physics property of nature gas

at high pressure

Zhang Yi
Petroleum engineering college
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性
1 basic concept of natural gas
composition： Natural gas is a mixture of low
molecular weight alkane and a small amount of non-
hydrocarbon gas.
Mi
● Weight composition Gi =
∑Mi
%

● volume composition Vi =
Vi
%
∑ Vi
● moore composition Yi =
Ni
%
∑ i
N

Mi、Vi、Ni is respectively molecular weight,

volume and mole fraction of component i.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

2 classification on natural gas

● by reservoir：gas of gas reservoir, gas of oil

reservoir, gas of gas condensate reservoir and
gas of coal bed.

● by component: wet gas and dry gas

● by sulfur：acid gas (>1g/m3s ) and net gas

(<1g/m3s )
 油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

3 molecular weight of natural gas

Molecular weight of natural gas equal to a
molar mass of natural gas in standard
conditions. That is,

M air ≈ 29
（28.96）
n
M = ∑ (Yi M i )
i =1

Yi、Mi — mole fraction and molecular

weight of component i.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

4 relative density

Gas density：ρg= m /ν

Where ρ g— g/cm2 or Kg/m3；

m — g or Kg；

V — cm3 or m3
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

relative density：γ =ρg / ρa

The relative density is the density of nature gas over

the density of dry air in standard conditions(293K and
0.101MPa).

We can approximatively express the equation.

γ ≈ M / 29 γ ∈ [0.5～0.7]
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

state equation of nature gas

f(P、V、T)=0 state equation of fluid

PV=nRT for ideal gas /perfect gas

PV=ZnRT for real gas

油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

Where Z — deviation factor

Physical meaning---deviation factor is the

volume of real gas over the volume of
ideal gas in real pressure and temperature.
This factor accounts for the difference
between the actual and ideal gas volumes
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

Va
Z = ( ) p .T
Vi

Z<1，Va<Vi， Real gas is easily compressed

than the ideal gas.

Z=1，Va=Vi， Real gas is similar to the ideal gas.

Z>1，Va>Vi，real gas is difficulty compressed

than ideal gas.
Z depends on gas property, pressure and
temperature, and get it by Lab.

Z of nature gas can be found by principle of

corresponding state.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

principle of corresponding state：if the

corresponding volume will be same in
same corresponding pressure and
corresponding temperature for two gases
whose structure are similar, two gas are
corresponding state. So deviation factors
of two gas are same.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

How to find Z by the principle of corresponding state

a . Gas of single component
if we known P and T, find Z
1. We can check figure directly.
2. Firstly we calculation Pr and T r, then check
figure to find Z.

P T
Pr = Tr =
Pc Tc
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

b. Nature gas

If we known P , T and composition, find Z

Firstly, we calculation pseudo critical pressure and
pseudo critical temperature.
n
TPC = ∑ Tci • y i
n
PPc = ∑ Pci • y i
i =1 i =1

PPC and TPC are respectively pseudo critical

pressure and pseudo critical temperature of
nature gas.
Secondly , we can calculation pseudo corresponding
pressure and pseudo corresponding temperature.

P T
PPr = TPr =
PPC T PC

Lastly, we can check figure to find Z.

油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性
note
the volume content of non-hydrocarbon
components can not be more than 5%，and
the volume content of methane must more
than 50%. Otherwise the result will have
obvious error. The method avoided error is
that Z can be weighted average according to
Z of hydrocarbon and Z of non-hydrocarbon.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

gas volume factor Vg

Bg =
V SC

gas volume factor means the volume in real pressure and

real temperature over the volume in standard condition.

VSC： the volume in standard condition, m3

V g ---the volume in real pressure and real temperature, m3

Bg：gas volume factor, m3/S.m3

油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

Gas state equation in standard condition,

PSCVSC = nRTSC
Gas state equation in reservoir condition,

PVg=ZnRT
273 + t PSC
So Bg = Z • •
293 P
If we known P, T and composition of nature gas,
we can find Z firstly, and find Bg secondly.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

Discuss
(1) if P>>PSC，so Bg <<1

(2) If the process of phase change is

isothermal process, we can got

Z
Bg = C •
P
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

Compressibility factor of nature gas

1 ∂Vg
Cg = − ( )
Vg ∂P

physical meaning: compressibility factor is the

volume change rate when pressure change 1 unit
in isothermal condition.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

Because of Vg = ZnRT
P
So
∂Z
∂Vg P ( )T − Z
( )T = nRT • ∂P
∂P P 2

1 1 ∂Z
C g = − ( )T
P Z ∂P
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

discuss
1 ideal gas
Z =1
1
∂Z ⇒ Cg =
=0 P
∂P
P ∂PPr 1
2 nature gas PPr = ⇒ =
PPc ∂P PPc
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

∂Z ∂Z ∂PPr 1 ∂Z
= ⋅ = ⋅
∂P ∂PPr ∂P PPc ∂PPr
So

1 1 ∂Z
Cg = − •( )
PPc • PPr ZPPc ∂PPr
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

1 1 ∂Z
C Pg = − •( )
PPr Z ∂PPr

C Pg = C g • PPc

CPg —corresponding compressibility factor.

油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

discuss
∂Z 1
1. For ideal gas =0 So Cg =
∂P P

2.For real gas, if ∂Z

> 0
∂P

Cg is less than Cg of ideal gas, Because Z

deviation factor increase with P increasing at high
pressure.
3. if ∂Z
<0
∂P

Cg is more than Cg of ideal gas, Because Z

deviation factor decrease with P increasing
at low pressure.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

The viscosity of nature gas

the viscosity is the internal friction resistance
caused by gas molecules.
it can be expressed by the internal friction law of
Newton.
dv
F = μA
dy
F depends on pressure, temperature and composition.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性
1 Low pressure
According to gas molecule kinetics, the gas viscosity

1 1
μ = ρ v •λ λ=
3 2πd 2 • ρ

Where ρ is gas density, varies(inversely) with

pressure.
v
:average velocity of gas molecule, is
independent of pressure.
λ :average free path of gas molecule, inversely
with pressure.
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

2. At high pressure
the viscosity depends on the interaction
between gas molecules.

1） P ↑→ μ ↑

2） T ↑→ μ ↓

3） M ↑→μ ↑
 油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

3. Find viscosity
1）check figure 2-12，2-13
Fig2-12：the gas viscosity at atmosphere pressure,μg
Fig2-13：the viscosity ratio at high pressure, μg/ μg1
So , gas viscosity is

μ g = μ g1 × (μ g / μ g1 )
 油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

2）calculation method

( μ − μ0 )η = 1.08[exp(1.439ρ Pr ) − exp(−1.111ρ Pr
1.858
)]

μ：the gas viscosity at high pressure mpa • s × 10 2

μo: the gas viscosity at low pressure

1
η = Tpc 1/ 6 2
/( M PPc
2/3
) coefficient
油藏物理学——天然气的高压物性

ρ Pr = ρ / ρ Pc Pseudo critical density

PPc
ρ Pc =
ZRTPc

M = ∑ yi M i

Z = ∑yZ i ci