9 Properties of Gas Condensates:

Application of Reservoir Fluid Studies

Some service companies calculate a table of instantaneous recoveries using the

compositions of the produced gas at each step of the Constant Volume Depletion
(CVD) along with selected values of the temperatures and pressures of the
separators and stock tank (see page 17/17 of table 8–1). These calculations can be
very accurate if accurate values of K-factor are used. This calculation procedure is
described elsewhere.1 If untuned equations of state or equations of state tuned to
data measured at reservoir conditions are used, then the quality of these calculations
is problematic.
Subsequent calculations use the cumulative recoveries reported at the bottom
of the Constant Volume Depletion study. On page 11/17 of table 8–1, these are
reported as “Wellstream produced – Cumulative percent of initial.” The word
“initial” should be replaced with “in place at dewpoint.” These data are combined
with the calculated instantaneous recoveries to compute cumulative recoveries for
each CVD step. The results of these calculations are reported as factors based on
MMscf. The table on page 14/17 of table 8–1 indicates that these are based on
1,000 Mscf but it is more convenient to consider them as based on MMscf.
The factors listed under the heading “initial in place” were computed with the
instantaneous recoveries calculated using the composition of the original reservoir
gas (listed under the dewpoint pressure on page 17/17). These factors are based
on the quantity of reservoir gas produced (in MMscf) during production from the
initial reservoir pressure to the dewpoint pressure of the gas.
The factors listed in the rest of the columns of page 14/17 are cumulative, so that
only the factors at a selected value of average reservoir pressure at abandonment
are needed. These factors are based on the amount of gas in place at the dewpoint
(in MMscf).
These factors can be used to estimate the recoveries (i.e., reserves) to be
expected during production from initial reservoir pressure to abandonment
pressure. This is a very powerful tool in preparing the development plans for a gas
condensate reservoir.
The calculation procedure has two parts. First, calculate the recoveries of
stock-tank liquid and separator gases as reservoir pressure declines from initial
pressure to the dewpoint pressure of the gas. This is done by determining the amount
of reservoir gas produced (in MMscf). This production is then converted to the
volumes of surface products using the “initial in-place” factors. Second, calculate

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the recoveries as reservoir pressure decreases from dewpoint pressure to a selected

abandonment pressure. This step uses the quantity of gas in the reservoir at dewpoint
pressure and the cumulative factors listed in the column under the abandonment
pressure. These two sets of recoveries are added to determine the expected ultimate
recoveries. The ultimate recoveries of each of the surface products are divided by
the volume of these products in the initial volume of reservoir gas to determine
recoveries in percent of initial. This procedure is best illustrated with examples.

Example 9–1. The gas condensate described in table 8–1 is in a reservoir with
a bulk volume of 1,276.735 ac-ft (acre-feet; geological data). The
average porosity of the reservoir rock is 20% (log analysis and/or
core analysis) and the average water saturation in the reservoir is
25% (log analysis).
The surface separation configuration has a first-stage separator
at 1,050 psig and 90°F, a second-stage separator at 80 psig and
65°F, and a stock tank at atmospheric pressure and 70°F.
Calculate the cumulative recoveries of stock-tank liquid and the
three gases as reservoir pressure decreases from an initial pressure
of 5,300 psig to an average reservoir pressure at abandonment of
1,200 psig. Also, calculate the percent recovery of each product.

Solution
First, calculate the volume of gas pore space.
1,276.735 acre-feet
× 7,758 bbl/acre-foot
Porosity = 20.0% × 0.20
Water saturation = 25.0% × (1 – 0.25)
= 1,485,737 bbl of gas pore space

Second, calculate the reservoir gas and products in place at initial pressure.
1,485,737 bbl of gas pore space
Gas expansion factor × 1.363 Mscf in reservoir/bbl gas
Initial in-place = 2,025,059 Mscf in reservoir @ pi

Stock-tank liquid 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi

× 119.04 STB/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in-place = 241,063 STB

Primary separator gas 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi

× 797.87 Mscf SPl gas/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in-place = 1,615,734 Mscf

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 Chapter 9 | Properties of Gas Condensates: Application of Reservoir Fluid Studies

Second separator gas 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi
× 85.27 Mscf SP2 gas/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in-place 172,677 Mscf

Stock-tank gas 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi

× 23.23 Mscf ST gas/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in-place 47,042 Mscf

Third, calculate the reservoir gas and products in place at dewpoint pressure.
1,485,737 bbl of petroleum pore space
Gas expansion factor × 1.262 Mscf in reservoir/bbl gas
In place @ pd 1,874,999 Mscf in reservoir @ pd

Stock-tank liquid 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 119.04 STB/MMscf in reservoir
In-place @ pd 223,200 STB

Primary separator gas 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 797.87 Mscf SPI gas/MMscf in reservoir
In-place @ pd 1,496,006 Mscf

Second separator gas 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 85.27 Mscf SP2 gas/MMscf in reservoir
In-place @ pd 159,881 Mscf

Stock-tank gas 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 23.23 Mscf ST gas/MMscf in reservoir
In-place @ pd 43,556 Mscf

Fourth, calculate cumulative production; initial pressure to dewpoint pressure.

