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SPE 88869 EOS Complex Fluid in Orocual
SPE 88869 EOS Complex Fluid in Orocual
The Database
Lessons learned in other projects in the north Monagas area iden-
tified the need to review the deviation surveys to accurately cal-
culate the subsea depths of test sample intervals. This was done
before any review of the PVT data. Fig. 3—The perforated intervals providing PVT samples show
Samples ORC-026, ORS-058, ORS-062, and ORS-065 have the saturation pressure plotted against true vertical depth. A
PVT-measured API gravity from 25 to 34°, with GORs from 1,300 general tendency is clear; two groups are defined, but a clear
to 2,900 scf/STB, identifying the samples as oil and light oil. relationship is not.
Fig. 6 shows molar mass percent of the C1 component vs. ps, from the extended-analysis data was applied to each of the selected
providing another look at the natural tendency of the data. Fig. 7 samples.7 Five pseudocomponents were split from the original C7+
shows the corresponding plot of the C7+ molar mass vs. ps. In both group and identified as C7+(1) .… C7+(5).
figures, a general linear trend is noted, and some data points are Each laboratory experiment of the selected samples was simu-
clearly off trend. The fact that the same samples in both Figs. 6 and lated with the cubic Peng-Robinson EOS, with shift factors to
7 are off trend is the first evidence that “representative” samples adjust for fluid density, and compared to the laboratory observa-
can be identified or, conversely, possible erroneous samples can be tions. The results are good (with differences between predictions
removed from further analysis. and observations from 1 to 2%), demonstrating that the behavior of
The methods proposed in Ref. 5 (see Chapter 5 and Appendix the fluids was being reproduced with a basic EOS.
C) are used to describe the C7+ distribution and properties using The second column of Table 1 shows those samples used in
five fractions. the initial development of the EOS. Error analysis showed
Of the 18 PVT samples, eight were selected for use in devel- that the ORS-054 sample was predicting values different from
oping the EOS on the basis of consistent tendencies of the samples the observations, so this sample was discarded, leaving se-
as shown in Figs. 5 through 7. The gamma distribution defined ven samples.
Regression was performed after all the comparisons were com- combinations of grouped components are possible. A series of
pleted to improve the predictions. It is known that the heavy com- grouping exercises were performed, and finally a seven-pseudo-
ponents (C7+) and the C1 fraction have the highest relative mole component EOS was accepted for use in simulation. Tables 2 and
percentage. Because the properties of C1 are well-known and char- 3 show the 15- and 7-pseudocomponent EOS, respectively. Figs. 8
acterized, it remains that regression is most appropriate against the through 15 present the comparison of results of selected experi-
heaviest component whose properties are assumed the most, the ments and samples.
C7+(5) component. As a final step, regression was performed against both gas and
The first regression was performed on all the experiments oil viscosity to guarantee correct estimation of reservoir-fluid vis-
against the critical pressure of the heaviest fraction, C7+(5). The cosity. It is important to mention that many PVT reports report
results provided very good predictions when compared against the calculated gas viscosity from correlation. Because gas viscosity for
observations. Graphs of the results will not be presented to con- single components is generally accepted from the literature, and
serve space, but as demonstrated in the following paragraphs, the mixing rules apply, some interpreters insist that entering these data
grouped-component EOS (the objective of the study) predicts the for regression is not justified. Because most oil viscosity is mea-
observations with little error. sured during laboratory-experiment procedures, these data usually
The next step was to group the 15-component EOS into a reduced are considered valid and consistent. However, during regression
pseudocomponent EOS acceptable for full-field compositional simu- against viscosity, if only oil values are included, a risk exists of
lation. Methods for stepwise regression presented by Fevang et al.8 incorrectly predicting gas viscosity using only gas compositions.
were used for the pseudoization process from 15 to 7 components. Including reported gas viscosity with oil viscosity ensures that the
The criterion for grouping was selected to have as few com- regression against the critical-volume (Zc) variable will predict
ponents as necessary to match condensation behavior. Various realistic values of viscosity.
Fig. 8—This figure shows the comparison of the predicted and Fig. 9—This figure shows the comparison of the predicted and
observed values from the last regression process for the liquid observed values from the last regression process for oil density
relative volume for a condensate sample. from a CCE experiment.
Fig. 12—This figure shows the comparison of the predicted and Fig. 13—This figure shows the comparison of the predicted and
observed values from the last regression process for the cu- observed values from the last regression process for gas C7+
mulative produced gas for a condensate sample. molecular weight for a condensate sample.
an important consideration. Using a stabilized column for initial- was immediately obvious that adjustments to the reference depth
ization of the full-field model saves a substantial amount of time of the composition-vs.-depth table were necessary to match field
and provides a compositionally stable system. GOR history. The shifts were relatively small (+/– 200 ft), but as
Testing and subsequent validation of the EOS showed that it a result, the initialization depth of the GOC was changed to main-
easily reproduced the appropriate fluid-dynamic behavior on the tain model stability.
basis of the composition of the producing fluid, regardless of the Comparison of the predicted ps and GOR in the 1D model with
reservoir compartment. One EOS was proved to be consistent and the historical observations in the undersaturated oil section of the
appropriate for all areas (SJ3, SJ6, SJ7, and SJ9), although each column (or, conversely, in the upper gas section) showed the depth
compartment has a unique fluid column. of the transition zone, indicating the depth of the GOC. The SJ9
Fig. 18 also shows that the transition from gas to oil for both ps and SJ7 areas are clearly similar, but on the basis of the results of
and GOR is slightly below 13,500 ft subsea for one of the San Juan the history-matching process, there is a difference of 150 ft in the
complex compartments. A true GOC in any of the Orocual San predicted GOC. Neither of the wells in these sectors drilled into the
Juan complex compartments most likely does not exist. Instead, a oil zone, so prediction of a GOC with the hydrocarbon column
transition zone in which rich condensate changes to volatile oil allows a reasonable estimate of the beginning of an oil zone.
and, eventually, undersaturated oil is likely. Every sample has The transition from oil to gas is predicted in SJ7 at 16,025 ft
similar behavior in the distribution of components, predicting tran- subsea and in SJ9 at 16,175 ft subsea. In April 2000, the ORC-030
sition zones. Modifying the predictions to smoothly monotonic was drilled. The results of the well showed that the prediction of the
compositions reduces their uncertainty. GOC of 16,025 ft subsea was close to the determined 16,040-ft level.
Models were constructed for each compartment. The table of All the answers regarding the details or geometry of compart-
composition vs. depth was introduced into each sector model. It mentalization are not available at this time. Additional drilling,
Fig. 18—The modeling criterion is the field-production match of GOR. Composition gradients are simulated, and the resulting GOR
and ps tendencies are analyzed. The curves are shifted to the appropriate depth to match known production characteristics, and
the curves are averaged using the technique shown in Fig. 19. The ps graph is simplified. The GOR graph has an additional curve
to demonstrate the sensitivity. Matched observations are shown, and the GOC can be inferred.