procedure is also usually used to simulate the production of volatile oil reservoirs. The
laboratory procedure for CVD for volatile oil fluids is similar to the procedure for gas
condensate fluids.

17 A. El-Banbi
Unlike black-oil reservoirs, a small pressure drop results in large amount of gas produced in
place in volatile oil reservoirs. Some of this gas will be in contact with the oil (due to large gas
volume separated), and therefore, the CVD may better simulate the depletion process in
volatile oil reservoirs. However, in black-oil reservoirs, most of the gas coming out of solution
moves away from the oil either to create or joins the gas cap or to be produced from
production wells, and therefore, the differential liberation process better simulates the
depletion process in black-oil reservoirs.

Summary of Routine (Conventional) PVT Experiments

The above figure summarizes the conventional laboratory experiments and their relations to
the fluid type. Wet gas samples are usually treated similar to dry gases (composition is
measured) when they are light wet gases (CGR is less than 25 STB/MMscf, and condensate drop
out is not significant). They can be also treated similar to gas condensates (full GC analysis is
performed).

References:

1- McCain, W.D. Jr.: The Properties of Petroleum Fluids, 2nd Ed., PennWell Books, Tulsa (1990).
2- McCain, W.D., Jr.: “Calculation of Solution Gas-Oil Ratios from Black Oil PVT Reports
Revisited,” paper SPE 36017 (1996).
3- Pedersen, K.S., Fedenslund, A., and Thomassen, P.: Properties of Oils and Natural Gases,
Contributions in Petroleum Geology & Engineering, Vol. 5, Gulf Publishing Company,
Houston, (1989).
4- Ahmed, T.: Reservoir Engineering Handbook, 4th Edition, Gulf Publishing Company, Elsevier,
Burlington, MA, USA, 2010.

18 A. El-Banbi