Reservoir gas 2,025,059 Mscf in place at initial pressure
– 1,874,999 Mscf in place at dewpoint pressure
150,059 Mscf produced

Stock-tank liquid 241,063 STB in place at initial pressure

– 223,200 STB in place at dewpoint pressure
17,863 STB produced

Primary separator gas 1,615,734 Mscf in place at initial pressure

– 1,496,006 Mscf in place at dewpoint pressure
119,728 Mscf produced

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THE PROPERTIES OF PETROLEUM FLUIDS, THIRD EDITION

Second separator gas 1,72,677 Mscf in place at initial pressure

– 159,881 Mscf in place at dewpoint pressure
12,796 Mscf produced

Stock-tank gas 47,042 Mscf in place at initial pressure

– 43,556 Mscf in place at dewpint pressure
3,486 Mscf produced

Fifth, calculate cumulative production; dewpoint pressure to abandonment

pressure.

Reservoir gas 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at dewpoint

× 679.33 Mscf res gas/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
1,273,743 Mscf produced

Stock-tank liquid 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at dewpoint

× 35.87 bbl STO/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
67,256 STB produced

Primary separator gas 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at dewpoint

× 601.24 Mscf SP1gas/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
1,127,325 Mscf SP1 gas produced

Secondary separator gas 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at dewpoint

× 33.79 Mscf SP2 gas/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
63,356 Mscf SP2 gas produced

Stock-tank gas 1,874.999 Mscf in reservoir at dewpoint

× 10.45 Mscf ST gas/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
19,594 Mscf ST gas produced

Sixth, calculate reserves (i.e., production from initial pressure to abandonment

pressure).
Reservoir gas
Production to dewpoint 150,059 Mscf
Production below dewpoint 1,273,743 Mscf
1,423,802 Mscf

Stock-tank liquid
Production to dewpoint 17,863 STB
Production below dewpoint 67,256 STB
85,119 STB

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Primary separator gas

Production to dewpoint 119,728 Mscf
Production below dewpoint 1,127,325 Mscf
1,247,053 Mscf

Second separator gas

Production to dewpoint 12,796 Mscf
Production below dewpoint 63,356 Mscf
76,152 Mscf

Stock-tank gas
Production to dewpoint 3,486 Mscf
Production below dewpoint 19,594 Mscf
23,080 Mscf
Seventh, calculate recoveries in fractions of initial
Reservoir gas (1,423,802/2,025,059) × 100 = 70.3%
Stock-tank liquid (85,119/241,063) × 100 = 35.3%
Primary separator gas (1,247,053/1,615,734) × 100 = 77.2%
Second separator gas (76,152/172,677) × 100 = 44.1%
Stock-tank gas (23,080/47,042) × 100 = 49.1%

Note the difference between the recovery of primary separator gas and the
recovery of stock-tank liquid. This difference is a result of the amount of retrograde
condensate left in the reservoir (i.e., not produced).

Example 9–2. Continue example 9–1. Estimate the recovery of plant products
that will be obtained as the reservoir pressure declines from 5,300
psig to 1,200 psig if the primary separator gas is sent to a plant.

Solution
First, calculate the “plant products” in place at initial pressure.
Ethane 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi
× 2,509 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in place = 5,080,873 gallons

Propane 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi

× 893 gallons/MMscf ln reservoir
Initial in place = 1,808,378 gallons

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Butanes 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi

× 310 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in place = 627,768 gallons

Pentanes plus 2,025.059 MMscf in reservoir @ pi

× 180 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
Initial in place = 364,511 gallons

Second, calculate the “plant products” in place at dewpoint pressure.

Ethane 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd
× 2,509 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
In place @ pd = 4,704,372 gallons

Propane 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 893 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
In place @ pd = 1,674,374 gallons

Butanes 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 310 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
In place @ pdt = 581,250 gallons

Pentanes plus 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir @ pd

× 180 gallons/MMscf in reservoir
In place @ pd = 337,500 gallons

Third, calculate cumulative “plant products”; initial pressure to dewpoint

pressure.
Ethane 5,080,873 gallons in place at initial pressure
– 4,704,372 gallons in place at dewpoint
= 376,501 gallons

Propane 1,808,378 gallons in place at initial pressure

– 1,674,374 gallons in place at dewpoint
= 134,004 gallons

Butanes 627,768 gallons in place at initial pressure

– 581,250 gallons in place at dewpoint
= 46,518 gallons

Pentanes plus 364,511 gallons in place at initial pressure

– 337,500 gallons in place at dewpoint
= 27,011 gallons

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Fourth, calculate “plant products”; dewpoint pressure to abandonment pressure.

