Ministry of Higher Education

and Scientific Research

Karbala University
College of Engineering
Petroleum Department

"GAS FORMATION VOLUME FACTOR "

A report submitted by the students:
‫سجاد كريم هاشم‬
‫كرار شاكر يوسف‬

Supervised By :
Dr. Dr.Tahseen AlTaei 1
lecturer's name (Hawraa Adil)
Objective
Determining Gas Formation Volume Factor

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Introduction
The formation volume factor for gas is defined as the ratio of
volume of 1 mol of gas at a given pressure and temperature to
the volume of 1 mol of gas at standard conditions (Ps and Ts).
The gas formation volume factor is used to relate the volume of
gas, as measured at reservoir conditions, to the volume of the
gas as measured at standard conditions (i.e., 60 °F and
14.7 psia). This gas property is then defined as the actual
volume occupied by a certain amount of gas at a specified
pressure and temperature, divided by the volume occupied by
the same amount of gas at standard conditions. In an equation
form, the relationship is expressed as Assumingthat the standard
conditions are represented by psc =14.7 psia and Tsc=520 ,

where
Bg = formation volume factor of gas (ft3/scf),
V = gas volume under reservoir conditions (ft3),
Vsc = gas volume under standard conditions (STP, ft3),
p = pressure (psia),
psc = standard pressure (psia),
T = temperature (°R),
Tsc = standard temperature (°R),
z = gas compressibility factor, and
zsc = 1.0, gas compressibility factor under standard conditions
(STP).

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Theory
Previously we discussed the two phase oil formation volume
factor. It accounted for both free gas and oil in the reservoir and
had units of . In order to relate the liberated gas volumes
to reservoir barrels, a gas formation volume factor ( ) was
developed. An illustration of how gas formation volume factor
is defined is shown below

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Tools Used in the Experiment

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Procedure
1. Starting by Gas sample at 60 F & 14.7 psia.
2. Use the oven to heat the sample until reach certain
temperature.
3. Use Jog mode then increase the volume of the Gas sample.
4. Record the new Temperature & Pressure.
5. Calculate Z factor
𝑧=
𝑉𝑅𝑃𝑅𝑇𝑆𝐶
𝑉
𝑠𝑐𝑃𝑠𝑐𝑇𝑅
6. Calculate Bg use the above formula.

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Calculation and Report
Example 1
A gas well is producing at a rate of 15,000 ft3/day from a gas
reservoir at an average pressure of 2,000 psia and a temperature
of 120°F. The specific gravity is 0.72. Calculate the gas flow
rate in scf/day.
z = 0.78
Solution
Step 1.
Calculate the pseudo-critical properties from Equations

Step 2
Calculate the ppr and Tpr:

Step 3.
Calculate the gas expansion factor from Equation

Step 4.
Calculate the gas flow rate in scf/day by multiplying the gas
flow rate (in ft3/day) by the gas expansion factor Eg as expressed
in scf/ft3:
Gas flow rate = (151.15) (15,000) = 2.267 MMscf/day

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 Discussion

‫مناقشة الطالب سجاد كريم هاشم‬

Q1) If we apply the law of the Bg (gas formation volume
factor)The values of Bg are large or small values?
I mean, for example, 0.00034 or 3.4?
If the values are small, the reason is small!
Ans. Small values are because the pressure inside the reservoir
is high, and since the pressure is inversely proportional to Bg, there
are small values
Q2)What is gas formation volume factor?
Ans. Formation volume factor of gas is defined as the volume
of gas at reservoir pressure and temperature required to produce one
standard volume of gas at the surface. Gas formation volume factor
has units of volume/volume and can be represented in a variety of
units (e.g., rcf/scf, rbbl/scf, and bbl/Mscf)
Q3)Why does the volume of gas decrease when pressure increases?
Ans. If pressure increases, then volume decreases and vice versa,
when temperature is held constant.” When pressure increases, the
same number of molecules, or matter, are being forced closer together
to occupy a shrinking space, their volume decreasing while their
density correspondingly increases.
Q4) Is STB the same as BBL?
Ans. Oilfield units volumes in oilfield units are barrels (bbl orB);
1 bbl=5.615 ft3 or 0.159 m3. A STB is the same volume defined at
some surface standard conditions (in the stock tank) which are usually
60°F and 14.7 psi
Q5)Which two factors influence the gas formation volume factor?
Ans. Formation Volume Factor It is a very strong function of pressure,
and a weak function of temperature and gas composition. The dry gas
formation volume factor is the gas volume at reservoir conditions
divided by the gas volume at standard conditions.

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 ‫مناقشة الطالب كرار شاكر يوسف‬

Q1)What is the significance of gas volume factor?

Ans. Formation volume factor (FVF) is a useful relationship for
relating gas volumes in the reservoir to the produced volume at
standard conditions. Formation volume factor also enables the
calculation of density
Q2) If we apply the law of the Bg (gas formation volume factor)
The values of Bg are large or small values?
I mean, for example, 0.00034 or 3.4?
If the values are small, the reason is small!
Ans.
Small values are because the pressure inside the reservoir is high, and
since the pressure is inversely proportional to Bg, there are small values.
Q3)How does volume affect gas pressure?
Ans.
Because the volume has decreased, the particles will
collide more frequently with the walls of the container. More
collisions mean more force, so the pressure will increase.
When the volume decreases, the pressure increases. This shows
that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume
Q4) What is gas FVF?
Ans.
The gas FVF is the defined ratio of the volume “(Vgas)p,T” occupied
by n moles of gas at a specified pressure and temperature to the
volume “(Vgas)sc” occupied by the same number of moles (ie, n
moles) at SC.
Q5) Can gas formation volume factor be greater than 1?
Ans.
Oil formation volume factors are almost always greater
than 1.0 because the oil in the formation usually
contains dissolved gas that comes out of solution in the
wellbore with dropping pressure.

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References
1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/gasformation-
volume-factor
2) https://topdogengineer.com/lesson/gas-formation-volumefactor-bg/

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