Ethane 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at pd
× 1,959 gallons/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
= 3,673,123 gallons

Propane 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at pd

× 753 gallons/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
= 1,411,874 gallons

Butanes 1,874.999 MMscf in reservoir at pd

× 288 gallons/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
= 540,000 gallons

Pentanes plus 1,874.999 Mscf in reservoir at pd

× 171 gallons/MMscf in reservoir @ pd
= 320,625 gallons

Fifth, calculate “plant products” from primary separator gas from initial pressure
to abandonment pressure.
Ethane
Production to dewpoint 376,501 gallons
Production below dewpoint 3,763,123 gallons
4,049,624 gallons

Propane
Production to dewpoint 134,004 gallons
Production below dewpoint 1,411,874 gallons
1,545,878 gallons

Butanes
Production to dewpoint 46,518 gallons
Production below dewpoint 540,000 gallons
586,518 gallons

Pentanes plus
Production to dewpoint 27,011 gallons
Production below dewpoint 320,625 gallons
347,636 gallons
The total plant products from the primary separator gas listed on the last page
of the solution to example 9–2 are based on the assumption of 100% recovery of
these products. A good quality modern cryogenic plant will recover approximately
95% of the ethane, 99% of the propane, and 100% of the butanes and pentanes plus.

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THE PROPERTIES OF PETROLEUM FLUIDS, THIRD EDITION

The percent recovery for each of these products can be calculated in the same
manner as the percent recoveries of the separation products were calculated in
example 9–1. These percent recoveries have little value and are seldom calculated.
The volumes of plant products in gallons can be used to estimate the economic
value of installing a plant.

“Quick-and-Dirty” Recovery Factors, i.e., No Geology

When geology/geophysics for the reservoir are not available, the recovery
factors (percent of initial) can be estimated as follows.

Depletion from initial pressure to dewpoint pressure

Obtain the recovery factors for both gas and condensate as reservoir pressure
declines from initial pressure to dewpoint pressure by subtracting the relative
volume of the constant composition expansion at the initial reservoir pressure from
one and multiply times 100.

Depletion from dewpoint pressure to abandonment pressure

Obtain the recovery factors for the gas as reservoir pressure declines from
dewpoint pressure to abandonment pressure. Divide the cumulative factor (of the
“Calculated Cumulative Recovery . . .”) at the abandonment reservoir pressure by
the factor labeled “initial in-place” and multiply by the relative volume (of the
constant composition expansion). Multiply by 100 to get percent recovery. The
same procedure can be used to obtain the recovery factor for the condensate.

Example 9–3. Repeat example 9–1. Assume that the geology (acre-feet), the
porosity (volume fraction), and the water saturation (volume
fraction) are not available.

Solution
First, calculate the gas and condensate recoveries as reservoir pressure declines
from initial to dewpoint.

(1.0 – 0.9261) × 100 = 7.4%

Second, calculate the first-stage separator gas recovery as reservoir pressure

declines from dewpoint pressure to abandonment pressure.
(601.24/797.87) × 0.9261 × 100 = 69.8%

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Third, calculate the stock-tank condensate recovery as reservoir pressure

declines from dewpoint pressure to abandonment pressure.

(35.87/119.04) × 0.9261 × 100 = 27.9%

Fourth, calculate cumulative recoveries.

First-stage gas 7.4% + 69.8% = 77.2%
Stock-tank condensate 7.4% + 27.9% = 35.3%

Exercises
9–1. A geologist’s isopac map shows that a gas condensate reservoir has a bulk
volume of 1,465 acre-feet. The log analyst states that the average porosity
of this reservoir is 15% and the average water saturation is 30%. The
reservoir fluid and the surface separator system are described in the fluid
property report of table 8–1. The initial reservoir pressure is 6,500 psig.
Note: Observe that the standard conditions used for this reservoir in table
8–1 are not the same as the standard conditions prescribed for this text
book. Assume that the average reservoir pressure at abandonment will be
1,800 psig. Calculate the cumulative recoveries of first-separator gas and
stock-tank oil. Also calculate these recoveries in percent of initial in place.
9–2. Continue exercise 9–1. Calculate the recoveries (assume 100% plant
efficiency) of plant products if the full wellstream is sent to a plant.
9–3. Continue exercise 9–1. Calculate the recovery percent of reservoir
gas when producing from the initial reservoir pressure to the average
abandonment pressure.
9–4. Continue exercise 9-1. Assume that geology/geophysics are not available.
Calculate the percentage recovery of first-stage separator gas and
stock-tank condensate as reservoir pressure declines from initial pressure to
abandonment pressure.

Note
1. McCain, Properties of Petroleum Fluids, 2nd ed., 374–394.

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